“It’s better to be prepared for an opportunity and not have one, than to have an opportunity and not be prepared”. ~Whitney Young
According to a recent survey commissioned by Robert Half International,
82% of workers polled said they would be ready to conduct a job search if they lost their jobs tomorrow, but only 20% had updated their resumes in the last 3 months. What differentiates the 20% from the rest? They are proactive. You won’t find them passively waiting for their pinkslips. They are constantly preparing for new employment opportunities (in or outside their companies) just in case the layoff axe falls on them. Here’s how you, too, can become part of that 20% of proactive workers and set yourself apart:
| P | Be prepared. Have a carefully laid-out plan ready for the next opportunity. That means your resume is up-to-date, voicemail is professional, and interview skills are sharp. |
| R | Research companies and target only those employers for whom you would want to work. Do not send unsolicited generic resumes to every company in the telephone directory. |
| O | Remind yourself that your objective is to convey to the employer how you can solve their problems, not to ask for “a challenging position that offers opportunity for growth”. |
| A | Be active and visible. Attend networking meetings, volunteer on committees, participate in discussions on social media forums like Twitter, LinkedIn and others, and get noticed. |
| C | Commit to ongoing professional development if you want to set yourself apart. It’s one of the best investments you could give yourself. |
| T | Take time to develop and nurture relationships and build your network of contacts. It is a fact that people do business with, and recommend, people they know and trust. |
| I | Become good at generating ideas, and learn how to influence key decision makers so they will accept and implement your ideas. |
| V | Have a vision of what you want to achieve and how you are going to do it. Don’t get sucked in to people who don’t share your vision and want to divert your attention from your goal. |
| E | Exude confidence, not arrogance. Confidently communicate to the employer why you are uniquely qualified for the position and why you should be the one they hire. |
These steps actually spell the word P-R-O-A-C-T-I-V-E, and if you follow them, you will always be ready to pounce on an opportunity, and lessen the impact of a sudden job loss.
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