Here's how I think job searches should be done. Get a piece of paper. Draw a line down the center. On the left side, put all the things you loved about the jobs you've had. On the right, put all the things you've hated about the jobs you've had. For example, if you hate getting up in the morning but you love being up late at night, put that down. If you hate wearing a suit and tie, put that down. If you hate doing the same thing over and over again but love variety and a change of pace every day, put those down. Take your time. Think about every job you've ever had; paper boy, McDonalds counter clerk, etc., etc.
Once you have a list you are satisfied with, think about the types of work that will provide the most pluses and the least minuses. Think in general terms, not specific, meaning industries, not specific businesses. For example; automotive, not sales or service or repair. Narrow that list down to the top three that interest you and that you think you would enjoy. If you have to do some research to figure that out, talk to friends and use the internet to Google the industries. Then call some folks in your area of interest and ask to talk to them.
Here's the script:
Hi, my name is Fred, and I'm considering a career change. I am not looking for a job, and if I were offered one, I would not accept it. At this point I am trying to gather information to decide what direction I want to head. Your industry is one that interests me and that I think I could excel in. Would you have a few minutes to answer some questions?
I used this technique and received multiple job offers while sitting at home unemployed. The highlighted portion is critical. Since you tell them you are not looking for a job, they will be at ease and willing to talk. They don't have time for job hunters, but they'll give someone who is interested in
them and what they do all the time in the world.
I ended up taking a position for a much higher salary than I expected in an industry I never would have thought of. It was amazing how many people actually tried to convince me to work for them. "We need a go-getter like you" they would say. "I've never met anyone with such an interest in their career." Even if I said that I didn't have all of the qualifications they were looking for or I pointed out that they didn't have any openings, they tried to argue with me that the qualifications weren't that important or that they could always find a place for someone like me. The place I went to work at called (the HR manager) and begged me to come in for an interview. When I finally relented, while reminding them that I hadn't yet made a decision on career path and had no intention of accepting a job offer today, they had set up three consecutive interviews
and a drug test! They were going to make darn sure that I didn't get away.
It was the unique approach to job hunting that intrigued them and made them want to hire me.
Using this technique I met with a number of people in different industries, all of them very busy managers, who gave me their time and shared their experiences with me. I would ask them what they liked and disliked about their business (not the company they worked for at the time), how they got to the position they are in, what they would do differently if they could do it all over again. You will find that people love to talk about themselves and what they do for a living, especially if they love their jobs. They'll tell you everything you need to know to decide if it's right for you. And they ask for nothing in return (except possibly please come to work for us), because you haven't asked anything of them.
I got all of this from a wonderful book that I highly recommend you either purchase or get from your local library:
What Color Is Your Parachute?
