Job Search for the Rest of Us!: KWANZAA PURPOSE AND JOB SEARCH

Friday, December 21, 2012

KWANZAA PURPOSE AND JOB SEARCH

Purpose. Encarta dictionary defines purpose as the desire or the resolve necessary to accomplish a goal. One of the biggest challenges I have in working with clients is to help them understand:

The necessity of having a goal
How to set a long-term goal
Why time frames are so crucial
How short-term goals work
The importance of re-evaluating goals periodically

Often, unemployed job seekers set a long term goal of to "get a job." If you are employed and looking for work you may think your goal is to "find another job" or to "get a better job." A more definitive goal with clear cut time frames will ensure you know when you reach your goal.

You may even be afraid to verbalize your goal or put it in writing. But this is absolutely imperative! You should also keep you long term goal where you can see it frequently - at your desk or computer or in your car if you drive a lot. Spend a lot of time on the phone? Put a note for yourself under the handset. You should use your written long term goal as a talisman or charm. Write it and it will come!

Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction.

John F. Kennedy

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/purpose.html#DOrbRQQT4eRkOigY.99

But what should your long term goal be? That may be the hardest part to sort out. Most likely you have some idea of the industry or field in which you would like to work, but may not have thought much beyond that. Start by taking some time to visualize what your ideal work day would be. Consider:

Environment - large or small office, work at home, work in the field, a combination
Responsibility - do you want to supervise, manage, be a worker free of supervision or have close supervision
Interaction - would you prefer to work with data, people, things or a combination, as part of a group or alone
Pay - salaried, hourly, bonuses or not, benefits or not that important, commission only, retirement
Dress - formal, informal, uniform, edgy, sporty
Location - city, suburbs, abroad, would you relocate or not
Title - give your dream job a title and a tag line

Once you have envisioned your dream job and have fleshed out your ideal day decide upon a time frame to reach your goal. Don't torture yourself with this too long - pick a number of years you think it might take and assign a date (you can adjust it in the future if need be!). Determine the steps you need to take to get to your end goal and work back from your end goal so that you assign time frames to the short term goals as well.

Your short term goals can be adjusted as well, but it is important to have time frames to keep yourself moving forward and to be able to recognize and celebrate your successes as you move toward your hard-won long term goal!

What will make you successful? Comment below to let me know!

SOME BACKGROUND ON THIS POST

Kwanzaa 2012

Kwanzaa is a week long African American celebration observed from December 26 to January 1 each year.

DATE Principle in English THEN Principle in Swahili

December 26 Unity Umoja

December 27 Self-Determination Kujichagulia

December 28 Collective Work & Responsibility Ujima

December 29 Cooperative Economics Ujamaa

December 30 Purpose Nia

December 31 Creativity Kuumba

January 1 Faith Imani

For further information, you can find more facts at the Apples for the Teacher website.