HOW TO GET A JOB

How to Get a Job by Snake Blocker

Create a great resume and be honest.  You can get free resume samples, spreadsheets and advice on the internet.  About 85% of applicants are never considered because of their unprofessional resume or lack of resume.  Check spelling and account for all years.  Do not leave gaps in employment.  Cover Letters are a good additional but not always required.  Create a separate resume to focus on your strengths and experiences in that line of work.  You may have to create several resumes if you are applying for work in different industries.  Following up with the companies you applied for about every 2 weeks to check on status of resume and job openings; and state that you are willing to consider work in other areas of the company if there is an opening.  Put on your resume that you are willing to work any shifts, weekends and weekdays and you are willing to travel.

Dress to impress for the interviews and smell good.  No crazy haircuts or exposed tattoos or excess jewelry.  Shave your face (men) and for women wear a professional dress or slacks and don’t expose the breast.  Bring a black and red pen and blank yellow notebook paper and additional copies of your resume.   Make sure your shoes look sharp and black shocks (men).

Greet and smile a lot and make friendly conversation with the receptionist and other employees, but don’t talk too much or distract them from their work.  Keep the conversations short and simply.  Your smile will say a lot.

Apply for 3-10 jobs per day 7 days a week until you get a job.  Most of this time will be spent on the computer filling out applications.  Don’t worry if you do not qualify for the position, apply anyways for practice.  You never know when a company wants some fresh perspectives from folks with little experience in a particular field.  Most companies know they can teach someone in a short timeframe as long as that person is teachable and smart enough to pick it up.   Also if you have a good driving record, credit score and no criminal record you can get jobs that you have no experience with.  Many times companies will hire you and pay to send you to school, seminars, workshops, online courses, and/or on the job training.  And if you have a Security Clearance, HAZMAT certification, Class A or Class B drivers license, or other certifications or degrees your chances increase dramatically.   If you don’t have much education but you know how to count, speak English and aren’t lazy with manual labor you can still get jobs doing handyman and construction work, teach English as a second language or do inventory work.  You can get a job in the majority of countries just by teaching English classes with no other language skills or teaching skills.  I was offered a job in Thailand to teach English to the high school and/or college level students with no experience.  The pay seemed low but it was more than Engineers make in Thailand and I would be considered high-middle class for Thailand. 

While you’re applying for jobs, talk to new neighbors everyday and tell them you are available for any work they might have around the house and you will take whatever they can afford.  You can paint, do lawn work, pick up groceries, watch their children, house sit, dog (cat or any pet) sit, walk their dog(s), wash their dog or cars, pick up dog poop, or look after their elderly parents, etc…   If you are doing this then you can have work at least 5 days per week and have food money.  If they don’t have money to pay you, tell them to make you lunch or dinner and that will be payment.  Now you just saved $10-$20 for food for the day.  Sometimes neighbors and friends will give you both (money and food) or they might give you something that you can sell that they don’t want anyways.  You can also ask if they have anything to throw away that might be useable and you can take it off their hands.  Many people will give you extra things like electronics that work, lawnmowers, tools, bikes and other items lying in their garage.  You can have a garage sale or place these items on E-Bay.

Go through your stuff and see what items you can sell yourself on the internet or via yard sales.  This is free to do; it only takes your time.  E-Bay is easy to set up yourself and it will teach you step- by-step how to do it.  If you don’t have a computer, go to your local library and use their computers for free.

Read books everyday (non-fiction) and learn something new that you can add to your resume.  Again, the library is free.

Post that you are looking for work and post your credentials and skills.  Place “Looking for Work” ads on posting boards at your local shops and grocery stores.  Post on the internet with job sites (Monster Jobs and others).  Post a short comment on your Facebook, Myspace, Twitter and other social networks that you are looking for any kind of work.  If you don’t have these websites set up, set them up, they are all free. 

Apply for the military (active duty and reserve components).  If one turns you down apply for another branch.  Each branch has different requirements. 

If you don’t get a job offer after 100 resumes and applications then improve your resume and do more following ups and then continue to send another 100 resumes out.  If someone likes your work in the neighborhood they will recommend you to their friends for more work also.

Don’t be lazy! Don’t rely on Worker’s Comp or Welfare for more than 3 months.  God gave everyone talents, skills and abilities, so use them.  When you are not looking for a job, in your spare time, you should be volunteering in the community at places such as: local churches, the Red Cross, elderly homes, Big Brother programs, Boy Scouts, etc.  You will help many people plus you are networking so others know you and possibly offer you work with their company or around their house.

Apply for jobs like: oil/natural gas drilling, ocean fishing, and forestry work, fast food restaurants, mid and high end restaurants and even janitorial jobs.  If you have office skills and computer skills apply for assistant positions and secretary work.  If you don’t have computer skills get on a computer and start learning.  There are free resources on the internet.  These are good jobs to do part time or for a short period of time until you find a job you like better or that pays better.  You will rarely find your dream job the first time around so take whatever is offered in the meantime.  Don’t say things like “oh I could never do that” or “that job is beneath me.”  You know what—nothing is more beneath you than not having a job.  I respect the person that collects cans out of the garbage for money than the person on welfare, worker’s comp or un-employment.    

Why do people not get jobs?

The reason you don’t have a job:  no resume, no good resume, poor people skills, unprofessional, poorly dressed, lazy, not willing to work odd shifts, not willing to do manual labor, not willing to learn new things, and/or not willing to travel abroad.  Having a degree is the least of the reasons why people don’t get a job in the USA.

If your family doesn’t want to move or you don’t want to leave family or friends behind, then you need to suck it up and move anyways if you need a job.  You can always move back after you get back on your feet and a better job is offered in your hometown.

I’ve never met anyone my entire life that hasn’t landed multiple jobs by taking this advice and being proactive.  And no one has regretted it.  Saying that there are no jobs around is the same thing as saying you are lazy and unmotivated.   So be honest and don’t say there are no jobs; I would rather you just tell me you are lazy and unmotivated and at least I’ll respect you for being honest.