Introduction

Five Steps to Your Next Job is a practical guide for job search and career development. I will share with you the knowledge and experiences I have acquired as a job-hunter; as a business manager responsible for hiring employees; and as an executive recruiter engaged in finding management talent for client organizations. My goal is to help you move towards your career objectives, and to turn your dream job into reality

As I look back upon my most memorable experiences, they were as a result of dreaming about the things I wanted to achieve. At the time I had those thoughts, my dreams seemed impossible to accomplish. When I thought more about those dreams and how to turn them into reality, they came within reach. The distance between a dream and reality becomes short when you start to focus on how you are going to accomplish what you want. J.P. Morgan, the great industrialist, once said “Go as far as you can see; when you get there, you will be able to see farther”.

I am going to share with you some of the techniques I have used to achieve what I desired. There are many different ways that have been used by others to get what they wanted. I want to encourage you to reach for and accomplish whatever your heart desires, and in that process learn from everyone around. Grasp whatever knowledge and ideas are available. Do not look for shortcomings in others, but look for areas of strength you can cultivate.

You need a clear vision of your destination before you can get there. To find your dream job, you have to clearly define that job and lay out the path to get there. Some people know their dream jobs instinctively. They have a clear vision in their minds of what they want, they develop plans to get there, and they reach their destination. Others have to make efforts of varying degrees to identify the jobs they want. Some do extensive research of career descriptions to find what they want, some take career aptitude tests, some try to mirror the careers of their heroes, and some complete a variety of exercises to find the jobs most suited to their skills, qualities and interests.

There is no such thing as an ideal job that is good for everyone. Each of us has different skills, qualities and aspirations. The ideal job does not necessarily mean becoming President of a company or making a lot of money. While one person may dream of starting and building a large business another may dream of becoming a successful teacher. Ideal jobs are specific to individuals. What one dreams to become may be a useless pursuit in the mind of another person. The important thing in career planning is to remember to move in the direction of your dreams. The person who is following the direction of one’s dreams will always be satisfied by the work environment while another who is working just to pay bills cannot wait for the next weekend or day off from work.

You should do whatever you can to step into your dream job. It will allow you to be yourself on the job. You will do well in a dream job because it will reflect your personality and values. You will feel fulfilled and achieve something dear to your heart. Because a dream job is a reflection of your skills and talents, you are likely to achieve more. Your dream job will keep you excited and motivated. It will allow you to do what you enjoy doing. It will make you feel good because you are doing something you enjoy, and make valuable contributions. You will wake up each morning looking forward to the work day ahead rather than waiting for it to be over. It will provide you with a sense of fulfillment. It will enable you to do the work you love. It will allow you to utilize your unique skills and talents. And, it will give you a sense of accomplishment. 

MY OBJECTIVES

I have the following four objectives for writing this book:

1. Explain the job search process: Most of the book is devoted to the job search process, and provides a framework based on my own experiences as a job-hunter, as a business manager, and as an executive recruiter. Chapter 1 is an overview explaining how to plan and implement a job search campaign. Chapters 2-6 discuss each of the five major steps in the job search process: Skills and Job Interests; Resume and Cover Letters; Contacting Potential Employers; Job Interviews; and Job Offer Negotiations.
2. Provide tips for using the Internet: The Internet is becoming an increasingly important resource for job seekers to find job openings, conduct research, get job search help, and apply for jobs. Chapter 7 describes the Internet Resources available for job search and career development; many websites for job-related information are listed in this chapter.  
3. Discuss strategies for career development: Chapter 8 provides techniques and strategies for maximizing your professional success. While a job may be short term, a career is always long-term. A career consists of a variety of jobs, with each job usually leading to a position of higher responsibility. I have described in this chapter how I was able to get my ultimate dream job. That search enabled me to start an executive search firm, and gave me the best job of my life.
4. Suggest a framework to build a solid foundation: The Appendix includes a description of what I learned from a stunning setback when I was just 14 years old. The lesson I learned from that adversity quickly turned me from a poor student to a good performer. What I learned at the age of 14 became a springboard for my life as a student, and has remained a guiding principle throughout my business career.

All of us have unique strengths. The moment we are able to identify these strengths and find a career suited to them, we are well on our way to becoming successful and making great contributions. I have included some suggestions to find your strengths and unleash your potential. The book provides a description of the various job search tools and techniques. As a business manager, I have interviewed hundreds of candidates and observed what makes some candidates more successful than others. As an executive recruiter for ten years, I interacted with hiring managers from a variety of companies and learned how they select their employees.

I know from personal experience that the candidates who get hired are not necessarily the ones who can do the best job. The jobs often go to those candidates who know the most about the job search process. This book will help you gain that knowledge.

Narinder K. Mehta

P.O. Box 547

Dover, MA 02030-0547

E-mail: nkmehta@aol.com