Help Wanted$$Helpful Tips

Here are some things to remember if you want to find and/or keep a job:

1. The very first and most important thing is your appearance. It's not how expensive your clothes are but how neat you look. Neatness is a sign of a person that is organized and committed to doing a job right. Grooming is an important part of your overall presence. For example...if you are ordering a hamburger at a fast food restaurant and a sloppy, ungroomed person waits on you, you would probably be checking your order for a stray hair. And who knows what part of that person's body their fingers have been scratching (whether they're wearing gloves or not)!

Neatness also reflects attitude. An unkempt person is more than likely an untrained person; someone who doesn't really care what you think about them. Someone that doesn't stand straight and never smiles has already told me (without saying a word) that they could care less about thier job, let alone what the customer wants.

2. Keeping your word. This is another subject that builds on a person's attitude. If you are working for someone you must have respect for them. Whether or not you think that person deserves it you must have the attitude that the position that person holds deserves respect. By keeping your focus on the 'position of authority' and not the person you won't have to deal with any emotional 'hang-ups' you may have toward that person.

You must keep your word with that person in authority. If you say that you will be somewhere at a certain time or you will do a particular job don't let anything keep you from accomplishing what you promised. I can't count all the people I have met over the years that have told me that I could count on them and then didn't come through. Their word means nothing to me. By the way; this is true in any relationship. I once had to stay awake all night to make sure I didn't oversleep for a new job I was starting because I didn't have an alarm clock.

3. Never give up. One of the hardest things to do when you are starting a job you have never done before is to keep from getting discouraged. Some people can pick things up the first time they try while others may have to be shown over and over before it clicks. There is a lesson to be learned for both types of people.

For the ones that grasp things quickly, the greatest obstacle is keeping focused because he/she will become bored easily which may lead to wasting time or getting involved with things that have nothing to do with their job. This type person can elevate quickly if they keep looking for the next task to master. The second type of person can become confused and discouraged quickly if they notice that others around them are catching on more quickly. This person needs to take the attitude that they will master their job no matter how long it takes; even if it means working overtime for nothing or practicing at home. It will come in time. And this person will stay focused more easily than the first type.

4. Ask hard questions. Before you seek out a position go to some close relatives/friends that will be honest with you. Tell them about the work you are planning to seek and ask them if there is anything about you that they think you should work on. They may be reluctant at first but let them know that it is vital that you know what others think about you. Many times we see ourselves in a different perspective than others may.

Every legitimate employer is looking for someone with good character. You need to know what character traits others see in you that are either good or bad. Your response needs to be a humble one. If you are told that you have certain strengths, don't pat yourself on the back; just be grateful. When a weakness is pointed out be careful not to react. That will only confirm that you are already aware if it and you don't want it pointed out. Beside this, your friend may close up and not be willing to share anything else for fear of losing a friend.

With this new information about yourself determine that you are going to work on making serious changes in order to become the type of person you really want people to accept.

5. Be a learner. You must always keep the attitude that the job you have is new every day and there is always something new to learn. One of the first jobs I ever had was in a grocery store. I didn't care for it much because there were people that always gave me a hard time. One day I was talking to a co-worker who was older than me and who I respected. I told him that it was my last day on the job because I was moving and I really didn't care what anyone thought of my work that day.

Forty years later I still remember what he told me. He said "Even if this is your last day, treat it as though you will be here the rest of your life". That was very good advice. Looking back on my life now I can see how those words influenced my entire future. I began to look at every job I did with a different outlook. The neatest thing is, I noticed a lot of changes taking place. I started seeing tasks with a whole new outlook. Rather than drudgery I found a challenge, almost like entering a contest that I wanted to win.

Another thing happened. Employers looked at me differently. After a while I noticed that I was beginning to be picked over others for advancement and the pay increased. But, it wasn't because I was better than anyone else, I wasn't. It was because I had a different attitude. When you begin to take each day as the only one you have and decide to make it the best one possible others will notice. People will say: I want that person around, not necessairly because they are the best but because they are honest, dependable and keep their word.

6. Stay clear of the negatives. Again, your personality plays a big part is being a valuable worker. If you are basically a positive type it's hard to keep you "down" for any length of time. But if you are more of the pessimist it may not take much to get you "in the dumps". Be careful to watch your own responses. For example, if you are trying to impress an employer, don't say negative things about others: how they do their work or what they may have said.

You may be thinking this is a way to get in good with "the boss" but in reality you are telling him that you can't be trusted. Even if someone is doing something obviously wrong, it's better to go directly to that person and humbly confront him/her. They may not like you but they will respect you. Never assume that you are right and they are wrong. You may not have all the facts. If a person doesn't accept your confrontation take another person along to verify the facts.