For the past two weeks I have been working with people who keep telling me what they can’t do!

I can’t get a job?

I can’t lose weight?

I can’t work out what to do?

Argue for your limitations and they are yours.

Who said that? Richard Bach?

Correct me but don’t try and correct the logic

I have a good friend David who has exceptional sales skills at a very senior level and he has decided to look for new work.

He saw an ad on Seek entered by a Tier 1 recruitment agency and called them. I asked him what he said and he replied;

“I indicated my interest in the role and then asked if he would mind me telling him briefly about my background to see if it was appropriate for me to apply for the role.

I did that and the recruiter said I was well qualified and he gave me his personal email for me to send my resume.

I asked for a clarification of salary and also the seniority of the role and I was happy with his response.

I then asked what the process would be and also the timeframe for him to get back to me.

I should hear from him in just over a week”

Perfect!

This is so easy for a Sales oriented person and so often difficult for a technical person to do but if you follow David’s approach you won’t waste the recruiter’s time or yours. That first engagement is very important and please do not start with “can you tell me about the role please?”

Having said all that, you never know whether the recruiter already has someone in mind and the client has asked him to check and see if there is a standout person in the market so always try and work your contacts; that way you are in control of your circumstance.

Send me an email if you need coaching

OK, so you are mid to late in your career.

What are your most Marketable Skills?

Make a list today and measure them against what you are doing in your current work.

Are you fully utilising your skills or are you coasting?

I used to train with a 75 year old man who was still setting goals in the gym. He pushed me along four times a week and each month produced a new program for us with new challengers.  He was so alive! I couldn’t keep up.

So, push yourself, set some goals and you might be surprised how much fun working is again.

Need a hand, email today

So, you are in your last decade of work.

On retirement, will you be able to support yourself for 30 more years?

What could be done now to extend your working life?

Is there a need for training/education in this area?

If you could change something in your work now what would it be?

Would a shorter week extend your career?

Have you considered self employment and if so what?

Does the organisation you are working for have a retention strategy for middle aged employees?

Email me your thoughts

An amateur racing car driver friend told me when he was racing at Philip Island, he was on the straight and it was foggy so he could not see over the hill. He slowed, and was passed quickly by several cars; this bothered him and he wondered if his racing career was over?

I heard a metaphor, and asked him if the same thing was happening in his career? Was he concerned with what might be over the hill?

The answer was yes. And I asked if he planned to discuss the issue with his boss or HR and he just laughed and said, “you must be kidding, they would bench me.”

A question to organisations, if we are going to lose a vast number of experienced people to retirement in the near future then how do we engage with them in trust so that we might extend their working life which might assist in the expansion plans of your company?

I have some ideas, give me a call or email me today.