I recently went car shopping and met an extraordinary young salesman named Rich. Well groomed, impeccably dressed, personable, and outgoing. He is extremely knowledgeable and knows everything there is to know about the cars he sells. I recognized that Rich was not your typical run-of-the-mill car salesman. I became curious about his background and how such a talented young man ended up in his position.
He explained that he had graduated from a good college in 2009 with a degree in economics. His dream job was to work at Morgan Stanley and to have a career in finance. Rich did everything he possibly could to make his dream a reality. It just so happened that his uncle worked at Morgan Stanley and while he did his best to get Rich a job there, they just weren't hiring like so many companies in this bad economy.
So, what was he to do?
Life had thrown Rich a lemon.
After scouring the job market, he finally found a job working at his current job for a high-end auto dealership. While it wasn't what he originally wanted and certainly not the job he wanted to stay in throughout his career, he decided it was a good position for him because he loves cars and likes working with people. He also realized that working for a large corporation would provide him with many opportunities for advancement. He knew that if he worked hard and proved himself he would eventually be recognized by his supervisors.
His strategy has paid off. He has gained a reputation for providing extraordinary customer service (I certainly can attest to this!). He explained that he has been introduced to a few upper level executives and his plan is to move up within the company as soon as the opportunity presents itself. In the meantime, it's obvious that he works diligently at elevating his on-the-job performance to the level of excellence.
So when life throws you a lemon and you can't get the job that you want because of these difficult times, how can you be like Rich and turn it into lemonade?
Use this strategy:
1) Research industries to find out where they're hiring (such as retail, health care, and security) - go to http://www.bls.gov/ for information
2) Find a job that incorporates your interests, even if it's entry level
3) Choose a place where there are opportunities for advancement
4) Become a valued employee by raising your performance to the level of excellence
5) Have a plan for moving forward - then follow the plan!
I predict that Rich is not going to be a car salesman for long. It's obvious that he's on the fast track to moving up in his career. If you follow his example, you too can be on the fast track to getting ahead in your career!
