Jobs – Evolution

The Butcher, the Baker, and the Candlestick Maker – were jobs highlighted and immortalized in a famous nursery rhyme, Rub a Dub Dub, first published in 1798.  Town by town – these were widespread jobs of the day, and these three trades/professions required skills and talents and various personality traits to produce results.   These jobs are now less prevalent and have significantly evolved.  For instance, the advent of electricity and ever-improving light bulbs [thanks, Ben Franklin, Thomas Edison and many others] to minimize the functional use of candles.

Today’s jobs still require various skills and personality traits to yield results, and we call them – Success Attributes.  Our never-ending challenge is to understand these elements, add to them for both job/career progress, apply them to new roles, and communicate them when seeking a new job in your resume and when interviewing.

Yes, today’s jobs are different and evolving; and we are changing.  Let’s examine this evolution further.

The Butcher – As recently as the 1950’s, some of the largest companies in the Fortune 500 were titans such as Swift and Hormel, the Spam producer- companies in the meat packing industry.  Our local and corner grocery stores were frequently run by the butcher, and the meat department was the main attraction. Many of us can remember visiting the many neighborhood grocery stores – often owned and run by `the butcher’.  He also sold a variety of food and goods including our favorite sodas/pop and those packs of baseball cards (and bubble gum).    Chain grocery stores, microwaves, manufacturing efficiencies and fast food restaurants were among the many forces of change to the industry and to the butcher’s job (both in numbers and in role).  Today’s [fewer] butchers have become specialists in packaging, culinary cuts, and `sushi’.  The accomplished, successful ones also have developed and demonstrate their technical, customer service and communication skills as well as friendly, positive, and resourceful personality traits.

The Baker – Some of us can remember visiting the neighborhood bakery where we enjoyed the smells and samples.  Today, high-volume production and distribution by corporations keeps the loaves, rolls, and pastries in restaurants and on the shelves of large grocery stores as well as a multitude of convenience stores.  This has certainly reduced the number of local bakeries and traditional `baker’ jobs, today.  Specialty bakery enterprises still flourish – for special events and the aficionados of freshness and taste.  Today’s  successful bakers have developed both technical and interpersonal skills, perfected their creative talents, and worked hard with long hours and with a dedication to quality, excellence, and customer service.  These are also the required and transferable traits which are valuable in a variety of other production and service roles.

The Candlestick Maker – The `lighting’ jobs of today are varied and found at power plants, at bulb and tube facilities, and in a variety of installation and service operations.  They require very different technical skills and process and problem-solving skills as well as dependable and adaptable traits.  Only `specialty’ candle production for scents, special-occasion and seasonal products seems to rival the profile requirement of the candlestick maker job of yesterday.  Many have learned the new, different skills and adapted to produce, market, and serve in our `well-lit’ work and play and living environments.

What’s happening with your job and profession, today?

What are you doing to prepare and adapt for tomorrow?

Preparation Plus Other “Powerful P’s”

Job seekers will benefit by considering some “Powerful P’s”.

Preparation:  When you decide to seek another job, remember to plan.  Begin by researching the overall market, specific industries, and companies of interest.  The internet, newspapers and journals, and your network will provide insights.  Simultaneously, look in the mirror – assess your current condition and intentions.  Develop your Success Profile – your important traits:  talents and abilities; results and accomplishments; and personality.  Then develop examples and `stories’ about your top 3-5 unique ones for inclusion in your documents and upcoming conversations.  Also, develop an objective statement with specifics such as timing and other critical, desired outcomes.  To assist your preparation, we’ve developed a Monthly Action Plan – a new interview tool that many of you will be able to use effectively.  Please contact us for details.

Positive Attitude:  You have a choice – the choice of empowering yourself with self-confidence, and with self-assurance.  Why?  Remember, the importance of `first 10-second’ impression that’s made of you during a phone or in-person interview.  Additionally, your ongoing success will require your very best attitude in your ever-improving relationships with others.  You will be required to turn negatives into positives, handle objections, and learn from your setbacks.  This is also about praising when working with others (not criticizing them) and about being principled and dependable (not negative or erratic).

Persistence:  Many job-hunting experts speak about the lack of follow-through as the primary cause for not finding the new job.  When you meet others and expand your network, are you exchanging business cards and are you visiting and/or calling them to seek advice and contacts?  When interviewed, are you asking questions?  After the interview  are you sending a thank-you note (or e-card)?  When you get stalled by others, are you asking questions, seeking information and demonstrating your interest?  Are you making follow-up telephone calls?  Are you connecting with your References (your Job/Career Advisory Board) and asking for assistance, contacts, suggestions and support (and vice versa)?

Once prepared and embracing a positive attitude and persistence,  you’re ready to take action: begin calling, making contacts, and going for the job.

Avoid Procrastinating:  Today is the day to take action and remember – Beginning is half-done.  Start by defining and then accomplishing at least Five Daily Actions to get your job search going.  At the end of the day, check-off your accomplishments and write-down five for tomorrow.

Pursue your Potential!   Keep your eye on the prize – the new job that’s full of promise and possibility.