WinWin
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I'd appreciate any help and advice from fellow Fastlane members, anything to get me going in the right path to a fullfilling life and career!
OK, here is my 2 cents worth of advice.
The problem:
You are 20 years old and located in Israel. You really, really need non-dead end job so that you can survive and then later-on launch your fastlane plan.
Suggestions:
First of all, change your mindset from “I really, really want a good job” to “I am a good, sincere and capable individual who can help any type of businesses to achieve their goals, by using my skills in the best possible way”. With this new mindset you will definitely be able find much better jobs.
Unless someone is born with a silver spoon, most fastlaners need to go through an employee phase before they can get into fastlane. So, here is the list of items I can suggest.
If you really need a job to survive, then accept the first crappy job comes on your way. If you can, take the one which offers some kind of late shift work so that you will have part of your day free for finding a better job. As suggested by Runum, don’t consider it as a job; instead take it as a paid apprenticeship to learn as much as about running a business. Be the best employee you can even if the job is real crappy. At least you will get good reference or job leads for your next job.
Now, start from your assets – do a skill inventory:
- What skills do you have that you can offer to your potential employers? Most anybody can work in a fast food chain such as McDonalds. So I hope you have some skills far above that level – since you expect to be paid better. Now, list all of your skills and then think about the type of employers who will be able to use such skills.
- From your post, I can see that you have good communication skills. As an employee, a person who can communicate well is worth almost twice as much as a person who is not a good communicator. So this can be one of your good assets.
- Find small businesses that are run by their owners. A successful owner operated company will have the need for all kinds of skills. They may need people to make cold calls, do customer support, setup their computers, maintain their network, create good presentations, write their marketing materials, send out marketing materials etc, which a hardworking person can easily do.
- Make a list of such successful locally owned companies. Learn as much as about those companies using the Internet. What do they sell? What skills they need? And try to match your skills to the needs of that company. If you can, find the name of the owner of the company.
- Write a detailed letter (not a resume) describing your skills and the needs of the company as you have gathered during your research. In the letter, show how you will be able to help the company (setup their network, maintain their computers, do cold calls, do customer support or what ever).
- Mail or hand deliver your letter to the owner and try to setup an appointment to talk.
If they are willing to give an appointment, then it is an indication that they need someone with your skills. - During the interview, be sincere. Let them know how much you have already learned about their business. Most owners will be impressed by your interest in their company. Describe how you will be able to help them to solve their problems.
- Think like the owner: Once you get your job (even if it is not paying as much as you want) try to tune to the needs of the owner. Help them achieve their goals and in no time you will also grow very quickly within that company – until you are ready to quit to start your own fastlane journey.
Good luck with your adventure.
Most of the above suggestions came from my experience, but the credit goes to What Color Is Your Parachute? 2009: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers: Richard N. Bolles: 9781580089302: Amazon.com: Books"]this book
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