Could you get a job fast if you had to?
In last week’s issue, I told you how to have the best chance to recession-proof your job. But unfortunately, you can’t control everything. Even the best employees aren’t completely safe during tough economic times. You have to accept that it could happen to you.
It is possible you could find yourself joining millions of people losing their jobs. Obviously, that’s not what you want, but you have to prepare for the worst-case scenario if you want to bounce back quickly.
So what do you do if you lose your job in a mass firing or a mass layoff?
First of all, do not follow the conventional “wisdom” about unemployment. Don’t apply for benefits, don’t sit on the couch applying to LinkedIn postings while watching your favorite Netflix series… don’t even consider yourself unemployed.
It’s behavior like this that traps people in “out-of-work” mode for years until they lose hope and become entirely dependent on unemployment handouts from the government. This is critical, don’t fall into that trap.
Instead, use these three tips to get back into the workforce as quickly as possible.
Tip #1 — Burn the ships
If you find yourself laid off, you may be tempted to throw up your hands and consider yourself “unemployed.” That’s the worst thing you can do. You’re not “out of a job”, you’re just transferring to a new one. Your new full-time job is finding your next job. Don’t fool yourself. You have plenty of work to do even if your employer hands you a pink slip.
If you get fired and want to get back to work as quickly as possible, you must burn the ships. Eliminate all possible options other than getting a new job right away. Sitting around isn’t an option. Feeling sorry for yourself isn’t an option. Treat unemployment benefits like the plague. Benefits might provide temporary relief, but they will not benefit you in the long run and could ultimately destroy your future job prospects.
And I wasn’t kidding about treating your job search like your new full-time job. You should be racking up massive overtime looking for your next opportunity.
You need to spend more time replacing the lost job than you spent working at the job you lost.
If you worked 40 hours a week at your old job, spend 50, 60, or 70 hours a week finding your new one. Take the attitude that getting a job is your urgent duty and obligation. This level of massive action can’t go unnoticed or unprofitable for long.
And be warned, many times you’ll hear from the unemployment line, “I can’t find a job because nobody is hiring.” That’s crazy. What’s happened is they’ve given up on searching for a job. Whenever people give up on something, they come up with excuses that explain why they can’t possibly have it. It’s the same thing here.
“Nobody is hiring” can easily translate to “I gave up trying hard enough.” And that’s why I advise that if you lose your job, stay away from other unemployed people, as they are likely to contaminate your attitude.
Remember that even if a lot of people get laid off, there are always companies looking for productive, solution-oriented people that can help their company grow. Just because unemployment is up doesn’t mean most companies have gone out of business. Adopt the attitude that you will find a job. It doesn’t matter how many other people are out of work or how many businesses “aren’t hiring,” you will get a job. Nothing else is acceptable.
This part of your journey will require some humility. Remember that any job is better than no job.
When I was on Undercover Billionaire, I got a heavy dose of humility. I went from “billionaire Grant Cardone” to “no-name Lewis Curtis” without connections, leverage, or reputation.
From there, I started from scratch. I went door-to-door looking for work. Then, I sold mattresses and I sold a beat-up truck. And I would’ve gone lower than that if I had to. Even if you have to take something you consider beneath you, it is better to stay connected in the workforce with less pay than disconnected from the workforce with unemployment benefits. You’ll always be better off asking for a hand up rather than a handout.
Put this into practice: Don’t take a day off. Don’t apply for unemployment. Immediately update your resume, LinkedIn, or other platforms employers would realistically want to see. Immediately request references from higher-ups in your old company. Start applying to jobs the same day you leave your current company.
Tip #2 — Trust nothing and no one — except you
In the last issue, I said that “job security is an illusion” and “your only true job security is your ability to produce.” There’s a similar dynamic in job hunting. Your only assurance of getting a job fast depends completely on your ability to do two things:
- Get in front of the right people — find out who knows the players in the company and get your story in front of the decision-makers. Do NOT rely on the HR department. Do everything you can to bypass them, even though this is not politically correct.
- Demonstrate how you create massive value — in an economic contraction, no employers are looking for free-loaders or dead weight. If you can’t convince them you’re a good investment, you’ll get nowhere.
Lots of job hunters completely overlook these two crucial points because they get hung up on all sorts of less important details of getting a job. For example, while your resume needs to be current and demonstrate your qualifications, you can’t count on it to get you a job.
Companies don’t hire resumes, they hire people.
Your resume, cover letter, and any other documents you provide can only check boxes, they don’t sell you. The only thing that sells you best, is you. So don’t put too much time or confidence into your resume.
It’s the same reason you can’t solely rely on other people to get you your next job. Referrals, headhunters, and recruiters aren’t your golden ticket. Other people already have a lot on their plate, they’re running their operations and thinking about their careers, not yours. You’re just a small detail in their world. And while getting help from others can be useful, none of them will do a better job at presenting you than you will. So go into this endeavor with the belief that you are the only one who will make this happen.
Because you are. This leads to the third and final piece of advice.
Put this into practice: for any application you send, reach out directly to at least 5 potential decision-makers at the company you applied to. Send them copies of your resume and explain you’re ready to meet immediately to explain how you can increase the bottom line.
Tip #3 — Sell yourself at all times to get a job fast
Just like how a business must sell to create revenue, you must sell yourself if you want to get hired. Get out of the mindset of “applying” and “interviewing,” that’s what average people do, so at best you can expect average results.
Instead, pivot your mindset to “selling.” Focus every fiber of your being at all times on how you can create value for someone else. This isn’t the time to haggle the best possible bargain for yourself. Don’t carry around an attitude of selfishness or pride. Always act out of a spirit of service, presenting yourself as a valuable asset to anyone you encounter in a professional capacity.
This brings up another critical point — get your pride in check… When you’re hunting for that next job, think about this: who you are is less important than how you are. The company doesn’t care that you’re you. They care that certain qualities you have will make them more money. Those qualities are what you need to highlight and demonstrate how you’ll profit from your new employer.
And always keep a positive and forward-thinking attitude.
The last thing an employer wants is somebody that’ll bring negative energy into their already-on-edge company. When you’re discussing employment, especially in an interview, focus on the positive and what lies ahead, do not talk about what you have done in the past. Talk about what you can do to create value for the company in the future.
Make big claims as to how you can positively impact the bottom line because, at the end of the day, the decision to hire you is all about revenue. Anyone who can sell their ability and willingness to do whatever it takes to assist in creating new money or saving existing money will always be desirable in any type of job market.
Put this into practice:
Make a list of your most valuable skills, and the top ways you create value for a business. Then connect them to a concrete way you could provide value to a new company you’re applying to. Write out at least three of them. Use them as the core elements of your sales pitch. (You could even use these in your direct communications with decision-makers. See Tip #2)
Don’t be fooled. If you’re ever laid off, it’s not a complete loss. Like every challenge, it’s an opportunity for you to find success in new ways. And if it happens, you need to take full advantage of that opportunity.
As I mentioned in the previous issue, part of working to keep your job is training every day, growing your knowledge, and expanding your skills.
If you’ve been laid off, it’s even more critical to do that. If you’re not actively hunting for jobs, you need to be spending your downtime training, studying, and honing a skill. The more value you can provide an employer, the more likely you’ll bounce back quickly.
If you apply these tips, I assure you that you will be employed. No matter what the state of the economy might be. I’m confident that if you go all-in on this, you could get a job in 72 hours (I wanted to say 36 hours but my team said nobody would believe me, so we’ll go with 72).
Just remember, if you lose your job, don’t lose your drive and purpose. Don’t fall into the typical unemployment traps. Stay productive, stay motivated, and find a new job as fast as you can. Massive challenges demand massive action. And massive action will give you massive results.
Be Great,
Grant Cardone
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