Socialising
Mike
being in the right place at the right time and socialising and I thought
the following 'happening' might be of interest to show how jobs can be
'landed'.
I have just finished replacing the front fence to my house and was
clearing up the tools when a small white van turned in the road
opposite. The driver saw me, recognised me from waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back,
parked and he came for a chat. The last time I saw him was when he
worked for the same Tool Hire firm as a rep.
"How long have you been with them now?"
'21 years'
"That long!! Where are you on the ladder now? Managing Director? Area
Divisional Manager?" (With tongue in cheek)
'Funny you should ask that now. I am Managing Director from Tuesday
because the owner wanted to retire so I bought the business from him'
THAT could have been an opening for me to ask about a job and THAT is
what I mean about socialising. I remembered him from way back, we
chatted then about things and we carried on yesterday discussing
Families etc etc etc.
Cost me nothing, but there was an opening for me to ask.
What sort of job?
Don't know. Driving, Counter Staff, Office work, Stores, Workshop
Repairs????????
Be nice to people, socialise and chat and always have a smile on your
face :-))
Accept advice even if it hits a raw nerve and if you ARE going to start
your own business, remember, you never know who you are talking to. It
might be a relative of a competitor, so don't run them down. Listen to
what other people say about them and listen to their complaints and
learn by them.
Since posting on this newsgroup, I have received some lovely emails
asking me just what I did with my life, that it is so full now!!!
Besides working for some very good organisations I have worked for some
pratts who have a very short fuse, and I worked for myself. Built a
business up with 2 factories and 26 staff, then Maggie came along :-((
Now retired I am advisory to a 'New Business Group' in my area and might
even manage to get my book out 'The New Business Minefield'. Full of
stories of what NOT to do in business and why not to do it. There are
many books out on how to start up a business, but none tell you what not
to do and why not to do it. For example, you are starting up as a Window
Cleaner (nice and simple to prove the point) You DON'T take a full page
advert in the local paper. Why?
Cost for one thing and the other is say you have 50 replies from as far
afield as 15 - 20 miles, an awful lot of travelling time there :-(( That
alone will push your hourly rate up. What do you do? Postcards in the
windows of your chosen area. What is better, 1 job on the doorstep or 10
jobs which involve say 100 miles of travelling and you will only be able
to charge the 'going rate'?
All sorts of stories.
One person has asked if I can look over his 'Business Plan'. Yes, that
is what I do 'for the fun of it now', but giving serious answers at the
end.
Mike
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GREAT TRUTHS ABOUT GROWING OLD :
When you fall down, you wonder what else you can do while you're
down there.
Mike
<rum...@rumtub.demon.co.uk> writes
> For example, you are starting up as a Window
>Cleaner (nice and simple to prove the point) You DON'T take a full page
>advert in the local paper. Why?
>
Thank you for your email Adrian and yes I am aware that your Business is
a little more specialist than that of a Window Cleaner. I did point out
that this was a 'simple one to prove a point' and as yo say in your
email, you wouldn't advertise in the local paper either.
Adrian is a Chartered Electrical Engineer with a 'Lloyds Approved'
Certificate and wishes to become a 'Marine Electrical Commissioning
Engineer'
No the local paper, even a full page advert will be a complete waste of
time (depending on where he lives) Adrian will need to write letters to
the Editors of the Marine Press, not so much a 'Press Release' more of a
story of what he has done and what he has just been doing. Adrian
appreciates he has to travel so lots of letters must be written. The
Index of Brads in his local reference library will list Marine related
publications and their addresses. Such as Marina Management
International, (well why not? Ship Owners keep their Yacht somewhere!!),
Marina Management International, (if Adrian is prepared to travel World
wide), Marina Advertiser, (This may have to be in the form of a Press
Release or they may try to flog advertising space ), Marine
Conservation, (Pollution free Diesel Engine Generating and Alternating
sets?), Marine Engineers Bulletin, (Marine Engineers and Marine
Electrical Engineers work hand in hand), Marine Engineers Review (here I
would go to town on singing my skills and expertise with all the types
of Marine Business I have been involved in, from Fast Ferries built to
other specifications such as DNV besides the Lloyds bit, to Cargo ships
etc), Marine Engines, (might be useful if advice is going to be given on
Generating/Alternating sets which are going to be coupled to specific
engines) and so on picking out the important ones first.
A very important aspect is pricing (and I have pointed this out to
another poster who does not like to receive advice). If Adrian is going
to Poland for example to Commission a ship, who pays for what and when?
Does he go out there and look at the job and THEN discuss the fee? Of
course not. But this is a too bigger factor to discuss here and I would
be pleased to help out.
So the newsgroup is uk.jobs.fortyplus!! The fortyplus are sitting on a
wealth of information and experience. Many of you emailing me admit this
but have not got the first bit of interest in starting your own
business, they just want a job working for someone else. Getting a job
'IS' a business and must be treated as such. 'You' have got to sell
yourself just as a businessman sells his line, BUT, don't oversell
yourself. Just as a Car salesman's patter about the 0 - 60 and the BHP
would fall on the deaf ears of a little old lady wanting to buy a banger
to get to church on a Sunday, so would his brief patter of 'a nice
little runner even if it has got a few dents, but it has had only one
owner' if he were trying to sell a 36K BMW.
Interviews are an experience, whether for a job or for business. You are
selling you. A book which may be useful is one called 'The Five Great
Rules in Selling' by Percy Whiting. Don't know if it is still available
and whilst it is aimed at the salesman, you are selling you and could
gain an immense amount out of it.
Tony, whilst your interview was short and sweet and still not what you
wanted, you have gained out of it. Good luck next Wednesday. Fingers
crossed again for you.
Mike