Jay A. Block > Quotes

“To drive the point home, here’s one more story. And, as a matter of fact, this person’s story is legendary. He wanted a job, and that job was to become president of the United States. His business failed in 1831. He was defeated in his run for the Illinois State Legislature in 1832. His second business failed in 1833. He suffered a nervous breakdown in 1836. He was defeated in his run for Illinois House Speaker in 1838, and for his run for Congress in 1843. He was elected to Congress in 1846, but lost renomination in 1848. He lost his bid to the U.S. Senate in 1854, for vice president in 1856, and again for the U.S. Senate in 1858. Finally, in 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected president of the United States.”
― Jay A. Block, 101 Best Ways to Land a Job in Troubled Times

“When I was terminated in 1992, I had no money, no savings, and no idea what I wanted to do for a living. But I had studied too many people who went from poverty to millionaire and billionaire, including Oprah, Sylvester Stallone, JC Penney, Colonel (Harland) Sanders, Henry Ford, and Ray Kroc, the man who transformed McDonald’s into an international household word. Now that I had an exciting goal to become a marketing consultant for people, I knew that my success depended less on what resources I had than how resourceful I could be.”
― Jay A. Block, 101 Best Ways to Land a Job in Troubled Times

“Values come from the heart and are immutable at the moment. Yes, they may change tomorrow, a month from now, or a year from now. But at this moment, your signature values are something you feel so strongly about; they can’t be changed or compromised. In fact, they determine how happy you are at any moment in your life. And the word signature means that you have a hierarchy (a prioritized list) of values that are yours and yours alone. The only way you can find joy in life and in your career is to know what your signature values are and then to work hard living harmoniously with them. For instance, if you value health and are not healthy physically or emotionally, you can’t be happy. If you value financial independence and are broke, you can’t be happy. If you value a loving relationship and you are in a toxic and unhealthy one, you can’t be happy. If you value peace of mind but experience constant stress, you can’t be happy.”
― Jay A. Block, 101 Best Ways to Land a Job in Troubled Times

“Don’t cave in. It’s easy to get distracted. It’s easy to let influences pull you away from your structured weekly schedule in pursuit of your goals. Discipline and resolve will lead to your next job. Don’t cave in on the high expectations you establish for yourself when you set the bar high (above in Principle #1).”
― Jay A. Block, 101 Best Ways to Land a Job in Troubled Times

“2. The Core Strengths Messages Once you have identified your Ultimate Results messages, you have only to determine your six to eight core strengths that would lead a hiring manager or prospective employer to believe you can produce the Ultimate Results. Core strengths would include skills, qualifications, and talents you have that make you valuable and that are the most important criteria for the job as perceived by the prospective employer. The Core Strengths messages are messages that communicate those specific skills and qualifications that you will use in your day-to-day activities to produce results and meet or exceed company performance standards.”
― Jay A. Block, 101 Best Ways to Land a Job in Troubled Times

“So as you begin your journey to secure a new opportunity, you must embrace two critical components: Adopt a healthy and positive outlook about how best to cope with and work through your job loss, as well as any of life’s other unexpected bumps in the road. Master the 10 principles of success and the four emotional channeling techniques I will introduce later in this chapter to help you maintain a positive, healthy state of mind.”
― Jay A. Block, 101 Best Ways to Land a Job in Troubled Times

“Be realistic. You want to set the bar high but not so high that your goals are merely impossible dreams. Don’t ever settle for less, but be realistic when setting the bar high, especially when it comes to timelines and deadlines. In most cases, there are no such things as unrealistic goals, just unrealistic timetables for their achievement.”
― Jay A. Block, 101 Best Ways to Land a Job in Troubled Times

“A CEO To increase global presence, product mix, and market share to improve and maintain shareholder earnings and value Mergers and acquisitions Reengineering and change management International corporate leadership experience Visionary strategist; identify and pursue new growth opportunities Board member and shareholder relations management Developer of world-class teams to achieve world-class results MBA from Oxford in international business Skilled in raising capital for growth and expansion”
― Jay A. Block, 101 Best Ways to Land a Job in Troubled Times

“Principle #10: Take Action: The Miracle Principle All the planning in the world, all the processes, models, and strategies for landing a job in a troubled job market, means absolutely nothing unless fueled by action. It is sometimes said that the road to Hell is paved with good intentions, but the road to your next job is paved with activity and positive action.”
― Jay A. Block, 101 Best Ways to Land a Job in Troubled Times

“When I began writing my first book in 1994, one naysayer told me I had a better chance of going to the moon than getting a book published! The most important lesson I learned back then was that anything was possible if I was committed to it. This is a valuable lesson for you. Anything is possible for you if you are committed to your goal. You must not give anyone permission to rob you of your dreams or let anything get in the way of attaining your true potential.”
― Jay A. Block, 101 Best Ways to Land a Job in Troubled Times

“For example, suppose you are seeking a job as a retail manager. You might bring added value by being fluent in English, Spanish, and French. Being trilingual may not be part of the job description but can be a valuable asset when working with diverse employees and customers who speak Spanish and French. This Value-Added message may tip the scale in your favor. Possibly you are seeking a job as a fifth grade teacher. If you are an expert in computers and computer programming, these skills may not be part of the job description but might be perceived as having high value to an academic institution. If you are an expert electrician, but you are also highly skilled in sales, this added value of contributing to new business development efforts might be the differentiator, the added skill that will help you land a job quickly in tough markets.”
― Jay A. Block, 101 Best Ways to Land a Job in Troubled Times

“I learned that if I didn’t plant in the spring, I’d have to beg in the fall. I learned that with everything in life, including my career, I had to plant the seed of achievement so I could reap the rewards. I learned that I had to plant seeds of new ideas, new beliefs, and new commitments every day in order to find happiness and meaning in a new career and in my life. The same philosophy is true for you!”
― Jay A. Block, 101 Best Ways to Land a Job in Troubled Times

“One of the habits that Dr. Stephen Covey discusses in his book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is, “Seek first to understand, then to be understood.”
― Jay A. Block, 101 Best Ways to Land a Job in Troubled Times

“Guideline #5: Select your vocabulary with meticulous care. Did you increase sales or orchestrate explosive growth in revenues? Did you provide good levels of customer service or unparalleled levels of quality customer service? As a receptionist, did you merely greet people, or were you the manager of first impressions? Are you a good problem solver, or can you resolve complex technical issues professionally and expeditiously? Words are power, and keywords and phrases are powerful agents for eliciting the right emotions to enthusiastically engage prospective employers to want to read your document. Well-chosen words can be the difference between an interview and a missed opportunity, so select your words and messages with painstaking precision.”
― Jay A. Block, 101 Best Ways to Land a Job in Troubled Times

“Differential factor. When you strategically develop your value-based résumé, you will define the differential factor. The differential factor represents highly valuable skills, qualifications, and other employment assets that set you apart from other qualified candidates, that make you STAND OUT. Oftentimes, the differential factor is what tips the hiring scale in your favor! For instance, if you have an industry-wide reputation, your reputation might be the differential factor. If you are a black belt in Six Sigma, that may constitute the differential factor. A number of years ago, I coached a chief financial officer who worked for a legendary golf professional. Having worked for a famous golf professional was the differential factor because many hiring managers found it unique and intriguing to interview (and hire) someone who worked for a celebrity. Perhaps you are bilingual; this may represent the differential factor. When you identify the differential factor, you’ll provide your job campaign with a distinct advantage in landing a job quickly in the toughest of job markets.”
― Jay A. Block, 101 Best Ways to Land a Job in Troubled Times

“The challenge for most people is they simply aren’t aware of their signature values. They don’t know what makes them happy! When you drive a car and are holding the steering wheel, doesn’t the steering wheel move back and forth continuously while the car is in motion even when you are going straight? The reason the steering wheel is always moving is because the car is always trying to go off course. If you don’t continually move the steering wheel, you’ll crash! The same is true for your life and your career. If you don’t continually control the values that determine your happiness, you’ll crash and burn emotionally! Every emotion you feel, every decision you make, and every action you take is guided by your values. And here’s what’s exciting about your values. Though you may have 20, 30, or more values, there are only about 6 to 8 that make up 90 percent of your happiness. This means that when you identify your top 6 to 8 values and place them in a hierarchy of importance, you will then know precisely what makes you happy.”
― Jay A. Block, 101 Best Ways to Land a Job in Troubled Times

“Door opener.” Value-based résumés open the right doors. Exciting, well-presented, value-based résumés open doors of opportunity that otherwise would not open for you. Your résumé will race to the top of the pile because it bellows out to employers, “This is what I can do for you—why I am a good fit for your company and the best candidate for the job.”
― Jay A. Block, 101 Best Ways to Land a Job in Troubled Times

“An effective way to determine the Ultimate Results messages is to answer the following questions: If you were to be hired today, what specific performance standards will you be measured on at your first annual review—a year from now? You get paid for producing results, so what results will you produce that will indicate to a company that you are the best candidate for the job? When you answer these questions, you’ll have your Ultimate Results messages.”
― Jay A. Block, 101 Best Ways to Land a Job in Troubled Times

“A Sales Professional To significantly increase sales, expand market share, and provide unparalleled levels of customer service to contribute to organizational growth and profit objectives Perform in-depth market analysis and create growth plans Lead generation, networking, and relationship building Demonstrate high-impact presentation and closing skills Assess client needs, and effectively overcome objections to sale Establish new territories and turn around underperforming ones Initiate new product/service launch Identify and capitalize on new and existing business opportunities Provide groundbreaking levels of customer service”
― Jay A. Block, 101 Best Ways to Land a Job in Troubled Times

“Principle #1: Personal Responsibility: If It’s Going to Be, It’s Up to Me The two major causes of underachievement are blame and excuses. Sadly, few people seem willing to take personal responsibility these days. Taking responsibility means accepting any type of wind that might blow, knowing that it’s not the wind, but rather the set of the sail that makes the difference between unemployment and gainful employment, between remaining in a stressful job and securing the perfect job.”
― Jay A. Block, 101 Best Ways to Land a Job in Troubled Times

“Guideline #11: Embellish at your own risk. In troubled economic times and during periods of high unemployment, many job seekers will embellish or outright lie on their résumés to secure employment. Employers are well aware of this. Many companies will terminate the interview or your employment if they discover you lied on your résumé. Yes, you have to be resourceful and aggressive to get your foot in the door. But keep in mind that today employers are conducting extensive background and reference checks more than ever before. If you lie on your résumé to get your foot in the door, chances are when they find out, you’ll get the boot.”
― Jay A. Block, 101 Best Ways to Land a Job in Troubled Times

“CHAPTER 4 SUMMARY: BEST WAYS 71–80 71. When it comes to ensuring your family’s financial well-being, and securing a meaningful and rewarding job, you need to create a written action plan or a MAP (Meticulous Action Plan). 72. When you create a MAP, you are actually programming your own “employment GPS” so you can go from where you are to where you want to be. 73. When you’re done developing your action plan, you’ll have a highly structured schedule of activities for each day of the week. This includes your job transition campaign as well as your personal, social, and fitness activities. 74. If you are unemployed, you should invest 50, 60, or 70 hours a week on your job campaign. If you have a full-time job, you need to set aside a defined number of hours every week as your investment in your future. 75. Whether you are employed and looking for a better job or out of work seeking a new one, you must hold yourself fully accountable for putting in as many hours as possible and getting the most out of every hour you put in. 76. The first question you will need to address is, how many hours a week will you commit to your job transition campaign? Then, based on the number of weekly hours you’ll invest in getting a new job, your next step is to break weekly hours down into daily hours. 77. There are 13 primary job transition strategies for landing a job in troubled economic times. Your job is to determine which 4 to 6 strategies will be most effective for you. a. Networking and contact development b. Target marketing (identifying companies you want to work for) c. Internet searches and postings d. Federal jobs e. Search firms and employment agencies f. Blogs with job listings g. Classified advertisements in newspapers and trade journals h. Job fairs i. College placement departments and alumni associations j. Workforce System and One-Stops k. Volunteer work l. Job transition strategists m. Creative self-marketing 78. Once you have identified which job transition strategies will work best for your campaign, determine when, during the week, you will work on each. You want to create a structured weekly schedule. When you create a structured weekly schedule, you will have a detailed plan with specific daily tasks both for your job campaign and for personal and social activities. 79. Once you have a structured weekly schedule, you must set goals that you want to achieve from your weekly activities. A MAP without specific goals is not an effective plan. You will want to set specific goals for each strategy so you can track your success or modify the MAP if you are not achieving your weekly goals. 80. Prepare for the worst-case scenario. It is vitally important to remain in a positive, optimistic, and enthusiastic state of mind. But sometimes your plan won’t come to fruition as quickly as you’d like. So expect the best, but plan for the worst. This would include looking at your long- and short-term finances and health and other issues that need to be addressed to free you up to concentrate on getting your next job.”
― Jay A. Block, 101 Best Ways to Land a Job in Troubled Times

“Celebrate. When you achieve goals, celebrate! You work hard to achieve your goals, so when you achieve your weekly objectives, celebrate. If your goal is to send out 50 résumés a week and you meet that goal, celebrate even though you haven’t landed a job yet. You are celebrating the achievement of sending out 50 résumés. When you celebrate, you appreciate and honor your own efforts. And when you begin to fully appreciate your own efforts, you will begin to achieve the goals to which you aspire.”
― Jay A. Block, 101 Best Ways to Land a Job in Troubled Times

“Dear Mrs. Wellington: I am interested in applying for the position with Beachwear International as Purchasing Manager and have enclosed my résumé for your review. I am certain that I can be a valuable asset to your team and meet and exceed the goals and objectives for this position. I respect your time and feel confident that my value, past achievements, and ability to contribute are well outlined in my résumé. If you feel, as I do, that I would be a significant member of your professional staff, I would welcome an interview at your earliest convenience. Thank you for your consideration, and I look forward to hearing back from you.”
― Jay A. Block, 101 Best Ways to Land a Job in Troubled Times

“The irony is that if you’re like most people, you allow everything and everyone, except you, to determine what you are feeling. Said differently, you allow external influences to dictate your emotions.”
― Jay A. Block, 101 Best Ways to Land a Job in Troubled Times

“Principle #5: Discipline: Without Discipline, Nothing Is Possible Discipline is the bridge between employment and unemployment, between underemployment and meaningful employment. Discipline means doing those things that others aren’t willing to do and hanging in there long after everyone else has let go. Discipline is the foundation upon which all success is attained. An abundance of discipline leads to an abundance of job offers! In reality, you have one of two life-changing choices to make: to employ discipline today to achieve your job objectives or neglect to employ discipline at the expense of your goals.”
― Jay A. Block, 101 Best Ways to Land a Job in Troubled Times

“COVER LETTERS Most people today, including hiring authorities, are living a high-stress life. They are being bombarded by e-mail, voice mail, U.S. mail, and junk mail. They take calls from cell phones, business phones, and home phones, not to mention the demands for attention from many other voices. Most HR managers, executive recruiters, and hiring managers are placing less and less importance on cover letters. Yes, they are still a part of the process, but they play a less significant role.”
― Jay A. Block, 101 Best Ways to Land a Job in Troubled Times

“Emotional Channeling Technique #1: Ask Courageous Questions”
― Jay A. Block, 101 Best Ways to Land a Job in Troubled Times

“Here’s a fact that should grab your attention. If you don’t have ambitions and goals of your own, you’ll be destined to spend your entire life working hard to help others achieve their ambitions and goals at the expense of your own. Goals that are not clear are clearly not goals. What cannot be identified cannot be attained. So the starting place for helping you identify your next job or career opportunity is not by determining what kind of job you want to work at, but rather by determining what kind of life you envision for yourself and your family. Once that vision is clear and you are jazzed about attaining it, meaningful job and career options will appear.”
― Jay A. Block, 101 Best Ways to Land a Job in Troubled Times

“Principle #8: Fitness and Energy: Be Kind to Your Body; It’s the Only One You Have You are dealing with a high-stress challenge: getting a new job in a troubled economy requires massive amounts of energy. Both physical and emotional well-being are important to assure future success. Two strategies for intensifying your energy level and overall well-being are 1) proper nutrition and 2) consistent exercise.”
― Jay A. Block, 101 Best Ways to Land a Job in Troubled Times