What Colour Is Your Parachute Workbook

1. Your dream job is a unique intersection of skills, interests, and values

The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet.

The Flower Diagram. This powerful tool helps you visualize your ideal job by combining your favorite skills, interests, geographical preferences, people environments, values, working conditions, and desired salary. By completing each petal of the flower, you create a comprehensive picture of your dream job.

Discovering your unique intersection:

• Identify your transferable skills
• Explore your fields of fascination
• Clarify your personal values and goals
• Consider your ideal working conditions
• Determine your preferred geographical location
• Assess your desired salary and level of responsibility

By finding the overlap of these elements, you can target jobs that align with your unique combination of talents, passions, and priorities.

2. Identify your transferable skills through storytelling and self-reflection

Your skills are the most basic unit--the atoms-of whatever career you may choose.

The Seven Stories Exercise. Write seven short stories about times in your life when you felt a sense of achievement or enjoyment. Analyze these stories to identify the skills you used and enjoyed most. This process helps uncover your transferable skills – abilities that can be applied across various jobs and industries.

Skill identification process:

1. Write seven achievement stories
2. Analyze each story for skills used
3. Identify patterns across stories
4. Prioritize skills based on enjoyment and proficiency
5. "Flesh out" your top skills with specific examples and contexts

Remember, employers value not just the skills you possess, but how much you enjoy using them. Enthusiasm for your work often translates to higher productivity and job satisfaction.

3. Research and network to uncover hidden job opportunities

To meet up with employers, study what employers do, go where employers go, adapt your behavior to theirs.

The hidden job market. Many jobs are never advertised publicly. To access these opportunities, you need to proactively research companies and build relationships with people in your desired field.

Strategies for uncovering hidden jobs:

• Conduct informational interviews with professionals in your target industry
• Attend industry events and conferences
• Join professional associations related to your field
• Use LinkedIn and other social media platforms to connect with potential employers
• Research companies that interest you, even if they don't have current openings
• Volunteer or take on freelance projects to gain experience and make connections

By focusing on building relationships and gathering information, you position yourself to hear about opportunities before they're publicly announced and increase your chances of finding your ideal job.

4. Approach job hunting as a full-time commitment with multiple strategies

You must spend 35 hours a week, at least, on your search for one of the jobs that are out there.

Treat job hunting like a job. Dedicate significant time and effort to your job search, using a variety of methods to increase your chances of success. Don't rely solely on online job boards or sending out resumes.

Effective job search strategies:

• Networking (in-person and online)
• Informational interviewing
• Targeted company research
• Volunteering or interning
• Attending job fairs and industry events
• Utilizing career counseling services
• Joining professional associations
• Creating a personal brand and online presence

By diversifying your approach and consistently putting in the effort, you maximize your chances of finding the right opportunity. Remember, persistence is key in the job search process.

5. Tailor your approach to each employer and prepare thoroughly for interviews

The person who gets hired is not necessarily the best person for the job, but the one who knows the most about how to get hired.

Research is crucial. Before any interview or interaction with a potential employer, thoroughly research the company, industry, and specific role you're pursuing. This knowledge allows you to tailor your approach and demonstrate genuine interest and enthusiasm.

Interview preparation checklist:

• Study the company's website, recent news, and social media presence
• Understand the industry trends and challenges
• Prepare specific examples of how your skills match the job requirements
• Practice answering common interview questions
• Prepare thoughtful questions to ask the interviewer
• Plan your attire and route to the interview location
• Bring extra copies of your resume and any other relevant materials

Remember, the interview is a two-way street. It's your opportunity to evaluate if the company and role are a good fit for you as well.

6. Salary negotiation is a crucial skill for career success

Whoever mentions a salary figure first, generally loses.

Prepare for negotiation. Before discussing salary, research the typical pay range for the position in your industry and location. Understand your own financial needs and the value you bring to the employer.

Salary negotiation tips:

• Delay discussing salary until after you've received a job offer
• Let the employer mention a figure first if possible
• Consider the entire compensation package, not just salary
• Be prepared to justify your desired salary with specific examples of your skills and experience
• Practice your negotiation skills with a friend or mentor
• Be willing to compromise, but know your bottom line

Remember that negotiation is a normal part of the hiring process. Approach it professionally and confidently, focusing on the value you bring to the organization.

7. Consider self-employment as a viable career option

There are basically three ways for us to identify and find the kind of work that we are dying to do- our dream job: 1. Drift Into It. 2. Sort of Look for It. 3. Put In A Lot of Concentrated Hard Work, Using A Step-by-Step Process.

Entrepreneurship opportunities. Self-employment can offer flexibility, autonomy, and the chance to pursue your passions. However, it also comes with challenges and risks that should be carefully considered.

Steps to explore self-employment:

1. Identify your skills, interests, and potential business ideas
2. Research the market and potential demand for your products or services
3. Develop a business plan and financial projections
4. Network with other entrepreneurs and seek mentorship
5. Start small, perhaps as a side business while maintaining your current job
6. Continuously evaluate and adapt your business strategy

Remember that self-employment isn't for everyone, but for those with an entrepreneurial spirit, it can be a fulfilling career path.

8. Develop a personal mission statement to guide your career choices

Your Mission here on Earth is: to know God, and enjoy Him forever, and to see His hand in all His works.

Clarify your purpose. A personal mission statement can help you make decisions aligned with your values and long-term goals. It serves as a compass for your career and life choices.

Creating your mission statement:

1. Reflect on your values, passions, and strengths
2. Consider how you want to make a difference in the world
3. Identify the roles and relationships that are most important to you
4. Write a concise statement that captures your purpose and priorities
5. Review and revise your mission statement periodically

Your mission statement should inspire and guide you, helping you stay focused on what truly matters in your career and life.

9. Embrace change and continuously adapt your job search strategies

Change your strategy, find a job.

Flexibility is key. The job market is constantly evolving, and successful job seekers must be willing to adapt their approach. If one strategy isn't working, be prepared to try something new.

Adapting your job search:

• Regularly assess the effectiveness of your current strategies
• Stay informed about new job search tools and techniques
• Be open to opportunities in related fields or industries
• Consider temporary or contract work to gain experience and make connections
• Develop new skills to increase your marketability
• Seek feedback from mentors, career counselors, or trusted colleagues

Remember that a successful career is often built on a series of pivots and adaptations. Stay curious, remain open to new possibilities, and never stop learning.

Last updated: October 30, 2024