Today on MoneyLife with Chuck Bentley

Our guest today is career expert Brian Ray. Brian is the Founding Director of Crossroads Career Network, which helps people through decisive moments in their careers.

Brian's been helping people for 20 years. His ministry was born out of his work experience at Chick-fil-A. Brian wanted to help people who weren’t hired by Chick-fil-A find where they were supposed to be working instead. He wanted to help them find the work God had for them

Millions are unemployed, miserably employed, or nervously employed. Nervously employed are people who believe they could be looking for a job within a year. That's about 1/3 of America's work force in today's recession.

Brian has great advice for finding hidden jobs in a tough economy plagued by 9.4% unemployment.

Hidden jobs are ones that aren’t posted publicly. You have to hunt them down.

Usually a company that posts a job opening has others that aren’t posted

Networking is:

• Contacting someone who could refer you to someone who is hiring for a job you’re interested in doing
• Finding jobs through personal referrals
• Searching online is different than networking
• Networking is talking to people
• You should search online, network, and pray when looking for a job
• Prayer should undergird any job search
• You nNeed to have a plan for what you’re looking for but also be open to what God may bring to you as you search
• God’s plan for you may be different than your plan, His plan is always best

Jobs are hidden because:

• Eemployers want to hire people they know or someone who is referred by someone they know
• This saves the employer time in checking backgrounds
• Personal referrals allow less chance of making a mistake
• The candidate comes "pre-qualified"
• A personal referral makes a person 42% more likely to get the job they’re pursuing

There's a skill to networking but anyone can learn. Brian recommends you join Toastmasters if you’re introverted. It takes practice to become comfortable speaking to others socially, but many introverts find they enjoy the change.

When networking:

• Talk about how you’d like to help people through a certain job
• Put the focus on the positive of helping the company
• Don’t take rejection personally, rejection is usually about the employer

Personal referrals work in any industry. Being able to network will help you in any job. We should all be networking all the time. You never know what’s going to happen with your current job.

• Focus on building relationships with people and helping others
• You can never go wrong doing that, will help you and your company
• Be careful not use your current employer's time or resources for personal networking
• Start networking with family and friends to build up your confidence
• Find other networking, support, Christ-centered career groups for help, such as Crossroads Career Network
• Many churches sponsor groups as a ministry to their members and their community
• If you have some volunteers, it’s easy to get one started at a church
• Some groups are small, others are large
• When networking, never misrepresent yourself
• Be courteous, respect the time of others
• Be direct about your intentions

Brian has some great advice and I hope you'll follow it if you're looking for a job or a possible career change. Networking is difficult for many people. I believe it’s ok to actively network and help others network as long as you follow the Golden Rule.

When someone goes through a job loss, they are experiencing a personal economic crisis. There is shock and embarrassment sometimes. People don’t know who to talk to and it's a great opportunity to minister to them. As you minister to people like that you are building a network for yourself in case you ever need it.

If you encounter someone else who has lost a job, take it seriously and reach out to them. They need someone to love and care for them, to be genuinely interested in helping them. Offer to pray with them. Then ask how you can help.

Send out e-mail, and make phone calls on their behalf. Send an email to the person you’re trying to help to encourage them, let them know what you’re doing. And if they help you, thank them for it.

If you get a job first, don’t forget about them and leave them behind. Stay by their side, treat them the way you would want to be treated.

One opportunity for networking is to invite someone to listen to MoneyLife.

Before we close, let me just mention that summer is a great time of year for vacations and other family activities, but those distractions often cause a lag in support for many ministries. Crown is no exception.

Please consider becoming part of Crown's effort to teach biblical stewardship by making a gift online or by calling 800-722-1976. Thank you!

Choosing the Right Vocation

In choosing a vocation, Christians must weigh their priorities very carefully. When people are out of God’s priorities, they are out of His will.

• Read More

Job Loss

Dealing with lay off is not pleasant, but look at the lay off as an opportunity that can be conquered.

• Read More

Making Career Decisions

Most Americans need to unlearn the errors and then learn the truth regarding career decisions.

• Read More

Networking

The most effective method of finding a new job is through contacts—the people you already know or those who know the people you already know.

• Read More

Other Resources:

• ABCs of Money Package
• Career Direct
• God's Principles for Operating a Business
• Business By the Book
• Crown Mvelopes