Jobs: Knack in Action!

Brenda Griffin Get A Job Expert

You never achieve real success unless you like what you are doing.  ~ Dale Carnegie

     What can bring more satisfaction than doing what you love?  When you enjoy things you do, you shine.  When you shine, you get noticed.  Getting noticed leads to opportunities!

     Yes, it is back to the knack.  The goal this month is to act on your knack action plan.  After all, it is one thing to know what you are good at, and another to start using your special talents!  While your ultimate goal may be to get paid for doing what you love, consider the idea that you don’t have to get paid to use your knack!  You can do what you love, right now, while you pursue your knack as a job opportunity.

     First, let’s refresh. The monthly Knack series started with taking time to know your knacks. First, the goal was to ponder your special talents, things you have a knack for doing.  These talents may hold the key to your next job opportunity!

     Creating a knack action plan followed. The goal was to list ways to investigate your knack. Some ideas included researching courses, networking, job shadowing, and learning more about how to use your knack in a work situation.

     Now you are onto the next step - putting your knack into action!  Actually using your knack and understanding the value of your talent is important.  Often people take their talents for granted!  They do not consider them as marketable skills that could lead to a job or career. This is particularly important if you experienced a lay-off and need to maximize your job options.

You don’t pay the price of success.  You enjoy the price for success.  ~ Zig Ziglar

     Often, the best place to use your knack is in volunteer or part time job settings. You can hone your skills, build your base of experience, and gain exposure. Here are a few examples:

Cooking.  Why not volunteer to put on a meal for a non-profit group?  There are plenty of opportunities for summer barbeques, catering holiday parties or helping out at special family functions.

Teaching.  Look for trade schools or colleges to teach part time. Substitute teach in local school districts, or volunteer to teach at a church. You could also work one-on-one with volunteering to teach adults or kids (like reading or a second language).

Sports.  A great way to be more active in sports is to volunteer to coach your kid’s sports teams. Other options include organizing a league or becoming a referee in your favorite sport.

Carpentry.  Help friends and neighbors with their projects around the house.  My friend Bill has a PhD in statistics and consults with industry yet loves his projects!

Animals.  Volunteer at shelters or vet offices. Pet-sit for friends and family. Join a birding club.

Writing.  Volunteer to write articles for newsletters for organizations you belong to or your current place of employment.

     For many people, their knacks stay at the hobby level. That is ok!  The best part about using your knack is that you enjoy the activity. These gifts come easy and add joy to life!