Sital Ruparelia

Whether you like it or not – you, me and everyone else is in the “sales” business.

Unless you can sell yourself, sell your team and sell your business – you’re likely to be in trouble in the modern economy and work place.

Yet most people find the very thought of “selling” awkward and uncomfortable.

But it need not be.

When you take an ethical approach to sales you’re not actually “selling” – but in fact “helping” and providing value.

Use the 5 questions below to engage in conversation, understand the needs of the person in front of you – and then offer to help them:

“5 Magic Questions” 

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One of the first lessons I was taught when I began learning comedy improvisation 5 years ago was the principle of “being average and having lots of goes.”

Because it’s your willingness to be average, have lots of goes and make mistakes that ultimately helps you succeed on stage.

Not only does this principle apply when performing on stage without a script. It also applies to many aspects of our life and work too.

For example, just think about the 5 phases you go through when learning to cook a meal:  

1. You have a go (you cook something)
2. You fail (burn it or make a tasteless dish)
3. You learn from the failure (identify why you burnt it or why it was inedible)
4. You implement the learning (adjust your cooking approach)
5. You have more goes until you improve and master the art of cooking

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QUESTION

“Sital, what’s the best way to secure part-time work for back to work mums? There seems to be nothing around and I keep getting rejected. What do you suggest?” 

MY ANSWER

Before I answer the question, let me make you aware of some quick points worth bearing in mind about finding part-time work.

Some quick points about part-time employment

• Part-Time vacancies are often not advertised

A large proportion of part-time roles are not advertised – they’re simply filled by contacts and referrals. In some segments of the market,  75% of part-time roles are filled via employee referrals

• Part-Time vacancies are often created for a particular person

A significant number of part-time roles are created after an employer or business leaders comes across someone. E.g. The business have a need, but not a vacancy. We then come across an old contact or referral with the skills and experience we need – so we create a part-time role for them.

• You need to be work harder to find part-time employment

If you’re after part time work, you need be more proactive than most job seekers.

Whilst there are some exceptions in certain industries (e.g. retail, catering and hospitality sectors), on the whole, there is a huge demand for part-time work but simply not the supply of opportunities. So you’ll have to work harder and be much smarter in your approach than others (i.e. spending a couple of hours a day applying for jobs online is not enough).

The 7 Strategies

So bearing these points in mind – here are some suggestions for mums looking for part time work:

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There is a constant barrage of negativity everywhere you turn these days. Negative news stories, negative forecasts and dire Armageddon-type predictions regarding the economies of  Europe and the western world.

Whilst many of the concerns related to the economic times may be valid – overdosing on such negativity does you no good whatsoever.

You see, when you’re constantly focused on “how bad things are” – it creates fear, paralysis and inaction.

But in a tough market you should be doing the complete opposite.

To cope with challenging times you need to be more proactive, more courageous, and more creative. Something you can’t do if you’re anxious and fearful because of all the ‘bad news.’

Here are some quick suggestions for overcoming negativity and helping you ride out the economic turbulence:

1. Don’t stress about stuff you can’t control:

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According to yesterday’s latest UK unemployment figures, one million 16-24 year olds are now out of work - the highest figure for 25 years.

Youth unemployment here in the UK now stands at 22%. A shocking and worrying statistic.

Having graduated during the recession of the early 1990s and struggled to find my first job  – I can empathise with young people who are struggling in today’s job market.

The one major development since that last recession is the Internet. Many young people today rely on the internet for just about everything – especially job searching.

But in a tight job market – the Internet can, in fact, get in the way of job searching.

So if you’re aged between 16-25 year olds looking for work (or know someone that is) – here are 5 “Old School” job search tactics which are much more effective just relying in the web:

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 In November 1993 my first boss in my first job as a management trainee with the retailer Marks  & Spencer told me:

 ”Sital, the next 6 weeks will dictate your success next year. The respect and credibility you earn  (or don’t earn) with the teams you’re leading will have a profound effect on your success next  year.

He was right.

Aside from the fact that, as a retailer, this was the busiest time of year – the goodwill I built by  attending every social event, wearing silly santa hats when asked to and putting my hand in my  own pocket to buy drinks and small presents for my team helped me strengthen my relationships  with the people I was leading.

 In November 2000  I was working as a recruiter in London’s financial district when my boss told me:

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 Seen a job advertised which you like the sound of?

 - Get your application in now, not later

 Have an idea for a new business away from the day job?

- Get it off the ground on a small scale quickly

 Been passed a new lead or contact?

- Follow up and make the call immediately without delay 

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This week we finally launch my brand new internet based TV show – “Career Management TV” (the first episode of CMTV airs tomorrow).

I’m excited (and also a little bit scared!). Which is always a sign that you’re doing something important.

Below is a quick “What? Why? How?’ along with some lessons and questions which may apply to you.

WHAT IS CMTV?

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I’m fed up with the media talking down the prospects for graduates. Yes it’s tough out there for today’s graduates looking for work. Having graduated during the the recession of the early 1990s, I understand first hand what it’s like looking for jobs during a recession.

But in many ways, today’s graduates are also the luckiest generation of graduates there has ever been (really).

They have the tools, technology and knowledge to turn ideas into opportunities and income with virtually zero expenditure. What’s more, they potentially have a global market place to leverage their product or idea. All that’s required is the seed of an idea, passion, hard work and the willingness to just have a go.

So over the coming months I’m going to feature graduates who have ignored all the noise about the economy. Individuals who have got off their butt and just had a go at a business idea or made slightly different career choices. Hopefully it will inspire others to follow suit.

The first interview is with Poonam Kataria. She has no website, uses a Gmail email account and uses Facebook to promote her cake-making business whilst using her mum’s kitchen to do all her baking.

Who says you need lots of cash to get started..?

An Interview with Poonam Kataria of “Spoony Cakes”

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