Yahoo! Finance’s The Daily Ticker posted an interview recently with John Paul DeJoria, co-founder of John Paul Mitchell Systems. DeJoria, now with a net worth of nearly $4 billion, and his business partner, Paul Mitchell, started their business in 1980 with $700. Coming up with the start-up money forced DeJoria to live out of his car for a couple of weeks. He admits he’s heard the common ‘but it was a different time then” phrase and disputes it by breaking down the inflation, unemployment and interest rates America experienced in the early 1980’s compared to the same numbers today.
Throughout the “Rags-to-Riches” interview, DeJoria shares several tips people should keep in mind when looking for work. The economy is tough and unemployment is high, but there are opportunities available if you look hard and are willing to work hard. Below, I’m going to break down DeJoria’s tips for surviving the job market.
“Don’t give up.”
DeJoria talks about a charity he supports in Los Angeles called Chrysalis. In this story, he shares how approximately 3,000 unemployed homeless people came to this charity last year looking jobs. Of the 3,000, 1,600 were able to find work through sheer dedication to the process. He also talks about 10,000 jobs available in North Dakota that cannot be filled simply because “there aren’t people to fill them with.”
Moral to the story? Be diligent in your job search. Don’t give up when the road gets a little bumpy; finding a job is a full time job in itself and you have to be dedicated to the search and the entire process.
“Be prepared for a lot of rejection.”
Surviving today’s economy means facing a lot of rejection. Most people won’t find their perfect job or career choice on their first interview. Being prepared for rejection ahead of time will help you push through the disappointment and be just as enthusiastic for the next interview.
Be the person who pushes through the rejection and understands you may not get offered the job of your dreams, but you can always prove yourself and work your way to the top.
“You can start a minimum wage job.”
A previously employed or college educated person doesn’t want to take a minimum wage job most of the time. Don’t let a minimum wage job deter you. Take the opportunity enthusiastically and let your employer know you intend to prove yourself and advance in the company. This goes for a position as a janitor or the intern and a large corporation.
Employ the same work ethic you would show in a career of your dreams to the minimum wage job. Treat each opportunity you find as a stepping stone to your dreams and your hard work ethic and dedication will pay off in the end.
“It’s getting a job.”
Taking the minimum wage job or the job you don’t think is worthy of your time isn’t beneath anyone. DeJoria says “it’s not lowering your standards, it’s getting a job.” He talks about time he spent as a janitor and how he enjoyed it so much he received a quarter an hour raise. His excitement about this job was evident in his tone of voice as he told the story, he even brags that he was a really great janitor.
DeJoria stresses, once you take the janitor job, let everyone know you plan to work hard, succeed and do everything you can to help grow their business. Take initiative and let your boss come to you with the opportunity of advancement.
“Successful people do all the things unsuccessful people don’t want to do.”
Be the successful person who is willing to work hard and get your hands dirty in order to find the job you’ve always dreamed of. Ask your employer what more can you do, prove to them you are willing to put in the time and earn the success you are looking for. “Don’t let [rejection] get to you,” says DeJoria. “If you’re prepared for it you’ll stay enthusiastic. The jobs are out there…you can get them.”
For the full interview, visit Yahoo! Finance The Daily Ticker.
