Finding Your Path™

Thanks, Brenda!

Several weeks ago, I heard from an old schoolfriend. She now works in Human Resourses, hiring people. I sent her a copy of my book, to get her input. I heard back from her last week. I'm sharing some of her comments below: 

"...You are right, this book is for those people that do not get the job.  In my experience interviewing, it's amazing how many people I turn down for not being prepared.

I believe you have covered all points necessary, and then some, so that those who read your book are fully prepared.  I especially like the Christian aspect of your writing.  It's so important that people utilize their God given talents so that they can excel in a position.  Employers nowadays are not looking for a "meets minimum" performance from an employee.  I prefer to hire someone who has a good attitude and appears to have the potential to excel.

Bless you my friend from so long ago...I'm glad we have crossed paths so many years later....Brenda"

Thank you, Brenda, for your encouragement. The book she's talking about is "Your Path to a Job" and you can read more about it right here on this blog. If you are looking for work, or just wondering what direction to take before starting a job hunt, I encourage you to check it out.

Mitch

Thank You, Nick!

Yesterday's Job Hunt Tip was intended for new high school graduates.  This week, one of my 3 terrific nephews, Nick, is graduating from high school.  He'll be working this summer before beginning college in the fall.  Congratulation, Nick! Your Aunt and I are extremely proud of you.

I gave Nick a copy of my book a few weeks ago - because you always give books to your family when you get them from the printer!  I got this email from Nick, which I'm sharing with you here:

Uncle Mitch,

I finished reading your book tonight and I cannot express to you how much this book means to me now, and will mean to me in the future.  I can and will be able to use everything you have provided in Finding Your Path.  I intend to share your book with many of my friends who will be looking for jobs and careers in the near future.  I will be giving your book to my friends with two intentions:

1. For them to use in finding employment.
2. For them to commit to having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, if they haven't already, and to realize how He can affect their lives.

I am blessed that God has placed you in my life and pray that I can learn from your book and use it to my advantage.

Your nephew,

Nick

Thank You, Karen!

Last week, I received a wonderful note from Karen Woodward, whose blog For Such a Time as Now (great new blog name, by the way)  is a favorite stop for my wife, DK.  Karen and her family just returned from Romania, where they ministered for a number of years as missionaries. Karen wrote an incredible review of my book, Your Path To A Job, for her readers, which I'm sharing below.  Thank you, Karen, for your insight and encouragement!

Finding Your Path - Book Review

A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps. Proverbs 16:9

I am continually amazed to see how many ways the Lord leads us, guides us and provides for our needs.  When we left Romania last month, we had no idea of where the Lord would lead us next.  We still don't but we can certainly see His direction in many areas.  One seemingly small yet vital guide was a package that arrived here in Alabama even before we did. Waiting for me in a stack of mail was a book written by Mitch Raymer entitled Finding Your Path.

The title was immensely appropriate for our lives at this time and I knew it would be on the top of my reading list.  We were not even settled when it was time to take a trip to South Carolina.  Reading in the car is my favorite way to pass time and I made sure that Mitch's book was near my seat. 

Finding Your Path is a short and  concise "how to" book on choosing and pursuing your career.  The author begins with what most career guides leave out - making sure that you have a relationship with Jesus Christ. He clearly spells out the Gospel message and encourages Christians not to walk their path alone.  He reminds us that "There is no better way to go out into the world and look for that job than with Jesus Christ by your side.  You are not alone; you have the most powerful force in the universe working through you!"

Chapter 2 is all about examining your personal traits, skills and interests.  Many examples are listed and there is plenty of room for making your own lists.  The rest of the book is filled with tools, techniques and examples that are necessary for a successful job search.  My husband found Chapter 3 tremendously helpful as he fine tuned his resume and worked on cover letters.  He now has several resumes ready to mail and we are excited to see the path that the Lord takes us on next. 

This is an awesome book for those who are searching for a job - high school graduates, college students, people seeking a career change or as Mitch says, anyone who needs a paycheck.  Graduation time is just around the corner.  Finding Your Path would make an excellent gift.  Not only has my husband found this book incredibly helpful, we also have two teenagers that will soon be seeking their path and I am certain that the book will be on the top of their reading lists too.

Thank You, Barbara!

Back in January, I gave away a few copies of my book, Your Path To A Job, to Thursday Thirteen bloggers in exchange for their feedback.  The wonderful Barbara H. over at Stray Thoughts was one of the book recipients. Last week, she sent me an email.  Not only did she have comments, she actually reviewed my book as part of the Spring Reading Challenge.  Thank you, Barbara!  I can't tell you how much I appreciate your time and thoughtful review.  I've copied her entire post below:

Book Review: Finding Your Path

I met Mitch and D.K. Raymer through the Thursday Thirteen. They both seemed like kind and gracious people, were genuine Christians, and I noticed Mitch often posted helpful job tips. My husband is in business and my oldest son was a business management major in college, so these caught my eye. At some point I noticed that Mitch had written a book called Finding Your Path: Your Path to a Job. It looked like something that would be good to pass along to my sons, but I never got around to ordering it. Then came a Thursday Thirteen in which Mitch offered a free copy of his book to thirteen people who signed up for it, asking only for our thoughts about the book when we were done. So I signed up right away! I received my book in the mail, told my son about it and left it on his desk, but kept forgetting to pick it up myself. So I finally put it on my Spring Reading List and just finished it this morning.

According to Mitch’s blog:

This book introduces Christian principles that will not only help you find a job, but find Christ, too. It is not intended for degree-holding professionals - they’ve already found their career path. This book is written for you, the backbone of America’s workforce. If you are:

• a high school student who is not going on to college
• a college student looking for part-time work
• a SAHM who wants to supplement your family’s income
• a blue-collar or service worker looking for “an edge” before your next job interview
• a middle-aged worker facing a career change
• a retiree re-entering the workforce
• anyone who wants to brush up on your job hunting skills

Mitch has been an administrator and Human Resources director, reading thousands of applications and interviewing thousands of job-seekers. This book grew out of some of his experiences, finding that some did not know the basics about preparing for a job interview. Mitch is imminently qualified to write this book” he has been on the other side of the desk and knows what employers are looking for.

The first few sections of the book establish some basic foundational principles: how to have a relationship with God and know your sins are forgiven, how to grow in Him and depend on Him and seek His wisdom in “finding your path,” several character issues such as honesty, self-esteem (not based on false flattery but in the security of knowing God created you and has a plan for you), fear, humility, integrity, patience, God’s love and provision. As I read this part, I thought, what a great way to start! These issues are helpful in all of life as well as in finding and keeping a job.

The next section helps determine which path to follow by asking questions and giving advice about interests, aptitude, skills, levels of responsibility one would be comfortable with, needs, wants, and priorities. Two of my favorite passages in this section are Exodus 31:1-5:

1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

2 See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah:

3 And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,

4 To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,

5 And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship.

and Exodus 36:1:

Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whom the LORD put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that the LORD had commanded.

It was an encouragement for me when I was a young person to learn that God didn’t just call people into “full-time Christian service,” but He also called and gifted all of us for the particular task He has for each of us. Mitch’s section here is very helpful for someone trying to determine just what skills God has gifted him with.

The next detailed and extremely practical section defines the tools one needs when job-hunting: resumes, cover letters, letters of reference, and examples of each. Then he moves into how to find job openings, how to proceed in applying for a job, what to expect from the interview process and how to present oneself during an interview, the best way to follow up an interview. Sprinkled throughout this section are helpful business etiquette tips.

I think Mitch did a wonderful job with this book. The words “practical” and “helpful” came to mind often as I read the different sections. There are many nuts-and-bolts tips and a foundation of faith: he not only starts out the book establishing Biblical principles, but all throughout the book he reminds the reader that God is in control and will guide and help him in this process.

This book would make a wonderful graduation gift or a great tool for anyone seeking to “find their path” in today’s job market. I highly recommend it.

More Great Feedback

I thought I would share excerpts of a very uplifting email I received.  I mentioned that we haven't begun marketing Your Path To A Job yet, because our priority has been to get my Mom settled after Pop's passing.  At Christmas, though, I did send a few copies out to family and friends just to say, "Hey, my new book is finished. Here it is!"

Well, I sent a copy to my Aunt Dean, who is a country music promoter.  She and my Uncle just built a new home, and she became friends with their Kitchen Designer.  Long story short, she let them borrow my book. I received this email out of the blue.

Dear Mitch,

Thank you so much for writing your book, Your Path To A Job, and thanks to your Aunt Dean, who let me borrow it. My name is Kim Sterling.  My husband, Rich, designed the kitchen in your aunt and uncle's new home.

Through the course of conversation, Dean asked to hear our daughter, Jessi, sing and agreed to help her pursue her dream of singing.  Jessi, 19, seems to be the only one in our family who knows her path.

My husband and I have been married 21 years.  Our girls went to a Christian school and we knowingly sacrificed educational opportunities for what we felt was more important - teaching our girls Christian values and God's guidance. After all, you carry those things with you your entire life. I've trusted that when the time came, our daughters would go through the doors God opens for them. 

Now, we need to trust God as never before.  Sam and Jessie were in a terrible car accident on the way home from church camp 2 years ago.  Jessi was unable to finish high school because of her injuries, but has taken her GED classes at the community college. We are waiting for the results of her exam. Sam has some college under her belt but doesn't know what she wants to do next.

My husband wants to make a career in something he enjoys, that can also support a family of four.  That's not easy.  Rich is not a reader, but I simply mentioned your book, put it on the counter and told him it was something your Aunt Dean thought he might be interested in. He picked it up and read it in its entirety - that's truly a miracle!

Last May, I quit my bank teller job to care for my elderly parents and to help Jessi in her recovery and take her to class. I would like to pursue a career in writing, but I may be forced to get a part time job to supplement our income. 

Your book is helping me with my organizational skills: how to prepare, take notes, and work a plan.  I love the information and examples for resumes, cover letters/letters of intro. It's presented in a simple, easy to understand and applicable fashion.

Your Path To A Job is not intimidating like other books I've skimmed in the past.  Even though I graduated (many years ago) from college, I was never looking for a management position... never thought I could qualify.  All those books seem to speak to only the new graduates just let out of the gates and competing in a dog-eat-dog scramble for the top exec jobs.  Thanks for addressing the high school grads (or soon to be) the part-timers, and the near-retirement age group.  And most of all, thanks for putting God at the top of the equation. I don't know how many people make it without the Lord's help.

Our prayer is that your book will help many young and older people find their path.  That's a heartfelt prayer, since Rich and I have struggled all our married life attempting to do just that. 

Thanks for letting me bend your ear a bit!

God bless you and yours,

Kim Sterling

Time For Some More Feedback

I received an email a couple of weeks ago from a woman I know as "Tug".  I'm sure many of you are regular readers of her blog JustTug, especially you Thursday Thirteeners.  When I was offering free books for review last month, Tug stepped right up and said, Yeah, I'll read it; send me one.  She posted her thoughts on her blog, which is way exciting.  I was just looking for an informative e-mail.  Anyway, here is her post:

Thank You, Mitch!

Many of you know I don't bitch talk about work here - no Doocing/Fabbing for me, thankyouverymuch. But it's slipped in once in awhile (without talking bad about my current job) (much), that I'm searching.  And I've neverEVER had to in my life.  So, it's not fun, I'm not real sure what I'm doing, and can use all the help I can get. shush.

Anyway, I found a great blog that has job hunting tips from time to time, and I started reading his archives.  This guy, Mitch, knows what he's talking about! I became a fan. And, guess what? He's got a book out now!! During a Thursday 13, he was giving away copies (sorry, no more), and I was lucky enough to get one... and I am THRILLED. I've been kind of scattered here lately, but I continually bring it up and read chapters, bits and pieces, and I'll probably continue to forever.  There are some amazing tips in here... some things you KNOW you should know, but forget... places to write in information you'll need to remember... resume', cover letter, interview tips, this book has it all. So no, this is not a pay per post or anything of that fun.  It's just a thank you to Mitch, for helping lead me along the path to Find My Path. (Finding Your Path is a registered trademark, but I'm not computergenius so don't know how to insert the little circled R thingie. Just trust me, it should be there) Click on the links, check him out, tell him I sent you. And Mitch? Thank you so very much!!

Thank YOU, Tug!  I am still speechless.  I could not pay for a better endorsement!

Thanks for the read,

Mitch

Here's Some Feedback...

A few weeks ago, I gave away copies of Your Path To A Job thru my weekly Thursday Thirteen list.  One of the recipients was MOM TO ANGEL, a Michigan resident who has Our Homeschool Journey Blog.  Her feedback, posted on her blog February 1st, reads: 

"I was fortunate to get a copy of Finding Your Path by Mitch Raymer.  I highly recommend anyone looking for a new job to get this book.  It is full of great information and useful tools to help you in your search.  Best Wishes to Mitch!  A job well done."

Thank you, Mom To Angel!

From A Prison Minister

"Your new book is great! It is relevant to what we are doing with the men in the program.  I like the fact that it is practical and user friendly.  You provide a lot of examples along with exercises."

Scott McLean

The InnerChange Freedom Initiative

Prison Fellowship Ministries

More Praise for the Book

Mitch Raymer has written the definitive book of advice for anyone looking for work in a non-professional field. 

Mitch's tone is friendly and encouraging. He walks the reader all the way through the job hunt process, from the moment they decide to look for work, to successfully finding the job that is the best fit for them.  More importantly, he challenges the reader to do more than just put in their 40 hours; he encourages them to involve Christ in the process!

Our company employs hundreds of people to work in the areas of retail, food service, entertainment, warehouse, office and transportation.  I wish all our applicants would read Your Path to a Job!  This Christ-centered book is the must have tool that job seekers of all ages and backgrounds have been waiting for! 

I highly recommend it.

Mike Justice

President

External Assistance Systems, Inc.

Praise for the Book... From the Lodging Industry

I had the opportunity to sit in on one of Mitch Raymer's Your Path to a Job class sessions.  The tools and ideas that he explained to those young adults were exceptional.  I would enjoy interviewing a potential employee that had gone through his class.  That potential employee would come into my office prepared and confident because of the tools they would have learned from Your Path to a Job.

Tod Grisham

Property Manager

French Quarter and Grand Regency Resorts

Branson, Missouri