Job seeker overwhelmed by advice
Hustle, enthusiasm can help make up for lack of experience, and hopefully lead to success
DEAR J.T. & DALE: Since graduating from college, I’ve been living at home while looking for work. Everybody is giving me advice — parents, brothers, uncles, aunts, friends. It’s embarrassing. I spend most of my time in my room because I’m sick of people asking me about my job search. How do I get them off my back? — RJ
J.T.: Try to think of it this way: You’re pretty lucky to have so many people care about your success. It sounds to me like you might not be conveying to them the effort you are putting into finding work. Let them know about your activity level. If you continue to get pushback, you need to ask yourself, “Am I doing all I can to find a job?” Graduating doesn’t put you on some special, easier path to finding a job; you have to make up for a lack of work experience with hustle and enthusiasm.
Dale: One of the worst things about being unemployed is that every day without a new job seems to be a failure, and who wants to have that conversation, day after day? But a job search should not be eitheror; instead, it should be a building of possibilities. When it is, you can have day after successful day, knowing you’re progressing toward job offers. For instance, you need a target list of employers you’d love to work for, and then you network your way in. And make a list of friends from college who’ve gotten jobs, and set up visits to learn from them and seek new connections. Those are pieces of the “activity level” J.T. was referring to. Start tracking such activities, and that not only will give you an answer to your relatives’ questions — you say, for instance, “I have six meetings this week” — it also will provide you with the energy of many small victories. And here’s the best part: When your uncle asks if you have a new job yet, whip out your target list and say, “These are the companies I’d like to work for — do you know anyone at any of them, or someone who might?” That uncle is either going to start helping or stop asking.
Dear J.T. & Dale: I’ve been a manager for 25 years and have a flawless record. I recently was discharged from my job for testing positive for codeine. I had volunteered to get my mobile equipment license renewed, although it is not a job requirement. Shortly before the test, I was having pain and took a family member’s prescription acetaminophen with codeine. (Honestly, when I think of “drug test” I think of street drugs, not pain medicines.) Managers have different rules: A randomly screened hourly worker would have been sent to rehab. Trying to move ahead, I have had four interviews so far but no offers. I have good references, even from the president of the company. Advice? — Arturo
Dale: I have come to resent the kind of “zero tolerance” policies you seem to have come up against. They sound fine and noble, but over the years we’ve heard from so many good people put into bad situations that I’ve come to equate zero tolerance with zero understanding and zero compassion.
J.T.: Yes, I’m shocked that your employer was so inflexible, especially given that the company allows for rehab for other employees. I would go back to the president and plead your case. Explain that you can’t get hired now because people don’t believe you when you tell them the truth.
Dale: If the president is sympathetic, you may need to help him save face by offering to go to rehab or by paying for retesting. If nothing else, get a copy of the test results so you can offer to back up your story with prospective employers.
J.T.: And, also, I’d be sure that the reference from the president of the company is defending you. I would have someone you know call and pretend to be a hiring manager and do a reference check, so you know what is being said and can move confidently to put this behind you.