Introvert needs job better-suited to his personality
DEAR J.T. & DALE: I graduated in 2015 with a degree in hospitality management, a field chosen by my mother. I’ve been working in restaurants and retail. I am not enjoying myself. Those fields need extroverted personalities, and I’m 100 percent an introvert. How do I get into a career that suits my personality? —
Matteo
Dale: I’ve found this distinction helpful: An extrovert gets energy from being with other people, while an introvert gains energy by being alone. I mention that because a good start in any career search is to follow the energy. (Most people follow the money, and that leads to bad career decisions. Another popular suggestion is to “follow your passion;” however, most people don’t have one, not an all-day, every-day one. And that brings us back to “follow the energy,” something anyone can do.)
J.T.: One thing that helps introverts in particular is to identify people you admire and see if they would have a one-on-one chat with you about their careers. That way, you’ll feel more relaxed and able to ask questions that can help you get a new perspective.
Dale: That’s a good start on an energy search. Another good start is right where you are: Whether it’s restaurants or retail, your current employment touches endless careers. Start to pay attention to all the other departments in your organization — advertising, project management, finance and the rest — and then do it again for all the companies that are suppliers to your employer. You can network your way into conversations with people in dozens of other careers.
J.T.: No matter what, don’t give up. You got your degree, and that will always be something employers will be glad to see. So, be proud of what you’ve done so far, but now definitely focus on finding work that fits your life better!
Hi, J.T. and Dale: I’m back in the job market, looking for a career change. Almost all applications request a date of birth. (I’m 60.) Is it legal for a prospective employer to ask this up front? — Aaron
Dale: As always, when we see “is it legal,” our eyes turn to Albuquerque, and to our favorite employment attorney, Scott Gordon, of Rodey Law.
Scott: Glad to help. While federal law prohibits age discrimination, it does not expressly prohibit an employer from seeking a date of birth on a job application. However, the question could be used as evidence that the employer intends to illegally discriminate based on age. The employer would need to have a pretty good explanation for why age is relevant — for example, if the position were for a child acting role in a movie. Absent a business purpose, asking for a date of birth before a hiring decision is a bad idea.
J.T.: Most employers have a business reason, or, at least, an excuse for asking: They need your date of birth to facilitate background checks.
Scott: Yes, an applicant’s date of birth might legitimately be needed for the purpose of obtaining a background check. But there is a safer way to get the information and reduce the risk of an age-discrimination claim: After the job interview, but before asking for the applicant’s date of birth, the employer can make a conditional offer of employment, subject to passing the background check. Or, the employer can use a third-party investigator to get the date of birth and conduct the background check. In this way, the employer can prove that age was not a factor in the hiring decision.
J.T.: But until all employers have a Scott Gordon advising them, it’s tough to know if you are being discriminated
against based on age. Your best bet is to network and try to get introductions to hiring managers so you can avoid the application process.
Dale: Agreed, and as a fellow old guy, I say you should go into it with a righteous and useful anger about age discrimination. I’ve even come to wish there were no age discrimination laws: That way, wise employers could openly look for veteran employees; meanwhile, as for those who’d put up age limits, it’s simply their loss. Jeanine “J.T.” Tanner O’Donnell is a professional development specialist and the founder of the consulting firm jtodonnell. Dale Dauten resolves employment and other business disputes as a mediator with AgreementHouse.com. Please visit them at jtanddale. com, where you can send questions via email, or write to them in care of King Features Syndicate, 300 W. 57th St., 15th Floor, New York, NY 10019.