CAREER COACH
GO TO GREG
My son graduated from Baruch business school summa cum laude and then got a Chartered Financial Analyst certification after a grueling test. He has been applying for employment for the past two years and has not had one single interview. What is going on?
Given those credentials, there does seem to be something wrong. Two years is too long to go without even an interview, never mind a job offer. Baruch, like most colleges, offers job search and placement programs for students and alumni. Your son needs to go back to his school and use these services. They can help to examine his approach, from reviewing his resume to interviewing skills. He should also seek advice from alumni — not to find a job but for the same feedback on what he can do to improve his search. Clearly he needs to change things up.
I work in the clerical department at a medical clinic. Another member of the office staff is an elderly woman, well into her 80s. She is no longer able to do her job effectively. As a result, our supervisor has transferred much of her responsibilities to others. She spends most of her time clicking things on the computer, reading or socializing with the patients. The supervisor has gone to the administration about this, but they refuse to do anything because they’re afraid of an age-discrimination lawsuit. The rest of the staff thinks this is unfair. She’s drawing a nice salary — she’s been here over 40 years — but she doesn’t do any actual work, and the rest of us pick up the slack. No one should be fired because of their age, but shouldn’t she still be required to do the job?
My grandfather worked in a law firm for 40 years, well into his 80s. By then his responsibilities had dwindled as his capabilities diminished and others picked up the slack. The firm kept him on not because they were afraid to fire him but out of respect. He had been there loyally for nearly half a century, he was a beloved figure in the office and because, frankly, I think they understood that the job and community was a factor in what was keeping him going. I respect that. His colleagues didn’t seem to mind. We should all be so lucky if we’re ever in that situation.