WBENC Certified
Virtual Job Club Day 5: The Fun Part
Tory Johnson
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First, a note about next week: Mark your calendar for Monday’s assignment, which will be delivered in the form of a 20 minute coaching call led by Gretchen Gunn who runs a recruiting firm.
She’ll tackle how to tell your story—from one sentence to the full interview. Gretchen will give you instruction, advice and an assignment.
Dial-in at 2PM ET on Monday, August 29.
Call-in Number: (712) 432-0075
Access Code: 187482
Next week’s work will focus on your story, your resume and your journey.
Now for today…
You did a lot of heavy thinking all week—and now we’re starting to see a way out of the darkness. When you release the fear, you open yourself to awesome possibilities. I for one thrive on possibility.
Imagine for a moment that you could tell recruiters and hiring managers exactly what it’s like to be out of work and looking for a new job. This is the final step of what I want you to get out of your system.
Today’s assignment: Give employers a piece of your mind—let it all hang out. Be specific about what you wish they’d do differently and how you might handle things if you were in their shoes.
I know you have so much bottled up, and until you release it from your body, you’re allowing yourself to be held hostage to the pain and frustration of the process. That’s not good for anyone.
Remember to use your initials to remain anonymous. (Depending on what you have to say, use our comment system instead of Facebook to post.)
Let ‘er rip—and have a GREAT weekend!
Tory
P.S. This assignment isn’t meant as an assault on recruiters. Far from it. They’re busy–often overworked…too much to do, too little time to get it all done. This is about allowing you to release the frustrations and tensions from your mind and body so you’re able to move on clearly.
BACK TO VIRTUAL JOB CLUB HOME PAGE
If I can upload my resume on your site, why then do I have to rewrite it into your other formatted version. Time waster!
And then – do you EVEN read my resume? I’ve had conversations with recruiters where it’s clear they did not.
And, God forbid, you have any manners (some of you, anyway).
As to my current employer who has wasted my life this year (for the most part) doing a bait & switch on me with sales quotas and commissions and expectations and mind games during my most CRUCIAL earning years (the 40s). Thanks a lot. Karma is gonna get you. But I feel sorry for you.
I am wanting to emulate Sir Richard Branson.
I am not a victim and I will allow a bit of “ego-disgust” but I gotta get past it and empower myself. I wish the same for everyone else.
Lots of light and clarity, peace, love and prosperity to everyone.
Victoria
Sorry this is so late. Boarding up windows most of the day. :p
I have to agree with many of the previous posters. Hiring companies, if you don’t REALLY have a job to fill, don’t post the position. Likewise, if you know you will be filling from within, don’t post the position externally. (Or somehow make sure you mention that there are strong internal candidates.) If you call me in for an interview (or three!), let me know the results, even negative results. Don’t just drop me into a black hole.
Corporations who are hording cash and refusing to hire, or worse, sending all your jobs overseas: Shame on you! You CEOs make sure you get your multimillion dollar bonuses, even during years your employees get nothing. I think there should be a special circle of hell reserved for these selfish people.
Finally, I have been working really hard not to hate my previous boss for the countless ways he made my life miserable. I know it’s not a healthy emotion for me, and has (unfortunately!) no effect on him. I spent every weekend of the last six months I was there thinking, “Maybe he’ll die.” Now that his death won’t do me any good, I would rather he develop some painful condition and linger for a long time. Couldn’t happen to a more deserving guy! Picture a micromanager for whom any idea not his was a bad one, any personal style not his was wrong, oh, and carrying on an affair with one of his direct reports. Yuck!
Wow … That was cathartic! All those things you are never supposed let past your professional façade. I feel better already!
Dear Human Resources,
Please have the common courtesy to call a candidate back even if they don’t have the job. Why do you feel the need to leave people hanging in the dust and why do not even meet with a person before determineing if they qualify. It makes me feel like I am not worth the phone call or worth the opportunity and I know I have alot to offer it I was just giving a chance.
to the executive directors and branch managers that do all the hiring. please stop hiring all of your family members and putting them into positions they know nothing about. i have more education and hands on experience then any of you combined but yet because your father or mother or brother or sister in law or brother in law is on the board of directors, folks like me, that have been in the work force for years always get over looked. also get to know my name. my name isn’t “hey, come here”.
Dear Whom It May Concern,
Don’t ask me questions that YOU are not prepared for me to really have good answers to. Also, if you already know that you are going to hire internally and you only picked me out of the pile to keep up with some status quo…don’t waste my time. This is a potential relationship where we are both woo’ing each other. You know, if not from jump, then within the first 10 minutes of our time together whether or not you want me…just be honest, let’s be real…either I have what you are looking for or I don’t; figure that lil gem out before you call me.
Sincerely,
One Hard Working Willing To Be A Team Player, but I’m No Fool Potential Employee
Dear Potential Employers, I know that many of you like myself are probably overworked and underpaid especially given the financial times we are living in, but it would be nice if I could request the following things. I will call you follow up. Instead of chastising me over the phone, please just find my information and let me know. Remember it’s a two way street, your attitude also impacts my view of the company and if you are rude to me for simply trying to gather useful information, any recommendation that I have for someone to work with you is now out of the window. Just think you may be losing your next best employee to your competitor because you were rude to me. Word of mouth still goes far, but with an electronic space, even farther.
If you insist that I have to fill out an online resume, can I at least get an updated status of where the job is? Did someone review my application, was the position filled from within, what is the story? I know that some jobs especially university and government ones are subject to bueracratic rules and regulations and that it may take a while or that a position may be put on hold for whatever reason. Please just let me know that so I can effectively move on. I will not hold it against you because things happen, but please let me know something useful other than a computer reviewed my application and decided that I was not worthy.
Finally if I could have my dream scenario, it would be really nice to talk to a person so that I can make my case. There have been many times where I have seen some jobs and wondered if a compromise could be reached if only I could speak with a real person.
As for my current employer, I wish that you would trust your employees to do the right thing for you instead of using expensive outside resources to come the same conclusion that we have tried to express for months but have been blown off because you believe there is “simply no way we would understand or comprehend.” Be honest with us and we’ll be honest with you. Thanks!
Wondering if i can’t make the call on Monday @2pm Eastern, will there be a way to access the info by Gretchen Gunn?
Dear Employers,
I’m tired of reading job postings that require 4 years of experiences for entry level work. How is one supposed to gain experienced without the opportunity (chance)? Also on my interviews, I really wished you would stop asking why I want to leave my current position. I can’t say because I hate it, it sucks and I need more growth & $$. A resume is not a know all tell, it only gives a small part of who the candidate is. Give me a chance, give us a chance.
To Whom It May Concern:
I would like for employers to stop:
-looking down on me/holding it against me that I took time off to care for my family and now I have an employment gap
-don’t penalize me for the employment gap when I took courses and/or did some volunteering to keep my skills current.
-don’t leave it up to a computer to read my resume for some “keywords.”
-let me know why you are no longer considering me for the position.
I have been in a position of interviewing before and a little common courtesy goes a long way in the business world.
Thanks.
I would like to remind them that they can be in my shoes at any day and any time> You should watch what you are doing because you will rep what you do to others, It will come back to hunt you.
A couple more things……..having to re-write the ENTIRE resume you just uploaded per THEIR request….how crazy is THAT? And my fave of all……the “employers” that require a 4 year minimum college degree, you have to be bi-lingual and know every computer pgm ever invented and they are offering starting wages at $8/hour and 20-25 hours a week. SERIOUSLY?????????
Dear People Who Read My Resumé (or don’t),
I write a pretty good cover letter (covering what? I remember when one typed a cover letter and attached it to a resumé and mailed it and waited….) and I always tell you that I am a mature woman who will show up to work on time, will not be texting and FB chatting and goofing off when you hire me to work, and I will be worth the money you pay me. Don’t you think you should reply?
I might not be “cutting edge” in my ability to design a groovy product, but why don’t you give me a chance? I went to the best public high school in the US and I still have some brains left in my head in spite of what my teenagers think. You will get much more than you pay for if you give me a chance. You’re missing out, people. My ADD tendencies push me to hyperfocus on a job and you’ll see that I will pick those nits right out of every job you give me and will even copy edit and rewrite. I can write better than most of my clients’ writers, so you’ll REALLY get your money’s worth.
Did I mention that I’m fun to have around? Give me a chance, people. Just because I’m older doesn’t mean I’m worthless.
Sincerely,
The One That Got Away
Good employers want a perfect employee; therefore I want to work for a good employer. I do expect respect, skills development and training. If I do not get the job, I expect feedback. I am a mature person. I think I have a good deal of experience, talents and skills that only age can offer. Consider the possibility that a mature person can be productive, caring skilful. We deserve the chance to demonstrate our capabilities. Thanks
Dear Recruiting for the Man,
Please give a courtesy email even if it is generic just to inform us that we are not a candidate and what specifically put me at a disadvantage.
You wonder why we don’t want to trust you after you hype us like children on Halloween. Be human, it means a lot and can build some more confidence rather than put us further in the pit of despair.
I am sick and tired of having to fill out your online application when I have submitted a perfectly good resume. YOU are being paid for the job of finding candidates, or you have subordinates who are. So if you have a regular salary and the comfort of paying your bills every month, then why — why — do I have to do all this extra work FOR you? MY time is NOT being paid — but that does NOT make your time more valuable than mine. This is something that makes me think you are lazy, too lazy to do a little work, and makes your company look like it’s on a power trip, just another way to make the candidates feel like they’re powerless puppets. Give me dignity, give me respect — just as YOU want me to treat you.
Also, I know I’m older. I know I use a cane to walk. I know I’m not a size 6. I know I don’t have all this seasons’ styles to wear. So what? All of these outward traits have their own reason for being, and it’s not because I’m lazy. But whatever the reasons, these things do NOT affect my intelligence, my creativity, my skills, my experience, my work ethic.
If I don’t know your specific system, I’m not intimidated. I’ve learned more programs and systems than I can even name at this point because it was needed and I was unafraid to throw myself into learning something new. I don’t walk through the professional world wearing blinders, able to work within only a narrow focus. I know how to do a lot, and I understand how different disciplines, different jobs, interact with each other. I’m someone who can step back and look at a much larger picture, so stop being afraid I might take something from you and instead think of how I can contribute to your company.
Damn it, stop making it seem that I have to beg — and even then won’t get the job. Give me a chance!
Dear Hiring Managers/Recuiters/Freelance Employers,
I am SICK and TIRED of being jerked around and lied to. I am a strong candidate with years of experience. Why is looking like the hippest cat in the city so important in this field? Why can’t you just tell me if there is something you’d like to change instead of lying to me and letting me hear from my recruiter? Why can’t you call and let me know what’s going on with a job you’ve called me about? I am a HUMAN BEING! I’m a great employee and a solid person. You may think you can treat people like sh*t now because you’ve got some sort of upper hand, but the universe is going to take a big bite out of your a** in the end. Treat people how you want to be treated. Oh, and when someone cold calls you, have the decency to give them a moment of your time, if only to say nicely that you can’t talk but best of luck. How would you feel cold calling all day and getting treated like a subhuman? Not very much I’d bet!
The 3 main things I want to say to recruiters and employers are:
Every business benefits from a mix of experienced and entry level employees. The choice shouldn’t be young vs. mature – it should be young plus mature (for the best results.);
If someone has the ability to take a year (or more) off to focus on whatever they like, isn’t that something everyone would LOVE to do? Don’t stigmatize people who have done it (either voluntarily or forced to), think about how much more refreshed and creative these people are likely to be!;
Think about the traits and attitudes that could mean more to the success in a position than having very specific and exact experience. Most times a strong team player and problem solver with a positive “can do” attitude and strong follow through who has related experience or core skills in a similar area and has shown their ability to learn new skills quickly will be of more value to a company than a person who has been doing the exact thing you are looking for, but shows signs of being difficult to work with or who doesn’t think they need to learn anything new.
I would like recruiters do find the best candidate available for the position, irregardless of age. I am tired of being discriminated against because I have 40+ years in the business!
Experience is golden, and you get what you pay for in this business.
Plus, this experience can be used to grow your teams of the future, especially avoiding costly errors and misjudgement by entry level new hires. I would be more than happy to coach and mentor, after hrs. for free, if an employer would hire me to do their posted job from 8 to 5.
I would like hiring managers to look around the office and ask themselves this question,” When was the last time I hired someone over 50?”
I would also like them to put a more mature person at the front desk. It’s a bit discouraging to walk in and be greated by what appears to be a perky 12 year old. The front desk person is the first impression we get of a company and and nothing screams “we don’t hire old people” like a receptionist who looks suspiciously like they have yet to granduate from high school.
I truly dislike filling out applications and applying for jobs on-line. There is no fed back. I know it is illegal to ask your age but many of the applicants require that information before you can go furher. I know I’m older but I’m a reliable, hard-working and a honest person. I am knowledgeable and have years of experience in my profession. I’m always on time, never sick and, always willing to learn. I’m creative,flexiable and a problem solver. I care about people, and is always professional. I can figure out why I done have job. I get call in for interviews and many times for second interviews but only to run into a dead end. I wish that they would at least tell me why I was not pick! So that I would know if I need to improve anything.
Dear Employers
What happened to meeting an applicant and asking the questions face to face. I have had my fill with the online applications that take 45 minutes to complete. Between uploading my resume then having to retype my job experiences to answering 80 multiple choice questions that range from employee theft to coworker gossip.
After spending 45 minutes to apply for the position to never hear from someone in the company. If you go to the location they tell you to go to the website.
I think it is just common courtesy to answer someones inquiries. We are supposed to call back on jobs that we apply for. It seems now that not ever getting back to someone is standard practice. Even a sorry you didnt get the job is better than nothing!
Dear Employers and Recruiters, I think it is unfair that I am not consider based on my work experience and length of employment history. I have work from the start of my teenage years up until now. Being a military spouse and mom is not easy to explian on my resume. I have ran my own home daycare business while earning my Bachelors degree. I believe I am qualified for many positions, but I am not given the opportunity to demenostrate my knowledge of the position. Also I think having a electronic system to select a candidates for a position disqualifies me automatically because keywords are not found on my resume. As an applicant all I would like is to be given a fair chance to prove that I meet the jobs requirements before being disqualify.
Dear human resources,
I am a college graduate with a wealth of knowledge and experience. It is very upsetting to take the time and interview with you and not to hear a word back. Many say it’s rude to not send a follow up letter to the person who interviewed you to say thank you and to follow up. What happen to sharing the same courtesy. In this day and age respect should be given from you too. We are all human and no one is perfect. Take the time and allow someone the opportunity to learn something new to benefit your organization.
I would ask for recruiters/interviewers to treat candidates the way they would want to be treated. Have respect for people regardless of the situation. Just because you have a job today & are in a position of “power” so to speak, doesn’t mean it will always be that way. Be professional at all times, do not act snide or rude. Also, don’t ask questions to which you could find out from the resume. I know it is difficult to have to choose from so many different candidates, but try to keep an open mind & give people a chance to prove themselves, don’t just strictly adhere to all of the hiring guidelines. After all, someone probably took a chance with you. Moreover, please try to leave your prejudices and biases at the door and focus on the candidate’s skills, talents and potential.
Dear Human Resources:
Could you please just send me a letter, or even a form letter or e-mail to let me know you have selected someone for the position that I took the time and energy to prepare for, and I likely took a personal day too! It is really unprofessional of you not to contact your applicants. Come to think of it, do I really want to work for you if this is your work ethic.