Stick a fork in me – I’m done The Unemployment Line

by Cynthia Baxter

I could try to blame the high temps and humidity. Or maybe my children – but that might mess them up even more than I already have.

Surely I can peg my joblessness on the economy. Maybe. Even though the economy led to the elimination of my position, I still feel responsible for the fact that I’ve not yet landed a job. All I can think is that I must be doing something wrong.

I’ve been incredibly patient, putting my faith in God and eagerly seeking his direction. My fear is that He is pointing the way and I’m missing my cue. Am I being stubborn in choosing not to pursue certain opportunities? Am I too greedy? Am I forcing my will and forgetting I’m not the one in control?

Blah! I guess it’s one of those days. I just don’t feel motivated. Shouldn’t the prospect of securing a regular paycheck be motivation enough? I’m not happy with my situation, so maybe I need to try harder to remedy it.

I tell prospective employers I thrive on variety. I enjoy doing a lot of things – concurrently. I work well under pressure and enjoy having my hands on many projects. This boring, repetitive and disappointing job search is getting really old.

I’m so experienced in job-hunting that I can predict the outcomes of some of my tactics. For instance, if I post new resumes to the Web sites Monster or CareerBuilder and make them “public,” I can expect a throng of emails from insurance companies, especially ones seeking individuals interested in opening and managing new offices. I know I’m one of many job-seekers who receive the same email messages.

I could also identify employers with very tight-lipped human resources staff who are protective of their company information. They are the ones who won’t divulge the name of the hiring manager and, in a round-about way, say, “Don’t call us – we’ll call you.”

A couple of months ago, a fellow church member, Linda, told me she was in awe of my faithfulness and patience throughout this trial. She wanted to know how I stayed so strong. I was shocked to hear her words; I imagined her to be ten times stronger than I. At the time, Linda was off work for an unpaid medical leave and living off some of her savings. I suppose I was in a better position to weather the storm, since I had a husband providing financial support. Now I feel obligated to live up to Linda’s perception of me.

My 19-year-old daughter is job-hunting right now too. And I’m constantly nagging her because I think she needs somebody kicking her in the butt to keep her motivated. Maybe she would react better to positive verbal support, such as what Linda expressed to me. On the other hand, maybe I still need an occasional kick in the pants.

*Cynthia Baxter's blog "The Unemployment Line" is her opinion; not specifically supported by Weiss Communications, Inc.

Think of Your Resume as a Personal Sales piece The Unemployment Line

by Cynthia Baxter

After losing my job, I revised my resume to add my most recent employer and job responsibilities. I had only submitted the updated resume to a few companies before I responded to a job posting by a Florida-based executive-search firm. The recruiter spent a considerable amount of time on the phone to help me make my resume more reflective of my level of experience.

As a marketing-communications guru, I had skillfully developed copy to promote trade shows, grand openings, press conferences, restaurants, motorcycles … I had even made boneless chicken breast sound sexy. Yet somehow my personal sales piece — my professional resume — lacked oomph.

For starters, I focused mainly on my job duties and did little to highlight my accomplishments. I really think my biggest obstacle was my humility. I needed to realize language that a humble person might consider boastful is perfectly acceptable on a resume. In fact, not only is it acceptable, it is necessary.

The recruiter helped me shift the focus toward more powerful stuff. He also suggested I replace my objective (e.g., “To apply my broad marketing skills in a leadership role for a growing organization”) with a headline. Why didn’t I think of that?

I didn’t do everything the recruiter recommended. Well, I did, but then I changed it back. He suggested I move my educational information up to precede my professional experience. I can see that it might make sense if I applied for a position for which a bachelor’s degree was preferred but not required. He also suggested I exclude a job that I had for a period of only seven months. I excluded it for a while, but I realized the job gave me great experiences, which I wanted to be able to share with my prospective employers.

More recently, I helped other people revitalize their resumes. The process certainly works well with an “interviewer” asking probing questions and then wordsmithing to ensure the accomplishments are written in an impactful way and the style is consistent throughout.

Just a couple of weeks ago, I realized I needed to revamp my resume again. I haven’t done it yet. I want to add my recent experience as a self-employed/freelance communications professional. And I’d like to provide more detail on my healthcare-related volunteering. Neither section will have the same level of “wow” as my previous experience, though. I sure don’t want to weaken my personal sales piece. I guess that’s why I’ve been dragging my feet. Yet I do want to account for how I’ve spent my time.

My other dilemma is that the new information will push my resume beyond its present two-page length. I have to decide whether to tweak it to be a full three pages or cut something to keep it at two.

Darn it! I like my resume the way it is. But I don’t want a prospective employer to think I’ve been lollygagging over the past year. Even though I do love that word – lollygagging – I haven’t had the time for it.

Remembering to count my blessings The Unemployment Line

by Cynthia Baxter

“Every cloud has a silver lining.” Heard that one? Pessimistic Cindy, the little devil that sits on my left shoulder, thinks that statement is a bunch of bull. But the glass-half-full Cindy, donned with shimmering angel wings and a halo as she sits on my right shoulder, sees things quite differently.

I suppose I need to count my blessings.

For starters, the timing of my downsizing was lousy, since my eldest was preparing to graduate from high school and start college. However, I had ample time for planning her open house and spending time with her before she left home.

I also remember fondly one day last fall when my husband had to check out a job site in Richmond, Ind., and asked me to join him. The weather was great, so we took his Yamaha Majesty. I had my cell phone, of course, in case any prospective employers tried to reach me. We enjoyed a nice lunch then went to the library to do some genealogical research. I also was able to check my email and look at job postings while we were there. But the majority of the day trip was about enjoying one another’s company.

Another blessing I found during my downtime was being able to spend my days with our dog, Suzy. We adopted the cocker-mutt in 1994, so she grew up with my daughters. Being home with Suzy helped me to see that she wasn’t the spry puppy she used to be. Just after Christmas, we discovered she had some serious health problems. In January, we had our vet euthanize her to end her suffering. That was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. Looking back, though, I’m so grateful that I was able to be home with her in her final months.

Also, I started a weekly four-hour shift of volunteering for a healthcare ministry. Growing my working knowledge of the healthcare industry has to be a good strategy in this job market. I do have somewhat of an ulterior motive in that I’ve been trying to land a job with the organization. I do a lot of “busywork,” but I also have plenty of occasions to assist patients and their families, something I truly enjoy. I hope that when I start working full-time, I still will be able to volunteer.

This week, I made my fourth visit to volunteer at Fletcher Place Ministries mission on Indy’s southeastside. Anyone considering volunteering should spend time serving the indigent; it’s a sure-fire way to gain a new appreciation for what you have.

I can count many more blessings: We are surviving financially; I have more time to spend with my younger daughter; my Web site, www.MasterfulCommunications.com, is starting to see some action; I’ve been catching up with old friends on Facebook; and I still believe God has an awesome plan for me.

Even though I’m seriously tired of job-hunting, I’m also very thankful that I haven’t gone insane yet.

Best place to work? Humph! The Unemployment Line

by Cynthia Baxter

One of my many job-search strategies was to Google “best places to work in Indiana.” I quickly found the 2008 report by the same name. The list was comprised of the top 25 “large companies” and top 40 “small/medium companies.” I spent a lot of time going through the list, linking to each company’s overview then visiting each Web site. Of course, my process included trying to locate a careers section or listing of job openings.

I just revisited the list and remembered about 15 companies to which I submitted my resume. One of them, in particular, sticks out in my mind, but not for a positive reason.

Within a few days of my application to “Company A,” I received a call from an outside recruiter to whom my application had been forwarded. The recruiter conducted a lengthy phone screening, which seemed to go quite well. But near the end, she said Company A had actually placed the position on hold. Apparently the “powers that be” did not all agree the marketing position was essential. That’s what the recruiter told me anyway. In an email message, she also said, “I would like to keep you as a candidate in the pipeline for this opportunity when/if it opens up again.”

I checked back with the recruiter the following month and was told the position was still on hold. Two months after the phone screening, I noticed the position still appeared in Company A’s job openings. So, once again, I contacted the recruiter. Same story.

Then, in the following month, I met with a staffing firm. Just to differentiate, I’ll refer to my contact with that company as “the headhunter.”

Since I also intended to continue my own job search, the headhunter assured me she would contact me before submitting my resume to any company. Soon afterward, she left me a voicemail message and stated that she had submitted my resume to Company A.

I let the headhunter know I already had applied and spoken with another recruiter. Headhunter suggested I call Company A directly regarding the status. I tried, but the HR director would not return my calls.

More recently, I discovered the position was still listed on the company’s Web site. It was time for a new strategy.

My husband put me in touch with someone he knew at Company A, and she confirmed for me the top dogs I should contact. Once again, I submitted my resume, this time, directly to the decision-makers. I tried to build a case for the importance of having a marketing guru. Then, in a bold step, I offered two weeks of full-time service at no charge, just to have a chance to prove my skills.

Still, Company A did not return my calls. I’d be content with a generic email reply. Anything.

I’ve remained resilient, despite enduring many rejections. And I’m very careful not to burn bridges. However, I’ve decided that Company A should now be called, “Company Not-Worth-My-Time.”