The small needle in the large haystack
For my own emotional therapy, I have decided to make my first real post to my blog a personal purge rather than ideological rant.
I feel like a small needle in a large haystack. Not only are they not searching in my haystack, they aren't even looking for the type of needle that I am.
First, some background - In early September of 2001 (yes! THAT September 2001), I was "laid-off" from a position of importance that I thought would be the last position I held until I retired. It seems that the company that I had chosen to do great things for was being run by a bunch of incompetent boobs who managed the company into bankruptcy. Their "fix" was to turn the company over to South Korea. "Not to worry" I told my wonderful bride " I will have a new challenging career position within weeks!"
It has now been 1324 days and I have sent out my resume 689 times. I have had several interviews. What is wrong? Is it me? Am I shooting too high? Should I give up? I can't, I won't! I review my resume, I think about my qualifications, I think about what I have accomplished...It's all there. I think about what I know, how it has brought success for my employers in the past....It's all clear. I think about my communications, both written and oral....they are insightful and concise. I think about my age, the experiences, the lessons, my wisdom....do they have no value? Has my shelf life expired? I am over 50 years old, am I obsolete?
Yesterday, I pursued the answer...again. The answer was not what I wanted to hear.
In October of 2004 I found an excellent job posting. The location, challenge and compensation were desirable. I reviewed the documented qualifications for the position. Yep! I am perfect. I research the employer. I buy some nice resume paper and presentation binders. I mailed my resume package to 2 vice-presidents, the CIO and the Director of Human Resources. For over 2 months I hear nothing.
In late December of 2004 my wife and I travel 900 miles to be with her family at Christmas. 5 days before Christmas, while out Christmas Shopping with my in-laws, my mobile phone rings. It's them. They want me to come to see them in 2 days for an interview. The position is in the same city that we are shopping in! Could this be an omen? Could this be a wonderful Christmas present for all of us? If they want me to come in for an interview 3 days before Christmas that must mean they are impressed and want me, right? I tell them I am on vacation and do not have my business suit and they say to not worry about it. I go and buy some new shoes. I borrow a tie from my father-in-law and a business bag from my brother-in-law. I buy some more nice resume paper and presentation folders. My father-in-law drives me to the interview and waits over an hour while I am inside. I have an excellent interview with the vice-president, but he did most of the talking. He tells me that I should hear something after the first of the year. Immediately after I get back, I send him a "thank you for the interview" letter. A few weeks later I send him a binder with a portfolio of my IT project work. I call him and leave a message. I send him an e-mail. For over 2 months, I hear nothing. When he said that I should hear something after the first of the year, I am now thinking that I should have ask him "which year?"
In March of 2005, I note that the position is still on their website. I decide that the VP is going to have to at least respect my persistence. I sent him yet another e-mail. This time I get a short reply "please send me you resume". Sheeeesh. Mr. VP, what happened to the 5 resume packages that I mailed you guys and the 1 binder that I personally handed you in December? I send him my resume again and 1 week later I get a telephone call from the "acting" person in the job that I am pursing. He tells me that he is a consultant from another city and that he wants to interview me. We do the telephone interview and again, I think it went well. He tells me that I should hear something soon. For 6 weeks I hear nothing.
Yesterday, I sent the "acting" director an e-mail asking for an update. He responds "Sorry to inform you that the Director position that we discussed has been filled." WOW! That is short and not sweet. In his short e-mail, I look for some hint of recognition of my hope and feelings. At least he typed GOOD LUCK in all caps. He probably thinks I need it!
Had I not contacted him, I am certain that I would have never heard anything else. Where do I get closure? Where do I get respect? This one hurt worse than the other 689 times. At least on the others there was not as much of a carrot that was put out there and then yanked away.
I feel like a small needle in a large haystack. Not only are they not searching in my haystack, they aren't even looking for the type of needle that I am.
First, some background - In early September of 2001 (yes! THAT September 2001), I was "laid-off" from a position of importance that I thought would be the last position I held until I retired. It seems that the company that I had chosen to do great things for was being run by a bunch of incompetent boobs who managed the company into bankruptcy. Their "fix" was to turn the company over to South Korea. "Not to worry" I told my wonderful bride " I will have a new challenging career position within weeks!"
It has now been 1324 days and I have sent out my resume 689 times. I have had several interviews. What is wrong? Is it me? Am I shooting too high? Should I give up? I can't, I won't! I review my resume, I think about my qualifications, I think about what I have accomplished...It's all there. I think about what I know, how it has brought success for my employers in the past....It's all clear. I think about my communications, both written and oral....they are insightful and concise. I think about my age, the experiences, the lessons, my wisdom....do they have no value? Has my shelf life expired? I am over 50 years old, am I obsolete?
Yesterday, I pursued the answer...again. The answer was not what I wanted to hear.
In October of 2004 I found an excellent job posting. The location, challenge and compensation were desirable. I reviewed the documented qualifications for the position. Yep! I am perfect. I research the employer. I buy some nice resume paper and presentation binders. I mailed my resume package to 2 vice-presidents, the CIO and the Director of Human Resources. For over 2 months I hear nothing.
In late December of 2004 my wife and I travel 900 miles to be with her family at Christmas. 5 days before Christmas, while out Christmas Shopping with my in-laws, my mobile phone rings. It's them. They want me to come to see them in 2 days for an interview. The position is in the same city that we are shopping in! Could this be an omen? Could this be a wonderful Christmas present for all of us? If they want me to come in for an interview 3 days before Christmas that must mean they are impressed and want me, right? I tell them I am on vacation and do not have my business suit and they say to not worry about it. I go and buy some new shoes. I borrow a tie from my father-in-law and a business bag from my brother-in-law. I buy some more nice resume paper and presentation folders. My father-in-law drives me to the interview and waits over an hour while I am inside. I have an excellent interview with the vice-president, but he did most of the talking. He tells me that I should hear something after the first of the year. Immediately after I get back, I send him a "thank you for the interview" letter. A few weeks later I send him a binder with a portfolio of my IT project work. I call him and leave a message. I send him an e-mail. For over 2 months, I hear nothing. When he said that I should hear something after the first of the year, I am now thinking that I should have ask him "which year?"
In March of 2005, I note that the position is still on their website. I decide that the VP is going to have to at least respect my persistence. I sent him yet another e-mail. This time I get a short reply "please send me you resume". Sheeeesh. Mr. VP, what happened to the 5 resume packages that I mailed you guys and the 1 binder that I personally handed you in December? I send him my resume again and 1 week later I get a telephone call from the "acting" person in the job that I am pursing. He tells me that he is a consultant from another city and that he wants to interview me. We do the telephone interview and again, I think it went well. He tells me that I should hear something soon. For 6 weeks I hear nothing.
Yesterday, I sent the "acting" director an e-mail asking for an update. He responds "Sorry to inform you that the Director position that we discussed has been filled." WOW! That is short and not sweet. In his short e-mail, I look for some hint of recognition of my hope and feelings. At least he typed GOOD LUCK in all caps. He probably thinks I need it!
Had I not contacted him, I am certain that I would have never heard anything else. Where do I get closure? Where do I get respect? This one hurt worse than the other 689 times. At least on the others there was not as much of a carrot that was put out there and then yanked away.
- Postage to mail resumes - $3.32
- A box of pretty resume paper - $4.99
- 6 months of Max's hope - worthless
Not only are you wrong in not selecting me, you are wrong in not respecting me and efforts to be considered. Years ago when corporations changed the name of their personnel departments to "human resources" there was a not so subtle change in the way people are regarded. Corporations now consider people as resouces that are purchased and discarded just like the raw materials that are used to produce their products. Afterall, a piece of plastic or raw metal does not expect to be communicated to so why should human resources.
I now pick myself up and move on to the next opportunity. I will remain in the game and I will prevail. Our future depends on it and for some reason my passion is still burning.
Otherwise.........
Rocky sez: "Welcome to Walmart! Would you like a smiley face with your shopping cart? No?......Well how about a strategic business plan that will cut costs by $1M, make the business more productive while maximizing profits?"
posted by Rockwell Raccoon at 5:14 AM
1 Comments:
It seems that you should be allowed to charge this company for your time! Not to mention the extra charge for your determination and patience! Not fair, not fair at all. Their loss, Mr. MCS.
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