How to Promote Yourself in This Economy

You once had a great job, or at least one that paid well, and despite your best efforts, you still find yourself out of work. You have been attending every event you can, getting together with people for cappacinos, you pass out your business cards, you get Linkedin. You are promoting yourself just the way your Career Advisor suggested.  But you aren't getting any interviews.

Here's one more thing to try. A little humility. What does that have to do with getting a job? Sometimes everything. I'm not saying this because I have done such a great job of it, and you should learn from me. I'm just telling you what I have seen. I get to learn from my clients every day.

I have a client who has always owned her own business, continues to have her primary paid work in spurts, but not fast enough to meet all of her financial needs. She has a TYPE A ++++ personality, so I was quite surprised when a few weeks ago she said she would be willing to do a $10-12/hour job including call centers. We immediately stripped her resume of nearly every accomplishment, which was easy for her to accept, given her high level of self esteem. She immediately went about applying for entry level jobs. I got an email from her last week asking if she should wear an apron to her interview for a cashier position she found in the food court at the mall. After discussing, she settled on khakis and a white shirt (like what they wear) and a cardigan (to make it a little different). She was offered the job as a supervisor...at $9 an hour. I asked her if she was accepting, pretty sure she would have encountered a heavy dose of second thoughts.

"Are you kidding me?" she replied. "I have a heater to replace this winter. I'm taking it. They are going to try to get me $10." Here is a woman with self esteem, ability to read and adapt to culture, who can take of herself. A woman I have greater respect for who is more likely to come at top of mind when I see appropriate job openings.

What does humility have to do with getting a job. Maybe everything. What does it have to do with being a better person? Definitely everything.

"Humility is at the equilibrium of ego. When we're at the center, we manage our ego rather than it managing us."- Steve Smith

"Pride is concerned with who is right. Humility is concerned with what is right." - Ezra Taft Benson

I am fortunate enough to be working. Besides that giving me the opportunity to share this woman's story for the benefit of others, I also need to ask myself...

How do I get in my own way? Where do I need to show more respect for others? Where do I need to forget about who is right?

I hope you ask yourself these questions too.

This isn't all going to change the high rate of unemployment instantly. But it will make this a better time to live.

What is one place where you could show more humility in your life?

Notes on a Writer's Space

I used to think what got in the way of me and my writing was the family clutter that spilled into the sun room, which I had already claimed as my study. The dollhouse, the glitter, and extra pair of scissors that inevitably get left out. I recently cleared just an end of the room, and that's been helping. Physical space is important. One morning last week though, about an hour after I started working on revising an essay,  I realized the bigger issue. She called out to me at 7:22am.

"Mom! Mom.Mom." Is was an incessant, albeit brief hum with a bit of demand mixed in.

1. Some nine-year-olds would go downstairs, prepare cereal, and watch cartoons.This nine year old doesn't watch cartoons.

2. Some Dad's would hear their child and go to see what they need. This Dad was the one to turn out the lights last night, because this Mom couldn't keep her eyes open.

I considered letting her know where I was, giving her the option to do something quietly in the green chair in my room. However, the calling out stopped. The guilt remained, but a healthy silence ensued. I clicked along productively...until I realized that I needed to get up for something. I panicked (mildly). Was my writing time over? I put off leaving the room, fearing that my gig was up. Finally, when I could wait no  longer, I headed upstairs, tiptoeing past her bedroom. She saw me passing by and wore a shocked expression.

"Mama. I called out for you."
That morning I offered no explanation. "Yes."
As she looked at me, her hands didn't stop sorting markers. She had a basket out, as well as one of her desk drawers pulled out and placed on the floor. One of them was filled with strewn writing utensils. The other one was an orderly row of markers organized by color. She seemed content putting her things in order. By taking my own space, I had given her the gift of her own space as well.

In Yoga class last week, the teacher corrected me at least twice as I looked to see what Roy was doing and offered him comments and suggestions. "Stay in your own space, " she said.

At a class that I am taking, last month we spent the day reviewing our personality profiles, but we took time out for a boxed lunch at our tables, which were set up board room style. The guy next to me had been deemed task focused and orderly. Whereas, I had been deemed, well...spontaneous and communicative. Which means, I think that if you have to sit in a small room that you probably shouldn't sit next to me. We sat side my side, board room style.

As lunchtime came to an end, I noticed that despite the fact that I had cleared away the used food containers, I still had a lot of stuff I was struggling to fit into my little area. I looked at the space in front of the guy next to me.  It was very tidy. A Pepsi, an ink pen, and a notebook lined up neatly.
I made a gesture, encompassing my items, so many of which I can't name them.

"I'm sorry. I guess I'm taking up a lot of room, aren't I?" I apologized.
He looked at me calmly and responded merely, "Yes."

I thought about my yoga teacher. I thought about Hannah in her room. And about me writing in mine. I thought about staying in my own space.

Have a Little Awe

This is all your writing space needs:
A bench (I'd argue that could be a chair, a table, or a bike)
Silence
A little awe

According to Eric Maisel, in A Writer's Space: Make Room to Dream to Work, to Write , much more can be helpful...enough to fill an entire book...but these are the basics.

Isn't that what all of our endeavors need? In order to create something new, we need to give it space to grow. A baby, piano music, an empty stockpot for chili, a garden. In the spring, we need to turn the soil and pull away the weeds. Water a little. And wait.

To enjoy nature, we need to take a little time to get outside to take a hike, a bike ride, or at least a breath, before we have an opportunity to glimpse that fall sunset made of fire orange and salmon joining together, becoming florescent for the briefest of moments. This is what I saw above the Kroger building as I rode my bike with my family back from dinner on Monday night. If I hadn't looked up to my left, I would have missed it. It was the sort of sunset you might expect to see on vacation. But maybe those are here too, more often than I know. On vacation, there is more time for silence. More time for awe. If we are paying the bills, making dinner, and vacuuming the rug, we miss it. If we don't look up, it passes us by. How many beautiful, amazing things have I looked past? Whatever we are doing: looking for a job, writing a novel, or going to Indiana, we need to remember three things. Take a seat for a minute. Be quiet. Have a little awe.

What filled you with awe today?

See One, Do One, Teach One

Last night,  I ran into a former client at the library. He was three years older than the last time I saw him, but his skin was brighter as he beamed and introduced me to his new wife. When I last saw him, he was recently divorced, had been laid off from a very good job,and was in a tough financial position as a result of both. He was uncertain about nearly everything. And he seemed somewhat alone. He came to the networking meetings and trainings we offered,as well as scheduling career advising sessions with me. Despite his frustrations, he was open to the feedback with the extensive mock interview we provided. He was successful in landing a job. But was that the most important thing that he got from us? And would that have been enough?

My client turned to his wife and said, "These are the people who helped me when I needed it. They taught me the tools that I'm teaching you." Was landing the job the most important part?

Over 20 years ago, when I started in my field, my focus was the world of work...its fulfillment for both the worker and the employer. As I have gotten older, it has expanded to include the larger scope of one's life...its fulfillment...doing it well. Not perfectly, but fully.

When I started out to work on work, over 20 years ago, I did so because the way I saw it, you are given a unique set of gifts.  It is your responsibility and your privilege to use them well. You work so many hours per week. You owe it to yourself and society to spend them well. Now, I think you have been given one life. Use it well. The work we do gives our lives focus. The life we have gives our work focus. It is a balance.

My mission is to help individuals and the community to be whole and to be well utilized. What is the workforce development professional supposed to do? Is it enough to help a job seeker to get a position? If that person gets a job, then someone else does not. My role then is to reduce unemployment.
If I can find the gaps where employers have a hard time filling positions and make sure people are getting trained to meet those needs, then we may have done something. If we can help people to use their gifts even while unemployed, then I believe we have done something. When we help them to get  closer to financial stability, then that is something more. Getting resources, food, clothing, shelter, job leads, training, health, helpful connections, that is something. So they can get on with their lives. Making sure they get the job is not completely within our control. Most people right now aren't trying to get ahead, they are just trying to keep their head above water. They need a raft. That was the case with this guy. I couldn't make sure that he got interviews or offers, but I could make sure that despite periods of discouragement, he would not fall out of the raft. That is the one thing we can always do for each other.

Just as I was about to part with my client, I remembered a model he taught me that they use in the medical world. "See one, do one, teach one". It's a bridge to take to get to other side of learning many things. I let him know that I have called upon this model many times. He looked pleased.

His wife is recently unemployed herself. He learned how to make it to the other side of it. We brought him a raft, he is bringing her one.

While I am thrilled that he got a job and he is still working, I'm even happier that it put him in the frame of mind and the position to be happily married and sharing what we taught him. He is living fully. It doesn't get much better than that.

MORE Placements

The MORE team places 12 individuals in September. Fred takes the lead! Keep watching. The first one to 25 from the start of September gets the prize! I am currently seeking a hotel stay donation as a well deserved incentive for my hardworking team. If you have one to donate...with flexible locations...please let me know! We will be happy to promte your name!