Positioning for a Referrral
The Great One said, “I skate to where the puck is going to be.” In other words, he anticipated how the play would develop and positioned himself to his best advantage.
Let’s do the same here, getting into the tactical weeds a bit, reentry-wise.
Here’s the setup: You have a background challenge (felony) and are searching for a job. Following my training, you know the best results come from making in-person, face-to-face connections. This isn’t always possible, but it beats sitting back and submitting apps and your resume digitally. So, you try to get out and introduce yourself whenever possible.
Furthermore, you know that your best move is to disclose your background issue at a time and manner of your choosing—after you’ve met and introduced yourself but before the hiring process progresses too far. This I call Delivering the Mail. Let’s say it’s a warehouse job, and you’ve been referred to the supervising hiring manager, who is onsite and available. You tried to find out by checking their website and other sources if they will hire someone with your background, but it’s unclear, so you will have to go in to find out.
Here’s where Wayne Gretzky’s insight comes into play for you. It’s a toss-up; the chances are 50/50 that this company will accept your background. You don’t know, so planning for either “50” is prudent. After introducing yourself, should you share your background situation or wait for a second meeting? Your training, practice, and experience doing this will determine it. If the conversation goes well and some rapport has developed, you interject with, “Mr. Johnson, before going any further, there’s something I need to say.” You proceed to Deliver the Mail, again per your training and practice.
STOP - KEY MOMENT
From here, the conversation will take one of two paths, depending on Mr. Johnson’s response: Your background issue will not be an issue -or- it will be a problem, and he can’t hire you. If it’s the former, game on, move ahead. If not, think Gretzky. You’ve already prepared for where things are headed, and your response is, “I understand. Is there someone you would recommend I talk with who might be able to hire me?”
Now, I am abbreviating things, but know this: you are dressed appropriately, and your demeanor is direct yet polite. Your behavior shows respect for Mr. Johnson’s position and his time. In a nutshell, you are likable because you have worked at being so. Why? If the hiring manager can’t hire you due to company policy, okay. You are prepared and have skated to where this reentry puck has landed.
Furthermore, you know (back to training and practice) that Mr. Johnson will likely try to assist you if you're polite and likable. Guaranteed? Of course not, but the odds favor it. You asked for a referral to “someone” (a person, not a company name) who could make it happen. Asking in this way is a compliment. You are, in effect, saying that Mr. Johnson knows things and people and has a “rolodex.” You are nice about it. He’s a bit flattered and isn’t put off by your request.
Let’s say Mr. Johnson provides a name and number; where does that leave you? Let me tally it up.
You have met Mr. Johnson and left him with a positive first impression. You will send him a thank you. He is now one of your contacts.
Your warm lead appears to be good, as your background problem may not hold you back.
You have managed the introduction well and gained a contact and a lead. You did it. You performed. This is big. It energizes and reinforces your ongoing effort.
Will it always work like this? Not always, but often, or something similar that benefits you. The Great One wasn’t the biggest or the fastest, but he worked at it to become genuinely great through training and practice. This applies to you as well. The objective is knowing how things could turn out and being prepared for a “win” regardless.
This is a snapshot of my overall approach to reentry. It’s not quick and easy because quick and easy (think digital) rarely leads to good (and sustainable) outcomes when there are background issues. You have to work harder than someone without this baggage. But the key to the castle lies in how you work at it—strategy and tactics.
Everyone’s path is unique, yet there are clever, appropriate, and effective workarounds to the built-in barriers inherent in our system. It all starts with a mindset—getting your head straight by seeing yourself as a Free Agent or a Seller of Service operating in the Marketplace—concepts near and dear to my heart.
Pie in the sky? I don’t do that type of pie.
Wait till you see it in action.
Onward!