Job Search Objective II

Rebuilding your career after a major setback can be overwhelming. With so many options and obstacles, getting lost or discouraged is a real possibility. Simply put, it is easy to become a distracted buyer, chasing the next shining object rather than a discerning seller of (your) service. To avoid losing your way, you need a compass. You need to define your Job Search Objective (JSO).

Your JSO is your north star. The job market can be murky and turbulent for anyone, especially someone reentering with background baggage. The fix? A specific, achievable career goal to aim for in the short term, which aligns with longer-term aspirations.

So, what does a well-defined JSO look like? First and foremost, it's specific. "I want a job" is not a JSO. "I want a job as a dental assistant in a pediatric practice" is. The more clearly you can articulate your aim, the more focused and effective your job search will be.

A good JSO is also realistic and achievable. It considers your current situation, skills, and experience. Given that you are reentering or starting over, your JSO might be an entry-level position that will give you a foot in the door. If you’ve got years of experience but have background issues limiting your ability to pick up where you left off, then your JSO must lead to the most likely re-entry point.

Defining your JSO is a process of self-reflection and research. It starts with asking yourself some honest questions:

• What is my longer-term job/career goal (say, in five years)?

• What are my strengths and skills?

• What are my limitations (related to skills & experience AND background issues)?

• What kind of work do I find meaningful and engaging (where I will stay)?

• What is the best entry point NOW as a first step toward my longer-term goal?

Once you define your JSO – STOP!

Take note that you have just established two things:

• The type of job/work you will go after

• The type you WON’T go after

The second one (what not to pursue) is a biggie. It is just as crucial as your defined JSO. And why so, you ask? The reason is simple and often overlooked. You have to know where not to invest time, energy, and effort to avoid the black holes created by chasing after jobs far outside the bounds of your JSO. Full stop!

Then, it's time to hit the pavement (or the internet) and start your search. Proceed methodically. Be selective, but don't be afraid to think outside the box. Your JSO doesn't have to be a traditional job. It might be a freelance gig, a part-time position, or a role close to your JSO that utilizes transferable skills and provides a path toward your eventual goal.

As you engage in the search and have tested the waters a bit, refine your JSO into a clear, concise statement. For example, "My Job Search Objective is to secure a front-of-the-house position in a fine-dining restaurant, utilizing my work ethic and people skills to deliver top-notch service.”

Write down your JSO and put it somewhere you'll see it daily—on your bathroom mirror, fridge, or computer background. Use it as your touchstone and filter for every job search step. When deciding whether to apply for a position, ask yourself, "Does this align with my JSO?" If not, drop it right there.

When crafting your resume (and cover letters), highlight the experiences and qualities most relevant to your JSO. The same goes for interview prep; practice discussing how your experience and aspirations connect to your JSO.

Having a clear JSO will help you stay focused, motivated, and resilient in the face of the inevitable challenges and rejections of the job search. It will help you communicate your value to potential employers and make more strategic decisions about where to invest your time and energy.

Most importantly, your JSO will give you a sense of direction and purpose in your career journey. It's a reminder that your past does not define you and that you can set your course and make your way.

So, take the time to define your Job Search Objective, and let it be your compass as you navigate towards a brighter future. You've got this!

Onward!

Take Care of Old Business

If you're on a journey of rebuilding your life after addiction, incarceration, or other major setbacks, you know how important it is to stay focused on your goals and keep moving forward. But there's one crucial step that many people overlook in their eagerness to start fresh: dealing with old business.

What do I mean by "old business"? I'm talking about all those loose ends from your past that you've been avoiding or putting off—legal issues, debts, broken relationships, unresolved conflicts—the stuff that keeps nagging at you even as you try to focus on your new path.

It's easy to ignore those things and convince yourself that you'll deal with them later. After all, you're already juggling so much, like staying sober, finding a job, or adjusting to life after prison. But the reality is those old issues will continue. They will resurface, often at the most inconvenient times, and demand your attention. It's a matter of when, not if.

Consider this: as you work diligently to build a new reputation and demonstrate to the world (and yourself) that you've transformed, the weight of unresolved issues can threaten to undo your progress. But imagine the freedom and peace of mind of resolving those old business matters. It's not just about avoiding future problems; it's about creating a solid foundation for the future you're building.

Here's what happened to one of my former clients.

Mitch was reentering from a variety of challenging situations, incarceration and homelessness topping the list. But he was making progress. He had a job he liked and had reconnected with family. Little by little, things were coming together. On Thursday afternoon, while on a break from work, he walked over to 7/11, skipping the crosswalk and cutting across a busy street on his way. A cop spotted him, pulled him aside, and found a pile of old bench warrants when he ran Mitch. He didn't return to work. Mitch spent four nights in jail waiting to go before the judge on Monday morning. Ironically, most of the warrants were dismissed (good), but Mitch was fired (very bad).

The lesson from this real-life example is clear - take the initiative. Mitch should have dealt with these bench warrants before securing his job. But he didn’t. As a result, at the most inconvenient moment, his past issues resurfaced and pulled him back.

That's why cleaning up old businesses is so essential. It's not just about tying up practical loose ends (although that's important too). It's about taking responsibility for your past and making things right. It's about building a solid base for your new life so that you're not constantly looking over your shoulder or waiting for the other shoe to drop.

I know, easier said than done, right? Facing your old demons can be scary, overwhelming, and downright discouraging. You might be afraid of the consequences, ashamed to confront the people you've hurt, or just feeling hopeless about ever getting out from under the weight of your past.

But here's the good news - you don't have to do it alone, and you don't have to do it all at once. The key is to take it one step at a time and reach out for help when needed.

Start by listing all the unresolved issues from your past that still hang over your head. Get specific - write down names, dates, amounts owed, etc. Just getting it all out on paper can be a relief.

Then, prioritize that list. What's the most pressing issue that's most likely to trip you up if you don't deal with it? Start there. It might be resolving old warrants (think Mitch), contacting a creditor to set up a payment plan, or writing a letter to a family member you've estranged from.

Whatever it is, break it down into small, manageable steps. Try to tackle things one at a time, claiming small incremental victories to avoid burnout and giving up. And remember, you don't have to take this on alone. Contact your support network - your sponsor, therapist, mentor, trusted friends, and family. Let them know what you're working on and ask for their help and accountability. You'd be amazed by how many people are willing to support you when you take steps to clean up your past and do the right thing.

Now, I won't sugarcoat it - cleaning up old business can be long and sometimes painful. You might have to have difficult conversations, make sacrifices, or face hard truths about yourself and your actions. But the other side of that discomfort is a profound sense of freedom, empowerment, and achievement. I have seen it.

When you take responsibility for your past and do the work to make things right, you send a powerful message to yourself and the world. You're saying, "I'm not running from my mistakes anymore. I'm owning them, learning from them, and making amends. I'm building a life of integrity and purpose, one choice at a time."

It's hard to overstate the importance of addressing old business and is undoubtedly hard work. But it must be done. The key to success is to keep showing up, reaching out, and doing the next right thing. Your future self will thank you.

Onward!

Personal Job One

There's an exception to every rule and an odd duck in every flock. True enough, and it makes life interesting—the exception is the oddity, the one that moves right when the group moves left. However, when it comes to reentry in its basest form, there are few, if any, exceptions. There is always (99.9% in any case) one core behavioral issue that has contributed (more than anything else) to the fall into incarceration, homelessness, or some other form of chaos.

Identifying, accepting, and managing this is critical to success for those reentering from the harshest of life situations. I call this Personal Job One (PJO). To stay on track and avoid falling back into old patterns, PJO must come first. It's the foundation upon which everything else in reentry life depends.

For those battling addiction, their PJO is getting and staying clean and sober. For others, it might be managing a mental health condition by staying on their meds and continuing with therapy and self-care. For those rebuilding after incarceration, it means staying out of situations or away from people that could lead back to trouble.

The message is clear to someone reentering from situations like this: addressing your PJO isn't optional. It's not something to put on the back burner while the focus shifts to other (important) things, like finding a job or a place to live. Because the truth is, none of those other things will stick if you don't have a solid foundation. Think of it like building a house. You wouldn't start with the roof or the walls. No, you'd start with a strong, level foundation because everything else rests on that. PJO is the same. It's the bedrock on which to build your new life.

Now, I understand the many urgent needs that can overwhelm you when starting over. However, it's crucial to prioritize your PJO. Neglecting it could lead to losing your progress in other areas. Imagine finally landing that job but then losing it because you relapsed. Or getting your own place but ending up back on the streets because you couldn't manage your mental health. The stakes are high, and your PJO is your lifeline.

So, how do you identify your PJO and make it non-negotiable? Start by getting ruthlessly honest with yourself. What is the one thing that will most likely lead you back to a dark place if you don't do it? What do you need to do every single day to stay on track? Once you've named it, make a plan. What does committing to your PJO look like daily? What support do you need to stay accountable? Who can you reach out to for help when you're struggling?

And then, make it your north star. Let your PJO guide every decision, big and small. Before you say yes to anything, ask yourself: Does this align with my PJO? Will this choice make it easier or harder to stay committed?

Remember, it won't always be smooth sailing. There will be days when your PJO feels like a heavy burden, and you'll be tempted to set it aside for something more pressing. But I assure you - if you keep your PJO at the forefront, everything else will fall into place. Not instantly, but one day at a time, one choice at a time.

As you build your foundation, brick by brick, you'll see your life transform in ways you never thought possible. You'll find a strength and resilience you didn't know you had. And you'll discover that, no matter how far off track you've gotten, it's never too late to start over and create the life you want.

My approach to reentry includes numerous early-stage attributes, such as adopting a Free Agent mindset, understanding the Marketplace, and being a Seller of Service. As critical as these puzzle parts are, they pale compared to addressing your PJO.

It won't be a straight line, and it won't be perfect. But if you keep showing up for your PJO, one day at a time, I know, because I’ve seen it happen many times, that you can rebuild your life on a foundation that will weather any storm.

You've got this.

Onward!

Homelessness

The U.S. Supreme Court recently heard oral arguments in the City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson case, which challenges a city's ability to prohibit sleeping or camping in public spaces. The potential outcome of this case could be a significant step forward for the rights of homeless individuals, potentially redefining the interpretation of the Eighth Amendment's "cruel and unusual punishment" clause and offering a glimmer of hope for a more compassionate approach to homelessness. Or not. The Court may decide to do nothing, letting the lower court rulings stand or weigh in narrowly, avoiding the fundamental issue of homelessness and what to do about it. Homelessness does not often come before SCOTUS, so let’s hope the Court contributes to the solution by clarifying some of the general tangential issues related to homelessness.

Homelessness and reentry are essentially two sides of the same coin. Reentry is what happens when homeless individuals rejoin society at large. To be clear, I don’t use the phrase “rejoin society” lightly. Homelessness in the US is a vexing, intractable issue, and leaving it on a path to self-sufficiency requires some hefty lifting – something our country could (and should) undertake.

However, there are flies in the ointment. Political and philosophical disagreements about the root causes and appropriate solutions hinder addressing these complex issues. Some stakeholders, operating from an individualistic perspective, view homelessness as primarily the result of personal choices and actions. They advocate for harsher consequences and stricter requirements to incentivize change. Others, coming from a more systemic or structural viewpoint, see these issues as symptomatic of more extensive societal failures, such as a lack of affordable housing, inadequate mental health and addiction treatment, and the over-policing of marginalized communities. From their perspective, the solution lies in addressing these underlying inequities through policy change, increased social services, and a more compassionate, trauma-informed approach.

These divergent outlooks produce political gridlock and a fragmented, inconsistent approach to tackling homelessness (and reentry). Policymakers and community leaders struggle to find common ground, resulting in piecemeal efforts that fail to make meaningful progress. Nonetheless, progress is possible, and there are bright-spot programs to prove it. However, even when there is political and programmatic will to address these issues, a lack of dedicated resources always stands in the way of significant progress. Providing comprehensive, individualized support to help people successfully transition out of homelessness - such as long-term housing, job training, mental health and addiction treatment, and education - is expensive and resource-intensive. In an era of sharp political and philosophical differences, such as what we’re experiencing nationally and locally, securing the necessary focus, funding, and personnel to implement these solutions at scale is an evergreen challenge.

Furthermore, the existing resources are often siloed and challenging to navigate, with separate systems and requirements for housing, employment, healthcare, and other vital services. This fragmentation can create additional barriers for individuals struggling to rebuild their lives, forcing them to navigate multiple complex bureaucracies to access the support they need. The result is a perfect storm of challenges that can feel insurmountable, both for individuals experiencing homelessness and reentry and for the communities and helpers trying to support them.

Ultimately, genuinely addressing homelessness is not a task for a few but a collective responsibility. We must view these not as isolated issues but as symptoms of more profound dysfunction that demand a coordinated, compassionate, well-resourced response. This requires a willingness from all of us to grapple with the complex root causes of these challenges, such as poverty, racism, trauma, and inequality, and to invest in long-term, holistic solutions that address these underlying factors.

At the same time, we must continue to empower and equip individuals to be the agents of their own transformation, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles. By providing people with the tools, support, and belief in their own potential to rebuild their lives, we can foster a sense of hope, dignity, and purpose that can be a powerful catalyst for change.

But here’s the thing. An elephant-sized irony looms over our country's entire social service and social polity eco-space. I’m painting here with a fat brush, aiming for agreeable generalities, so stick with me. Those on the right believe individual responsibility, effort, and the old “up by your bootstraps” lead to achievement. Those on the left believe that leveling the playing field and targeted intervention lead to success. Achievement. Success. For those reentering from homelessness, achievement and success can be measured in terms of (degrees of) self-sufficiency, which is to say, progress toward becoming an independent, self-sufficient citizen in good standing.

An aspiration BOTH right and left can agree on.

So why don’t we? Why the stagnation? If most of us agree, regardless of political or philosophical POV, that being an independent, self-sufficient citizen in good standing is worthwhile, why can’t we FIRST come together on the goal?

Seriously, what’s the real problem?

Onward!

PS – I’ve included a few links to add context to this post. The bottom line is that since the federal government started canvassing the homeless population in 2007 (counting 647,258), the number for 2023 (the most recent count) is 653,104. There have been dips in the intervening years, but overall, intractability.

https://endhomelessness.org/

https://www.statista.com/topics/5139/homelessness-in-the-us/#topicOverview

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/12/15/homelessness-in-america-grew-2023/71926354007/

Seriously, Though, What’s the Plan?

Let's be honest here. Planning, especially in your life, can feel like a massive undertaking. It's the kind of thing that's easy to start with the best intentions, but then you find yourself stuck in the weeds, tangled up in a million different questions and considerations. Before you know it, that initial burst of excitement and motivation has fizzled out, and you're staring at a blank page.

But here's the thing: if you don't have a plan, you're like a ship without a rudder, drifting aimlessly through life's choppy waters. Sure, you might end up somewhere, but it's probably not the destination you had in mind. That's why having a clear, structured plan is crucial, especially for folks trying to rebuild their lives and careers after serious setbacks.

I know what you might think: "Plans are great, but I'm not sure I even know how to make one. And what if I put in all that effort and things still don't work out?" I get it. The idea of planning can be intimidating, especially if you've never done much of it before. So, I’ll break it down.

First, let's talk about why a plan is so important. A good plan is like a roadmap. It shows you where you're starting from, where you want to go, and the route you need to take to get there. Without that map, it's too easy to get lost, take wrong turns, and end up at dead ends. But with a clear plan, you have a sense of direction and purpose. You know what steps you need to take and when you need to take them.

But a plan isn't just about the destination. It's also about the journey. When you've got a structured plan to follow, it helps you stay focused and motivated. You can track your progress, celebrate your wins, and course-correct when things are unexpected. And trust me; things will inevitably go sideways at some point. That's just life. But with a solid plan, you can handle those curveballs and keep moving forward.

So, what does a good plan look like? Well, that will vary depending on your specific situation and goals. But here are a few key elements that every solid plan should have:

1. A clear, specific end goal. This is your destination, the thing you're ultimately working towards. It might be landing your dream job, starting your own business, or achieving specific financial stability. Whatever it is, it needs to be something concrete and achievable. A five-year timeframe works well for this big goal.

2. A timeline, where you break down your big goal into smaller, manageable chunks. What do you need to accomplish next year? The next six months? The following 30 days? Having these interim milestones will help keep you on track and motivated.

3. Action steps. You must perform these specific tasks and activities to reach your milestones and, ultimately, your end goal—where the rubber meets the road, where you translate your plan into actual, tangible work.

4. Contingencies. Remember those curveballs I mentioned? A good plan anticipates potential obstacles and setbacks and includes strategies for dealing with them. For example, having a backup job search strategy, a financial safety net, or a support system to lean on when things get tough.

Now, I know this might still seem a bit overwhelming. But the key is to start small and build from there. You don't have to have every detail mapped out from the get-go. Begin with the big picture—your ultimate, five-year end goal—and then break it into smaller, more manageable pieces.

Think of your plan not as something concrete but as a living, breathing document that evolves as you do. As you start taking action and making progress, you'll learn things about yourself and your situation that you didn't know before. Use that knowledge to refine and adjust your plan as needed.

The most important thing is just to get started. Don't let perfectionism or fear of failure hold you back. An imperfect plan that you follow through on is infinitely better than a "perfect" plan that never leaves the drawing board.

So grab a pen and paper (or fire up that laptop) and start mapping out your future. It won't always be easy, but it will be worth it. With a clear plan as your guide, you'll be amazed at how far you can go, no matter where you start.

PS—Pen, paper, laptop? What about my phone? Well, yes, our phones…hmmm. Try creating your plan offline or via an actual keyboard. Use your phone to augment the plan but not be the plan. Allow yourself to be creative without using a phone app. If it could, your plan would thank you.

Onward!

Being Present

Being unemployed and searching for a job can be an emotional minefield fraught with dangers. For starters, there are ongoing financial concerns to contend with. Bills and payments don't stop arriving because you're out of work. What's more, your roles don't change; you're still a spouse, a sibling, or a child of someone who may depend on you for financial and emotional support, in part or whole.

Financial concerns can build up, resulting in enormous pressure for job seekers. Job searching itself is demanding and stressful. When you include the additional stress boosters of how to pay for things, life can become a grueling slog to get level again.

Given all this, it's no wonder you may have difficulty carrying out a simple job search, not to mention a complex, detailed one. Have you experienced this? Have you tried to maintain your focus and keep your mind clear as the floor slid out from under you and the puzzle parts of your life whirled away from you in every direction?

A standard recommendation to job seekers is to view the search for a job as a job. I agree, but there's more to it than this recommendation alone. Dig into this idea a bit, and you'll discover that, as a job searcher, you must successfully manage both external and internal components of seeking employment.

When I say "external components," I'm referring to "the doing" of job searching. It means doing everything necessary to look sharp, act sharp, and touch all the bases. It also means carrying out your search in a disciplined, organized, systematic manner. Dealing with these external components is demanding and requires as much effort and attention as you can bring to the game; this is where most of the "see it as a job" advisors focus their attention.

The "internal components" are more challenging to pinpoint and refer to what's happening in your mind while so much takes place outwardly. If you could write your script on the search process, you might start here by writing your character as a person who's calm and completely clear of mind internally, regardless of what's thrown in your direction. That would be nice, but you didn't write the screenplay, so you risk showing up on set with whatever frame of mind you have at the time.

On the outside, you manage how you look and present yourself. On the inside, you strive to find the best ways to manage your feelings and emotions because ignoring internal components can and probably will sabotage all your diligent external work. That's why, in the best of all worlds, you'd write a script giving yourself the external and internal attributes of a job search rock star. Why not? You'd look good, feel great, and implement everything in slam-dunk fashion. Then again, it might not be so easy. You might see yourself nailing down the external components; however, those pesky internal issues are another matter.

Fortunately, there's a simple fix. It requires a shift within you, a subtle change of perspective. That's all. There's no cost or tools necessary. The shift I'm describing happens internally and instantly by moving into the present moment. When you do this, you begin operating in the here and now. It's simple, but it's not necessarily easy for many people. Challenges and issues with past events deeply rooted inside you tend to surface unsupportively when the pressure ramps up. Worry and anxiety about things yet to come can magnify and stop you dead in your tracks if given full rein and allowed to run amuck.

So, what does it mean to function in the present moment? Consider this. All you have to work with is the present moment. The past is history, and the future is unseen and yet to come. All anyone ever has is right now. When tomorrow comes, it's another present moment. You can pretend otherwise, and your mind will try to convince you it isn't the case. The truth is, we all must do everything we do in the now, the present moment.

Here's the real issue for all job seekers—you need to follow through on your job search while managing the usual demands placed on you by family and those close to you. Life continues happening, unfolding predictably on some days and unpredictably on other days. It's like you're the actor in an improv sketch, and you don't know what's coming your way next. But for you, it's not a "sketch" or a "scene," it's your life.

The load's even heavier for background-challenged people like you. Stuff has happened. There are things on file, making it all the more reason for thinking, living, and working in the present. Staying present is more than a mere suggestion or recommendation. It's essential. Whenever you think about what went wrong in the past or worry about the future, you need to bring your awareness back to the present. It takes work, but you can do it. Old, unresolved past issues will find ways to resurface at the worst time. Anxiety and stress about things that haven't happened can drain your energy and take your focus off the ball.

Remember, you're a Free Agent operating in a Marketplace that doesn't care about you or your story. There's freedom in that knowledge but a responsibility, too. So get straight with the way things are for you. Stay present, cutting loose negative stuff from your past and ignoring, for the moment, future things that aren't relevant yet.

The first step in managing all aspects of your life while job searching is accepting everything is happening all at once. The experience may also take you outside your usual life pattern and comfort zone. Accepting what's happening in reality is your highway to operating in the present. Non-acceptance is the opposite, and it won't help you achieve your goals, ever. Not accepting reality prevents you from doing what you must do today. It's a mind game leading to inefficiency and ultimately to ineffectiveness. Learn to live in the present and accept things now to change things later.

You aim to be "on" and fully engaged with what's happening to and around you every moment. Being on and engaged means there is no past or future to occupy any part of your mind or body, only what's happening immediately. For most people, the experience of being and working in the present moment comes as a relief. Gone is baggage hauled aboard long ago. Missing is the stress and fear about unknown things yet to come. This new experience will happen as if you remember something you've never learned—something beneficial that's waited patiently for the right time to surface into your awareness.

Onward!

Job Search Objective

It’s not unusual to hear someone reentering the workforce say, “It doesn’t matter. I’ll take anything. I need to get started.” Yes, I get it; there are situations when this sentiment fits, but too often, it’s WRONG because it DOES matter for several reasons.

To start, a decision must be made regarding where NOT to look. Job searching without narrowing the field of play is a prescription for failure. Furthermore, searching for a job (the RIGHT job) takes much time and energy - precious resources for anyone, perhaps more so for someone getting back on track in life and work.

This is where the importance of setting a Job Search Objective becomes evident. The objective is directly linked to a longer-term goal in the best circumstances. For instance, if the person enjoys cooking and aspires to join a back-of-the-house crew in a high-end restaurant, say a sous or assistant chef, her objective should align with this goal.

So, what type of job should she pursue to start her reentry search: in an office, a warehouse, or as a personal care assistant? No, she should start in food service. Right? I mean, that’s easy to see, and it makes sense.

At this point, the role of the reentry helper becomes crucial. They assist in scrutinizing the goal (is it realistic?) and attaching a timeline to it (how long will it take?). They also help identify the necessary steps and create a plan to achieve the goal. Once the goal is set, our job seeker must work backward from her goal, estimating the required steps and leading in reverse order to where she is today. Without the reentry helper's assistance, crucial tasks like goal setting and step identification might not (won’t) happen.

Now, for her (with goal and steps in hand), the question is, where should she embark on her goal journey? Furthermore, which path is the RIGHT path? To you or me, looking at it from the outside, it’s straightforward: She should start in food service, preferably in a restaurant, as a dishwasher or pantry assistant. It’s an easy call for us but not for her. Taking the first step, even with a clear goal and some idea of the steps required to reach it, can be intimidating.

In this case, her goal aligns with her interests. But how often is this overlooked or flatly ignored? From my experience, the outcome isn't good where there’s little or no interest (other than a paycheck). Therefore, interest must be considered when a longer-term goal is set. And here again, I can read your mind, another “Well, dah, you think?” As essential and grounded in common sense as this may be, prerequisites AND interests must be considered. The question, “Do you even like that stuff?” must be asked, yet often, isn’t.

Now imagine if there was no goal, no game plan, only “I gotta find something.” Chances are, “something” will be found. And to what end? Relapse? Recidivism? Cycles of this and that?

This stuff takes work. Handing someone a debit card and a warning never to set foot on state correctional property again (or else risk another felony charge), OF COURSE, just adds to the statistics.

Start by setting the stage. Help those reentering to see themselves as Free Agents Selling their Services in the Marketplace. Assist them in setting goals and outlining the steps needed to achieve them. And encourage them to take the big step of getting on the right bus that will start them on their path to reaching their goal.

Onward!

Resume Tactics

A recent conversation with a recruiting contact brought up (again) an old and fundamental resume-writing concept. My associate mentioned that his son, a music/opera major in college, ended up working in New York for a firm that specializes in providing services to PE firms. Dad was proud and slightly bewildered in a “who woulda thunk it” sort of way. After all, his son’s alma mater is two time zones west of NYC, and his music major isn’t the usual prerequisite for landing a job on Wall Street. However, as it turned out, the interviewer also had a music and opera background.

Bingo.

I recall helping a reentering job seeker put together his first resume. Even though he was in his early 40s, there wasn’t much to work with. He’d been “off the market” for much of his adult life, incarcerated and living on and off the street. But he had graduated high school and was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps. He was pessimistic about the whole process, insisting he had nothing to list work-wise, so why even bother with a resume?

I convinced him.

We built a basic one-page resume using the odd jobs and training he’d received here and there. Toward the bottom, I suggested an “Education and Service” section listing his high school diploma and military service. The resume strategy for this man was simple: use the two positives (his HS diploma and his military service) as hooks to attract interest. And sure enough, it worked. It took effort, patience, and persistence, just like fishing, but our guy got a bite from, you guessed it, someone who had also been in the Marine Corps.

From experience, I knew that keyword phrases like “US Marine Corps” have mystical powers. No kidding. Without consciously knowing it, the eyeballs of other former Marines spot this every time. It jumps off the page and demands further scrutiny. And with that, mission accomplished. Our guy’s resume stood out. It got a second look, followed by an interview and eventual job.

So, what’s the takeaway…that interviewers look for something to discuss beyond the duties and responsibilities listed in the job description? Yes, we/I do. Guilty as charged. Or maybe they look for opportunities to talk about themselves and their experiences with someone who’s had similar experiences. Okay, I’ll admit it. Or maybe interviewers are people (and not bots) with personal histories, preferences, interests, and a whole bunch of other stuff that makes them spot music majors or ex-Marines from all the others.

The lesson from these examples is to include personal “distinguishers”—things that are real and unique to you even if they don’t connect or align with your career path or objective. Indeed, the core of your resume must present your education, qualifications, and experience appropriately and professionally. That said, it’s also important to introduce more about you in a fun or clever way. Give yourself an edge. Bait the hook for someone who might take an interest and another look.

BTW, the resume line items about being a music major, former Marine, or anything similar will go unnoticed by everyone except those looking, consciously or unconsciously. So, find a way to show more of you.

BTW II, I do wonder what the bots think about this.

Onward!

Seller of Service

Some people have it—most likely learned from or modeled after a parent or relative—but not always. Sometimes, it's just there, built-in, and part of their personality from the get-go. I'm referring to a combination of characteristics that describe successful people in the Marketplace. These traits could include diligence, punctuality, responsibility, perseverance, a positive attitude, and many more—things any employer would like to see in an employee or, for that matter, in a vendor.

These attributes fall under the soft skills category. They are great to have but, unlike hard skills, difficult to train for. It seems there's a required intangible foundation for them to stay or stick. Here again, some folks have such a foundation, others don't.

What happens if this foundation is missing? How can you get or develop it? One pathway leads to and through the "school of hard knocks"—experience, requiring a lot of trial and error, which can be problematic for the background-challenged person. And, of course, experience isn't forthcoming if you can't get your foot in the door in the first place.

Another way comes from a hack to experience and the school of hard knocks. This workaround happens before getting to the trial and error of experience—which can go well or not. If the experience is negative, it will likely reinforce preexisting attitudes and lead to a hardening of one's outlook, "See, just like I thought, screwed again." Or, if the experience is positive, a revelation, an "Oh wow, things turned out okay" realization. The hack hedges the bet on experience going south because the background-challenged job seeker may get only a few (good) chances.

So, what is it that short circuits learning by experience?

A change in perspective.

It starts with seeing oneself as a Free Agent, being the pilot of the vessel that is you and your life—having agency. Getting to this step also necessitates changing one's mindset and perspective, which isn't easy for folks accustomed to being dependent and reactive. Furthermore, being a Free Agent and a Seller of Service needs context. The question, "How and where does all this stuff fit together?" requires an answer. So here it is, the Marketplace, the field of play where all work occurs.

How can we bring about a change in perspective? After all, things like this are hard-wired, if not burned into, many who find themselves on the reentry path. True. Bringing about change of this sort takes effort and is difficult to measure. Helpers often skip or skim over it—a big mistake. Sending job seekers out into the Marketplace without allowing them to reset their perspective is like playing the lottery. Many will fail immediately, which isn't good, but it should happen early while there's time to adjust. Failure that comes later, after initial progress, can be catastrophic, leading to a return to the dark places that existed before attempting to reenter.

So, introduce these concepts as a connected set early in the reentry process: Free Agency, Seller of Service, and Marketplace, with the following message delivered repeatedly and through multiple channels from helper to helpee:

Like everyone else, you are a Free Agent operating in the Marketplace. You will sell your services to a customer, usually your employer. Your goal is to see yourself as a self-contained, independent business with a clear-eyed view of what the Marketplace is and isn't. Your job is to deliver the best service possible to your customer for as long as you need or desire.

You want this change in mindset and outlook for those you are helping move forward on the reentry journey. There's more that comes with it, such as strategies and objectives unique to each person reentering. However, these and other reentry puzzle parts are building blocks that need the foundation provided by these three concepts.

Think of it this way: the change in perspective brought about by acceptance of these foundational ideas is like putting on a metaphorical seat belt, protection against the inevitable speedbumps and potholes sure to come.

Onward!

The Marketplace

Where is your success as a Free Agent job seeker determined? When I ask this question, the usual response is to ask a question in return for clarification. What exactly do I mean by " where?” Is it possible I mean "by whom?” Perhaps I’m fishing for someone to say, “I determine my (own) success.”

Without additional prompting, most people eventually answer that their success is determined by their employer, themselves, the economy, their education, the HR department, the level of competition, globalization and free trade, discrimination, and so on. It's all over the map. Generally, the responses focus on specifics and details. In economic terms, the micro vs. macro point of view.

Of course, in a general sense, all these answers are correct. Many things determine whether or not a job seeker will experience success. However, the “where” of my question is missing, and this achieves my objective. These micro answers indicate the job seeker's perspective—the trees, not the forest. Unrecognized is the field of play where all decisions are made.

The “where” I’m referencing is conceptual, not tangible. It’s a place and a thing combined. Still, we can’t directly see, hear, smell, touch, or taste it. There are rules and ways of behaving associated with it. And, like the thing itself, these rules are abstract and hard to pin down.

Most people accept the existence of this place/thing but find its essence hard to grasp because there’s no easy way to measure, value, or compare it other than results. It operates 24/7, nonstop. It’s ahead of, behind, and all around each of us. It’s where all business happens.

It’s the Marketplace.

Here’s how I present the concept directly to background-challenged job seekers one-on-one and in workshops, but the core message is universal and applicable to all of us.

To find out what it is and how it functions, you must enter the Marketplace and experience it directly. But here's the thing: most job seekers will plunge right in. Little, if any, thought is given to where and how things play out. There's no assessment taken from 30,000 feet. Instead, job seekers drop to three feet and cannot appreciate the lay of the land, finding themselves surrounded by nothing but grass, bushes, and trees.

Taking a micro view such as this creates a problem. Humans are programmed to see things in terms of polarity, as good or bad, right or wrong, fair or unfair. But the Marketplace operates differently. It doesn't care that we want to size it up or figure it out. It doesn’t matter that we want to take a class or watch YouTube videos about it. Our need to have someone tell us what it’s about and perhaps hold our hand as we enter it is of no concern to the Marketplace.

As a job seeker and eventual Free Agent seller of service, you must embrace the concept of the Marketplace and see yourself as a participant. You need to come to terms with the fact that the Marketplace has no emotions or opinions. You must understand it doesn’t care who’s on the field and who wins or loses—getting your head around the fact that the dispassionate Marketplace is where the game takes place and the game itself is essential.

If the first half of a successful job search comes from seeing yourself as a Free Agent, then accepting and understanding the concept of the Marketplace is the other half. Absorbing and integrating both concepts allows you, as the job seeker, to take to the field as an actual participant and not a reactive wannabe pretender. Instead of feeling trapped and hemmed in by all you don’t see or understand, you begin to experience freedom because you know you’re a Free Agent and you know you’re operating within the Marketplace.

Coming to this point of integration requires abandoning excuses and blame. Without them, you can better see yourself for what you are: a service seller operating within an open forum devoid of attributes like fairness, equality, and goodness. It’s not to say these things don’t exist, but you must be prepared to function without them.

As people, we’re incapable of total objectivity. Nevertheless, the Free Agent job seeker must work toward it, eliminating the constraints of assigning decision power to anyone or anything. Sure, you didn’t get the position because the owner’s brother-in-law was selected out of nowhere or the manager picked someone with the same cultural or ethnic background. You’re frustrated, angry, and resentful because it’s unfair and “not right.”

Let’s pretend for a moment that the Marketplace had a point of view. If so, it might say you don’t understand the rules of this specific game, that brothers-in-law are always picked over non-brothers-in-law, or that managers never pick candidates from outside their social group or ethnicity. If the Marketplace could communicate with you directly, it would tell you not to spend time and energy stewing on any of this. Instead, learn from this reality, take it in stride, and move on. Furthermore, it would remind you that your Job Search Objective (which I will cover in future posts) hasn’t yet been achieved and that any time or energy spent on these outcomes is wasted and fruitless. You would be told bluntly that the Marketplace couldn’t care less about your feelings. You’re merely a player who wins, loses, or draws.

All this is cold and harsh but true. As an independent Free Agent, focus on the side of the equation that you can manage. You have no control over the Marketplace. You can, however, exert influence as you participate. To do this, you must see things accurately and objectively. You must be open, willing, and teachable. The Marketplace provides everyone with a continual stream of lessons. Are you ready and willing to listen? Are you up to making the adjustments necessary to achieve your objective?

In my experience, of the two concepts, Free Agency and Marketplace, Marketplace is the concept that background-challenged individuals need help embracing. Background issues rarely exist in a vacuum. Frequently, they’re outward manifestations of inner baggage, emotional scar tissue, pain, grief, and fear. Thus, it’s too easy for someone with these constraints to lay blame, project frustration, wallow, and complain. If the Marketplace could speak to you, it would say:

I don't care because I can't care. I’m not capable or programmed to care. I set up the game, and I report the results. It’s your job to compete, bring your best game, advance from a win, and learn from a loss. You do with it what you will.

In the end, Free Agents accept the Marketplace for what it is. With this acceptance comes the possibility of achieving success quicker and more comprehensively than otherwise would be possible. Acceptance and adjustment lead to freedom, but at a price—responsibility. Overseeing your future is no small thing.

Onward!