The Chameleon Searches for a Job
You know what the coolest thing about chameleons is? They adapt to any situation, no matter where they go, who they meet, or what they need they are able to change color and adapt to their surroundings. Sometimes I think if we all had a little chameleon in us searching for a job might not be such a chore but more of an adventure.
This morning I spoke with a job seeker where my knowledge of chameleons came in handy. Mary called to share her latest job interview experience and she was rather upset. Up until 2 years ago Mary ran and owned a deli in Pennsylvania, today she found herself looking for work. With all her experience she was sure she was a shoe in for a job opening at the local sandwich shop, where she had turned in her application.
Mary immediately got a call back from the hiring manager and set up an interview to meet with him. At the interview all was going well until the hiring manager told Mary she would need to submit to a background check and provide references. This upset Mary….as she had years of experience she couldn’t and wouldn’t complete their background check. Mary didn’t get the job she wanted and needed at the sandwich shop.
The moral of the story: Mary failed to become a chameleon. You must remember when you are seeking a job you need to blend in and accept reasonable companies policies and procedures. Every company has hiring policies in place that are often tailored to their specific hiring practices. Don’t do anything that you are uncomfortable with but practice being a chameleon as they often get hired because they blend in and go with the flow…
Tags: Job Search, jobs, older workers