Another thing about the Job Finding Process

[featherynscale]

The woman asked me this morning, "So, is accounting your forte?"
I say, "I'm pretty good at it, yeah."
She starts to close the folder and sighs. "There's no accounting in this."
I cock my head to the side a bit. "That's okay. It's a thing I can do, not a thing I have to do."
She looks vaguely startled for a time. She opens the folder back up. The interview continues.

So anyway, here's my question. I can do a hell of a lot of things, many of which are legal to do for pay, and some of which are things that people actually get paid to do on a regular basis. Why would someone assume that since I have been working in a particular field and that I'm good at being in that field, that this would imply that I'm unwilling to/incapable of doing anything else?

If you've got a job, is that kind of job the only thing you feel qualified to do? Is it the only sort of job you would look for, if you were looking for a job?

Maybe it's just me, but that seemed a little bizarre. I've been doing money-related jobs because those were the jobs that I could get, and they pay reasonably well, not because I feel that God called me to be an accountant, or anything.

Comments

[adammaker.livejournal.com]

You are imaginative and flexible & Most job applicants are not. The interview process IS all about the lowbar.

Make them raise their expectations.

The next time someone asks you what your focus is, give a "I'm Damn Useful" answer.

Maybe:
"So, is accounting your forte?"
"What I really enjoy is working within a company to make sure things go as smoothly as possible. I get a strong feeling of pride from that."

The job market is tough, but I hope we all can find what we need in it.
So Mote it be. Lots.

particular field

[rfunk.livejournal.com]

Why would someone assume that since I have been working in a particular field and that I'm good at being in that field, that this would imply that I'm unwilling to/incapable of doing anything else?

They have some assurance of your competence in the field you've been working in, based on the fact that someone's been paying you to do it relatively recently, and no idea of your competence in any other field.

If you've got a job, is that kind of job the only thing you feel qualified to do? Is it the only sort of job you would look for, if you were looking for a job?

I'm currently "qualified" for a short list of things, and at the moment I'm employed to do most of them and then some (and of course underpaid for that). I'm also capable of some additional things, and would take maybe a week of experience to become what I'd consider "qualified". But I haven't solved the problem of how to convey that in a job search. I almost always end up getting a job because the right people have heard of me -- often because I've been doing similar things for free -- rather than because I looked in the right places. (I keep meaning to write an LJ entry about this.)

[malvito.livejournal.com]

I could be wrong (or someone else may have alreadt suggested this) but it's probably because they look at your resume and see the things that strike the back of their minds as 'Experience.'

I am a Communications major. With Theatre emphasis. I have yet to be able to parlay that into a Communications-related job, or a non-audition theatre/film-related job. Which makes me want to pull out my hair (and you know how proud I am of my Naturally Curly Hair), sometimes, especially as I approach 40 and acknowledge that not only is my metaphoric ship sailing in a different direction than I had originally intended, but that I am too lazy and economically entrenched to try too hard to change course.

Re: particular field

[featherynscale.livejournal.com]

I almost always end up getting a job because the right people have heard of me -- often because I've been doing similar things for free -- rather than because I looked in the right places.

I'd like to have this problem. I do volunteer work which, if I were being paid to do similar work, would probably command a higher pay rate than the sort of things I generally get paid for. I have yet to figure out how to make anybody notice my volunteer experience.

[featherynscale.livejournal.com]

The next time someone asks you what your focus is, give a "I'm Damn Useful" answer.

That's my usual strategy. It makes them look at you funny, but it seems to help. You get at the heart of my question though: Is it really true that most people are not imaginative and flexible?

[featherynscale.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm not working "in my field" either. I've got a psychology degree, with most of the coursework in psychometrics and research. As it turns out though, things you can do with a psychology degree that doesn't start with a Ph. and end with a D. include: mental health tech. Which is so far from what I studied as to be nearly irrelevant.

Also, in other news, Crap! You're almost forty? Have you always been almost forty? I thought you were much younger than that.

[adammaker.livejournal.com]

Perhaps the related queston is "What does the HR/interviewer believe about Most People?"

Much like differences in management style, there are big differences in HR team styles.

Re: particular field

[rfunk.livejournal.com]

What sort of volunteer work?

Are there any relevant local professional groups you get get involved with?

[teross50.livejournal.com]

My question has always been; What does the HR interviewer know about the job they are interviewing candidates for?
It can muddleup the works severely, as you said the reason for the broader answers

T

Almost 40

[opaljax.livejournal.com]

Is there something wrong with being almost 40?? Not so old, ya know. And I have a phychology degree too, it is a BA tho. Granted, mental health techs and I have alot in common, low pay, same clients and stuff. Strangely enough, have you tried Quintiles?? They might do the statistics stuff. I hate statistics, which is why I have a BA.

[capriciouslass.livejournal.com]

I have that happen a lot. They ask me about experience, so I start rattling off acronyms. Once I see the confused look on their faces, I start explaining. Some days I wonder if I shouldn't go into teaching (but they'd have to be older kids or I'd kill the little darlings...)

Re: Almost 40

[capriciouslass.livejournal.com]

She's got a good point. There's usually openings for biostatisticians at Quintiles. I'm in no way qualified for that one...

[malvito.livejournal.com]

LOL ... I'm told that a lot of people are fooled about my age. Given the occasional white in my hair and (especially) beard, that's surprising, but gratifying. Especially if it gives me a longer shelf-life as a performer.

Yup ... with a birthdate of May 15, 1965, I can lay claim to more experience than credited.

[teross50.livejournal.com]

MMmmmmm after about 11 they are all a task to motivate not to mention control LOL Ya know Just like at home LOL

I do think you would be a great science teacher though
T

[capriciouslass.livejournal.com]

Wow! You're even older than me... It's good to know that I'm not the oldest is this crazy group of people (though orcjohn beats me by 2 months).

Re: Almost 40

[featherynscale.livejournal.com]

No, there's not a thing wrong with it. I just didn't realize how many folks fit into that category.

I will certainly look into Quintiles, though.

[diermuid.livejournal.com]

That is why I call myself a multi-platform Engineer. Otherwise they will look at the stuff on the resume that doesn't match and figure I do something else. It is why consultant companies would take my resume, and match it up to the job req and BOLD anything that matched.

That is a funny story. I use politician doublespeak for interviews... a common phrase of mine is "Well, I am quite experienced in X, as is probably detailed in my work for company M and company P. However, my specialty (forte) is in excelling at whatever skills I am required to use at any given time."

Re: Almost 40

[opaljax.livejournal.com]

Teasing, Honey. We all look much younger than our physical age. And some of us are lucky enough to act younger than our physical age sometimes too. *shifty eyes*

[malvito.livejournal.com]

LOL ... surrounded, as I am, by so many lovely ladies, I prefer the term 'more experienced.' Gives me hope. :-)

Re: Almost 40

[cameellie.livejournal.com]

I work at Quintiles and the benefits and money are quite good. Look at Quintiles.com and see if anything piques your interest. By the way, I am 40, but since 40 is the new 30, there you go.

[triadruid.livejournal.com]

If you've got a job, is that kind of job the only thing you feel qualified to do? Is it the only sort of job you would look for, if you were looking for a job?

Maybe it's just me, but that seemed a little bizarre. I've been doing money-related jobs because those were the jobs that I could get, and they pay reasonably well, not because I feel that God called me to be an accountant, or anything.

Avocation versus vocation. Many, if not most, HR-sapiens seem to still be working in the "work-for-IBM-for-forty-years-get-your-watch-and-retire mindset. As we have told you before and will again, no doubt, you are a frighteningly competent individual on a variety of skillsets. Even when you're not *very* good at something, you're willing to try it, and more likely than not, keep from failing at it. That sets you apart from 96%+ of the workforce out there, and above most of them that are still looking for a job. Most people in your class never want for a job, because they're mugging opportunity, going through its pockets for loose job offers, and off to the races. Or they're starting their own company.

You, however, don't like the money thing. You do what you do at work because you want to get paid, so you can do the other 937 things you do. Despite being nearly diametrically opposed to this, please don't think I'm belittling you. It's just math, honey, not a value statement.

And it's also why I keep telling you you'll have no problem finding a job you're competent at and is not evil. It just takes a lot of dross to come up with something shiny enough for you. Damn discriminating tastes.

[featherynscale.livejournal.com]

Despite being nearly diametrically opposed to this, please don't think I'm belittling you.

I don't at all think you're belittling me. You're telling exactly the truth. I don't know how to get paid for doing what I like to do, so I keep working so that I can do the things I like to do in my off hours. I don't need a whole lot of money for this, I just want to have enough to manage on.

Hell, since I moved in with you guys, I feel like an ostentatiously wealthy person because I go out to eat all the time at nice restaurants and I still have some money in the bank when the next check comes (even if it's only a few dollars). My usual mode of living has involved eating rice and beans at home most of the time, and still being broke by the time the first week was over, then trying not to need anything for a week.

I think that if I could figure out how to be "mugging opportunity, going through its pockets for loose job offers, and off to the races", I'd probably go that route, but the secret of it has not come to me yet, and it's not that important to me in the end whether it does or not.

Re: Almost 40

[malvito.livejournal.com]

Oooo ... sounds interesting. OK, you don't know me, I know, but any objection to me giving it a look?

Re: Almost 40

[cameellie.livejournal.com]

Heck, *everybody* look at Quintiles. We need more fun people. I know that some departments aren't hiring, but some are. Aventis, which is in the complex next to us, might be hiring, too. I don't know the website for their job opportunities, but they just merged with Sanofi so job opportunities there might be heating up in '05. Good luck. :)

[cameellie.livejournal.com]

Ack! You're just a baby! And, so are you chaosdruid. You pre-40 young whippersnappers. The Year of the Dragon mocks you.

[fionnabhar.livejournal.com]

Yeah, "more experienced." That's the ticket. And for the record, "almost 40" makes one still in one's 30's. I remember the 30's well. Vaguely.

[malvito.livejournal.com]

I rather like that. (Whip!! Snap!!) As a Year of teh Snake person, I should, out of fairness, warn against mocking snakes. We do bite. (Of course, that can be a good thing ... ;-) )

to sum up.......

[matchgirl42.livejournal.com]

She works to live, she does not live to work.

;)
Your explanation was much more satisfying, however.