Since I have followers (!) who have taken an interest in my attempt to re-enter the workforce, I thought it might be time for an update.
Folks, it hasn’t been easy.
I’m a smart girl. I recognize and realize the realities of the job market.
But the lack of response really affects my self-esteem.
When I started back in August, I contacted a few friends and co-workers for “informational interviews” and some networking. Each person gave me some great comments/tips for my resume. Each person also recommended doing some temping or contract work. The deeper I got into the process, the more appealing contract work became. I can “try out” working for a 2-6 month commitment (depending on the position and/or employer) and see if I really DO want to return to the workforce.
I have contacted several staffing and temping agencies. I have run into 2 camps—those that are really nice (or pretend to be) and those that are somewhat…..snooty…..and don’t want to give me the time of day. After responding to an on-line job posting, recruiters from 3 different staffing/temp agencies called me to speak about my experiences and my situation, what I”m looking for, etc. In each of these 3 cases, I was asked to come in and meet the recruiter in-person. I found this to be an excellent opportunity to dress up and practice my interviewing skills. At the conclusion of each meeting, the recruiter…kindly….stated that the majority of their clients are looking for Full Time employees, but if a Part Time position in my area of interest pops up, they would definitely refer me….because (in their words) despite being “out of work” for 10 years, I do have a strong resume with varied skills. They insist I keep in contact with them about my job search, and to feel free to contact them with any questions. I ask them if I see a job posting for a FT position, but based on the job description I feel it’s a “perfect fit,” would they contact the employer on my behalf to see if the employer would consider a 30/hr per week person? The recruiter smiles nicely, and replies that it is possible.(nice, professional, esteem-boosting……but I know they won’t/don’t). I know that they have a job to do, and that job is to make sure their clients are 100% satisfied. There must be enough candidates out there, that to waste time on my query is not worth it to them.
However, I am thankful to these nice, professional people who took time out of their day to speak with me.
Then, there’s the opposite experience. There is one company in particular, who call themselves the “HR Staffing Experts” (or something like that). I have submitted my resume for several positions. Not a phone call. I asked a friend who is an HR professional if she has a contact at this HR Staffing company. She enthusiastically gave me her contact, whom I called. The lady flat out said that none of her clients would look at a resume from a candidate who hasn’t worked in 10 years. As if everything I have done in the last 10 years has no value whatsoever.
I’m NOT applying for HR Manager, Director, or VP positions. Not even the HR Generalist or Specialist positions. I’m applying for the HR Administrative Assistant—the data entry/interview scheduler/envelope stuffer!!!!!
As much as this ticked me off, it also gave me resolve to pester these people until they speak to me. I cold-called the Staffing Company and was connected to a different recruiter. I got the same response. (My HR professional friend is HORRIFIED by the attitude of this staffing company) But I keep calling and emailing…….Why? Because I feel that I am the caliber candidate they are looking for, despite my “lack of work.”
Last week, while I was in Boston to meet with one of the nice Staffing Company, I came across another staffing company that I had been meaning to contact. This office was set up for people to just walk in off the streets. So I did. I handed my resume, and a Staffing Consultant–who looked young enough that I could be his mother (YIKES!!!)–guided me to a small conference room. He let me give my schpeel about my life, work experiences, and holes in the resume. At the end, he said “Well, I’ll pass this along to the HR group letting them know that you are looking for something in the burbs during “mothers hours” and if something fits, they’ll call you.” I’m pretty good at reading people. That was a blatant “We can’t help you, but thanks for stopping by.”
Again, interview experience.
I also decided to start a log of all the jobs I sent my resume to. Since mid-August, I have sent my resume to at least 45 job postings. I know it’s a little more than that, but 45 is the number I have on record (either saved Word docs or emails in my sent or in box). I had a goal to send a minimum of 3 resumes a week. I think I’ve come close to that goal. Some weeks are better than others (for example, this week…..0). I have also been responding to FT positions—in the hopes that maybe someone will say “Hey, this girl has lots to offer” and call me….talk to me….decide YES I possess many of the qualities they are looking for….and then amend the position to 30-35hrs.
Wishful thinking. Yes.
But at least I’m sending out my resume. If I was only sending out to PT jobs, I would really be depressed. At least this way I have a little bit of hope to hold on to.
I have also tweeked my cover letter this week. Added a little bit of SASS to it—I felt like I needed to explain (1) Stay at home moms are WORKING MOMS (thanks Snooty Staffing Company), and (2) why hiring me for 30-35 hours is a smart move. We’ll see if it gets me noticed.
As for “real” interviews….I have had one. It was through a temp agency for a part-time position at a medical staffing company. It was a contract position to last 4 months, with the potential for a long-term permanent hire. Granted, I don’t have experience in the medical field, but I do have recruiting assistant experience which could transfer to any industry. I thought the interview was going well. But then I blew it. I was asked a question that I wasn’t expecting, nor did I know how to answer. “Where do you see yourself in a year?” I became flustered. Well, the position is a temp position…..no guarantee that I’ll be here a year from now. My husband isn’t on-board with me returning to work. What if I decide that I can’t juggle work and home? I just didn’t have an answer. And I think that’s what blew the opportunity for that job. Needless to say, I won’t make that mistake again.
And lastly…….I have been asked by friends, colleagues, staffing consultants, my mother……. and by me……”What about your law degree?” Yeah, that one is hard to answer. I feel like if it’s on my resume, employers would find me over-educated (over-qualified?). If it’s off my resume, I feel like I’m being dishonest. Those in favor of keeping it on my resume bring up good points–that if it comes up on a background check, it shows I lied. And another “PRO” for leaving it on, is that it shows that I AM educated, can research, write, and set me apart from other candidates.
As for working in the law field. Not really interested. It was something I wanted OH SO LONG AGO. I don’t have any desire to take the Mass Bar. But that’s not to say I haven’t applied for a couple of Paralegal jobs…..because I have. Not my first choice. But if it’s local, with “mother’s hours”, and in a field of law I am interested in, then YES I will apply. But definitely NOT my first choice.
Enough time on this…..off to check the job boards…..again.
Tags: job hunting
