FELON
Q: Dear Dr. Culp, I'll be 26 in October. I have been looking for a job for a while now and have had no luck. When employers see I've been convicted of a felony, instead of giving me that second chance, I usually get a polite "we're not interested." If you have any ideas, I am open for anything. I have a high school diploma and I've taken a few college courses. I've been applying to a lot of places online and at retail stores having grand openings. Thanks for your help, if you can! Seeking
A: Dear Seeking, Your situation would make almost any employer nervous. Even if you don't disclose that you committed first-degree burglary, as you indicated in a separate e-mail, you probably elicit fear.
Get away from pieces of paper and online applications as much as possible. Search Google for resources. Goodwill Industries has programs for ex-offenders. Ask everyone you speak with about others who can help. Dive into social media to learn more. Develop a list of contacts you have right now who'd trust you to work for them. They might serve as character references and introduce you to the right person at their company. mlc
ON THE OTHER HAND
Q: Dear Dr. Culp, I've never been unemployed for more than a day or two, not even in the 1980s; so this is very challenging. Back in the 80s, a person would take her resume into a business, sit down and chat with the owner or an executive. Then they'd give you the job immediately or call within a day. Today, a person can't walk into a business without an appointment. Resumes have to be e-mailed. There are recruiters with no specific knowledge in the field they're hiring for; so they can't see talent if it bit them on the nose. Everything is automated so that no human handles a thing. It's a wonder any company finds the correct person. Is it all about knowing the right acronyms to put on a resume or is it about experience and quality? Confused
A: Dear Confused, Indeed, you are. Automation has made job hunting extremely difficult for job seekers, moreso if it's the only job-hunting method you use. Seemingly unqualified recruiters might not be. Don't just e-mail resumes. Someone in the company has to vouch for a person's technical skills. Identify that someone. Then work on a campaign to meet him or her. Make the impersonal personal. mlc
Dr. Mildred L. Culp welcomes your questions at culp@workwise.net. Copyright 2009 Passage Media.
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