In my last post I talked generalized terms about how one might secure employment through non-traditional methods. If you have seen the movie Erin Brockovich, you know of another great example of someone rising above the limitations of their resume to land a job and then turn the job into something great. In fact, that movie should be required viewing for every college career center. Although the facts may have been dramatized by Hollywood, Erin's success in overcoming a less than stellar employment history is inspirational. Now, my story pales in comparison to the Erin Brockovich story, but it may be more accessible as a model for people who do not have quite as much courage, intelligence or self-confidence as Erin. However, the end result of my story is the same in that I got a job I would never have gotten if I had played by the "rules." My story...
My resume included about 5 years of public accounting experience. I was looking for a job as an Internal Auditor. I found one in the Houston newspaper that seemed to be the perfect job for me - except for one problem. The classified ad indicated they wanted experience with an international accounting firm, but my experience was with a large local firm. I decided to try anyway. I mailed my resume to the personnel department, as requested in the ad and then waited. [Following the rules so far...]
After a week of receiving no reply, I became concerned that the "big firm problem" was going to cost me the job. So I called the company and asked to speak with someone in accounts payable, knowing that those calls are rarely screened and knowing that most people in accounting know the people in Internal Audit. I asked for the name and extension of the manager of that department. Then I called back and asked for his extension. When he came on the phone I told him who I was and asked if he had seen the resume I had sent to personnel, knowing that it had probably been put in an "unqualified" drawer in that department.
Not surprisingly, he had not seen my resume, so I asked if I could bring it to the front desk so he could see it. Not wanting to be rude, he agreed. Time to make my bold move! I said, "Hey, as long as I'm coming over, why don't I take you and your auditing supervisor to lunch. Then I can answer any questions you may have about my background". I made sure I called on a Friday, because no one really wants to work on Friday. I included the accounting supervisor in the offer, since I didn't want him to think the offer was anything other than business related. He agreed (and then he paid for lunch, much to my delight).
During lunch I was able to explain why I thought my experience auditing with a local firm would be as useful or more useful than if I had the experience he thought he wanted. Not only did I get the job, I also got a mentor. Since the accounting manager had made the decision himself to bypass his original hiring requirements, he apparently felt a personal obligation to ensure my success. We had an excellent working relationship and I had a job I loved.
The moral of the story... If you want a job you know you can handle, find a way to make it happen. [Final note: I do not recommend breaking any laws, making a pest of yourself or lying about your qualifications. I do recommend asserting yourself.]
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