The Job Hunt Begins

I need to clarify a couple of things. First, I am working now. Performance Marine in Sardis, MS was one of my accounts when I was with Godfrey Marine. The owners, Tracy and Beverly Williams were gracious enough to hire me to help at their boat dealership. I am very thankful for the opportunity that they have given me. Secondly, I missquoted Kim. I said that she had said it takes me, "5 miles to walk next door", her reference to me rambling when I tell a story. What she said was I go "Around the world to walk next door." I don't think that is any better, nor do I think that it accurate. She also said she would not chastise me, I think I'll leave that one alone but I digress...


It took a couple of days for the initial shock to wear off. I accepted the reality and thought to myself, "OK, where do I start?" Under normal circumstances, a few phone calls would have lined up a few interviews and I would be right back on track. But circumstances were (are) definitely not "normal". I knew that I needed to prepare a resume. In this electronic age, creating a resume should not be that difficult. I explored Microsoft's website and found all the resume templates that I could imagine. It was just a matter of filling in the information. But as I began to do this, I found that remembering dates and names and addresses and other pertinent things such as this didn't come as easily as I thought it would. I strongly recommend preparing a resume even if one is not needed. At a time as stressful as this, I found it extremely difficult, but I persevered.


Resume in my hand was an accomplishment, but I needed to get into the hands of a prospective employer. I began to use my "mental Rolodex" to make a list of all the contacts I had made over the years. I am thankful that networking is one my strengths. Through email and telephone I conversed with my industry peers. I became very good at telling the story because with each conversation I had to recite it over and over. I began to put together a database of human resource names, email addresses and telephone numbers. As I would call and speak with these individuals it became ever increasingly clear that the boating industry was "on her heels". Many times I was told of how valuable of an asset I would be to a company only to then hear that there were no positions available. Although that was not what I wanted to hear, I did appreciate the honesty. It was (and still is) amazing how many times I was told to "get my resume in as quickly as possible and I would be hearing back from them soon" only to never hear from them at all. An email is the most non-confrontational form of communication there is, but more often than not, I would not even receive that. One thing I have learned through this process is if I tell someone that I will call or email, then I make sure that I do it. One might call it unprofessional, but I call it down right rude when someone does not follow up when they say that they will.


Each day was the same process; phone calls, emails, follow up on leads (which were few). It was quite a bit like my previous job.


I would ask, "Did you get my information?"


"Yes, I did but I have not had a chance to look it over", would be their reply


I would then ask, "OK, should I call you back later today or would tomorrow be better?"


"Call me tomorrow" was the typical response.


Tomorrow's conversation would follow the same script. It was difficult to not get discouraged. There were days when I had trouble making myself make those calls. But, it had to be done.


It did not take long to realize that I was going to have to expand my search into other fields. Surely, my experience as an outside sales representative would carry over to another product. I found myself getting the same responses in the golf industry, pharmaceutical industry, hunting industry, food and beverage industry and many others. I did have some success with a company in Dallas, TX in the industrial supply business. I met with a recruiter in Memphis, TN and they flew me to Dallas for an interview. During breakfast with the recruiter, I was told that they would expect an answer that day if they made an offer. I thought this was quite strange and later during the interview with the President of the company, I was told that was not the case. They did make an offer and after careful consideration, Kim and I made the decision that it was just not the opportunity for which I was looking. It was extremely difficult to turn it down, but now, since time has passed we have found that it was the right decision.


I also tried a few of the online "job finders". These sites had a wealth of information. However, I was not at all prepared for the emails and phone calls that I began to receive after posting my information for all to see. I don't know if it was the sales experience, the customer service experience, the travel experience or what, but I think every "no name" insurance company in business called me. Most of them disguised themselves as "Financial Planners" or "Retirement Counselors". But don't get it twisted, it was insurance and not any kind of insurance about which I had ever heard. I do still visit those websites to look at the postings, but I removed my information a long time ago.


Time passed quickly on some days and very slowly on others. I was discouraged to say the least. It was hard to believe that it was already early October. I had been unemployed for almost two months. I needed work. Not just for the financial benefit, (I'll discuss the financial issues at another time) but also for my own mental well being. Desperate is a word I'll use although that sounds a little extreme, but I wanted to work. I began contacting department stores, home improvement stores, grocery stores and specialty stores. I couldn't even land a position with one of them. I was told, "You are over-qualified and we don't want to invest in training you knowing that you will probably leave us." One might take it as a compliment to be told you are over-qualified, but in this case it wasn't a compliment.


I had applied online with a major shipping company that is based in Memphis, TN for an account manager position. One day, I received an email from this company's H.R. department. As I began to read the email, I discovered that it did not concern the position for which I had applied, but it did invite me to an open interview for an hourly paid, general labor position. Like I said in the previous paragraph, I needed work, so I accepted their invitation. This was an experience the likes of which I had never had. I am going to refer to it as a "cattle-call". Upon arriving prior to the appointed time, I was greeted with a line of people that stretched close to a city block. After taking my place in this line and following those ahead of me into the building, I was given a number and told to wait along with the other 200 or so people. 35 was a nice number to have in this case. A brief introduction was made by a representative of the H.R. department, followed by 3 short videos explaining how the interview process would proceed and the duties of the job for which I was interviewing. I got to watch the videos in full 4 times before my number was called. Once I entered the second room, I was placed in front of a computer to take a 45 minute aptitude and personality test. Being that the video had explained to me that I was going to be taking packages from a container and placing them on a conveyor belt, I wasn't sure the relevance of "If I were a tree, what kind of tree would I be?" They didn't ask me to leave, so I guess my personality passed. From there I was taken to another room where I was finger printed and then taken to another room to wait with the rest of the "herd". One by one, we were called back for a personal interview. I was told in this interview since I was still there, then I probably would be hired; I had made the cut. One more time I was asked to wait with the "herd" (considerably smaller now) until I was called back by a nurse. She was holding a cup and asked me to go into the men's room and fill it, (that's all the details you need, or want). The interview process was complete. I was told that I would hear from them "soon". "Soon" turned out out to be close to 45 days, so now it was mid-November and I got the call to begin my career as a Package Handler. This was a part time job, averaging about 25 hours per week, but at least it was a job. I'll have to say that I have NEVER worked as hard as I did at this. I have a new respect for the people that "work" for a living.


Between Christmas and New Year's day, Tracy Williams at Performance Marine called and offered me an opportunity to come and work at his boat dealership. Although not the position I was hoping to find, it did get me back into the boat business. So, I tendered my resignation of my Package Handler position and Performance Marine is where I am today.


I am a firm believer that if a man doesn't work, he doesn't eat, so I had began to feel guilty watching Kim get up and go to work each day. Although the feeling wasn't justified, I also felt as if I wasn't doing my part to support my family. This situation was certainly not something for which I had asked, but it was hard to control the feelings of failure. My family, friends and faith were what kept me going during this difficult time. I had prayed that God would open the right door. I also prayed that He would close the wrong door. He did just that in both cases. I also discovered the meaning of a true friend. The ones that supported and encouraged me are a blessing. Most importantly, my family has grown stronger. Just last night, I hugged Kim and told her that I was sorry that 24 years into our marriage and we are still struggling. Her reply was, "Yeah, but we are together."


That's what has kept me going.

Next post, "Financials"