11.30.2003

It's Probably Because Your Personality Sucks

What we noticed was an attitude problem.

Many of the people that had been written about worked for "name brand" companies, such as Scient or Anderson. We can only guess that the kind of people who would have been hired by companies like that might have thought they were just that little bit better than their counterparts elsewhere within the industry. Then once unemployment struck, they were unwilling to compromise. They'd never had to before, why start now? The best guess we can hazard is that these people had always been catered to by human resources departments and hiring managers alike. Convinced of their greater self worth, we can only extrapolate that they thought they could sit back and let the jobs come to them – even despite the downturn. Having never experienced tough times with their career or economically, we can observe from their behavior that they never saw this coming, and that they never thought it would affect them. Weren't they the cream of the crop?

We have all seen reams of paper devoted to stories of former high level managers who are now having to work at retail stores just to make ends meet. In addition, these people contact the media and complain to high heaven about how such work is beneath them.

Well, guess what. All of us Fairies paid our dues a long time ago. Yes, we all worked what seemed like a long and seemingly endless series of shitty retail and low level grunt jobs. We stocked shelves at big box computer retailers, worked telemarketing and customer service, did temp assignments for years, toiled at strip malls (we didn't have the panache to work at actual malls) and even did office management work for a variety of rather unpleasant companies. Such work wasn't beneath us then and it isn't now. Only the thing is, we've already worked jobs like these.

1. We'd rather chew our arms off than go back,
2. It made us stronger for having done them, and
3. We learned enough while we were down there that we don't ever have to go back.

There are certain blanks that you have to fill in during your career, and we all made sure to do so early on.

So, what’s our advice to people who are having a hard time being re-employed? Well, they're going to have a problem with this article, that’s the first thing. They're going to blame their joblessness on the economy and a variety of other things - not the flaws in their personality. That’s OK, I guess they can.

Whatever.

However, the point is, none of us Fairies have had problems finding jobs. Most of us have even gotten raises. This, during hideous economic times.

How is that? Because the one thing a Fairy can't afford is the luxury of an attitude problem – to an employer or a recruiter, that is. You have to have hustle, you have to appear amenable, and you have to be easy to get along with. You can't display any abrasiveness or sense that you ’re entitled to the world and better treatment than others. You have to appear humble – even if you are one ass-kicking code diva. Strategic modesty helps – your references can brag about your achievements for you. Everything a recruiter or hiring manager suggests – it’s a great idea. Fifteen resume changes before the recruiter submits you? Do it. They know the client better than you. Be helpful, polite to everyone you talk to on the phone – especially the receptionist. Some places ask their front desk person what their impression was of the candidate. You want nothing to get in the way of a positive impression.

If you think you don't have to do any of this, that you're qualified enough, you used to be the head of this or the manager of that, or you were a director of something and had lots of people reporting to you and all this is beneath you, well, not even us Fairies can help you. However, if you're willing to put your ego aside just long enough to be hired, then you might wind up learning a lot from a Fairy.

Woops

Got a little screwed up on Rule 17 analysis; had two Fairies submit articles. When the heck does that ever happen? Oh well, it's a key Rule. Now we've got our crap together. Maybe we'll lay off the nachos for a while, but definitely not the margaritas. Yow!

Jobless Claims Fall 15,000 Last Week

Jobless Claims Drop, Lowest Since Jan '01

Wow, I guess bitching up a storm *does* work!