The Waiting Game

One of the more difficult tasks for job seekers is crafting an effective resume. The way I see it, resumes are like posting a profile onto a dating website and hoping that someone decides you are worthy. Days are spent continuously checking e-mail to see if there is someone out there who thinks you are a good match.

I updated my resume and uploaded it to Monster. In the meantime, I searched through hundreds of jobs, online, and saved the good ones. (I’ll soon look through the list and pick out the more desirable companies and apply!)

There is always some doubt about a submitted resume. Did I use the correct format? Did I convey my qualifications thoroughly? You can never be sure until there is some feedback. If you don’t hear from anyone, you can consider the feedback to be negative; make some changes.

There was good news and bad news. One day after posting my resume, I received six positive responses. One manager even called my cell phone. Great; right? Not exactly! I am pleased that my resume is solid, but I couldn’t take any of the positions. Why? Because every single company is located in Massachusetts and I am not willing to commute from Los Angeles. (I am willing to commute from Los Angeles if the company is willing to pay me no less than two hundred and thirty seven thousand dollars a month!)

My current address caused only companies from the Greater Boston area to contact me. I returned to my profile and made the necessary changes. Now, with the quality of my resume no longer a concern, I have new fears. Is my resume too Boston centric? Will companies in Los Angeles shy away from contacting me due to the fact that I will only be able to make phone interviews? I have no idea what will happen, but I’ll keep plugging away.

Applying to jobs is basically a form of begging; please pick me; you won’t regret it! In keeping with the dating analogy, I would have to say that the interview process is like going on a first date. You pick out your most appropriate outfit and you prepare to make a bunch of statements that are meaningless. “I understand you are qualified, but what is your objective?” Don’t you wish you can just say, my objective is to be hired, dumbass! You have a desire to be completely honest, but you can’t because it’s best to wait until a relationship is formed before revealing any of your negative qualities.

At the end of the day, you may say that you want to be with the company forever, but you know that you’d leave in a heartbeat if better employment is available. Every employee will go through the “it’s not you; it’s me,” excuse when leaving a job. The employer will wish you luck at your new place of employment, but we all know they are hurt. (Are you happy in your job relationship?)

I have no idea what will happen in the next month or so, but I am excited. Although there are many questions, I keep my faith in the great Tim Tebow; through him, anything is possible!

@PeteTeix617