Coping with a Prolonged Job Search

The letter to the editor in "Close to Home" on Sunday, October 29, 2006 was called "Why No One Will Hire Me." The man, a recent amputee from cancer who is very mobile and can drive, was understandably frustrated that after being laid off from his writing and editing job at an association, he has now spent a year looking for work, applying for posted jobs online and in the paper. He told a familiar story: highly qualified with years of experience, excellent clips, good phone impression, pleasant meetings and good interviews with company reps, although people are surprised to see his cane and limp. He brings up his disability himself to assure interviewers he can do the job well. But then someone else gets the job. "That's just the way it is," he says. We've all been there.

That doesn't mean, however, that jobseekers who have disabilities should ever give up or become resigned to "the way it is." Many factors could be influencing hiring decisions that the applicant has no control over. And it is terribly difficult to keep spirits up when life isn't going the greatest. But you must do it-somehow. People adjust to change differently, and at their own rates. Find trustworthy people to lean on. You know who they are.

If something hasn't worked in a job search, try something different. Analyze in depth what's working and not working, and repackage "brand you." Networking is an overused, calculating word for plain old conversation. Just talk to people about everyday things and experiences. Slip in at opportune moments that you are looking for a job. Maybe volunteering in a nonprofessional capacity would raise spirits. Perhaps working as a contractor for a former employer would be a temporary solution. Don't keep rejection letters. They don't help you move ahead.

Talking about disability is tough. I learned to say, "I'll work with you during this process on reasonable accommodations" but didn't elaborate on them during the first interview. Perhaps it's better to also include: "Do you have any questions for me about how I will handle specific job tasks?"

The letter writer talked about the warm smiles of his interviewers, yet still sensed their pity. Maybe they felt that way, or maybe not. During times when we meet with these reactions, the important thing is never to pity ourselves.

Easy answers don't exist. Everybody faces different situations. No one is a "one size fits all" person. Sometimes the best you can do is to keep the faith, one day at a time, and keep trying. Put your current, best "you" forward at all times, whatever you are doing.

Lessons from Google

Much has been written about Google's unique and creative, yet hard-driving corporate culture that has produced many innovations. I admired their campaign for new workers a couple of years ago, on the Google site, in magazines and subway signs and billboards (http://www.marketingvox.com/archives/2004/07/09/mysterious_billboard_may_be_google_recruitment_ad/). The ad read something like: "If you can solve this, we want to talk with you." A high-level math equation was included, or sometimes just appeared alone. The curious investigated further.

A recent Washington Post article ("Building a 'Googley' Workforce: Corporate Culture Breeds Innovation" by Sara Kehaulani Goo, p. D01, October 21, 2006) asked the question: "Are you 'Googley' enough?" I thought aspiring and current IT pros (and all workers and jobseekers) would benefit from some of the examples the article contained. My reactions are in purple.

1) At Google, employees are expected to spend 20 percent of time on their own projects and ideas in addition to their regular jobs. While some have ended up as Google products, many more have failed. The thinking is that if you haven't failed, you're not trying hard enough.

So always keep trying different approaches, even though they seem odd and don't work. You never know when something will work. To quote many a motivational sign: "Be fearless!"

2) Google's application process is rigorous. Underachievers don't fit in very well.

State challenges in positive terms, and demonstrate ways you're overcoming them. If recruiters are antagonistic about a perceived lack of experience, don't give up or shrink back because of recruiting attitudes. State how you would solve hypothetical problems and how you will fill in educational gaps later.

3) Google has whiteboards in hallways so people can jot down ideas, figure out a pesky coding challenge, or whatever. Not to mention puzzles and quizzes to keep your brain sharp.

Keep notebooks when ideas strike, referring to them later. It might be valuable later if you are asked to be project leader.

Jobseekers and workers who have disabilities are highly creative in their specific specialties and their approaches to life. We learn quickly that there's more than one way to accomplish something or to figure something out, and we won't give up. We're good planners because we must be. We bring many things to organizations.

Employers would love to have workers with these qualities on their teams.