Job Seeker Mysteries: It’s Never Too Late to Change – Part 3

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In the first two installments of the “Job Seeker Mysteries” series we have looked at the one and only purpose for a resume (to create curiosity) and why creating a “tombstone resume” can kill your job search.

Today’s thoughts were initially going to be about the importance of the cover letter and the impact a good one can have on your ability to get an interview. However, I’ve decided that we’ll tackle that next week instead.

I have decided to go in a different direction today because of something that happened on my recent trip to Knoxville, TN, where I did several VOWELS events to support the release of my book.

During my five days in East Tennessee, I spoke to about a hundred members of the Farragut Rotary Club; talked to 30+ people at a Wednesday night church group; did an interview on the “Live at 5″ show on WBIR-TV; and launched a new program called the “Career Crisis Workshop” with positive results.

All of these were pretty typical types of VOWELS events, with the tenets applied to sales and management professionals, those looking to learn and grow in their religious faith, and with job seekers looking for ways to find their perfect job. I was also the emcee of my high school reunion and really had fun with the 120 school mates who came out.

There was one more event on my calendar and it provided a new venue for the VOWELS – and my biggest challenge so far as a presenter. One of my classmates named Beth asked me to speak to forty men and women who are currently in a substance abuse program and will soon be ready to reenter the workforce.

Beth is a counselor at the facility and she told me that some of these folks have lost everything they had due to their drug and/or alcohol abuse. Furthermore, each of them has had a history of making bad decisions and taking wrong paths along the way in their lives.

Honestly, I was really apprehensive about this audience for the VOWELS however I had confidence that the Lord would guide me and give me the courage to do the appearance.  Despite my nervousness, the event actually went very well and received rave reviews by the staff and attendees. I also had about a dozen attendees stick around to ask me questions about the material and one in particular really opened my eyes.

A young man named Justin waited patiently to speak with me and when we finally got to talk, he said that he’d been praying for 126 days for the Lord to guide him in a new direction. Justin said he was tired of making the same mistakes over and over again and that he had finally hit rock bottom – at the ripe old age of 22! I asked him why the “126 days” was so prevalent on his mind – he said that was how long he had been in jail for drug possession and this was his first day in court ordered rehab.

We continued to talk and he asked me a question that caught me by surprise. Justin was concerned that with his recent conviction that he would have a hard time getting a job. He didn’t think anyone would trust him, and that no one would take a chance on hiring him. I told Justin that the real core values of the VOWELS program that he had just seen center on change. He is now at a point in his young life where he MUST change or he would end up back in jail or dead. I also told him that America loves a second chance and embraces those who have overcome negative circumstances to later triumph in their lives.

His eyes widened and his face lit up. He said, “you mean I can change and people will see it and give me credit for doing it?” I told him that not everyone would do that immediately, but what he needed to find was the right hiring manager at the right company who would give him that chance. Perhaps that hiring manager had some similar trouble in his own background that he overcame – and now sees himself in Justin.

I gave Justin one of my cards and asked him to email me and keep me up on his progress in rehab and in his job search. I hope I can be a conduit to helping this young person find the perfect environment where his new start can begin.

Do you need a new beginning in your career? Have you made bad job decisions in the past, or only gone after the money and not the reward of a career that you absolutely love? I can help you get on the right path – but like Justin, you must be ready to make a change now!

Sincerely,

Brad Raney (www.BradRaney.com)

Brad Raney is a motivational speaker, life coach, author and sales trainer. He has over 25 years of experience in sales and sales management within the broadcast industry. Brad developed the VOWELS program in 2009 and the success it brought his sales team has spurred keynote speeches, workshops, seminars, a website, and his first book “Improve Your VOWELS, Improve Your Career!” which was released in July 2010.. Click here to order “Improve Your Vowels, Improve Your Career!: The A, E, I, O, U’s of Finding Your Perfect Job!” — Available Now!

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