Escaping the Hive Mind: Becoming Yourself

For the past two months I have been working for a certain educational publisher that has attracted a lot of negative media—including a spot on an episode of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.

I’ll admit, my two motivations going into the job were 1) money and 2) get an insider’s perspective into the controversial company that has a major hand in the education system in our country.

Some of my suspicions were confirmed. But there were also some pleasant surprises. The company’s anti-bigotry mentality was refreshing. They actively seek to welcome employees of diverse backgrounds, including LGBTQ individuals, people living with disabilities, and people of all races and beliefs. While we faced a good deal of technical and administrative issues, my team’s director and supervisor were supportive and helpful. There were certain things that made the project seem like something out of a Twilight Zone episode, but the general morale and comradery of my team made everything worth it.

The most surprising insight I gained from this project, however, was from the work itself. We were grading essays written by 6^th graders. These 90,000 some odd essays were written by students from different cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, so it’s safe to say we saw a good overview of what all 6^th graders think about—regardless of who they are and where they are from.

Interestingly enough, about 75% of the students wrote about the same 5 topics. For the sake of that pesky non-disclosure agreement we all signed, I won’t tell you what those topics were. But I can assure you: if I didn’t believe in the hive mind before, I do now. It seems that children, regardless of social status or color or identity or quality of education think the same way about the same things.

We often as a team would share universal groans of boredom as the same concepts and topics returned over and over and over. While certain stories were memorable, the other thousands blended together, until we could more or less recite the formulaic narratives by heart.

After a few weeks of this, an interesting idea struck me.

Grades 6^th-8^th are important years for children as they begin to explore their identities and learn about the world. But it is also the period of time in which they learn the basics of writing—and how to express themselves on paper.

The chilling realization is that the essays we read represent not only the students’ developing writing skill, but also the way they perceive themselves.

Adolescence is full of firsts—the first time on a bike, the first time doing a handstand, the first time kicking a ball, the first time truly reflecting on who you are as a person, in the greater scheme of things.

And as basic psychology will tell you, these firsts form the framework that we build on for the rest of our lives.

Which means the way these kids learn to write about themselves will likely not change too much as they grow. Sure, they will (hopefully) learn that “teachering”, “struggulying”, “scooleosist”, and “actsent” are not words, and that Lebron James’ name is not, in fact “Little Brown James”. But assuming that they will never spend 9 weeks reading papers that begin the exact same way and talk about the exact same things, these kids will grow into adults unaware of their overwhelming un-uniqueness…and continue to write and think about themselves the way they have always done.

This may seem fairly harmless. After all, we are entitled to keeping our own interests and personalities, however generic and socially acceptable they may seem.

But when it comes time to impress someone—say, a potential employer, sounding the same as everyone else becomes a HUGE issue.

Imagine for a moment that instead of reading 90,000 essays written by children, I was reading 90 resumes, or cover letters, or Linkedin Profiles, written by job applicants.

Who would I remember? The 85 applicants who are “detail-oriented team players”? Or the 5 individuals who tell me about the accomplishments and experiences that they ALONE had as professionals.

• The woman who gained a permanent position after going above and beyond to completely restructure her boss’s filing system, thus saving him hours and hours of time struggling to find that vitally important missing document about the merger that will change his career.
• The lawyer who championed the effort to force a local doctor who was misrepresenting himself to come clean and treat his patients with honesty and integrity.

• The store clerk who stopped thieves from stealing products simply by grinning knowingly at them and asking “can I help you find something?”
• The fry cook who actively took on extra shifts when employees quit their jobs without notice, quietly baring the burden  and never gaining recognition for his willingness to help—until he proudly includes it in his resume, thus proving to his new potential boss that he has what it takes to become a manager.
• The single mom who quit a blossoming career to raise her kids and care for her ailing parents, all while working part time jobs and taking classes at the community college.

These are the stories that are memorable. However great or small the achievement, it is YOUR moment; something that you alone took the initiative and time to do.

This is what employers will remember. This is the kind of person recruiters look for.

So think about what you’ve done. Not what you were expected to do. Not what everyone else does in your position. Think about what you alone have experienced, and what you alone have achieved. Whether you’re a fry cook or a successful lawyer, you are unique.

It’s up to you to embrace your individuality, and show it off to the world.

5 Pieces of Advice for Starting Your Job Search in the New Year.

We’ve survived our first week into the New Year. Some of us are already back to the grindstone. Some of us may still be enjoying our visits with family. Some—like me—are desperately trying to fit in as much fun as possible before returning to the snowpocalyptic world that is Chicago.

But some of us are already working hard on fulfilling our New Year’s resolutions–and a big one for many of you will be the search for your dream job. As you get ready to engage in the year’s most busiest employment-seeking season, here are a few things to keep in mind:

1. New jobs mean sacrifice—but don’t sacrifice your own happiness.

Whether you’re looking to leave a bad job, or trying to escape the cycle of unemployment, you might be tempted to make some sacrifices in order to get that coveted new job. When you’re ready for a change, things like lower pay, a field you hate (*cough* retail *cough), or a hard to get to place of work may seem small concessions. But don’t fall into the trap of thinking in the short-term. It’s better to hold out for a job you like—or can at least tolerate—than to jump into something that will make you miserable.

2. A lot of stuff happened last year—update your resume and online profiles.

Even a resume writer like myself sometimes brings up their resume only to find old information, wording you once thought was clever (but isn’t), or new things you’ve forgotten to include. Set aside some time to look over everything—resumes, Linkedin or Monster profiles, personal websites—and make sure everything is correct and up to date. Chances are you’ll find things that need attention.

3.New Year, clean slate—toss out everything you don’t need.

A cluttered house is a cluttered mind. The old paperwork and junk you collected around the house last year (we all have that drawer in our house), and the emails that have been clogging your inboxes have got to go. Now is the time to move forward, unburdened by the past. Do yourself a favor and throw out all that stuff that’s getting in your way of moving on. You may even find a few things you lost last year!

4. Be good to yourself—don’t get lost in the chaos of job searching.

January and February are two of the busiest months for hiring. The opportunities are abundant, but the competition and pressure are steep. Take time to breathe in between applications and interviews. This will help you avoid burning out and giving up. When you get a rejection letter, have a party. After an interview, buy yourself a coffee. Job searching is tough, but don’t let it get in the way of enjoying life.

5. It’s never too late to learn—take some classes and educate yourself.
You may not have the job, but you can still gain the skills. There are thousands of educational opportunities out there. You can audit classes at a university, become certified in a new trade, or enroll in free classes online through Coursera, Harvard, MIT, Oxford, and more. If you’re unemployed or lack the skills for the job you’re seeking, show your potential employer that you are proactive and motivated.

Finally, when you get stuck or need support, there are hundreds of helpful job sites out there that can offer advice, job searches, and online communities to make the process easier. Check out my list of resources for some of the leading job assistance websites.

And as always, if you have any questions, or are interested in purchasing my writing services, you can contact me at clarerushing@gmail.com. I’d love to hear from you.

Happy hunting!

New Year’s Resolution: Get A Job

Midst holiday preparations and expectations of fun, food, and family, you’re probably feeling the burden of something else–an empty wallet. Dead end jobs, immanent New Year’s layoffs, promotions just out of reach, and unemployment can be a real drag on the holiday spirit.

Thousands of people will soon be going full-force with their job search, so in support of those of you who are anxious to get off to a good start this New Year, I’m reducing my prices for December.

Prices through January 1st will include:

Resume Critiques—$15

Makeovers—$25
Resume/Cover Letter Package—$35

Additional services will also be discounted by around 50%.

According to Monster.com, two of the biggest months for hiring are January and February. So give yourself or your job-seeking loved one an advantage against the competition in 2015!

All gifts will include a personalized note to give the recipient, explaining the service they’ll be receiving.

Email me for more information at clarerushing@gmail.com.
Happy Holidays!

The “D” Word

In a few lines, I’m going to tell you a word. And when you hear this word, I want you to sit and think about it for a moment, read this blog entry, and then banish it from your vocabulary.

Get ready.

Dynamic.

“What?” You say. This word is fine. It’s not a swear word. It’s fun, it sounds like dynamite, it calls to mind enthusiasm and energy and everything a good employee should be. Right?

Wrong.

In fact, CareerBuilder.com lists “dynamic” as number 13 on their list of “The Worst Resume Terms”, alongside other no-no’s like “best of breed”, “synergy”, “bottom-line”, and “go-to person”.

Now, people who use this word (you know who you are) do have the right idea. You understand that any good employee should be “vigorously active” and “energetic”. Maybe you’ve even been told to use “action” words in your resume and thought, “what word is more action-y than this?”

Think about it this way.

A dynamic painting has a lot of movement and energy and action. But if you want to give someone a clear idea of a painting, you don’t give them a generic umbrella term. You tell them how beautiful the colors are, what medium the artist used, whether it’s an abstract painting or a portrait or a landscape or still life. You describe the painting to the person so that they can “see” it in their mind.

Your resume works the same way. The employer can’t see you or hear you or talk to you. All he or she has to go on to form an opinion of you is a piece of paper.

Using the word “dynamic” to describe yourself basically just means you are, in fact, alive and capable of moving on your own. It says nothing about who you are as an employee—especially when half of the applicants before you have used the exact same word to describe themselves.

When you’re an employer sifting through potential candidates, and every other resume describes the applicant as a “dynamic professional” who influences “dynamic results”, the word loses all meaning.

Have you ever said a word so many times it doesn’t sound like anything anymore? 

Wherever you are right now, I want you to say the word “dynamic” out loud until it’s just a bunch of letters and syllables with no purpose. If you’re around other people, all the better. Maybe you’ll annoy them enough that they’ll never want to use the word again either.

Now, when you’re finished, pat yourself on the back, because according to CareerBuilder, you just gave yourself a 12% increased advantage over other job seekers (the ones who use the D word).

You’re one step closer to a perfect resume and your dream job.

What’s in a Name?

Unfortunately, even today with progress made all over the country for racial and cultural equality, there are still some deep rooted biases that work against people with names that do not sound traditionally “American”.

This does not necessarily pertain only to people of non-Western European descent. For example, Antje and Gerlof have a lesser chance of getting an interview than Andy and Gerald.

So why the racial and cultural discrimination, when many employers claim to support minorities and diversity?

A few possibilities—

Profiling. In some cases, it is a simple matter of prejudice and bigotry. In this scenario, you’re better off missing out on a job rather than dealing with a racist boss.

Social Anxiety. It may sound silly, but some hiring managers would rather pick a less qualified candidate whose name they can pronounce, than deal with the embarrassment of mispronouncing a candidate’s name on the phone or in person.

Unconscious Bias. While a hiring manager may be forward thinking and accepting of all cultures, internalized prejudice does still exist. It’s worth noting that this is not an intentional form of racism, and the manager is likely unaware of their bias. 

So how do you avoid being racially or culturally profiled by your potential boss?

Here’s how Jose Zamora handled it:

The idea that you’d have to change your name to get a job is not only degrading—it goes against decades of movement towards racial and cultural equality and acceptance.

But today, working with the system is sometimes the only way to beat the system. Altering your name is a small price to pay for getting that job you’ve always wanted.

Above all else, remember this:

Changing your name on paper, does not change who you are. Nobody can force you to give up your culture—and if they try, they’re not worth working for anyways.

Check out these articles for more information on name profiling:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/careers/how-an-ethnic-sounding-name-may-affect-the-job-hunt/article555082/

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/34063244/ns/business-careers/t/it-or-not-name-can-impact-your-career/

http://www.chicagobooth.edu/capideas/spring03/racialbias.html

 

If you’d like to learn more tricks to getting a job, or want to share your opinion on racial profiling in the workforce, leave a comment here, or drop me a line at clarerushing@gmail.com.

 

How to get a job, without knowing how to get a job.

“Back in the day”, or so my parents tell me, job searching basically meant submitting a resume and hoping you didn’t have lettuce in your teeth when you went for an interview.

Today, with all of the online applications and job sites and resume styles and cover letters—applying to just one job is a daunting task. And unfortunately, in our current economy, often times you have to apply to 10, 20, 30 or even more jobs before you can even snag an interview.

As a bright eyed and bushy tailed young Liberal Arts student, I was committed to the idea of being a starving artist for a few years and then finding that awesome dream job. I didn’t want to “sell out to the man”, I didn’t want a job in retail (who does?), and I definitely didn’t want a desk job.

Come to find out, I didn’t really know what “starving artist” felt like. It was unpleasant, embarrassing, and definitely NOT what I wanted to be doing for any prolonged period of time.

I knew more or less how you were supposed to job search. I knew what the requirements of my profession were. And pretty soon, I figured out what a lot of young artists and writers find out. I was severely underqualified for pretty much everything.  I’d discovered the dreaded cycle of “need experience to get experience, but can’t get a job without the experience”.

It seemed wholly unfair.

But I was determined. By a stroke of sheer luck I had the opportunity to move to Chicago and by my third day there I had a job—as an over-night grocery store price clerk. But heck. I was out of my mom’s living room, and into my own apartment.

It lasted about 7 months. Retail really, really does suck the life out of you. I had had enough of it, and so one fateful weekend I submitted somewhere around 40 applications. I perused Craigslist, various jobsites, some of the freelance websites I was a member of.

Within two weeks I was getting paid  to write. The irony of it? My new job was helping desperate people get a job.

It was scary at first, because while I was a great writer, I was still kind of clueless about the whole job thing. But after a few months, something changed. I began getting more and more emails from clients thanking me for my services. Telling me that they now felt confident enough to go after that job they’d been coveting.

Somehow, miraculously, I’d found a job that simultaneously taught me about my industry, the business of finding a job, and gave me the opportunity to help people who, like me, were struggling in their search.

Now, 500+ resumes and cover letters later, I’m kind of an expert, according to my clients. And while this is by no means the end game—I have my own goals, just like all of the talented people I work with every day—I am thoroughly and totally committed to helping other people overcome that same feeling of desperation and intimidation that I felt in my search.