Dear J.T. & Dale: I have a poor work history. I have been fired or quit many times. How do I get a decent job now? I have great customer-service skills but keep losing out to less-qualified candidates. - Scott
Dale: You say you lose out to “less-qualified candidates,” but it’s important to remember that your work history IS a qualification.
J.T.: But you know what Scott means.
Dale: Yes, but for almost every job, there are plenty of people with experience - the choice is made on whom the hiring manager believes in and wants to work with.
J.T.: So, Scott, you need to build a new work history. Try going to temporary agencies to see if they can get you a job as a long-term temp. Also, many staffing firms offer temp-to-perm job positions, so your solid performance could result in a full-time offer.
Dale: Good idea, although I don’t see that as your only option. As a volunteer at a men’s center, I’ve encountered a stream of individuals with deplorable work histories. If they try to cover up that fact, or downplay it, they fail. However, when they admit to past failings, and ask for help, the results are astoundingly positive. You say: “I realize I don’t have the ideal resume. I made dumb decisions. But I’ve changed, and I’m looking for a chance to prove it. I’m hoping to find someone who will give me a shot. Believe me, I’ll come through for you.”
J.T.: You might go further, and quantify your new loyalty: “My goal is to stay put for a minimum of two years, longer if they’ll have me.”
Dale: People love stories of underdogs and comebacks. Think of the Biblical story of the Prodigal Son, where one son stays home while the other wastes his inheritance on “riotous” living. When the prodigal one returns, the father announces a celebration. Understandably, the responsible son is confused and angry. The father points out, “… your brother was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” It’s a story of fatherly forgiveness; however, we must not overlook the role of the son in his return - he comes home humbled, stating that he is no longer worthy of being called his father’s son, and intends to ask for a job among his father’s servants. It’s that Big Realization, and the humility that follows, that makes the parable.
J.T.: The upshot is this: Don’t be afraid to share your story honestly and passionately. I believe the right employer will see the upside of getting a loyal, grateful employee by hiring you.
