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thatjoeguy: That’s funny, I’m now a freelance construction project manager !

After being fired from Yale University (I was one of the Heads of Helpdesk, and later a project manager) I had a real tough time finding work. Well, I could FIND it, but I found that a few things made it almost impossible to compete for the position:

1 Application process. I’m unique. When I sell my services and talents (AKA “The Interview”) I sell myself as the right choice for their position. I used to also talk people out my talents if it weren’t a right fit - But now I will adapt myself to make myself the right fit. The Application process bottlenecks my application with others. There is a race going on, but there is no chance to advance myself through the ranks of literally thousands of applications.

2 The Resume. A Resume is completely open to interpretation. I have been a consultant since 1996 (A temp, if you will) and my resume, when presented in it’s entirety, is 4 pages long. Without the detail, I have a lot of open spaces. It is enough of a challenge to merely get my resume “through” HR to the hiring decision maker. There is; again, no chance to accelerate. But the race is still on.

3. During the interview, I have become VERY proficient in the process. I can answer difficult questions (”Says here you know how to communicate. That’s great. Describe the color purple to a blind man.”) and now it’s my chance to accelerate and control the outcome of the race. “They” give one the chance to compete only as you’re crossing the finish line. That’s ok, I’m not alone - But I still had to re-evalute the process as a losing battle. Especially when it’s so easy to cheat (in my hiring days, about 95% of interview content for any given position is nothing but lies). Add to that that someone just may not like the way I look. They may not like the car I drove to the interview. Any number of insane reasons.

Ultimately: The interview process, application process, and Resume process are dead, and should never be used again. It may work for some people, but scratching lotto tickets all day at a $1 a pop works for some people too - with the SAME success rate !

So I found two part time crap positions. I went from head of helpdesk to third-shift Coffee brewer at Dunkin Donuts, and then a technician at a mall arcade (I was 32 with two 22 year old bosses.. talk about a miserable morning) while I built my business up. My business happens to be in my field: Computers.

I started working for free. Literally, when I had time off, almost knocking door to door. Ads at the grocery store, cheap business cards stuck in doors. Free computer services. Every 4th house I went into (Something I DETEST) would be someone who was a decision maker at their business, or an owner of a business. After my first free visits, they were more than happy to offer me paying hourly work.

now I bring in about 80 hours a week. I bill out at $120 an hour (As any business owner knows.. not all labor is billable!) and it took me about 2 years to get this far. I no longer work in the home (Again, I hate working in people’s homes) and I have about 30 small business clients that I treat right, and they love having me around. I now have a track record of responsibility, performance and integrity that people in my area know me for. I have since then paired up with (Co-operative competitors) 6 other guys in my field and we share and subcontract work. We have all served to enrich each other’s business. That co-operative competitor understanding beats any agreement or promise - We help each other make money and save money. The capitalist way that ONLY America can foster.

If I had to do it again ? I would get into garbage collection. Yes. Garbage collection. My friend did this after losing his job as a Swift driver. He got a small pickup for $100, and started cleaning up yards and properties in his own neighborhood. Within mere weeks he upgraded his truck, got some friends involved, and expanded his area. He’s now operating daily throughout the area at competitive rates that is smashing the larger enterprises.

It’s hard work. It’s the hardest damn work you’ll ever have to do. But It is the most rewarding thing a modern human can accomplish.