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Someone Please Tell Me If I’ve Lost My Mind

Posted by Chris Berry on September 30, 2008 in Introversion, Purely Personal

I started this blog in March, primarily to occupy my time while I was unemployed. My original intention was to focus on local economic development issues, but over time I’ve strayed from that path and written about everything from healthcare to introversion. It has provided me with an opportunity to carefully formulate my thoughts on a variety of topics that might otherwise just bounce around inside my head forever.

The site has evolved into a portfolio of sorts, showcasing my thoughts and ideas on a wide range of subjects. It also includes an online resume and a detailed narrative of my professional history. The format allows me to include substantially more relevant information than a standard resume, and it provides an opportunity for potential employers to learn a great deal more about me than other applicants can provide. It also gains far more exposure than I would receive by traditional means. In the past 30 days, the site has received approximately 1000 unique visitors, and roughly 1 in 6 has read my resume. Granted these are not targeted exposures, but it only takes one reader to make the difference.

In the beginning I had no misgivings about including my resume online. I hadn’t intended to express controversial opinions on subjects that might offend potential employers, so there was little reason to believe that I might actually be hindering my job search. Over time, I have become more outspoken on a wider range of issues, and the likelihood that a potential employer might take offense has become a very real possibility. I need to decide if what I am doing makes sense, or if my efforts might be truly counterproductive.

As our national economy goes further into the tank, I’m becoming less optimistic that my job search will lead to the kind of opportunity I have been seeking. I’m also forced to consider the possibility that remaining in Roanoke will not be an option. This leaves me with two choices to consider. I can continue to call attention to myself as an outspoken guy willing to take a chance, or I can retreat and follow a more conventional job search approach.

As unemployment rises, the challenges faced by mid-life career changers like me become even more pronounced. Employers tend to insist on years of industry specific experience as a minimum qualification for most jobs, regardless of whether that experience has any bearing on the ability of the individual to perform the task. The best I can do is attempt to sell my specific skills as they relate to the job requirements. As long as employers filter applicants based on experience alone, I don’t stand a chance. A plain vanilla resume simply won’t work for me.

The fact of the matter is that everything about me is at least slightly unconventional, from my personality type to my professional background. The likelihood that the majority of employers would give me a chance is pretty slim, based solely on the fact that I have not followed a conventional career path. With that in mind, I’ve made a conscious decision to call attention to the things that make me different, instead of trying to cover them up.

I fully understand that the majority of potential employers who view this site may not form a favorable impression of me as a job candidate. Whether they disagree with my positions on specific issues, or simply find the appearance of the site unprofessional, they are well within their rights to act accordingly. In all likelihood however, these are probably the same people who would not consider me if I submitted a plain vanilla resume either. They simply lack the imagination to consider that someone from outside their own limited realm might possess talents and insights not found within the conventional pool of candidates.

For the time being, I’m convinced that finding the right opportunity for me calls for an unconventional approach. I’m seeking an employer who shares my ability to look beyond the obvious, and to see opportunities where others see obstacles. My readership continues to grow at a fairly rapid pace, but so far I haven’t attracted the one reader who matters most. Hopefully it’s only a matter of time.

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