When I have interviews, things go well, then they look at my resume and start asking me things like: So why don’t you become a principal? Have you considered private schools?
I do my best to extinguish those kinds of things since I am working on my MBA but my efforts have been fruitless. I even went to a colloquium about job searching and the likes and the head speaker asked me what I did. I told him I used to be a teacher and I am looking to get into management or corporate training.
He told me to my face in front of everybody,
“The only way you can do that is if you have a friend who will hire you or get you in.”
I then stated that i was working on my MBA to which the speaker told me, “That is good and all but you don’t have a business background.”
Help!
-P.
P. left this heartfelt comment on the post “How to Keep Hiring Managers from Pigeon-Holing You As An Educator.” And while this had to be an upsetting experience (I don’t even know what I would have done in his position!), I firmly believe you can learn from anything and anyone (including jerks).
There are only two logical responses, but luckily both can lead to positive results.
- You’re right, Mr. Speaker, the only person who will hire me is a friend or connection. So I’m going to network like crazy to meet that person who will launch my career. And newsflash, Mr. Speaker, everyone starts every career by making friends and connections. What do you think is happening in that interview?
- You’re wrong, Mr. Speaker, and here’s why…. [enter why you’re passionate about a given industry]. Use that passion in your cover letter, interview, and blog to make a job for you. Because if you get the interview, that means the company wants to hear your perspective. And they don’t want job-hopers, they want people who have changed course and completely recommitted themselves to a new field.
Ready for the lame kitten poster slogan? Don’t give up!
I can’t believe a speaker would be rude enough to say that to someone in a big crowd. But you know, they get paid for being memorable and providing “in your face” advice (whether it’s right or not).
While there are some HR people who WON’T hire you.. you only need one who will! And you can still get in on the tiny bit of good advice in there: keep networking and making those friends who will hire you or get you in ;-).
