Fun and comprehensive entertainment blog feat. movies, TV series, actors, movie-makers, music & books: 1980 - Present
This post has moved to my writing/blogging site. Click on the link to read the article: 8 Similarities Between Job Search for Writers and Other Professionals.
Absolute job security is a myth. I was originally going to write about freelancing and the perception of security that came with full-time but then I realized there is no absolute job security.
One story of being fired:
One of my friends is working as a sales rep. at a firm. Recently, one of her co-workers got fired. She hated the girl so she is not exactly crying about it. But here’s why the girl got fired: The managers found out that she went to job interviews during work hours. Something that should be frowned upon? Yes. Something that should get you fired? I am not so sure. Depends on whose viewpoint you are considering.
If you are the employer, you would be pissed. You’d be right to be. But then again, the work starts at 9 and doesn’t end before 6.30, and that is the earliest they can leave the firm. So if you really wanted another job, how would you be able to secure interviews after that? You couldn’t. It may look like you are betraying your boss’s trust, but then again, who doesn’t spend at least a fraction of their office time looking for distractions or other job opportunites online?
My friend freaked out because she did that too. In fact, the firm is small and the only people who haven’t been going to interviews were the managers. Job loyalty? You bet ya. They also happen to be the owners. Luckily, they didn’t take the fired girl’s word for granted and try to investigate everyone else. Maybe they really despised the girl. Hey, she had the reputation for being a difficulty bitch.
We can debate about whether she should have been warned or that they were right about letting her go. But hey, the issue here is that she wasn’t freelancing.
Another story of being fired:
Remember Christian Slater? Well, there is a chance you heard of him or saw a movie with him in it if you are slightly into movies. He has been in Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, Heathers, Untamed Heart, Bed of Roses, Broken Arrow, True Romance, Windtalkers, Basil…
Well, he has quite a CV. You can always check out my Christian Slater post if you want more info on the guy. The point is, he is a fairly well-known actor with an impressive resume. But before I could check out his TV show My Own Worst Enemy, it was cancelled. Of course this didn’t stop me from seeing it. But then Christian was back in another TV show called The Forgotten. Great show, except it seems like it won’t see a 2nd season. So you might be a famous actor who is hardly ever out of work, but you still depend on the “boss”-the boss being the network executives. Surely, Christian will survive. But it doesn’t change the fact that his “job” was cancelled.
The Moral of the stories:
Life is full of surprises. Your personality or your CV doesn’t guarantee security. If they want to fire you, they will fire you. If there are monetary obligations, they will pay that and then fire you.
No, I am not trying to bring you down. But we must be realistic. We can’t blindly assume our job is at risk or totally safe. We need a back-up plan. We need to be prepared. How? Networking. By getting well with our bosses. Not pissing off the ex-boss, even if we hate them. By never isolating yourself from the industry. By never letting your job to define you. If you are writer, sure- let that define you. It is a craft. Just don’t take your bosses or your jobs for granted. But while being prepared, obviously don’t go over the board like the first girl. That might also end up in you getting sacked.
Other Posts on Job-Hunting and Career Mangement
When it comes to changing careers, your age doesn’t matter
First, an introduction:
[pro-player width=’530′ height=’253′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wX3eJRwJqlc[/pro-player]
The New Edition
You see the cover. You turn its back and read:
WARNING: DO NOT READ THIS BOOK UNLESS YOU WANT TO QUIT YOUR JOB
Brilliant. I did want to quit my job when I picked up this book. But yes, it might really and irrevocably encourage and motivate you to quit even if you don’t. You see, this is a business book that tells you everything you want to know if you do not want to be stuck in an office from 9 to 5. And even that 9-5 was an old time ago wasn’t it? Most people I know would consider 9 to 5 a positive change in lifestyle because usually they work at least 2-3 hours more than that, lose a couple more to the commute and if they are really, really “lucky”, they don’t work on Saturdays.
I had a job that required me to be there from 9 to 6.30 (minimum) and put in hours on Saturday as well (from 10 to 5). The pay wasn’t great but OK. It had certain advantages and it wouldn’t look bad on the resume. It was a small firm and the industry was pretty OK with employees dressed in jeans (although my old-fashioned boss would just love it if I wore suits, really). And there is a bonus to working long hours as well as working on Saturdays. It doesn’t leave you much time to spend your salary. So you can save money, which was why I got the job in the first place. But after having worked there for 5.5 months, having read Timothy’s book and being no longer able to resist the dreamer in me, I quit. Truth is, I would have quit without this book eventually but it speeded up the process and I am glad.
The great thing about this book, it informs you in a very entertaining and interesting manner. It is such a page-turner, you would think you were reading a thrilling work of fiction. But just because it is a fun read, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t attack it with bookmarkers and magic markers. Ferris doesn’t just tell his own life story. He talks about all the steps you can take, the resources you can use and everything you should consider. He even talks about insurance for the self-employed. So he literally leaves you no excuses to reconsider your life. If you are actually enoying the office life with the cubicles, supervisors, the bosses, the hours, codes, the culture…..Fine, by all means don’t read it. Or read it and find about a very interesting entrepreneur.
Now, he is not only an entrepreneur. It is not like he quit his day job to set up his own office and be his own boss. He did it, so he could have more time, more money and more freedom. He literally found a way to work as less as possible and work whenever, wherever. Hence the picture of hammock on the cover…And no, Timothy doesn’t just outsource and sits down on his butt (although you can, if you prefer the lazy life). He uses this time and money to do whatever he wants. Such as being a Chinese kickboxing champion. Learning Japanese. Starring in Japanese shows (yes, speaking Japanese), being a Tango champion in Argentina. Traveling the world…He does all this and more. Learns things from scratch and excels at them; while most of us try to figure out a way to balance career with social life, barely finding time and money for the things we always wanted.
He doesn’t offer a get-rich quick scheme. You do have to work. But instead of slaving away, you will be working efficiently towards the life you always dreamed of. Oh, and even if Tim is pretty well off at the moment, he is not loaded like an A-list Hollywood star. But it doesn’t matter. He also shows you the tricks to live like a millionaire even if you aren’t one. And he was 30 when this book was first published.
So, he is one of my idols. In fact, he might be The Idol. If you are a dreamer who wants to really enjoy to path to his/her dreams, Tim is The Man and this is The Book.
The economy is bringing you down. The level of competition is depressing and you are starting to lose confidence. You are starting to feel like you are not good enough or you will never find a job that is good enough for you. Stop right there. Yes, stop brooding and just read what I have to say. There is a chance it will give you the boot of confidence and positive energy you need.
I have been you. My friends are you. You graduated, maybe not with the perfect GPA but you have done OK. You have some work experience but you are failing to get the jobs you are applying to.
No, I am not claiming to be a guru here. I am just experienced, rebellious and challenged enough to defy the status quo. I am also a good observer. I have worked office-jobs took part-time gigs and suffered through internships. I am working as a freelance writer now. But I am getting calls from my CVs on the job search sites that I forgot about. And while I can get a full-time office job, I am simply not looking for one. Assuming that you value stability and a regular paycheck more than I do, let me entertain and “warn” you a little bit.
I want you to consider the office life- yes, before you are actually hired to get into one. Chances are you tried the office, and it didn’t go smoothly. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be on the lookout. So instead of applying to all smart-sounding ads, let me do a little test on you. A little consideration beforehand might save a lot of time and pain.
1) The Hours: Do you really want to work in an office? Seriously. Just forget about the paycheck for a second. Do you want a life of working from 9 to 5 (which is a lot longer in this day and age, as you might have noticed)?
2) The dress code: Do you want a dress code? Unless you got a job in a creative field, let’s face it, you will be expected to dress according to the wishes of the company. And if that is the case, you might need to have a complete wardrobe makeover. Before you notice, your first couple of paychecks might be spent on office wear. Oops. And you thought you could save a little…
3) Size does matter: Do you want to work for a small, medium or large-sized firm? Yes, it is not just about getting into any job. You need to consider your needs and wants. Which one do you think you are better suited for?
I worked in them all. A corporation means, you can avoid the big boss for a long time but you are still under the observation of your supervisor. A small firm means even the top guy/gal knows your name. If you like anonymity, big ones are recommended. But keep in mind that big firms also tend to be more structured and formal.
If you get fired right away, it does look worse than being unemployed. So does quitting in a rush. So yeah, you need to consider your personality traits and expectations before you apply.
4) The Paycheck: Any amount sounds lovely when you are broke, but never forget about the fact that you are not only selling your services and intellect, but your time too. You are trading all that for money and if it doesn’t compensate accordingly, you will be discouraged, demotivated and uninspired. These three make for an unproductive employee and the unproductive don’t climb the ladder fast. I am just saying.
5) The co-workers: If you have a chance to check the company culture before you get in- or better yet before the interview- please do. Find forums, ask around in your social circle. Is the environment friendly? Competitive? Social? Even if you think you can survive an unfriendly group of colleagues, the reality does end up being different.
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Do your research. If you know about all these, you will know whether applying is a good idea or not. If you know the answers, you will adjust your CV accordingly, and your resume will stand out amongst others. If you know the answers, you will know more about the company than its products and services (I am assuming you know them, otherwise what else could have motivated you to apply in the first place?). This will impress your interviewer. You will be a person knowing what she is getting into. You can’t get into battle without being fully prepared. Job-hunting is one of the hardest battles you are going to fight, but there is a high chance of survival if you know and are ready for what you are getting into…
Other Useful Articles on Career Management:
* Too Much Competition is not a good reason for quitting
* Lying on your CV (and job ads that ask for way too much)
*Inspiration to Get Back on Track
*The Power Play Between The Potential Employer and The Employee
*Bizarre Business Interview Techniques
