By Charlene Holsendorff
Ari wasn't particularly impressed with how things were going with
the new career specialist. As he headed out the building to his car
after meeting with her, he knew he'd have to decide, yet again, how much
of what was said to him that he'd simply reject.
Ari Gantt
[fictitious name] was the Quality Director at a manufacturing company
reporting directly to the General Manager. With the revamping of his
division over recent months of company restructuring, his role -
consequently his influence - was severely fractured. Ari was of the
opinion that having his position dissected into multiple roles held by
several individuals was certainly beneath a man of his caliber (a term he was particularly prone to toss about). He was actively looking elsewhere for employ.
The
career specialist was contracted to ease employees through the ongoing
upheaval in the company by providing group workshops and individual
coaching. Ari was skeptical from the start about his need for career
guidance. True, he hadn't been in a job search since coming here nine
years ago. And yes, he'd been intrigued by snippets of conversations
around the plant by employees who'd attended the workshops or had
personal consultations.
Any company would be lucky to have him, he reasoned. Indeed, his reputation as an uber strategist preceded him. He had, in fact, been recruited from his previous company for what was until recently this prestigious position.
The
career specialist recalled her first meeting with Ari Gantt. He wore
his cynicism with the same pretension as his expensive watch. "So, let's
begin the discussion towards your job search strategy," she had said as
they settled in beyond initial introductions.
"Strategy?" Ari repeated dubiously. "I didn't realize I needed a strategy."
"Of course you need a strategy," she'd responded with a deliberate but innocuous gaze.
Ari's
cynicism was overtly apparent by his body language. He regularly leaned
on one elbow during consultations. During group sessions with
colleagues he took to reclining back in his chair with legs outstretched
and his hands clasped behind his head in that "I don't buy what you're
selling" stance.
It wasn't surprising to the career expert that,
despite several leads and interview opportunities, Ari Gantt had not yet
been hired. In a particularly revealing moment he said, "I figured
employers would be knocking my door down to hire me. But that's not
happening."
It certainly didn't help that his Resume was so
outmoded. He was coached towards producing an accomplishments driven vs.
task focused marketing tool.
"It's no longer simply a job
description with a name at the top," she emphasized. "The well-crafted
Resume is a career snapshot that conveys the measurable impact made
upon companies because you were there."
There's a broader issue at
stake beyond tangible Resume and Interview tools in the pursuit of that
next job. Competence, after all, is not the only consideration when
looking for a job. Hiring Managers want to like - or at least identify
with - who they hire. Wouldn't you? As communication skills coach
Carmine Gallo notes in his article, 10 Ways to Tell if You're Confident or Arrogant, perception is reality.
The
Ari Gantts of the world need to understand that whereas confidence is
an attraction that can end up being the difference between getting the
job or losing it to someone else... arrogance works in the same way.
Today's
session now concluded, Ari's pace quickened with his frustration. As he
trekked through the vast parking lot to his car he resisted his
mounting exasperation. He was fully aware that colleagues were getting
job offers and working again.
By the time he got into his car and
revved his way onto the connecting street, he'd recaptured some
semblance of calm. "Any company would be lucky to have me," Ari Gantt
reminded himself. "... a man of my caliber."