LEARN FROM THE PAST
Image via google by jamesrobertwatson
Showing us once again that some of the best ideas for our current challenging economic times may come from those who have lived through them before, 91 year old Lillian Brownstein Chodash, in a recent Wall Street Journal article, offers a still valid job hunting tip from 1938.
Finding herself still unemployed after 15 months of job hunting in the New York City area, she went door to door in a tall, Jersey City office building knocking on doors and inquiring about openings. Starting at the top, she worked her way down to the second floor without any success. Upon entering the office of a small insurance and real estate firm, she learned their secretary had just been fired. After passing tests on typing and shorthand, (now there’s a lost job skill!), she was hired on the spot.
Bert Bernheim, in 1932, walked through town every day asking at every house if they had any work. Most jobs were minor chores that paid less than $1 per day. Mr. Bernheim was willing to take any work he could find. Today, job seekers are unwilling to accept work that pays much below their previous salary.
WHAT’S OLD IS NEW
Fast forward seventy-plus years. Looking for her first “real” job after earning a new business degree, my wife rode to the top of one of the World Trade Center towers and began knocking on doors, inquiring about any opportunities. After working her way down to the 88th floor, a chance conversation while waiting for an elevator revealed an opening at an interesting company nearby. She headed there immediately and landed the job.
Ms. Brownstein and Mr. Bernheim were much younger when they were looking for work during the Great Depression. And, admittedly, life was much simpler. No matter. Embrace good ideas where ever and when ever you find them.
ARE YOU UNCOMFORTABLE? DO IT ANYHOW!
Image by wallyg via Flickr
Is walking into a strange business without an appointment uncomfortable? Absolutely! But how uncomfortable is not having any paycheck? Worse? Much worse?
Get back into the game any way you can, and make your way from there. It won’t kill you. Actually, you will probably live longer. Somehow Mr. Bernheim got by and is still ticking today at age 97.
Do your research about businesses that need the skills you offer, and contact them directly. Don’t join the long lines of applicants responding to advertised positions. Covering a lot of ground improves your chances of being in “the right place at the right time”.
If you’re currently unemployed and want to go back to work, you already have a job: finding work. Treat that as you would an 8-5 position. Proactively seeking out hidden opportunities will bring the paycheck you desire much faster and will place you in a position that is likely to be a better fit for you.
Going up?
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