1. Quantify your job skills by determining ”who am I and how am I seen.“

Stop saying what you believe people want to hear. If you had an opportunity to describe your perfect position within the company, do so. Once this has been completed, ask yourself, is this reality? You possess skills both, personal and job related, that are unique to you, what are they?

2. Next question, should I re-enter the same job environment as well as the same position. Here’s an opportunity to reinvent myself, have a different work environment as well as a different position. Can I financially afford to change position at a lesser salary? Am I willing to take a lesser salary for the same position?

3. Has there been pervious personal conflicts such as my values, strong political environment, nepotism, profanity, etc. which has prevented me from being successful.

4. Provide a history of lost jobs. Were you fired? Is this a reoccurring event.

What is the number of jobs where I have been fired? Re-exam the events that leads to this point.

There may be personal circumstances, i.e. ex-con, limited education, etc., that may have contributed to the termination of employment. If we as employment services conduct ”a less than“ interview for ”a less than candidate,“ this equals ”a less than“ job performer.

For those individuals with limited education where the existing positions were re-assessed and newly established qualifications were put in place for that position, ask the question. Did I see this change coming? Did I

have enough time to prepare myself? In both cases where there is a ”less than performer“ or a change in the qualifications, were there clear indications that a change was coming? Being an ex-con brings on a whole new dimension. There are only a select group of employers that may agree to employ the ”unemployable.“

5. Learning Disabilities: There may be a history of a learning disability. Do they know how to read or are they lazy. This must be assessed so that they apply for the right job. The learning disability could have been a historical problem that may have led to their termination. They may have been fostering a problem that inhibited their learning the job, i.e. instructions weren’t thoroughly understood, needed additional tutelage or step- by –step instructions

6. Personal Appearance: I need to be clean, personal hygiene is important. As a blue collar worker, a suit is not required and jeans are inappropriate. If I only have jeans, my first check would be used to purchase the appropriate attire. I must conform to the dress code because I am trying to fit in not stand out.

7. Office Politics: It exists and you have to accept it. As a new employee, you must remain under the radar. Appear as a hard worker, do what you are told and remember, even if you do nothing, you will be talked about in the rumor mill.

You are being watched, get over it.

8. Stereotypes: Whatever your race, age or gender, there are stereotypes that will come with it. You must accept it, realizing that the stereotypes are half the battle. It may be unfair, but it’s real. How many times have you have said ”I didn’t like a person“ and you didn’t know why.

9. Communications: Resumes should be faxed or mailed rather using the ever popular ”monstor.com.“ network. Your resume is an extension of you. Don’t get caught up in the cumbersome resume factory. It’s convenient, but is it efficient?