It would seem a disparate group of people: college graduate, accountant, attorney, chef, human resource representative, teacher, artist, business owner, restaurateur and president of a large company.
Their common bond? They were all looking for work when The Denver Post profiled them in a Job Boot Camp series that started in mid-April. Today, we take a look at the progress some of the Boot Camp participants have made. Many are still looking for employment, some have succeeded in finding work and others have very promising job leads.
But whether or not they’ve found the perfect job, the Boot Camp team has something else in common: intelligence, humor, determination and a positive attitude in the face of a rough job market.
Mark Pletcher, 37: Former landscaper, now assistant to a chef
Goal: To work in the culinary industry.
Job status: Goal achieved. Working for Tony’s Market, side by side with a professional chef.
Lessons learned: “Follow your passion and turn it into a career. And honestly? Hope for a little bit of luck.”
Nathan Billington, 23: Recent college graduate from the University of Colorado
Goal: To work in animation for a major company, such as Disney or Pixar
Job status: Finishing up his first gig on a medical animation project for cancer self- exams. “It’s a great project and I’m excited to have such a professional piece on my resume,” he says. “I’m still applying to the big companies, though.”
Lessons learned: Learn to work well with your team. “You can be the most amazing animator ever, but if nobody likes you because you’re only out for yourself, you’ll never get a job.”
Eroca Gabriel, 55: Former human resources professional who took time off to care for family members
Goal: A job in human relations where she can help to change the state of human resources practices, or in training and development where she puts in new programs or teaches new programs
Job status: Promising. “I haven’t found work, but I have made several contacts,” she says. “I’m speaking with the director of clinical operations for Senior Care of Colorado soon. That’s a crucial contact. I’ve met some great people. If I end up with my own business doing research on aging in Colorado, he’s the kind of source who will help me.”
Lessons learned: “Research adds value,” she says. “It brings quality to networking, which gets a bad reputation because it can seem mercenary and impersonal. I want to network with people with whom I have an affinity. People who can really help me. People I can really help.”
John Bohenick, 49: Former senior executive and president of Gates Corp.
Goal: A CEO role at a great company. “I’m looking for a job that I find challenging,” he says. “A job I want to do, rather than need to do.” Consulting work also interests him.
Job status: Consulting has picked up. He’s been working for several companies in the technical and business areas. Full-time work is close, he says. “I’ve made it through the first screening with several companies, and have had a few requests for interviews,” he says. “Things are looking very positive.”
Lessons learned: “If you have a track record of success and you’re confident in your ability, you’ll be fine,” he says. “The economy is improving, so be patient. Be open to everything. And while you’re looking, keep yourself mentally challenged.”
Valerie Davis, 53: Former gifted-and-talented teacher
Goal: To work again with gifted and talented children, work for a textbook company, or teach other teachers at the college level. “I’d prefer to stay in this field, but I’m also willing to be flexible.”
Job status: “I’m still looking, but I haven’t given up hope,” she says. “I had a job opportunity, but the pay was much too low. Half what I made before I was laid off. I have three kids going into college, and I have to make more money than that.”
Lessons learned: “I was on the road during one interview, and had to apply over the phone,” she said. “I didn’t feel good about the interview at all. My suggestion would be to practice those interviewing skills. I would have been great at that job, but I didn’t get it.”
Gwen Laine, 54: Artist
Goal: Continue working on what she’s built over the years. “I thought Web design would supplement my work, but that’s not what I really want to do. I’m an artist.”
Job status: She’s written a lot of grant proposals, and has applied for fellowships. She’s working on a new piece. “It’s less esoteric than some of my previous work.” She’s had interest from galleries, but is looking into arts centers and museums — places she hopes will commit to her work, which is photography-based installation art.
Lessons learned: “I think the article that ran in The Post really revealed this to me: You have to believe in yourself. Don’t allow yourself to be swayed by others. Work harder. Don’t drown out your own voice.”
Sally Easter, 51: Attorney
Goal: Full-time work practicing law
Job status: Sally has had several interviews and many interesting leads. “I’m encouraged,” she says.
Lessons learned: “If you’re discouraged one day, wake up the next day and start over,” she says. “And keep busy. I’m fostering kittens right now. They keep me very busy!”
Audrey Parsons-Von Tilius, 55: Former shared-services supervisor in charge of accounts payable and payroll at Time Warner Cable
Goal: To work again with a company she’d be faithful to. “I would have stayed with Time Warner until I retired,” she says. “I loved my job.”
Job status: Still unemployed. Job search stalled because of ankle surgery. “I’m still in a cast, and trying to get down to one crutch,” she says. But she’s back in touch with some former co-workers as a result of the article. “Now I’m leaning more toward retraining once I can move about more easily.”
Lessons learned: “Don’t be afraid to ask for help from your friends, family or professionals if you get discouraged,” she says.
Miguel Guzman, 55: Former small- business owner
Goal: To work in an artistic environment doing bookkeeping and using other skills he honed working for a small business.
Job status: Guzman has been working several jobs, including helping Blake Street Glass Studio with payroll and taxes. From friends’ references, he’s also found work doing home repairs and landscaping.
Lessons learned: “Watch your pennies and live within your means,” he says. “And count your blessings. I have so many friends who keep my spirits up, and my husband is employed full time. We’re doing fine.”
Derrick Washington, 42: former restaurateur
Job status: No job offer yet, but since a profile of him was published last week, he’s had some inquiries. “It’s definitely positive. I’ve gotten great feedback.”
Goal: To land a job where he can use his accounting skills. He’d also love to work with people, ideally with youth. “You make such an impact working with young people,” he says. “I’ve been a mentor. I can tell you it makes you feel good.”
Lessons learned: “Keep a positive outlook. Volunteer and get in front of people. Have faith. It’s just a matter of time until something good happens.”
Sleuthing out a job
Our final job-hunting tips come from a coach and a recruiter. Adriana Llames (), a veteran career coach, graduated from Metropolitan State College. Her first book, “Career Sudoku: 9 Ways to Win the Job Search Game,” will be published in July (available at Barnes & Noble and Amazon). Kathleen Conners, a full-time recruiter for the past 12 years (), also shares advice on ways to make yourself stand out in the job market. Her book, “The Thrill of the Hunt: Get Real in Your Job Search,” is available from Amazon.
Get curious: “I think a lot of job seekers don’t succeed because they have no curiosity,” says Conners, who is based in Castle Rock. “They do the same thing over and over, looking for a different result. They fill out forms, send out resumes and hit send. Then they figure out this doesn’t work. You have to become Sherlock Holmes to find a job.”
How to be a detective: “Let’s take someone in the hospitality industry who moves into town and knows nobody,” Conners says. “Step one: Where could she find a good contact? Wouldn’t that be someone who writes a society column, who knows the top venues or who the top-notch caterers are? Or a restaurant supply place? It’s about being a detective.”
Network selectively: “If you’re unemployed, you probably don’t have a lot of money to hire a career coach, or attend some of these networking events, where you’ll meet a whole lot of people who are unemployed like you,” Conners says. “Instead, be selective in who you talk to. Wouldn’t it be better to spend 10 minutes on the phone with someone who’s specific to the industry you’re interested in, rather than spend four hours and 75 bucks in a networking event, where you’ll talk with people for 15 minutes, listen to a speaker, then take off?
Rescue the resume: “Nine out of 10 resumes end up in the garbage can,” says Llames, who is based in Chicago. “Most of them are completely disorganized. Your resume should loudly say what your strengths are. As far as length goes, if you’ve not been in the job field more than five years, a page. Never more than two. And don’t reveal personal information about yourself. Don’t say you’ve been in your field for 30 years, because like it or not, ageism is alive and well. List your professional affiliations, but if you’re the head of a Girl Scout troop, leave that off. Include it, and you’ve said you have children. If you belong to a church, it doesn’t need to be on that resume. You don’t know who’s reading that resume. Keep that protected-class stuff off it and give yourself the best possible chance.”
Buzz-killers: “Get rid of buzzwords like ‘results-driven,'” Llames says. “Focus on something specific to you. If you’ve won big awards, get that up there. If you’re in operations, you’re an operational guru. Your employer will assume you’re on-time, results-oriented and self-motivated. If you weren’t, would you put that on a resume? Who would say, ‘I tend to be a bit lazy, and never make it to work on time.’ Focus on attributes specific to your job skills.”
Personal touch: “It’s about going out and knocking on doors,” Connors says. “Ninety percent of managers hire through some contact, and 85 percent of jobs aren’t advertised. So get out there. Create relationships. And once you’ve had the interview, sit down and write an outline of what the company needs after you’ve thanked them. Send an e-mail, which will get there quickly. Then call on the off-hours and leave a voice mail explaining you’ve sent the note, so they can look for it, and if it gets caught in a filter, they realize it.”
Beware social networks: “Watch what you post,” Llames says. “I once read a posting from someone who wrote, ‘I had a 15-minute interview, and while I was answering questions, I groomed my cat.’ I thought, ‘There’s no way I’d hire that person.’ I also wondered what kind of background noise that interviewer had to hear. Cats don’t take to being groomed quietly!”
