Why I have started this blog-mini rant

I guess this blog is more personal therapy for me.   I have always found some solace in writing, in fact I am usually better able to communicate through written language than speaking.   Public speaking in fact terrifies the living hell out of me.  I hate speaking to people, I always have.   The whole process of engaging an audience, delivering content that will keep their attention , putting yourself out in front of the judgement of others, I have found the entire process of speaking to be down right petrifying and terrible.   I have found this be largely more so with me in this modern age of polarization of opinions, politics, ideas, social justice and so on and so on.

 I make no bones about where I stand, I tend to be middle of the road, moderate though significantly more conservative.   That standing alone has probably lost me some of potential friends.  But frankly, if these potential friends, allies if you will would drop you or chose not to associate with you based on difference of opinion, politics, ideas social justice and so on and son , are they really people you want around anyway?   What has gotten me lately is how divisive things have become in our country.  A differing view  gets you ousted from a political party, a single off comment gets you a trip to HR (and potentially fired), someone "just doesn't like your vibe" and therefore GASP , NO INVITATION FOR YOU!!.   Look, I will be the first to admit that I have a chip on my shoulder, life has not been easy.

 

 Actually to be downright honest, I have had a lot of chips on my shoulder.  I have never been one to go along to get along, socially.  After 25 (give or take) years in Corporate America (CA), I suddenly came to the realization several years ago that I didn't fit in.   I didn't fit into the office.  Those of you who work or have worked in CA know what I am talking about.  Corporations thrive on conformity, when each segment does its job to the best of its ability.  When Susie in Accounting files the TK247 reports on time, it frees up Bob in Acquisitions to know what his budget is and how much can (or cant) be spent.  Conformity has its place in creating order and structure, but who gets ahead in CA, really?

 

Is it the most qualified, the most meritocratic, the smartest or brightest that is promoted or given special task?   From my experience the answer is NO.  From my experience the decisions were based on "who" not "what" you know.  The hell of it is, many of these companies require bachelors (and oftentimes masters) degrees just to even get into the front door, to even just be heard , to get a shot at the interview.  I can't tell you how many folks in their mid 20s and up are struggling with underemployment and unemployment with college degrees!  Of course we must logically ask "Well what was your field of major, did you major in something useful?"  You can ask that question, but in a way it  feeds the despair of the unlucky bastard stuck working $18 an hour at 35 with his or her degree in Business (if you will) while his (or her) fellow alumni has the same degree (or perhaps liberal arts major) but is making a killing in CA or government all because "I knew someone".

 

Hardly seems fair, doesn't it?  A person goes and wastes their youth on 17 years (if you get a bachelors) or 19 to 20 years (if you get your masters) on doing exactly what they were told to do by their parents, teachers , society and yet for many folks they will never see six figures.  Many folks will never get beyond renting crippled by student loan debt (don't get me started on the absurd housing costs these days).  Many people did what they were told to do for decades - go to school, go to college, get a degree, then the jobs will open for you , you will be set until retirement and then move to Florida.  But the reality is for myself and many others it hasn't worked out that way.

 

The truth is, I personally do not have a college degree.  I suppose with that statement I may have alienated some potential readers and subscribers.  "Well, Moe did you even TRY?"  "How can you complain if you didn't even do the work to get the invitation in the first place?"  "Oh, the truth comes out now a lifetime of regrets!"  Are there some regrets I have, sure I will honestly admit that.  Then again I haven't met a human being alive who doesn't have regrets (plural as we get older).  Can you tell me how many times in your career you have seen the lesser qualified get ahead and why?  Let's be honest,-intellectually honest- we have all seen how the game works.  I have also, sadly seen the crippling effect that student loan debt and the stagflation of wages has had on my generation GEN X- to say nothing of the Millennials and now GEN Z (kiddos, I don't know how yall are making it nor how yall are gonna retire, I'm just saying it was bad enough when I was up and coming).

This to say nothing of the fierce competition that has been stoked by employers over they years in the pursuit of job candidates.  Sadly, I think its a game among alot of them.  Many of them simply do not care who they inconvenience or discard in their pursuit of "The Perfect Candidate" (I wish I could some how make that sparkle just to add to the cynicism).  I sadly learned years ago that no matter how hard I worked, no matter how hard I toiled, no matter how much energy I dumped into trying to play the game, looked good for some HR rep (the worst thing to happen to CA in my opinion, and from what I have read HR is being more and more automated and downsized -good!) , answered all of the initial -"Where do you see yourself in 5 years Moses?",  "What is your favorite color?", "Have you ever had your Meyers Briggs type evaluated??" type questions "correctly" that I would in no way be able to stand up to, next to or compete with the fabled "The Perfect Candidate".

Frankly, from my observations and experience many of these companies don't even know what in the hell they want!  Hence, the continual search for "The Perfect Candidate".   Advertising an entry level position with 6 mos , 1 year or in one case 2 years experience "preferred" read politically correct as we wont come out and tell you that you wont get the job with no experience but please waste your time and money and ours and apply anyway! Because well, we like wasting time and money - yea!  Hint: I am poor so I do not have time or money to waste, therefore if you advertise 2 years experience for an entry level position I am going to laugh right out loud and click on , good luck in your continued search for "The Perfect Candidate".  

I'd like to put in a blurb, a small rant if you will for employers, and since this my blog I get to do exactly that.  "The Perfect Candidate" doesn't exist. The world offers you, employers two types of candidates -entry level and experienced.  Entry level is your standard 18 year old wide eyed kid with nary a shred of life experience and experience level is your middle aged worker with so much so that he can see through the bullshit.   EXPERIENCE comes through trial and error.  Making mistakes, breaking things (hopefully not TOO expensive things although I do have a track record in that department), the occasional missed deadline, the occasional offended customer.   Those things all come about in the process of making an EXPERIENCED work force.  An entry level worker -aka the 18 year old kid will look at the job posting and think "Gee, I'm missing out on a great wage for my age, because I dont have 2 years experience for this entry level job.  Do all jobs in XYZ require 2 years experience?  I hope I can get that experience soon!"   The EXPERIENCED worker simply says with a laugh "You are toxic and full of shit, no thanks don't waste my time"

The EXPERIENCED worker(s) knows from ...drum rolls please, lighting effects ....*cough* EXPERIENCE *cough* that your ad for "The Perfect Candidate" is utter bullshit.  What also gets me  is that the entry level wages you offer for those with  experience are passed over by EXPERIENCED workers because they know they can make more elsewhere.  Basically in your search for "The Perfect Candidate" you have alienated both the ENTRY and EXPERIENCED workers by offering to pay low wages for 2 years experience that most entry level workers simply do not have.  It would behoove you to make up your mind and decide if you will truly work with an entry level worker allow him or her to reasonably grow and make mistakes (with accountability) or if your profit margins are so slime that they only allow for EXPERIENCED workers who know what to do and will be the least liable for your business.  You can't have both, thus "The Perfect Candidate" screams - This ad was written by the human resources gal who can't make up her mind about what she and thus the company wants.  If you employers really want to turn things around, give hiring back to the hiring managers.  Rant done.

As for me, this current spot in life finds me unemployed after a failed venture in commercial trucking, wondering if I can and will get back on the truck so to speak.  I failed miserably at least in my mind and have had a significant level of fear  the last month in getting back on it.  While I do have savings they will not last long.  In fact I have even questioned if I want to continue with trucking at this point given some of the difficulties I have had the last year with it.  6 tries in order to even get my CDL, drama on my first job and a resignation.    I have come to the point where I am simply tired of dealing with employers, jobs, being "The Perfect Candidate"  all of it.

Sounds like the cowards way out I know, I SHOULD be making calls and following up, but I am worn out, exhausted and frankly pun intended no more fuel in the tanks.   Thus the reason why I took time to write today.  Writing has always provided me at least some modicum of comfort and helped me to at least FEEL productive despite any truth to the contrary.  I know that I need to do SOMETHING.  The savings wont last forever, I am still paying on the loan for my trucking school, plus taxes that will be due for the IRA withdrawal I put in to savings in the first place.  I am remiss however to try again at the corporate game, even with the experience I have, but a decision must be made soon, sooner than later.

For this moment ,  I just needed to get things off my chest, constructively I hope, in doing so allowing me to march forth.  Wherever forth is marching to.