Be of Use

I would like to introduce myself as the newest member of the Brolik team, managing Business Development. As a former recruiter, I will share a professional perspective and recent personal experience regarding the journey I took to land my current job.

Homer Wells, a character in John Irving’s novel, Cider House Rules, is a well-mannered orphan turned midwife prodigy who is generally content if he fulfills a self-imposed operational fixation: no matter what, Homer Wells needs to be of use. Luckily for Homer Wells, there is no shortage of deliveries or orphans that require his attention in the maternity ward/orphanage where he works and lives. Unfortunately, not all of us have a unique skill set to match our immediate occupational environment, especially given the desolate economic climate and matching job market.

Right now it is tough to be of use in some of the previously robust industries where many college grads were given opportunities to make a living and develop a career, enjoying the professional experience to varying degrees. Now, many “working for the weekend and some savings” jobs are less attainable, so if you are not in this situation or if you do not want to be in this situation, figure out how to be of use in your own way. Consider how many leisure hours you can devote to rewarding employment, brainstorm activities that you enjoy, research avenues to get involved, and act immediately. Do NOT let “paying” be a necessary criteria for your new job hunt: the current economy does not provide ample circumstances for this luxury, and it diminishes the point of this exercise. Also, this formula’s effectiveness can increase with the amount of time you devote. Tackle a job that you are committed to (without much compensation, if any…imagine that), make time to request more responsibility, and all of a sudden you are building a skill set doing something that you love. Carefully summarize the new experience on your resume and confidently describe your achievements when networking with potential employers. Chances are you’re good at being of use.