About Staffing : Albertans Have A Lot To Be Thankful ForI took a short break from my hectic Alberta life recently, exhausted from my career and personal obligations, and traveled south to California for a break. Sharlene Massie, About Staffing C.E.O. |
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I met many wonderful interesting women at the fitness camp I was torturing myself at, but one morning conversation I had with a woman from the southern part of that state is worth sharing.
This woman (I’ll call her Karen), was a professional, very successful real estate agent for many years. Karen had a booming career, was well known, attractive, the typical Californian type. She was happily married, everything was great. But the economy and the real estate market in the United States tanked, creating the worst economic climate in that country’s history. Feeling the effects of the downturn, Karen’s husband was given the ultimatum by his employer – move to a little farming town or collect a pink slip. The decision was easy. They packed up, moved away, and Karen was forced to look for work.
As a last resort she applied at Target, a big department store, as a cashier for $8 an hour. She applied, along with 200 other people. Target requires that every qualified applicant complete an aptitude test, filling in the bubbles with pencil. Karen completed it, but failed because she had forgotten what she had learned 40 years earlier in high school! She was devastated and she not only lost the job but her self-esteem was shot.
Being in the staffing profession, I couldn’t help but ask Karen why she applied at Target in the first place? Did she LOVE Target? No. So, I asked her what she did love doing, what really interested her? What gave her energy and would excite her in a career? She said she loves animals and working with the elderly. I told her that if she is going to work for $8 an hour after having a successful career that made her happy, she should at least pick a type of industry or job that she would love. I also told her to register with staffing agencies because we match people with jobs based on their ‘love to do’ and ‘need to do’ requirements. During our conversation, another person in the group chimed in and told Karen about a job opening at a seniors’ facility for an activity coordinator. Karen was thrilled, and while it was something she had never considered doing, she was certain it would be a job she would be happy with.
Well, happy thanksgiving to us all. We Albertans should appreciate the job opportunities we have here, and if we begin to complain maybe we should take a moment to evaluate what is available around us. Do a job that you love and be thankful you have the choice to change jobs if you don’t.
-- Sharlene Massie is the C.E.O. of About Staffing Ltd., a dynamic personnel agency specializing in direct-hire and temporary placements. Questions for Sharlene? Visit the About Staffing website at (www.aboutstaffing.com), and click on the link under the Sun logo. This article may be reproduced or transmitted if done so in its entirety, including this copyright line: Copyright 2008, by About Staffing Ltd., all rights reserved.
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