Job Hunt

Nearly one week after the Wedding of the Century, life returns to normal at my household. I can feel the sense of urgency from my stepson to be employed, and he exhibits some of the same issues of the mind that faced me when I first looked into the workplace wondering what I wanted to do when I grew up.  The problem today is that with the American economy in disarray, the influence of the internet and the confusion of young people what career path they should take makes the job search confusing and daunting. Years ago, even I subscribed to the idea my Dad did, staying with one company and build a career there. I didn’t follow that even remotely but in my last position I maintained a presence for 15 years before circumstances demanded that I pick out a new stadium and a new team.  I took pride that I was somewhere more than a year, but that strategy is not necessarily the most intelligent or the most profitable. 

I watched my step daughter pursue a career she didn’t even go to college for, but once she was able to secure her first entry level position she hop scotched her way adroitly from one company to another, and after several jumps landed back at her first company at quadruple her compensation. Unfortunately, this path of success has not inspired my stepson.  Quite the contrary, I think it has paralyzed him. He is too caught up in job descriptions, where he will be located and placing all his hopes on that” one” job that will give him a representative salary to support him and his lovely wife. Trouble is he lives here and that has stunted his aggressiveness in pursuing a job any job, because he can theoretically take his time even though I believe he is motivated to ‘get out there.' His comment; we are trying to get out of here as soon as possible, misses the point that he interview and take the first job offered if it pays a market rate and not hold himself out until his first pick presents itself on a silver platter.  I am leaving this job thing to my wife because I feel I will only complicate the situation that is turning increasingly critical. I will try to provide any opportunity I can through the contacts I have as limited as that is.