[Jewelry making - Article 00006] - Re: [Orchid] Employment frustration

[David L. Huffman]

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Hi Susannah;

>     I am confused as to why my strong art-jewelry background is
>     working against me. Any ideas? 

    I think I have an idea. Back when I was pounding the pavement for a
    job, I used to have what I thought was a drop-dead fantastic resume.
    It began with all my fine arts degrees, then my exhibit history, my
    teaching experience, and by page three you got to my rather extensive
    experience in the retail jewelry trade. I thought my art background
    was impressive. Well, to another art jewelry it would be. By the time
    they got to page three, they had already drawn the conclusion that I
    was a hobbyist. Besides, more than two pages is too long for a resume
    unless you're after a certain kind of position, like U.N. Ambassador.
    Fact is, I was accomplished both as an art jeweler and a retail bench
    man. Finally, someone said, "we're not looking for an art fair
    jeweler". I thought about that. Maybe my fantastic resume was a
    little too good to believe. I then started to keep two resumes. The
    art stuff was for any prospective teaching job, and the one I
    presented to the retailers was only about my commercial background.
    And I stopped listing every piddly little sweat shop I'd worked in
    and only listed the better positions. If anyone asked about the blank
    spots in the dates, I told them I had worked for short periods in
    situations that didn't work out for various reason, most beyond my
    control (which was true). 

    I hope you don't take this personally, but if they are seeing, at
    the top of your resume, your business name, "Moonshine Creations"
    they are likely to draw a couple conclusions, neither good. First,
    they are likely to think you are an "artsy-fartsy" creative type. Not
    that there's anything wrong with that. It's just that retail jewelry
    business is a conservative genre. They mostly like business minded
    people and vote Republican (against their own best interests, in my
    opinion). Second, they are going to think you are holding on to the
    idea of having your own business, which means you might not really
    think you need a job, or you might just be getting your foot in the
    door of their market with the objective of one day becoming a
    competitor. 

    In short, you may, as I did, think your creative side is your best
    foot to put forward. It is an exceptional jewelry business owner who
    will agree. They like buzz words they hear at Rotary like "team
    player" and "good fit" which basically means, you know your place:
    You are blue collar, they are white collar, or worse,
    "entrepreneurs". And they want someone who knows more about jewelry
    than they do. They just don't want someone who will remind them of
    this fact. You should appear to be a good problem solver whenever,
    but only, when it's required. You see, you are likely to be
    interviewed by a manager, whether it's an actual manager or the
    store owner. Since these people don't spend nearly as much time
    learning management as you have learning jewelry, they mostly
    micro-manage. They don't need someone who will make them feel
    redundant, even when they are. You will get the job if they think you
    can make them look good, either to the boss or the customer.
    Actually, there's nothing wrong with that, I suppose. I happen to
    like making both bosses and customers happy. I'd make a good
    employee, up to a point. That being, I have this compulsion, no, a
    drive...it's hard to explain. Lets just say, I want to some day make
    the best jewelry I possibly can. That doesn't set well with
    employers. They don't know if you really mean it, and hope you don't,
    I think. So don't say anything like that unless you're wagging a
    tail. Catch my drift here? 

    Another issue is this: Most employers, especially these days, are
    terrified of a commitment to a new hire. They want to test the
    waters. You should make it clear that you are willing to work for
    them for a trial period, no promises from either party, and you'll
    sign a contract to that effect. (Of course, read anything you sign
    carefully, first). Use the phrase, "well, I' m one of those people
    who is willing to negotiate". Why not? Worst case, either you don't
    like them or they don't like you and you're still looking for a job
    but at least you made a little money in the meantime. Best of luck,
    and do, by all means, call up Vic Davis. He knows this trade. 

David L. Huffman
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