Alchemize with Lauren

The best blacksmith in the world

In addition to most aspects in life, being able to “roll with the punches” during a career search gives you a great advantage.

Attitudes have changed dramatically. Expectations have changed as well. Going to work to simply pay the bills is not a typical agenda anymore. Employees want job satisfaction. People soul search, they go to special classes and seminars, they hire employment counselors and headhunters. They hire image consultants to alter or polish their image. The hire agents to find them the ‘perfect’ situation. A job that isn’t simply punching in and punching out. A career with benefits. A career with a future.

Not so long ago, clients would feel awkward or guilty if they had worked for more than a couple of different companies. “How will this look on my resume?” they would ask. Today’s graduates will likely have as many as ten different employers throughout their career.

There are new opportunities opening all the time. Working in America has changed dramatically. Entire categories of workers have to redefine and/or rehone their skills. There are many jobs that simply don’t exist anymore. How many blacksmiths do you know? Or typewriter repair people? Or file clerks?

Creativity is key. Sometimes in order to find a job you have to look at the “less popular” avenues. Look at the people you know. Think about where they work and what their job title is. Now, take it one step further. What job were actually going after? What job or career did they think they wanted when they began their search? Some people decide at 16 years old what they want to do for the next fifty years of their lives. Others pick choose and change along the way. The idea of a career “path” is not set in stone as it was even a decade or so ago. Every working person is not only in the legal, medical, education, sales, repair or hospitality industry.

Maybe some of these real jobs will get your creative juices flowing:

  • Wrinkle Chaser –  irons the wrinkles from shoes as they are being made to ensure they are perfectly smooth when you buy them)
  • Chicken Sexer– sorts through baby chicks to find out if they are male or female)
  • Citrus Fruit Colorer – gives citrus fruit a more natural coloring (with the help of steam and chemicals), because fruit is often picked before it is has a chance to  fully ripen
  • Celluloid Trimmer – shaves down a golf club and adds celluloid bands onto the clubs to make the leather grip stay put.
  • Cowpunchers – herd, castrate and brand cattle on ranches. They are also in charge of repairing fences, watering troughs and other maintenance work on the farm.
  • Odor Judgers – the people who smell armpits all day to help them to make deodorants that will properly mask the smell of sweat.

So even when you think you’ve run out of every idea imaginable, take it one (or several steps further).

Lauren Castle is the owner of Impress Express, a professional image firm, focusing on career development, resume preparation, presentation skills, etiquette and interview coaching. We are members of the Professional Association of Resume Writers. For help with your image, posting your resume, or preparing your internet-friendly resume, contact Lauren directly at 858-459-7400. And, as always, please forward your image and career-related questions to info@impress-express.com for further information.