Ten Years Gone

Are coaches any better than Psychics? Both have some skills and tell you what you want to hear for a lot of money. Not how I expected to open my tenth anniversary article. I started on LinkedIn February 29.

Can't do anything like normal people. I was looking for work. Did I find it? Not through this site. There were a couple telephone interviews and some different positions that made me feel like someone was interested. One suggestion was to apply to be General Manager at The Beverly Hills Hotel.

I was willing to relocate for that. Wasn't there someone more qualified? I was turned down for a security position at Ross- a stopgap job if ever there was one- so why not apply for something out of my depth?

If a comedic actor can become President of Ukraine and lead his country into battle on a united front; you can apply for a job where the qualifications are a little beyond your comfort zone. If someone gives you the chance; don't make them regret their decision.

No one expected me to do anything on my current position. Some guy here calls himself "The Tom Brady of LinkedIn." I am not connected with him. I was the sixth round draft choice who was fourth string when most teams only have three quarterbacks who has cultivated a long, successful career.

Where are my endorsements and Brazilian models? It's not about that. The best pursuit of a job was The Jonathan Club in Santa Monica. It's odd how job suggestions are worldwide. I would pay higher taxes and five dollars per gallon currently if this were the view out my window.

That position was also out of my depth. I have a copy of the cover letter somewhere. I gave my best effort and on a follow up call the man I applied to answered the phone.

No decision had been made. He was more than respectful. Even though this was as close as I came it was a good experience. They selected someone else, probably in the area with specific experience. I still follow The Jonathan Club and fondly recall the experience.

What job suggestions did I receive on other sites? Careerbuilder suggested I work at Six Flags. With a straight face they expected me to drive thirty miles to work seasonally for eight dollars per hour. I was never that desperate. The Ladders had six figure salaried jobs. I did not want to pay to be a member. Cannot say if that is a good site or not. I never used Indeed.com although I heard good things from others.

Glassdoor had decent suggestions until I was qualified to work at Burger King in Tempe, Arizona. I lived in Phoenix for many years and they offered entry level or management. As if I were not aware of fast food chains who are always hiring.

Has anyone found a good job through this site? Some have built networks and landed more softly than expected. The chances are probably as good as meeting your future wife at a bar.

You don't go to bars to meet the love of your life. It happens where it happens and I have known guys who met their wives in a bar. It took them by surprise as well. Finding a job is about luck and timing. There are positions I was not really qualified for.

I showed up and they needed people. As I was at the job fair at the resort my thought was "I am not getting this." It did not cause me to walk out without giving it a chance and they tendered an offer.

"Before the night is through you will see my point of view." I would scream and shout later. That was a good position with a terrible supervisor. No further comment on him. There were probably two hundred magnificent people met in that seven months and they resonate to this day.

No one in my current position uses this site. I knew roughly sixty of my connections before logging onto this site. Some positions have zero connections. It doesn't matter. I have found something worthwhile and the fact I can write articles: this site is not as good when ideas are not cultivated.

What do the next ten years hold for me? Work is consistent and it is liberating not to have to look for work. Might publish a book, might not. I have one and a collection of articles ready to go. I am not one to promote my work all over the place.

You won't hear me beg to ring the bell. "Love me, validate me, make me feel complete as a man." It won't change the fact I have an early start time tomorrow. I even work on vacation. Not the whole week. My company is shorthanded consistently and there is money to be made.

I have connected with many whom I would not have opportunity to meet otherwise. I never connected with my sister. Perhaps in ten years I have mentioned her once or twice. It is nice to have many connections in Singapore, so many English connections and people who live in countries I never visited.

The connections make this site worthwhile. I shall not receive a recommendation since so few have done business with me. It doesn't matter- I can engage with them and move forward with the possibility of meeting face to face in the future. That is why this is not a dating site.

Besides the fact everyone is married or might as well be; dating sites are full of fraud. There are fake profiles here as well. There are also many real connections who make life worthwhile. Find the reasons for using any given site. I had nothing except crummy job leads on other site. On LinkedIn I have built a universe.