Regardless of educational or professional experience, every job
candidate hopes to secure the best work possible. With the current economic
climate as an uncertain backdrop, both the unemployed and those looking to
switch jobs or careers must position themselves as the top candidate to make
that goal a reality.
R. Wendell Williams, MBA, PhD, founder and managing director of
Scientific Selection, a human resources consulting firm in Atlanta, said that
job candidates should continue searching for the ideal position for them, and
not compromise by accepting a lesser job just to pay the bills.
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| R. Wendell Williams |
“Survival is a strong drive, but if they get a job today that
they’re going to hate tomorrow, then they are not going to have a very
happy life,” Williams said. “I think that’s a real
tragedy.”
Instead, Williams said he urges jobseekers to focus on their likes and
dislikes, and to complete a self-inventory to determine the O&P job where
their skills would be best suited.
If, for example, a job candidate determines that he enjoys interacting
with people, he should bring to an interview personal stories illustrating his
ability to talk to patients in the waiting room or during an intake exam, or to
deal with difficult patients. These stories should provide an end result, as
well as enough details for the hiring manager to picture the situation.
“You’re giving the potential employers a story that they can
put in their own mind, to decide whether or not it would work for them [in
their office],” he said.
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| David Censullo |
Job candidates who highlight their abilities in this way are able to
work with potential employers to form a cohesive match for both parties —
leading to a mutual partnership, rather than an employer decision.
David Censullo, vice president of operations for O&P Career
Placement Services, a recruiting and career placement agency specifically
serving the O&P profession, said that the worst mistake job candidates make
is accepting a position prematurely. In these situations, Censullo said he
finds that the candidates were unhappy at their current positions, or
experienced an unfortunate incident that caused them to become disenchanted,
and they leave their positions without giving the proper consideration to
suitable replacements.
Impulse moves such as this are not a good idea, he told O&P
Business News.
Williams said he agrees that potential employees should not compromise
beyond their comfort zone.
“Then they get into a job they hate, and then they spend at least
40 hours a week hating it, and then when they’re not on the job,
they’re hating the anticipation of going to the job,” he said.
Similarly, they should not oversell themselves to potential employers,
because that creates a situation where the employees cannot succeed, the
employers do not get the desired outcome and neither party is pleased.
Candidates should continue searching, and networking with others, until
they find a job that meets their requirements.
“It takes some technique,” Censullo said. “Usually it
doesn’t happen within a day or two or a week. It takes some time.”
With the proper preparation and consideration, job seekers can ensure
they land a position that fits their personal career aspirations. — by
Stephanie Z. Pavlou
For more information:
With the current economic trend we seem to be in an
“employer’s market” for job seekers. Candidates must be assured
of themselves and project a positive image. This doesn’t mean to inflate
their resume or make unrealized claims in an interview. Rather, they should
focus on their strengths and what fuels their passion for the field of O&P.
— Joel J. Kempfer, CP, FAAOP
President,
Kempfer Prosthetics & Orthotics and Practitioner Advisory Council member,
O&P Business News
