Now Hiring Just Not You!

I recently was asked to speak at Arizona State University. I was asked to speak with students about the job market, 30 second pitches and tips and tricks to interviewing.

I had a great time being really "honest" with the students. I told them about all the jobs I've been turned down for. Some of the stories were funny and others were depressing.

I pretty much told the students how I've been a professional job hunter the last 5 years.

While talking to them I remembered the chapter I wrote in my book. I've decided to share that chapter with you today. Enjoy!

Now Hiring…Just not you!

I can't imagine anything more worthwhile than doing what I most love. And they pay me for it.  Edgar Winter


  “Hi. My name is Frank C. Kitchen and my initials say it all. You should hire me because I am fun, creative and knowledgeable. I create the environments that everyone desires to work in. If you need someone to plan your next event, train your staff or motivate your employees, then contact me at hirefrankkitchen@yahoo.com. That's H-I- R-E Frank Kitchen, like the room, at Yahoo.com. No job is too big or too small. All I need is you and the opportunity to shine.”

Those are the words I spoke on January 28, 2010. I was appearing on the cable news network CNN.  I was a guest on 30 Second Pitch. I had 30 seconds to tell the world on live television why I would be a great employee. After my appearance, I received e-mails from around the world. I received compliments. People thanked me for inspiring them. I also received offers for a variety of pyramid schemes. The one thing I didn’t receive was a legitimate job offer. I thought the jobs offers would overwhelm me. I had nailed my live interview, but I was still looking for a job. That day made me realize that, I am not defined by my job. 

The jobs, careers and work you pursue have a huge impact on your dreams. In 2007, I left my job at Lakeland Community College to pursue my passion. I was going to be a full-time speaker. I saved my money. Contracts were lined up. I moved across the country to live with my future wife. Everything was going great until, The World Financial Crisis hit. People were losing jobs, companies were filing for bankruptcy and everyone was cutting their budgets. Not a good time to start a new business as a speaker. 

My adventures as a professional job hunter began in 2008. My speaking calendar was very inconsistent. I was under-employed. I was working, but not enough to pay my bills. I figured it would be easy for me to get a job to help make ends meet. I was armed with a great resume, a killer personality, a college degree and a long list of accomplishments. I expected a great paying job with lots of responsibility. 

I read countless articles about the changing job environment. The articles said I shouldn’t let my ego or pride get in the way of my job hunt. So, I applied for everything.

Here are a few of the jobs I applied for:

Painter, substitute teacher, toxic waste disposal, bank teller, event planner, product representative, solar sales, water sales, flight attendant, rental car sales associate, stadium tour guide, security officer, school crossing guard, street sweeper, personal trainer, audio and visual technician, hot air balloon employee, apartment rentals, youth mentor, human resources positions, speakers series director, zoo employee, sports league coordinator, secretary, office manager, youth mentor, personal assistant, pharmaceutical representative, acting coach, model coach, volunteer trainer, Student Activities Director, hotel manager, movie theater employee, waiter, public address announcer, pizza cook, valet, limo driver, delivery man, writer, golf course attendant, radio station representative, census worker, fundraiser, telemarketer, hospital baby photographer, birthday party host and as a speaker.

I was turned down for every job above. No interviews, no decline letters and no reason for why I wasn’t good enough. I am a very confident individual, but my confidence was starting to wane. I was a National Keynote speaker, but was being turned down for 9-5 jobs. I could train a company’s employees at a conference one day. The next day I would be turned down for a job as a corporate trainer. Why couldn’t I get a job? Why couldn’t I get an interview? Why couldn’t I get a simple letter saying, “Thanks, but no thanks?” I was no longer living the American Dream. I was living the American Nightmare. I was waking up to The Employment Hustle.

The Employment Hustle is what job hunters are experiencing everywhere. It’s just like a board game. This board game has a major problem. There are numerous players, but only one player has the rules. That one player has the ability to change the rules anytime they want. That one player is known as The Employer. The only way for you win this game is to learn the tricks of the trade. You have to learn that your job is not your life.

You are not defined by your job. You are defined by your passions, pursuits, beliefs and accomplishments. A job is a tool used to accomplish your dreams. When you start to think this way, you will be one step closer to living your dreams. 

I applied for every job under sun. It was the wrong thing to do. I wasn’t getting any closer to my dreams. I was being desperate. Don’t chase after the hot jobs listed on a website. Don’t follow trends blindly. Don’t listen to the people who say there is a right way to write a resume. You will find job fairs that don’t have jobs. Job-hunting is very subjective. Employers have the upper hand because there are millions of people willing work for anything. You have to pursue work you are passionate about.

When you pursue a passion, it’s not work. My best friend Scott is a golf coach. He loves to play golf. It’s an expensive sport, but it’s a passion. His father first taught him the game he fell in love with. His dream is to play as much as possible and be the best he can. To accomplish his dream, he started working at a golf course and coaching the local high school golf team. Both jobs allow him the opportunity to play all the golf he wants. It equates to thousands of dollars saved. He has truly worked to create a lifestyle. Scott’s not working, he’s living his dream. You have to work to create the lifestyle you want. The best work opportunity for you isn’t always posted on a jobsite. You have to go out and create it.

“The single greatest error and deception of our accounting system: people are paced in the liability column on the balance sheet. Machinery and computers are categorized as assets and people as liabilities.” – The Dream Manager by Matthew Kelly

You are not guaranteed a job. I thought I was.  I learned an employer doesn’t have to hire you. People costs are the greatest expenditure for any business. Companies are cutting costs and trying to improve profits. They can layoff employees with a snap of their fingers. They can choose not to hire new staff when the costs are too expensive. Yes, you are seen as a liability. Being a liability you have to prove how you will help the employer build their dream or prove you can make them money. For every job opening there are several qualified candidates and hundreds of prospective candidates applying for the position you want. A company is loyal to its stockholders and bottom line. They don’t have to give you a job. You can no longer expect to have a job. You have to earn it. During your job hunts, find employers to work with, not work for. When you work with someone, it’s a partnership. You’re working together to help build each other’s dreams.

Scott created his opportunities. He befriended the right people and let them know about his passion for golf. Scott learned about his golfing jobs by networking. The United States Labor Department stated that 69% of job hunters acquired their jobs through networking or talking to someone they know. Don’t spend all of your valuable time searching job websites. The sites don’t allow you to standout from the crowd. Talk to the people you know. These people know you well. They can give you a recommendation that a website can’t. If 69% of employment comes from knowing someone, why do people spend the majority of their time seeking employment from people they don’t know? Focus your valuable time and energy on the people who care about you. 

I want you to be armed with the knowledge needed to successfully survive the employment jungle. I want your dreams to become reality. Your lifestyle and career path will be a determining factor. You’ll have to work hard, but it is more important for you to work smarter. Nothing is guaranteed. The chances of you being with a company for life are slim. Don’t base your life around your work. Pursue work where you will have more positive experiences than negative. Find an environment you desire work in. Take advantage of the job. Don’t let it take advantage of you. Find work that allows you to use your special skills and talents. Find work that allows you to pursue a passion. Find work that assists you with living your dreams. Pursue a passion. When you are passionate about something, it’s not a job. It’s you hiring yourself to live your life.