I have been out of work since September. I’ve had the the exceptional experience of a public relations internship with a local arts organization since October (unpaid) in the meantime, while effortlessly completing my degree program at Cleveland State University. Unfortunately, my bachelor program is not offered as part of a non-traditional model, so I spend 16 credit daylight hours a week among 20-somethings-living-with-their-parents. This has prompted a “non-traditional” approach to searching for work with hours that begin with “five” and end with an “a.m.” Remaining firm to staying out of the bar hospitality industry, this leaves options such as coffee shops, bagel/doughnut joints and 24-hour for-your-convenience evil big-box grocery outlets. And I’ve applied to ALL within a four-minute walking radius (there are plenty)… with no responses.
My biggest irritation in the matter are the organizations that I applied to WAY BACK IN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER that are returning phone calls and scheduling interviews nearly-six months after my initial inquiries (and which I cannot accept with my current school schedule). I will mention that I have also feigned interest in companies outside the northeastern Ohio market, with NEARLY ALL responding to receipt of my resume within a two-week period. I suppose this was my own little research test on the job market in Cleveland in relation to surrounding cities.
Now, I’m completely content in realizing my own action (as in selecting a day-time academic schedule) has prevented me from looking further into some of these opportunities. But where were they five months ago while I was sitting among 30 and 40-somethings at the West Center four nights a week with a generic 8-5 wide open?
I have another problem to discuss. I have a friend from Miami that is looking to relocate to Cleveland. “WHY?” most Clevelanders would exclaim. The reasons are unnecessary in dispelling, but there’s an over-qualified-for-most-corporate-positions potential employee that has started the application process to our fine midwest city. He received notification of a phone interview at a particular scheduled time and how did this corporation repay him: By not returning his phone call. What a fine way to start the recruitment process! I had a similar experience no less than two weeks ago in regards to a local recruiter that placed a phone call to me while I was running from Class-A to Class-B on campus. In all my professional years, I believed it to be the proper process of if “this is a bad time” to reschedule a more convenient period to discuss my current goings-on. I did as such for the following Monday at 9 a.m. and received the ubiquitous voice mail — with NEVER a returned call. So, it was a missed opportunity at my expense, I suppose, but I question the logistics and humanity of human resource departments in the area.
Is it there are so few opportunities in the area, that they have the ability to toy with your future? Is it inexperienced HR personnel that really don’t care much for doing the work for you? I just like to think I am too over-qualified to be swilling dark brew with the early morning coffee rushes, but some people have a mortgage and tuition in which to pay (and that savings account is looking awful dry) and are really not all that proud. Since I was at my last position for a few years, am I really just out of the loop of today’s job market?
For uninterested parties, after multiple phone interviews with not-inside-Cleveland-proper companies, I had potential employment in Columbus, Boston, Baltimore and Philadelphia. These cities offer long-distance friendships, but nothing decidedly different than what Cleveland can offer — except for companies that seem to have their shit together. I have moved outside Ohio before, albeit short-term. Regardless, my reason for remaining a Cleveland resident is based on the difficulty in transfering credits to (yet another) undergraduate program (well, that and the fact my condo will sit in the local housing market for 180+ days).
Beyond that, I can’t say I’m impressed.
