NEVER JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER

Returned to the USA one year ago had spent three years in Ireland with my mother (dementia) till she passed away. Four weeks after my return my house in OH was badly damaged in a fire. Massive structural damage, along with belongings including my parent's history and artifacts which I had brought back, cherished belongings from a lifetime of hard work were lost in the fire. We were in total shock, stunned and deflated.

We knew what it was like to grow up in the hard times, struggling to rub two pennies together, ‘’Dublin in the rare old times’’. We were built strong, we knew we would and could recover, rebound and rebuild, we just had to take stock, be constructive, assertive and work even harder to make it happen. Its times like this when real friends, associates, and family are so important. (Never forget this)

Immediately my son made his home ours in Phoenix AZ, many friends and relations in Cleveland were also very helpful, my new employer tried to assist but it was not viable or possible. My wife's employer and fellow co-workers were super supportive, helpful and giving. Thanks.

My new job hunting and search became a nightmare. I searched companies based on my past experience, knowledge, and know-how but it seemed that in many cases they never even read the resume.

One company told me I was the only candidate interviewed that actually knew the product, this was encouraging, I thought as they promised to call back and set up a second interview, they eventually sent me an email two months later to say they had found better candidates.

Another phone interview seemed to go very well, to show my preparation, research and eagerness explained I was aware of the British hardware company that owned them and explained that they also operated in Ireland, so was aware of who and what they did. Despite my product knowledge and the promise of a second interview in person it never materialized.

A third company sent an automatic reply saying I was unlucky. Other candidates with more experience had been found. Funny the same position has been advertised a further three times since. In my cover letter had explained that not only I was aware of the company and knew the products, my Dad once worked as a foreman for the owners in Ireland, I also played soccer for them as well as growing up next to the company HQ.

A government agency informed me in an email that more qualified people had applied for this starting role, seemingly my ten years of similar experience with continuous promotions up to the level of a Court Magistrates assistant was not enough to make the interview stage!

An artificial grass installation company actually interviewed me, alas did not get the job as I only knew about real grass. The irony is this type of service & installation has been one of my leading lead setups and successes in my new role!

Others companies loved my know-how, product knowledge, and background but it was to no avail. In most cases, I had not even passed the 1ststage. One company felt that my selling of the similar product in Ireland offered little or any comparison in the US market! Was it my age, my lack of a college degree, my approach, my demeanor or was it the non-compete clause I had signed with a company that I had barely worked for.

It was time to adjust, and rethink, what was happening what was I doing incorrectly? Had dealt with exceptional people and organizations in Ireland, received great training, great references, and had, in fact, worked for some more than once. Team player, teachable, trusted, entrepreneurial spirit, good learner, and was flexible. So I was doing something correctly.

Galco had trained me well, the people in United Hardware, DPL, Brooks, Hardware Association Ireland, Topline, Arro, Grafton to name but a few along with Top builders, Civil Engineers, Architects, Site managers, quantity surveyors had prepared me well. I knew it was possible I just had to make it happen.

Home Depot was hiring, looking for a Home Services Project Specialist, I was interviewed and got hired. After initial training, within a few weeks, I was the leader in generating quality leads, in my first month I led the number of store leads generated, I was also the lead generator in one recorded week, not only had I generated leads they were being closed, I received a further award for Entrepreneurial spirit, going above and beyond to take care of customers and drive new services after 6 weeks. Not bad I thought as I was only working part-time. What could I do if I was to decide to work full time!

Next time you HR guys receive applications please take the time to look over same carefully, look at the experience, product knowledge, and past experience, book smart is not always working smart, look beyond the cover, I know I did when I was a production manager and subsequently hired some of the best. Remember never judge a book by the cover!