By Alan J. Kwak
In the Fall of 1997 I was at a loss to find employment in the field my Bachelor of Science degree had prepared me for in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area. I was very resourceful answering all ads that were even close to what I desired and sent cover letters and resumes to all the companies in my area that were in some way involved in the type of work I wanted to get into to. I considered other fields that were of interest to me that my degree might also be suited for. I was not successful in finding work so I began to look for help.
Finding many services I happened upon an ad in one of the Tampa/St. Petersburg area major papers about Bernard Haldane Associates. Little was I aware I was about to be "taken".
When I met with the staff I was made to feel that they were 100% certain that they could help me find a desirable position with their help. How? Well to get that I would need to sign a contract and retain them. After all their services are exceptional and I would go through a process that would teach me many "secrets" or "techniques" that gives them a 97% success rate in helping "clients" find and secure positions that they wanted.
This was the critical point where I had to decide if I was going to pay the $2495 to retain them. Two factors led me to retain them. First is that I believe, in general, you get what you pay for in most things. Second, looking back I was working with some of the most convincing, persuasive and perhaps even manipulative individuals I had met to that point in my life. I admit was taken in with all the buzz words and phrases they used in our conversations. Constant repetion of phrases like, "ensuring your success", "we'll start working with you to find the postion you want" or "you decide if you really want the job we can help you get with our techniques", etc. Yes I was conned into believing it all.including that they had special relationships with many of the area employers. I have no doubt Haldane would deny that but I know what was inferred not expressed. No, they did not explicitly tell me that but they did infer it. No question. I regret I have no tapes of our talks. Remember, there is a difference between what they will express and what they can easily infer in the course of a conversation. They're not bound by their inferences only their expressed, written promises. If you read the contract "bottom line", in my opinion, it is that they are going to "help you". Ask yourself what that really obligates them to.
Well after the 3 years were over (the length of their obligation to "help" me) I had not found anything like I was after. Yes I made requests for suggestions, etc. But all I got for the retainer was encouragement to keep doing what I had been. Well the reason I was asking for suggestions and further advise was that what I was doing to that point was not yielding results. These folks were very professional and polite so I could not bring myself to obey the impulse to ask them out right what the heck did I pay you people $2495 for? And I regret it. That's the way it often turns out. The benefit of hidesight comes too late. I should have demanded a partial refund or further advise and suggestions but did not. So if you have retained them, make them earn that retainer just as you are likely made to earn you living.
In my opinion if you want professional help you could do much better for much less from a independent counselor and by reading such books as "What color is your parachute" by Nelson Bowles for example. Almost anything but retaining Bernard Haldane Associates. To bad too because the man whose name this firm bears was of the best intentions are far as I could determine by researching him. After the Second World War Bernard Haldane set about matching people up with occupations based on the combination of their skills and interests as a set. A landmark concept which I feel is fundamentally sound.
So in a nut shell the best technique I've found it to educate yourself about job hunting, interviewing, making good cover letters and resumes, posting you resume on sites such as monster.com, scouring the classified ads, reevaluating you skills and interests and networking (making contacts) with ANY person that might help in some way. Perhaps most importantly be patient and persistent in your job search. Don't dwell on not being selected after an initial interview. Look forward and work towards the next. You must not become depressed, although it's OK to feel rejected for a few days, you must begin work on the next possibility.
Chin up and best wishes. Alan Kwak.
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