(October 26, 2007) While this may seem harsh and a little flip, when it comes down to it, I choose AmeriCorp over working for you. Of course its not you precisely, but it is the proverbial you. I choose an organization that sold itself to me with its heart, enthusiasm, flexibility, commitment to its staff and community and very little pay, over you.
Why?
Because I couldn't find you. I grew up in a house where the labor market, HR and job boards where a daily part of the dinner conversation. I am internet savy and highly capable of researching. I spent hundreds of hours online looking for jobs. I even opened my non-profit specifc search for a moment, out of desperation, because I just wanted a job. And I still couldn't find you.
Maybe I looked at some of your adds, I may have even sent in a resume (usually, with no follow-up email or communication at all- not even automated).
Nothing sold me, stood out, or sparkled in any special sort of way. The only thing that came remotely close was a job listing at google (and honestly, that's because, living in the Bay Area, you look at google because whether its true or not, in the job seeker world there is a great buzz about how great it is to work there).
So I took a job that came directly out of my network with an organization that I wanted to integrate more fully into my circle. The questions for you remain: How can you get into my network? And, is your corporate brand worthy of becoming an integral part of my personal brand?