Thursday, June 09, 2011

THE RESUME

A couple of days ago, my Dad, 53, asked me to help him put together a resume. I was completely flattered and felt a kind of thrill you get when your parents believe you are respectable in the world, and have come to YOU for advisement. Fortunately (or unfortunately), I can say that I'm an expert resume writer. Due to my chosen profession, every few months I am required to update it and send it out. Hence, I responded quickly to his request for help. It was just a small way to say "thank you" to the man that literally put a roof over me and my mother's heads.

It's been nearly 30 years since my Dad has had to write a resume, or even been asked for it. For twenty-two years, my esteemed father (Mr-Fix-It as I've always called him), has been with the same construction company in Florida. He's proven time and time again a valuable resource, and thus rightly, has been awarded, promoted and commended for his level of excellence. What I find notable is his loyalty.

That word, LOYALTY, means so little in today's world of immediate gratification and fluctuating fads. Fortunately, his company has been kind to him; and fostered an equal relationship that brings out prosperity in its workers and dedication through easy and rough times. My father is lucky. The company he gave his labor, sweat, tears, laughter and passion to was luckier.

As for moi, I'm a freelancer. This means I generally take joy in short projects. At least that is what it means to the documentary TV world. As an independent producer/director, I attempt to create loyalty wherever I get hired. My commitment runs deep. No one could say I'm lazy, and my passion spurs excitable discussion in certain communities. Yet that said...however long I stay in the edit bay; however precise I get with my scripts; whatever conditions I endure; no matter how little sleep, food or lack of pee breaks I get-- I seem to maintain a loyalty. Perhaps this has been passed down from my hard-working father and mother that have swallowed their pride or taken one for the greater team....living by Aristotle's philosophy for the greater good. I have adopted some of their impressive workman perspectives with an understanding that it may not serve to the best of me. With no dependents, who am I serving for the greater good? Oh ya, the production company and their success!

I ponder, as I usually do, the question that I believe I know the answer to-- Are there any loyal companies left? If you, as employee, are loyal in service, spirit and skill-- is that even respected these days?

There is little to no fear that my dear ol' Dad will be able to turn the construction deficit into a win, but as an old fish out in a new stream, will he fight the uphill battle of ageism into abundant clear waters? Or will he trail behind, as many do? Even with youth on my side, I ask the same questions of myself in this frenetic and fickle marketplace.

As an example, one of my producing friends is 55 years old. He's what I call "Retro Boob Tuber," because he's still considered a member in the Age of the Sitcom, aka 1950-1990. However cool he gets with his haircut, whenever he networks with young Hollywood; whatever new Red Camera he learns to use...he's still stuck with the label of the Age of the Sitcom. How does he land jobs? He diversifies, but it doesn't discount that he can't get employers in either genre-- documentary or narrative-- to call him back. This is a man who did 15 years in sitcoms and another 10 years in documentary TV. Who has given him the same level of loyalty he gave and now deserves in return? When did organizations believe you're easily expendable? What turned the tide? Reaganomics?

Youth has always had the upper hand, of course. Well, most of the time. I've always said, "You're only expendable as you let yourself be. Age doesn't matter, your dedication does," but I know this is my sheer optimism and not entirely the truth.

Notably, the clauses I sign on my paradoxical deal memos are "at will" employment. At-will employment by definition is a doctrine of American Law that defines an employment relationship in which either party can break the relationship with no liability. Under this doctrine, any hiring is presumed to be "at will"; that is, the employer is free to discharge individuals "for good cause, or bad cause, or no cause at all," and the employee is equally free to quit, strike, or otherwise cease work. In everyman terminology, it means—

Employer: "Yo! I don't want you to work here no more!"
Employee: "Boz man, that's awrigh, cuz I don't wanna work for ya either. I'm outeee heeeree."
Employer: "Fool...I'll just call Asia."
Employee: "Fool...I'll just call unemployment."




Where's the compromise? Where's the joining efforts to make a relationship work? Does this human sociology and psychology not apply to the professional sphere anymore? How many more resumes will I help generate for those friendly fish now in waters uncharted? With the baby boomers being laid off and competing with Generation X, Y, Z, what will be assessed during their interviews? Age, loyalty, old philosophies...youth, trends, easy expendability?

In the past few years, I have learned many lessons on this subject matter and now give my loyalty to the most deserving. It can be hard to distinguish with so many false promises, but I've managed to find a few equitable working relationships where I now feel a rewarding sense of peace.

I bark not because this is applicable to me, per se. To be honest-- I have fared well for the most part. I have swam upstream. I've got stamina and youthful exuberance to see me through any rough waters. I'm in the Age of TransMedia. I will be okay. But what about the others? Who will care for them?

Yours,
Johanna



posted by Only The Lonely @ 1:29 AM