I make it a point to keep in contact with my former co-workers.  Some have found new positions, however others are still struggling to find work.  I try to encourage them however I can; however the longer one is out of work, the harder it is to find encouraging words.  The inability of Congress to pass an extension on unemployment benefits prior to their vacation has discouraged many of my friends and former co-workers who are struggling to find work.

When I spoke to a one of my friends a short time ago, I tried to point out that every employer is different.  For example, an action that could warrant disciplinary action against you on one job may get you an award for original thinking in another position.  Similarly speaking, conducting yourself the same way at two different interviews will most likely yield two different impressions or results.  This week, I would like to share a phone conversation with a friend who is still struggling to find a job.

About a week ago, I received a call from one of my friends who has been out of work for 18 months…

   We spoke for quite some time.  Of course, he was concerned about his unemployment benefits as Congress did not pass the measure to extend those benefits.

   “I don’t understand it”, he told me.  “I have the qualifications, I have the experience.  It feels like I am competing in a popularity contest, not a job search!”

   Actually, my friend was not too far from the truth.  As we continue to have a high unemployment rate, employers can look past qualifications, being there are many people out there who have the necessary requirements for most positions.  So what are employers looking for?  They are looking for someone who can fit in well with their team and produce quantifiable results with a minimum of training.

   I explained to my friend that “there are many things that you can control in an interview, and just as many things that you cannot control.”   You can control your appearance through exercise and good hygiene.  The way you present yourself in an interview is critical.  “But you can’t control what other people think of you”, my friend stated. 

   I thought about my answer carefully.  “You may not be able to completely control what others think of you; however there are things that you can do to tip the scales in your favor.” 

   I suggested that my friend read up on books about acting.  “Great… now you want me to be an actor too?  I can’t believe that you are telling me I can get a job by being a good actor.” 

   “Listen to me:  there is much to be said about the art of acting.”  This is something that I still stand by.  There is an exercise that most actors use to alleviate nervousness.  They call it “getting into character.”  Here is an example.  Back in the late 1960’s there was a movie, “True Grit.”  Many people remember the movie as a standard John Wayne movie; however they are missing the point that the co-star of the movie, Kim Darby, was magnificent in her role as a 14 year old child.  She was actually about 10 years older than that when the movie was filmed. Why was her character so convincing?  It was because her role was so believable. 

   Here is another example.  I recall reading about how Walt Disney was so successful with Disneyland and Disney World.  Walt Disney would often remind his employees that no matter what job you have with my company, you are an actor.  I thought about it.  Whether you are a street sweeper or a performer in a Disney production, you are putting on a performance.  It does not matter whether or not you have a major role or a bit part.  Everyone is important.

   Stanislavski often said, “There are no small parts, only small actors.” So how do you turn all of this into a winning interview?  It all goes back to “getting into character.”  So how do you do this?

   It comes down to how you think about things.  When I went on an interview, I viewed it as a performance in a play, however instead of being a work of fiction; it was a work of fact.  I viewed myself as a proven professional.  The tools that I used to get myself into character were my suit and tie, my experience, and my willingness to learn from my surroundings.  I found that once I established my “character”, I lost my nervousness and I was able to function effectively and confidently. 

   Although you cannot force others to like you, you can help by making yourself more affable.  Please remember that to succeed in anything, whether it is acting, or doing well on a job interview, you do not have to make yourself into something that you are not.

    Acting is not about making yourself into something that you are not.  It is, in fact, making yourself into someone who is believable, and the more believable you can make yourself, the more people will plug into your confidence.  If you can make yourself believable in whatever you do, you automatically increase your chances at success.

   I do not consider myself an actor, however I am grateful for everything that I have learned about studying that craft while I was in between jobs.

   This brings me to my final point.  The best thing you can do is to keep yourself busy.  Until next time, I wish you all good hunting.

-By Howard K. Young, Contributing Writer & Member of The 405 Club.

View all of Howard’s posts here.