Amazing Photography

I found some amazing photographs in another blog as I was searching for inspiration.  I thought these were some of the most creative photos I've seen in a long time.  I should begin by making it clear that this is not my work, it comes from a blog called Bent Objects, which belongs to an artist name Terry Border.  If you like what you see here, please check out his blog and follow it.  You can also buy his book in several places, including on Amazon.

Here are some of the amazing photos that Mr. Border has created:

I'll try to find some more interesting things like these photos to post in the future.

Until next time.

-Taft

Dear Dad...

I found the following here.  I thought you all might enjoy it.


Letter home from school...

"Dear Dad,

$chool i$ really great. I am making lot$ of friend$ and $tudying very hard. With all my $tuff, I $imply can't think of anything I need, $o if you would like, you can ju$t $end me a card, a$ I would love to hear from you.

Love,
Your $on."

A week later..... a letter from "home"

"Dear Son,

I kNOw that astroNOmy, ecoNOmics, and oceaNOgraphy are eNOugh to keep even an hoNOr student busy. Do NOt forget that the pursuit of kNOwledge is a NOble task, and you can never study eNOugh.

Love,
Dad"

Taft Fact #3

In 2005, I spent a few excruciating months working for a rural Sheriff’s Office in eastern NC.  Shortly after I began, I learned that sheriffs’ offices in North Carolina are regulated by a much different set of rules than municipal agencies.  Because sheriffs are elected officials, the requirements for becoming a sheriff or working as a deputy are much more lenient than for police officers.  For example, the sheriff for whom I worked did not complete his high school education, which was not a prerequisite for taking office during his first term. 

Fortunately, the time I spent working for that sheriff was ultimately a blessing.  I would not fully appreciate my current situation had I not experienced the alternative.  Working for an unprofessional manager with a quick temper and a slow wit makes one appreciative of positive support and trusting management.

The sheriff’s lack of formal education and abhorrent management style made for some very interesting situations. One of the worst, which now ranks among my favorite law enforcement stories, happened about two months after I was sworn in.  The sheriff received a letter from the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Standards Committee informing him that my law enforcement credentials were revoked.  According to the notice, the committee discovered that I had an undisclosed arrest record.

As a politician, the sheriff was always aware of his reputation and the potential for scandals like this to affect his political career.  He sent a supervisor to my apartment to wake me up and escort me to the sheriff’s office (I worked the previous night shift).  When I arrived at the sheriff’s office, the following conversation ensued:

Taft:  Sheriff, you called for me?

Sheriff:  Shut up!  Sit down!  Look, what the hell’s wrong wit you, son?  I wish you’da told me you was a liar when I give you a job.  ‘Least then it woulda’ saved me the trouble of firin’ ya now.

(This is probably a good time to mention that the sheriff had a strong eastern NC accent, began most of his sentences with “Look”, and had a penchant for cursing at officers…but I’ll leave that part out.)

Taft:  I don’t understand.

Sheriff:  Shut up!  Look, you know what ya’ did.  You lied on ya’ personal hist’ry foam (read: form).

Taft:  No sir, I didn’t.

Sheriff:  Shut up!  Quit lyin’!  You know what ‘ya done.  Just shut up….

(pause)

Sheriff:  Well?  Explain ya’ seff.

Taft:  Sheriff, I still don’t understand what’s going on.

Sheriff:  Shut up!  The sheriff committee up in Raleigh says you done lied.  You been arrested and you lied about it.  You’s just a sorry liar.

(As soon as he mentioned an arrest record, I understood what was going on.  I admit, a better man would have stopped the whole ordeal right here...but I didn't) 

Taft:  Sheriff, you’re wrong.

Sheriff:  Shut up!  You just lyin’ again.

Taft:  Sheriff, what details did they give you about the arrest?

Sheriff:  It says right here William T. Love was arrested in Cabarrus County for drunk and disorderly.  Why didn’t you tell me you was a no good drunk?  You drunks is all liars, so I guess it makes sense.

Taft:  Sheriff, what’s the date of arrest?

Sheriff:  It says you was arrested in nineteen and eighty eight.

Taft:  Sir, that was 17 years ago.

Sheriff:  I don’t care if it was a hundred n’ seventeen years ago.  You was arrested and you’s a liar makin’ me look bad to my constichensy.

Taft:  Sheriff, I was born in 1984.

Sheriff:  Shut up!  I don’t give a lick about…. You was fo’ years old.

(The sheriff didn’t miss a beat.  He leaned over so that he could see into the next office and address his secretary, Evelyn)

Sheriff:  Evelyn, what the hell?  How’d you miss this?

Sheriff:  Taft, you a good boy.  Get on back to bed, you need some rest to get back to all ‘at good work you been doin.

Until next time.

-Taft

Dependable

According to the Oxford Dictionary, dependable is defined as, “trustworthy and reliable.”  In a previous post, I mentioned that I consider trust to be a form of currency in the workplace.  Thanks to some excellent supervisors and two outstanding parents, I learned this lesson early in my career and applied it to my work beginning on day-one.  

As a direct result of that lesson, I have built a reputation for being a dependable colleague and employee over the past six years.  Although I take immense pride in my accomplishments as a police officer and detective, I am most proud of the fact the people around me know that they can count on me to do my job and do it right.  I believe that outstanding performance is only valuable to an organization if it is delivered consistently.

My bosses know that I will show up and that I will do whatever it takes to complete an assignment.   Since beginning work with my current agency, I have consistently delivered excellent performance.  I have never taken a sick day and never lost a case.  I have earned the privilege of handling nearly all of the politically-sensitive and time-sensitive cases that make their way to my agency’s investigations division.

If I am given the opportunity to work in a marketing or advertising department, I will bring the same dedication and dependability to work every day.  I promise to do whatever it takes to deliver the same results wherever I go.

Until next time.

-Taft

How Fixing The Economy Is Like Losing Weight

Every couple of years I decide that it's time to lose a few pounds and get back in fighting shape.  The first step is to choose a weight loss program.  Invariably I find myself reading countless books and articles on the newest and most effective ways to shed pounds.  I am always surprised by the number of "gurus" who have the figured out the secret to quick and easy weight loss.  These experts dispense advice ranging from no carbohydrates to limited food intake at night.  If I decide that cutting out carbohydrates or limiting fat intake is too much of a hassle, that's no problem - there are plenty of pills that can help me lose weight without diet or exercise.  Check it out for yourself.

I have noticed recently that a similar pattern exists within politics.  If you turn on the TV and start listening to the pundits, you'll hear an endless stream of quick and easy ways to solve our economic woes.  The right suggests tax cuts for the "top earners" and a return to trickle-down economics while the left wants the rich to pay their fair share in order to extend entitlements and inject more cash into the economy.  There are innumerable other similar solutions being touted by experts, each of which promises to drag the economy out of the gutter and return the United States to its pre-2008 debt-fueled glory.

Herein lies the problem.  In politics, as in weight loss, we are constantly searching for a magic bullet.  Everyone wants to find the next quick and easy solution to our problems.  Thanks to our need for instant gratification and our short attention span, we rally around any well-funded (read: well-advertised) politician who promises quick and effective change.  The problem with these quick fixes is that they ignore the serious, fundamental problems that led us into trouble in the first place.  Our current economic situation was not created overnight.  The bubble grew for over 25 years before it finally burst.  We must come to terms with the fact that it cannot be fixed overnight.  We are in for at least one or two decades of reparation, assuming we start right away.

The purpose of this article is not to present yet another way to fix our economy.  Rather, it is to suggest that we adjust our focus and address the systemic issues that allowed us to rack up debt for over two decades.  It is to suggest that we stop blaming China, Bush, Obama, and "corporate greed" for the problems that grew on our watch.

I would like to hear your thoughts.  What changes can we make to the system itself that will allow us to begin fixing our broken economy?

Until next time.

-Taft

New Insight

Every day I spend time reading through several job- and career-related websites in search of advice and interesting job postings.  I found an article today that gave me some insight into the mind of a recruiter.  The article, How Resumes Get Read, is posted on Recruiter.com.

In this article, the author outlines seven common strategies that recruiters use to effectively review job seekers' resumes without spending much time on them.  Though each of the strategies listed in the article is straightforward and based on common sense, seeing them together opened my eyes and helped me understand what I am up against when my resume lands in front of a recruiter.  It has helped me understand why I have yet to hear from a single recruiter after submitting over 300 applications (I keep a log...nerd alert!).

• "First ask yourself: Does the candidate live near where you’re recruiting for or have they clearly stated that they want to move to that specific area? If not, you just saved yourself thirty seconds."  This one is a no-brainer that has, in my opinion, done more harm to my job search than any other item on this list.  There are several cities to which I would love to move, but only one is within 500 miles of where I live now.  I have made an effort to let recruiters and potential employers know that I am willing to move, but to no avail.

• "Hold the resume at arm’s length: Really. Look at the way the resume is formatted and laid out on the page..."  I spent a lot of money about a year ago to have a professional resume writer update my resume.  At first, I was happy with the resume, but I like it less every day.  The formatting is great; clean, simple, and elegant.  I don't like the fact that the entire resume was written with keywords in mind.  Some of the writing feels too forced.  For example, "Proficient in identifying mutually beneficial partnerships and devising strategies to cultivate those relationships, while maintaining support as demonstrated during an award-winning tenure in law enforcement leadership."  My next order of business will be to address the resume. 

• "Next, read it backwards: Just figure out where they went to school, if they went to school, and if it looks like they did a good job and value education. It’s important, especially if your company or client organization values education..."  I think that this is one of my stronger points simply because I have a Master's degree.  The fact that my degree is in business management, a versatile concentration, is probably helpful as well.

• "Then read their current job: Determine their core industry and what the person did on a day to day basis. Try to ignore job titles..."  I have a feeling that recruiters often fail to "ignore job titles."  My day-to-day work is much like that of a sales person.  I cold-call, set appointments, manage multiple projects simultaneously, and depend upon my interpersonal skills to close deals (cases).  Unfortunately, I have yet to find a way to communicate this to recruiters quickly in a resume or cover letter.

• "Now figure out their 'big' job: Everyone had their break somewhere. Don’t pay as much attention to chronology and the formatted length of each job description – look for the job that gave the candidate the bulk of their experience..."  Like location, this one is killing my chances.  When I made the decision to begin searching for a new job, I felt confident that experience as a police officer and investigator would be valuable to a company, but I may have been wrong.  The ability to work effectively under pressure, deal with stress, and make important decisions on the fly are great, but they are not as valuable as industry-specific experience.

• "Do a check for job hopping: Then look again, it’s vital. In general, you want to see a solid work history with long(ish) tenures at their employers..."  Not a problem for me.  I have worked at the same agency since I was 21 years old.

• "Finally, do a gut check: Ask yourself if you think the person could do the job that you have for them."  This is another one that I got wrong.  Though I imagine some recruiters may have a good gut feeling about me, the negatives (location, job-specific experience) obviously outweigh any points I earn during the "gut check."  

Unfortunately, most of these issues simply cannot be changed - at least not until I move and gain experience in a new field.  That Catch-22 is what I will be up against until I land a job outside of law enforcement.  Recruiters are not going to be willing to go out on a limb for me because that's not their job.  They have nothing to gain and everything to lose by allowing me to enter an industry in which I lack direct experience.

I hope that my new approach, applying directly to successful small businesses, will allow me to avoid recruiters altogether and deal directly with owners and hiring managers who have the flexibility to look beyond my experience.  After all, I only have to find one person willing to give me a chance.

Until next time.

-Taft

Published! (sort of...)

Once again, I think it only appropriate to express my excitement through pictures:

On a whim, I submitted my post about the Occupy movement to a few online article sites.  To be quite honest, I don't know exactly how to define these sites, but they're something between an online magazine and a freelance blog.  I received an email a few minutes ago informing me that I received "author status" at a website called Ezine Articles.  If that's not a big deal, I don't know what is!

I doubt that they're particularly picky over at Ezine, but I felt it was share-worthy nonetheless.  If you feel like reading the same article in a slightly different font, click here to check it out.  While you're at it, click on the smiley face at the bottom of the web page and let them know that my article was uh-mazing.

Side-note: I take back what I said about Ezine Articles not being picky.  Any website with a smiley-face-based rating system is totally professional in my book - which I may write now that I have achieved "author status".

Until next time.

-Taft

Taft, What is Your Personality Type?

I’m glad you asked.  According to the Myers & Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), I am an ENTJ.  According to the book Talk Type at Work, ENTJs are referred to as the Fieldmarshals or Executives.

I found this description of ENTJs at Personality Page:

"ENTJs are constantly scanning their environment for potential problems which they can turn into solutions. They generally see things from a long-range perspective, and are usually successful at identifying plans to turn problems around - especially problems of a corporate nature. ENTJs are usually successful in the business world, because they are so driven to leadership. They're tireless in their efforts on the job, and driven to visualize where an organization is headed. For these reasons, they are natural corporate leaders...


There is not much room for error in the world of the ENTJ. They dislike to see mistakes repeated, and have no patience with inefficiency. They may become quite harsh when their patience is tried in these respects, because they are not naturally tuned in to people's feelings, and more than likely don't believe that they should tailor their judgments in consideration for people's feelings...


ENTJs love to interact with people. As Extroverts, they're energized and stimulated primarily externally. There's nothing more enjoyable and satisfying to the ENTJ than having a lively, challenging conversation. They especially respect people who are able to stand up to the ENTJ, and argue persuasively for their point of view. There aren't too many people who will do so, however, because the ENTJ is a very forceful and dynamic presence who has a tremendous amount of self-confidence and excellent verbal communication skills."

I was astonished the first time I read a description of ENTJs.  It is a surprisingly accurate description of me.  As I mentioned in a previous post, I am constantly in search of problems to fix and ways to make whatever I do more efficient and effective.  Though I’m sure it doesn’t show, I am confident and willing to debate any point about which I feel strongly.  However, this doesn’t mean that I am disrespectful of others.  I respect the chain of command and do not let my strong opinions get in the way of relationships with colleagues.

What is your personality type?  You can take the MBTI at HumanMetrics.com.  It only takes five minutes and may give you a clear insight into your personality.  If you take the test, please leave a comment and tell everyone what you learned.

Until next time.

-Taft

Taft Fact #2

As many of you know, I attended boarding school.  I had my share of embarrassing moments during high school, but the single most humiliating experience of my life (so far) unfolded while I was touring Christ School in Asheville, NC.

I was 13 years old, in the eighth grade, and a freaked out by all the super-cool high school kids that I met while touring schools (if I only knew then what I know now).  My parents and I had just finished an interview with the dean of students and we were hurrying to the dining hall because we were late for lunch.

As we reached the top of the steps leading down to the dining hall, we saw all of the students stand up for the prayer.  I knew that it would be totally uncool if I didn’t get in there before the meal started.  I decided to pick up the pace.

This is where I should explain that the person who designed Christ School must have had an affinity (maybe fetish) for stairs.  The stairway from the main walkway down to the dining hall consisted of approximately 492 individual steps. After one or two steps, I lost my footing.  I’m not talking about getting a bit wobbly and grabbing the railing.  I committed to a Superman-style stair-dive.  There have been runaway trains with less momentum than I had at this point.

My mom later told me that it seemed like I fell for ten minutes.  I wasn’t lucky enough to lodge an arm or a leg in the railing that ran down the center of the stairway.  After all, a broken leg would have been much better than what happened.  I tripped, flipped, and somersaulted all the way down to the bottom.  I was moving so fast by the time I hit the bottom that I slid a solid three or four feet beyond the spot where I splattered onto the concrete.

When I finally came to a stop at the bottom of the stairs, I looked up and realized that I was sprawled out in front of a giant glass façade.  The windows were about ten feet in front of me.  Every single Christ School student was staring at me, horrified at first.  Once they realized that I was going to live, they began to clap.  I received a standing ovation as my dad ran down the steps to make sure I was OK.


As he picked me up off the ground, my dad leaned over and said, “well….I think we can cross this place off the list.”

Until next time.

-Taft

Job Search Update

I realized today that I am veering off course by posting about everything but my job search (qualifications, opinions, stories, etc.).  Although I plan to publish a lot of semi-related posts and some totally unrelated posts, it’s high time for an update.  Luckily, something exciting happened today.  For the first time since I began the job search, I received an email from the owner of a company for which I want to work. 

Though I would love to share the name of the company and tell you about their awesome products, I do not have permission to do so.  I have no desire to put this company’s owner on the spot.  I also worry that my newfound celebrity could lead people to boycott any company that is unwilling to hire me.  Some of you may not realize this, but since I started blogging I have become a HUGE international hit.  I estimate my loyal followership in the dozens.  That’s right…dozens!  (FYI: The international part actually is true.  According to the blog’s analytics page, I got three hits from Germany this week.)

Before I narrowed my search to sales and marketing jobs within small companies, I was all over the map.  I applied to, and was turned down by, Google, Yahoo!, WalMart, Living Social, Gilt Group, private military contractors, universities (adjunct professor), and many more.  This approach simply did not yield results.  Frankly, I think that I underestimated the competition in the job market.  A couple of months ago, I burned out on sending an endless stream or resumes to companies that rarely responded and always rejected.  I decided it was a time to change.

I decided to apply Warren Buffet’s investment strategy to my job search.  The idea was to find a well-run, growing company selling a great product that I understand.  If it sounds simple, that’s because it is!  So I started reading as many articles as I could find about up-and-coming entrepreneurs and thinking about my favorite products.  One of the first articles I found mentioned a young entrepreneur (27 years old, just like me) who started a business while in college.  As it turned out, I had been on his company’s website a few days earlier to order Christmas gifts for my dad and sisters.  The thing that really sold me on this company was the fact that, when one of the items I ordered was out of stock, the owner sent me an email immediately.  Bingo!

I sent the owner an email last weekend:

(Owner),

My name is Taft and I want to join your team.  (Company) seems like an exciting company and I would love the opportunity to be a part of it.  I have a unique combination of education and experience that could benefit your team.  I am young, aggressive, creative, and willing to work my ass off to prove myself.

I have worked in law enforcement for the past six years.  At 27 years old, I am the youngest supervisor, detective, federal SAR team member, and SWAT member my department.  I put myself through college by working as a cop - earning a B/S in business and a M/A in management.  All the while, I have never taken a sick day and never lost a case. Simply put, I get the job done.

My resume and a couple of reference letters are attached.  You are also welcome to call my department (828-XXX-XXXX) and ask around about me.  I hope you will keep me in mind if an opportunity for which I might be a good fit comes along.

Thanks,

Taft Love

After months of non-stop rejection, words can’t express how excited I was to hear back from this business owner (this picture, on the other hand...).  I am confident that my new approach is partly responsible for this small victory.  I’ll update you on the progress of this and any other applications in future posts.  I also hope to be able to tell you about the company and their products (pending permission).

Until next time.

-Taft

Taft, Great Idea! How Can I Help?

I'm glad you asked. I could really use some help; shameless self-promotion can be a lot of work. There are lots of quick and easy ways that you can give my blog and my job search a HUGE boost. Here are just a few:

• Share my blog on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and any other social media outlet. By clicking on the icons at the bottom of each post, you can share me with all of your online friends. Are Taft Facts so damn funny you feel compelled to share them with friends and family? Great! Click away.

• Follow my blog. By clicking the “Follow” link at the top left of your screen, you can be notified whenever I publish a new post. Are you curious to find out if I get a job? Do you want to hear more funny stories? Great! Follow me.

• Tell your friends and family about this site. Do you ever find yourself in an uncomfortable situation and want to change the subject? Great! Perfect way to change the subject: “This guy named Taft is trying to get a job, you should check out his blog.” Weird, uncomfortable silence averted.

• Post comments. I need your help. Does your cousin own an awesome startup with a great product that needs one more amazing employee? Have I made a horrible mistake or overlooked an obvious resource? Great! Glad you're here to set me straight.

• Read the whole thing! Start from the beginning and read all of my posts. If you're not hooked yet, I guarantee that you will be once you learn more about me. Have a boring plane ride this week? Great! Spend a few hours living vicariously through me.

I truly appreciate the fact that so many people have already read and commented on my posts. I would be grateful if you would consider spreading the word about my blog and my job search. As I have mentioned in previous posts, I hope to grow this blog into a resource for other job seekers as well as a source of entertainment for those who enjoy reading what I write.

Until next time.

-Taft

Taft, What Sort of Job Do You Want?

I'm glad you asked. This is a question that I get a lot, but I find it difficult to answer. Not because I am indecisive, but because I am unwilling to limit myself to a narrow search. My law enforcement experience has made me a well-rounded and disciplined worker who could succeed in many different positions. Although this may limit my ability to attract the attention of corporate recruiters, who collectively seem to be focused on industry-specific and job-specific experience, I am much more focused on finding the right organization.

That said, I do have focus – it's just not as narrow as most recruiters want. I am looking for a job in marketing or sales. My skills and experience are an excellent fit for both fields. Don't be fooled by TV shows and movies; my job requires that I spend a lot of time cold-calling, finding creative solutions to problems, and making sales.

That's right – I am a salesman, but not in the conventional sense. One cannot succeed as a criminal investigator without the ability to read people, just like a salesman. In fact, one of the most important facets of my job is to make the toughest sale of all. I have to convince a suspect to tell me exactly what I need to know to send them to prison. Unlike what you see on TV and in the movies, I don't accomplish this through intimidation or violence. I listen to them and decide what they want from me. After that, I simply find a way to give it to them, in exchange for information about their crime. Some find this hard to believe (even me sometimes), but suspects often leave happy after confessing to a crime. If that's not sales, then I don't know what is.

I am not looking for any sales or marketing job, though. As I mentioned before, my primary focus is on finding the right work environment. I am confident that I would not be a successful investigator were it not for the fact that my department is a great organization. I am equally confident that finding the right company is much more important than finding the right job title.

So what does the right company look like? The right company will have some or all of these qualities:

• A fun and energetic workplace and a group of people that works well together. I would like to work for a company that is more concerned with productivity and effectiveness than with strict adherence to rules and policy. The perfect company is a place where employees are allowed (maybe even urged) to question conventional thinking and find creative ways to approach problems.

• A great product! This is an important quality. I attribute much of my success in law enforcement to the fact that I believe in what I am doing. As a member or a sales or marketing team, I want to believe in the product that I represent.

• A young and growing organization (but not necessarily a small business). The early years are an exciting time for any organization, and I would love to be a part of that. This would allow me the opportunity to grow professionally and financially with the business as well as the opportunity to help shape the future of a the business.

• A great location. One of my primary motivations for leaving my current agency is the fact that the area in which it is located is a difficult place for me to meet friends.  I have some amazing friends here, but it is nearly impossible to expand my current circle.  I have very little in common with the few people my age in this area. Over 50 of my fellow officers are over the age of 25. I am one of three who is single and without children. Unfortunately for me, those numbers are representative of the entire county.

Bear in mind that these qualities are meant to serve as a general guide, not strict requirements. I am open to suggestions and willing to consider almost any organization.

In the coming weeks, I will be publishing some posts that discuss my Dream Jobs. These will be specific examples of companies that may help me explain the type of job that I want.

I urge you to post any ideas or suggestions of organizations that might be a good fit. Do you know of any open marketing or sales jobs? Are you looking for a young, aggressive, and creative sales or marketing employee? Don't be shy.

Until next time.

-Taft

The Return of Taft Facts

Several years ago, when I attended school at ECU, I wrote a regular post for a website related to the school.  I called the posts “Taft Facts.”  Each Taft Fact was a true story from my life.  Most were stories of dumb things I did as a kid.  To my surprise, people started to read Taft Facts.  Before long, I had a modest following that consisted of friends and strangers.

This is a perfect time to bring them back.

I have two younger sisters, Claire and Zoe.  They are 2 and 11 years younger than me, respectively.  As you might imagine, Claire and I had a tendency to gang up on Zoe when she was young.  Though we both got along with Zoe well, the temptation to mess with her occasionally led us to do some mean things.

(Left to Right: Me, Zoe, Claire)

One morning, when Zoe was about 4 years old, she was running around the living room and making it impossible for Claire and me to watch TV.  This was out of character for Zoe, so we were unaccustomed to such distractions.  We decided to channel her energy.

I called Zoe over to us and showed her a nickel.  I asked her if she wanted to play a game and have a chance to win said nickel.  Bear in mind, it was a shiny nickel, which is the only indicator of value to a four year old.  Needless to say, she was SUPER excited about the possibility.

I explained to Zoe that the nickel game revolved around an ancient family secret.  I told her that she was not technically old enough to play, but that I would allow her the opportunity to win the nickel if she promised not to tell mom and Dad.  She promised.

I told Zoe that when our great-great-great-great grandfather built our house back in 1835(total BS, it was 25 years old at most), he installed a magical strawberry-flavored knob somewhere in the kitchen.  The object of the game was to find the strawberry-flavored knob as quickly as possible.  If she found it in time, she won the nickel.

At this point, I should let you know that the kitchen in our old house had TONS of knobs.  It had double the number of normal kitchen knobs because there were a lot of false-front drawers.  There were at least 60 knobs just waiting to be licked.

Zoe was a pretty serious kid, so she took the game seriously.  She took my advice and began in the corner of the room.  She worked low-to-high and left-to-right.  Once she was off to the races, Claire and I returned to our TV show and enjoyed the quiet.

A few minutes later, to our immense surprise, Zoe ran into the living room and announced that she found the magic strawberry knob.  We were dumbfounded, because it was apparent that she really thought that she found a knob that magically tastes like strawberries.  I told her to show me which one, and she pointed out a cabinet knob that hung over the sink.  I made my best disappointed face and told her that she was wrong.  I suggested that she start over in the corner and put more effort into the game.  The licking continued, and we returned to the living room.

A few minutes after Zoe started round 2, Claire and I heard our Dad coming down the stairs.  We jumped up and ran into the kitchen to stop her, but it was too late.  When we got to the kitchen, Dad was staring at zoe, who was playing tonsil-hockey with the sliver wear drawer knob.

Dad asked Zoe what the hell she was doing.  She remembered that, according to the rules, she couldn’t tell him if she wanted to win the nickel.  She stood up and looked at us.  After a few excruciating seconds, I told her that it was OK, she could tell Dad what she was doing.  Zoe explained to Dad that she was searching for the secret family magical strawberry knob.  Without missing a beat, Dad said, “Zoe, they lied to you.  I can’t believe they would do that.  It’s not a magic knob….it’s a magic floor tile.”

Luckily for Zoe, he stopped her before she finished the first tile.

Did you enjoy this story?  Do you want to read more?  Help me grow this blog by sharing it with your friends.  Click here to read more about how you can help me grow.

Until next time.

-Taft

Self Discipline

I mentioned in a previous post that I will talk about the things that I have to offer an organization.  The first thing that comes to mind is discipline.  I have learned a lot while working as a beat cop and investigator, but nothing has proven as valuable as the discipline that my colleagues and supervisors have instilled in me over the past six years.

Discipline has become a buzz word and its meaning has been diluted, so I will break down exactly what I mean.  I practice discipline by organizing my time and prioritizing my responsibilities.  At the beginning of each day, I make a list on a post-it note (the big kind, with lines like notebook paper).  I make it my mission to finish each item on the list before 5pm.  Though I don’t always finish the list before 5pm, it is exceptionally rare for me to go home without finishing it.  That often means staying late, for which I am not paid due to a freeze on overtime.  But it's worth every minute - my reputation as a hard worker who gets the job done is worth a lot more than a few hours of overtime each week.

There are two types of currency in any workplace: money and trust.  The agency for which I work is out of money, so trust is worth even more to us.  Like money, trust is earned slowly and can be blown quickly.  By making my bosses look good, I earn their trust and they repay that trust with freedom.  When I am tasked with managing a team, which happens often now that my bosses know that I am a performer, I offer each member of my team the same deal.  And you know what happens?  They usually perform much better than teams led by managers who cannot relinquish their grip on minutia.

I recently read an article titled “Epic Fail: Millennials Get Slammed in Poll on Workplace Attitudes”, written by a blogger named Danny Rubin.  In his article, Rubin discusses the results of a poll conducted by Workplace Options.  The poll revealed that, among other things, almost half of all workers (46%) feel that millenials are “less engaged at work than other employees.”  The most shocking thing about the results are that the workers polled included millenials.

This isn’t the first time I have heard about my generation developing a bad reputation in the workplace.  Many of my parents’ friends, some of whom manage huge divisions or run entire companies, complain about how difficult it is to find a 20-something who is willing to work hard without complaining.  They are disturbed by the sense of entitlement that my generation seems to harbor.  Everybody wants to be the boss, but nobody is willing to work for it.

For a long time, it bothered me to hear my parents' generation talk about how hard it is to hire a solid worker from my generation.  I took it as a personal affront because I am a member of GenY.  Then one day it dawned on me: this is perfect!  It shouldn't bother me that so few 20-somethings lack self discipline.  My peers' unwillingness to work hard just makes me more attractive to a potential employer.

So here's the bottom line: I am willing to prove myself.  This blog is not about landing a great job - it’s about earning the opportunity to get my foot in the door at a great company.  It’s about finding someone who will take a chance on me and allow me to demonstrate my value through hard work, dedication and creativity.

Until next time.

-Taft

Taft, What Do You Read?

I’m glad you asked.  I read a LOT - for at least an hour before bed every night.  If I don’t have a book to read, or if I forget to bring one on a trip, I have trouble falling asleep.  For that reason, I make sure to have at least one on deck.  I try to limit my reading time to half bubblegum - most of that time is spent devouring James Patterson novels.  The other half of my reading time is earmarked for classic literature and books that will help me improve something about myself.

Just last night, I finished It’s Your Ship by Captain Mike Abrashoff.  Since the bullpen was empty, I stopped by Barnes & Noble this afternoon and picked up a copy of Blogging for Dummies.

It’s Your Ship is a collection of stories from Abrashoff’s time in the Navy, each of which illustrates a lesson in management.  I have already had an opportunity to put some of his lessons to use.  The third chapter, “Listen Aggressively”, teaches that actively and aggressively listening to colleagues and subordinates is the best way to learn about them as individuals.

Let’s take Abrashoff’s lesson a step further.  I believe that the key to effective leadership is the development of a shared that includes all of the members within an organization.  Great leaders are not those who have the best ideas.  Great leaders understand how to incorporate the needs and desires of their followers into a vision.  In order to know what people need and want, you have to listen.  The followers most likely to work hard and ultimately succeed are those who are stakeholders in the vision toward which they are working.

What do you think is the key to effective leadership?  Is there a secret to great leadership?

Until next time.

-Taft

Feedback

First of all, I want to thank everyone who has provided feedback.  I have received several emails and messages about the blog, some of which have already helped me adjust my marketing strategy. 

One LinkedIn message in particular caught my attention.  Michelle, a fellow Liberty University graduate (whom I have never met) made some suggestions about an earlier post – Why the Job Hunt?

“Taft, I read your blog and think it is an interesting way of marketing yourself. However, I would rethink the post about why you are looking for a job. While very honest, it also is all about you. Employers are looking for how you are an asset to them - and God calls us to think about others before ourselves. We all want to have social lives, be paid well, and have promotional opportunity; but no recruiter or employer wants to hear that… You can say what you are trying to say but in a way that makes it about what you can offer to them instead of what you expect them to offer to you.”

Michelle makes some excellent points here.  Recruiters and potential employers will not hire me based upon what I want; they need to know what I can offer them.  I need to clearly articulate the ways in which I can help an organization meet its goals.  I plan to dedicate some future posts to talking about what I bring to the proverbial table, and I have some creative ideas for doing just that.  I will not simply repeat my resume in a post.  I appreciate the guidance and hope that more of you will share your wisdom and experience.

This is a perfect opportunity for me to explain myself.  First off, I admit that this blog is all about me.  It is a self-serving endeavor.  But I hope that it will become much more than that.  My ultimate goal is to create a living source of information that has the potential to help others.  By openly and honestly sharing the details of my search for a job, I may provide others with information that will allow them to avoid my mistakes and capitalize on the lessons that I have learned along the way.

So, please keep reading and sending me your ideas, advice and guidance.  Be sure to follow this blog – I have some exciting ideas that you won’t want to miss.

Until next time.

-Taft

Occupy Wall Street: A Powerful Waste

In order to add some variety to The Hunt, some of my posts will have absolutely nothing to do with my job search.  In today’s totally off-topic post, I will discuss the Occupy movements.

The Occupy Wall Street movement, along with the other Occupy movements that subsequently cropped up around the country, is the biggest waste of potential political power that I have ever seen.  The movements lack focus and central leadership, which has allowed them to devolve into disparate angry mobs that have accomplished little.

I still don’t know what the demonstrators in the Occupy movement want.  In fact, I doubt that they (collectively) know what they want.  One day the group is marching on the homes of rich people, the next day they are interrupting the filming of ‘Law & Order.’  Occupy protesters have captured the attention of the national media for months, but they seem unable or unwilling to utilize the spotlight to advance an agenda.  Is it because most news outlets are owned by major corporations, or is it indicative of a lack of leadership?

So, what can Occupy do to capitalize on the limelight before the rest of the country loses interest?  The first, and arguably most important, step is to figure out exactly what they want to accomplish.  Without a clear focus that includes specific demands, the movement will continue to spin its wheels.

That leads to the second step.  The movement must put a leader in front of the cameras.  A few politicians have tried to hijack the Occupy’s momentum, but it doesn’t appear to have paid dividends.  The face of the movement should be young, charismatic and intelligent.

The last step is to keep raising hell.  It seems like every time Occupy is shut down in one city, they make news in another city.  They have occupied (I know, bad joke) the major news outlets for months because they are good at raising hell, and that is the only way they will continue to be heard once they organize.

If Occupy fails to come up with some clear demands and find someone to share them with the rest of the country, they are doomed to fail.  Our collective attention span is too short for them to make any progress unless they organize quickly.  I sincerely hope that the movement is able to get its act together in time to make some real changes.  Occupy has unlimited potential, but it cannot be tapped without first making a few adjustments.

What do you think?  Is Occupy doomed to fail, or can they really bring about change?  To learn more about the movement's legacy, which is already materializing, check out this Wall Street Journal blog post.

Until next time.

-Taft
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Get Involved

In previous posts, I outlined several reasons for writing a blog.  Less than ten posts later, my goals are already evolving.  Since this is my first blog, I anticipate constant changes.  That means you'll have to keep reading, lest you miss out on this excitement.

The first is that I want you to get involved.  I want your advice, and here’s why:

I have spent a year searching for a job outside law enforcement.  During the first six months, I was not particularly motivated.  I sent out a few applications, but didn’t do much else.  Since mid-summer, when I finished graduate school, my motivation has increased steadily.  I began to put more effort in to the search and try new approaches.  I updated my LinkedIn page, started a log of all my applications, reached out to most of my network, and began sending out more and more applications.   Unfortunately, nothing seemed to stick.

I have applied to more than 300 jobs since June, but all I have to show for it is one phone interview (after which I was turned down).  I can no longer blame the economy.  The problem is me.  I have a rock-solid job history, a great education, a sense of humor, and the willingness to move anywhere for the right job.  This means that I am doing something wrong, but I can’t figure out what.  That is where you come in.  I welcome any constructive criticism or helpful advice (along with comments totally unrelated to my job search).  Maybe somebody out there on the interweb can help me fix the glitch.

I’ll start with a question: How do I market myself to industries outside of law enforcement?  What are some ways that I can set myself up for success as I seek jobs in sales, management, marketing, or operations?

Until next time.

-Taft

Why the Job Hunt?

One of the most important things for recruiters and potential employers to know about me is why I am seeking a new job.  Though it may not seem relevant at first glance, I think it is one of the most important questions one can ask.  So, I will try to briefly explain the personal and professional reasons for my decision.

I cannot stress enough how difficult the decision to consider leaving my job was.  I love being a detective and working for my PD.  I am excited to go to work every morning.  Our team of investigators is top notch, and I trust every boss in my chain of command.  I have fought alongside them and would do so again without a second's thought.  Maybe the most important reason that I love my job is because I am good at it.  Few things bring me more satisfaction than being the detective who gets most of the big and important cases – the the most sensitive and difficult financial investigations.  The new (interim) Chief of Police recently referred to me as his “superstar.”  Frankly, I think I’m the best damn investigator around (FYI: all detectives think that).

Despite my hubris in the previous paragraph, there are some areas in which I struggle.  When I joined the SRT (Special Response Team – synonymous with S.W.A.T.) two years ago, my tactical skills were pretty weak.  I have improved since then, but I would classify myself now as aggressively mediocre.   I struggle with tactical concepts that seem easy to the other members.  Fortunately, I was able to recognize my weakness and have capitalized on my strengths; instead of focusing on a tactical career path, I changed my trajectory and applied for detective.

Back to the question at hand: why do I want to leave?  There are several reasons, most of which have little to do with my day-to-day responsibilities.  For the sake of avoiding a jumbled mess, I will list each one separately and in order of importance.

1)     My social life (or lack thereof) – The local population is approximately 18,000.  It was once the epicenter of the furniture industry, but nearly all of the jobs have moved overseas.  When the jobs left, the young professionals followed.  Within this area, my age group collectively has more tattoos than teeth. 

2)    Low pay – Unfortunately, this is not the same money complaint you hear at every job.  My agency has not received a significant cost of living raise in my six years.  Our starting salary is now more than $10,000.00 less than several nearby agencies of comparable size.  I am not bitter about pay as I know that the money simply is not there, but I can only deal with it for so long.

3)      Promotional opportunities – I am an excellent detective and police officer.  My worst performance review to date was “above expected” (3.89 / 5) and my most recent was “exceptional” (4.41 / 5).  Unfortunately, my performance has little to do with my upward mobility.  This is not because I have done anything wrong or because the brass has it out for me; that is simply the way most paramilitary organizations operate.  Being a top performer is great, and I feel appreciated, but it does little (if anything) to help me move up the ladder.

4)     The way I am paid – This one is obviously related to low pay, but it is different enough that it deserves its own bullet.  I want my income to reflect my performance.  That doesn’t mean I am looking for pure commission or huge bonuses – I only want my earnings to be commensurate to my performance.

5)      Family – About six months ago, my immediate family moved from North Carolina to California.  Living away from my family has never been a problem (boarding school and college were both far from home), but the fact that I cannot afford plane tickets makes it harder to be so far away.

So, there you have it.  I love my job, but it is time for a change.  In future posts, I'll discuss what I can offer your organization.

Until next time,

-Taft

Update: I have received several emails and messages about this post.  I wrote a follow-up that can be found here.

The "Real" Me

I struggle to decide what to tell you about the “real” me.  My colleagues would probably tell you that I am intelligent, funny, and that I have a tendency to “bird-dog” a project.  This is their term for the way I sink my teeth into a case and refuse to let go.  They might also tell you that I am a great interrogator; I have a knack for listening and adapting my interrogation to the needs of the suspect (or witness).  Finally, they are likely to say that I am super competitive.  That competitive spirit has made me confident, but it has also helped me develop into one of the best.

Though my colleagues’ description of me is fair, I would add that I am full of contradictions.  I am 27 years old, but I am often mistaken for a much older man.  I am competitive and want badly to be the best, but I am not an attention seeker.  Positive feedback is my currency (I love nothing more than hearing that I did great work), but I do not like to receive that positive feedback in public.  I am confident, occasionally to a fault, but I am a firm believer in practicing manners and respect (still call everyone Ma’am and Sir - never call my bosses by their first names).

If you haven’t spent much time with me, a few blog posts are not going to paint an accurate picture of who I am.  Without some context, the posts simply don’t mean much.  That is why I plan to post some stories in the coming weeks and months that will provide that context.  I love talking about my work, especially when I hit a proverbial homerun with a case, so my stories will also give you a glimpse into the day-to-day life of a detective.

Until next time.

-Taft

Love Me

Every time an investigator writes a search warrant, he or she includes a section that outlines his or her professional qualifications.  At Lenoir PD, this portion of the search warrant affidavit is affectionately known as the “Love Me page.”  I write A LOT of search warrants, probably more than the rest of the PD combined, so I am constantly updating my Love Me page.  Here is the Love Me portion of my last search warrant (I can’t share the whole affidavit, for obvious reasons):

          “I am currently employed as a criminal investigator by the Lenoir Police Department.  I have worked for the Lenoir Police Department for six years as a Patrol Officer I, Patrol Officer II, Master Patrol Officer, Detective, and Detective II.  My responsibilities include, but are not limited to, investigating financial crimes, managing complex criminal investigations, and preparing cases for prosecution in court.
          I have received over 1,500 hours of law enforcement training.  My training includes, but is not limited to, Police Law Institute, advanced financial crime investigations, crime scene processing, investigative techniques, forensic techniques, death investigations, and suicide investigations.  I hold a B/S degree in multidisciplinary studies as well as a M/A degree in management from Liberty University. “

The Love Me page is an accurate and succinct summarization of my professional qualifications, but it doesn’t do a very good job of telling you who I am.  In fact, it doesn’t convey much of the information that I want a recruiter to see.  For example, I am much more proud of how I earned my college degrees than that I earned them.  More on that later.

Until next time.

-Taft

A Bit About Me

At the end of my last post, I told you that I plan to tell you a about me.  My next two posts will give you a better idea of who I am.  The first is a brief description my professional experience and qualifications.  The second is a description of the real me.  In later posts, I will get into the specific things that I want recruiters to know.

You may notice that I am posting rapid-fire.  I want to provide some background for those who are interested in reading my blog and learning about my work and career goals.  The posts will slow down once I lay a foundation upon which I can build and choose a direction for this blog.

Until next time.

-Taft

Inaugural Post

I've spent weeks thinking about how I should start this blog.  I decided that it should begin with a deep, thoughtful, and witty opener.  Unfortunately, I couldn't come up with anything.  If I wait any longer, it will never get started, so it's time to start writing.  I am new to blogging, so I hope you'll bare with me as I learn the ropes.

The purpose of this blog is three-fold.  My primary goal is to share my job hunting experiences in a down economy.  The second goal is to engage in shameless self-promotion.  I warn you now, I refuse to temper my confidence in the online forum.  Finally, I hope to eventually create a reservoir of information and knowledge to help others who are in the process of searching for a job.

In the following posts I'll tell you a bit about myself, my current job, my career goals, and what I have to offer your organization.

Until next time.

-Taft