Persistence Gave Me A New Future

Persistence Gave Me A New Future

Why I Was Hired


Since posting Why Did He Hire Me I've thought about the events that brought me to the fateful interview described in Crazy Like A Fox. My conclusion is that every experience proves useful in the future. Our minds remember everything and draw on what is stored, during future experiences. Today I teach people how to choose a job and place to work, and how to educate the employer about what you will bring to the position. I hadn't received such education, but landed a job that would be very important to my future. Here is how it happened.

Amy and I married with faith in each other and God, as our only assets. Amy got a job as secretary to the Vice President of Engineering and Design in what was then, the largest furniture manufacturer in the country. My first business venture had failed and I was working as a taxi driver, earning very little: My confidence was at low ebb. The furniture company was an old established and solid firm, people had spent their lives working there, so we decided I would get a beginners position there, learn upholstering and be able to support a family.

A few weeks after I started, Amy said a job opening for a Time Study Engineer, would be posted by the Industrial engineering department. Employees got first chance at any new job openings. Next Monday the job posting was on the bulletin board; no experience needed, you would be trained. At the end of my shift I went upstairs and asked for the job.

That interview was a relaxed discussion with Bill, the department manager and Calem, his right hand man. I asked them to tell me about the work content because I new nothing about industrial engineering. My college work had been aimed at preparing me for seminary and a career as a Pastor/Minister. Workers in the plant were paid on a piece work basis and I would be timing jobs, setting rates, improving work flow and methods. They asked about my previous work experience. I completed a short job application.

"We'll let you know when we've made a decision."

The next day when my shift ended, I went upstairs and asked if a decision had been made. I told Bill and Calem I wanted the job.

I went upstairs again, the next day. They had talked with some other applicants but no decision had been made.

The following day I did it again, no decision as yet.

The next day, Friday, I talked with them; again, no decision. These meetings were short and friendly, but noncommittal. I was always dressed in the blue jeans and shirt proper for work in the plant. No polished shoes.

Monday I went upstairs, still no decision.

Tuesday when I arrived at the department, Bill greeted me with

"We want you to start in the morning. We want you because you're the only person that has enquired, even once, about our decision process. We know you want the job."

Next morning I went to work in white shirt, tie and polished shoes.

It had taken six visits. I would learn later in my career, that over 60% of all buying decisions are made after the fifth sales contact. I had been selling and they were buying. I had competitors; I made six sales calls, and asked for the order in some way, every time. They trained me: I went to night school at Illinois Institute of Technology, and had a fantastic, fun, experience. The original reasons for going to the furniture factory were wrong; that company does not exist any more, but that job was the beginning of a rich life helping others.

Wes Zimmerman

Zingers