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Employer of Choice, Part 2

© Sharon Hill

In my last column I shared some very negative job-hunting experiences of a friend of mine. Today I would like to explore the other side of the coin - examples from my own career that talk about what an employer did right.

Early on in my newspaper career, when I was still an advertising sales rep, I began to think about management. Lucky enough to have been hired and be working for a smart, caring Classifieds Manager who respected his employees and their hopes and dreams, I was called into his office and asked about my goals.

"I want someday to be sitting where you are," I told him.

"I thought so," he replied. "Where in the country would you like to be working?"

"Well, ---------- company doesn't have newspapers everywhere," I said.

"I didn't say anything about -------- company," was his response.

I was dumbfounded! He would actually help me with a promotion that might take me to another firm. He explained to me that life was too short to not go where our dreams lead and that my success was, as my manager, his success.

I did end up moving to another newspaper chain, and then another, and another, each a promotion. I will never forget him. He was instrumental in my career success, and he taught me an important lesson I always tried to pass on to my subordinates.

When I decided to step back from newspaper and Internet advertising management and start my own firm, I knew I was also going to need to work for someone else for a while. The job I sought would allow me to simply go in, do my work, and leave it all behind at the end of the day. But I also needed free time during the day on weekdays to see clients and conduct interviews. I applied at a local call center.

Explaining my goals, they were immediately receptive and advised me that I could work weekends with Tuesdays and Wednesdays off, and could work the second shift 1-10 p.m. It was perfect! Six months later, I was given a promotion and moved to a schedule of 3 p.m. to midnight, Monday, Thursday and Friday and 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday - still more freedom to work on my own business during weekday hours.

Then my father's health started to fail. He suffered several mini-strokes and dementia set in. My brother and I had to find a nursing home. I needed to take him to doctors and be there for his numerous surgeries. I went to my employer and told them that I was exhausted trying to do it all. I asked if there was any possibility of taking one more weekday off work.

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