| ody"> | | | | would give me an edge over the other applicants next |
| Peter Humleker had it made. As the general manager | | | | time I interviewed for a job with the railroad," he said. |
| of a successful car dealership, he was earning an | | | | "So I did two things: I went to a trade school for six |
| impressive income. The only problem? He hated what | | | | weeks that specialized in training conductors for the |
| he was doing. | | | | railroad, and I practiced interview preparation |
| "I was making a living off of manipulating and | | | | techniques that I read about in 'The Job Interview |
| misleading people, taking advantage of them with ugly | | | | Success System'." |
| games and lies," Peter said. "It's how I was taught to | | | | At his next interview, Peter was confident. "No matter |
| make sales, and I was very good at it." | | | | what question they asked, I turned it into a positive," he |
| Eventually, his feelings of success were overcome by | | | | said. "For example, when they asked, 'How would |
| feelings of remorse. | | | | being away from home affect you and your family?' I |
| "I had to get out of that business," he said. "No | | | | replied, 'That would work out to my advantage, |
| paycheck amount is worth the guilt, lies and not being | | | | because I'm going to school (via correspondence |
| able to look at myself in the mirror." | | | | internet) to get my Associate's Degree in Railroad |
| So at the age of 40 and with a family to support, | | | | Technology, and I'd spend that time away from my |
| Peter made one of the scariest--and best--decisions | | | | family doing my homework on my laptop." |
| of his life: he quit his job and began searching for a | | | | Peter aced the interview, got the job and began his |
| new career. | | | | new career. "I am now a freight conductor, and my job |
| "I was sick and tired of sales," he said. "But I wanted to | | | | is to make sure the train's cargo gets safely to the |
| get a job where my success was mostly dependant | | | | desired destination. I perform inspections of the train, |
| on my own performance. My other main requirements | | | | and if something goes wrong, such as an air hose |
| for a new career were that it pay at least $60,000 per | | | | breaking, then I'm the one who fixes or replaces it. I |
| year (with the opportunity to make even more) and | | | | also switch, drop off or pick up rail cars," he said. |
| offer a good retirement program. I don't have a college | | | | Those duties have nothing in common with his former |
| education, so this limited some possibilities for me. | | | | suit-and-tie job of hustling customers and selling cars. |
| "My first choice was to find a government job | | | | "I like the fact that it's 100% blue collar," Peter said. "I |
| because I spent four years in the Marine Corps and | | | | now go to work in jeans and steel-toed boots. I love |
| that time could have gone towards a government | | | | that I start each day with a specific job to do, and |
| retirement. However, the jobs I was interested in were | | | | when it's accomplished, the job is over. I don't have to |
| not available to me because I was over the age limit. | | | | rip people off to earn my pay, and I no longer 'take the |
| The ones that were available were good jobs, but the | | | | job home with me' and feel miserable about myself, |
| pay structure was too low for my particular needs," he | | | | like I used to in the past." |
| said. | | | | Another perk is that in about one year, Peter will have |
| Some of the other options Peter investigated were | | | | the opportunity to go to school for locomotive engineer |
| the Merchant Marines, the oil field industry, law | | | | training and get promoted--all paid for by the company! |
| enforcement, the fire department, and the railroad. | | | | Is Peter happy with his new life? You bet! |
| "I did my research," he said. "And I spoke with people in | | | | "Life is short," he said. "Do what makes you happy. If |
| each of these fields to find out firsthand about their job | | | | you're in a dead-end career or working in a job you |
| duties, pay, benefits, etc. In the end, I decided to go for | | | | hate, then ask yourself what you would rather be |
| a career with the railroad. The pay is very good, the | | | | doing. Of course not every job is going to make us |
| benefits and retirement plan are excellent. And if I | | | | totally happy, but at least do something that is going to |
| decide to go into management later on, the possibility is | | | | give you more self-fulfillment. I'm earning less money, |
| there." | | | | but I'm much happier doing what I am doing now than |
| Selecting a new career field wasn't easy, but the | | | | what I was doing before. |
| hardest part was yet to come. | | | | "The bottom line is you gotta get up every morning |
| "Once I decided on the railroad industry, I went to an | | | | and look at yourself in the mirror. When you do that, do |
| open interview and there were at least 90 other | | | | you like what you see? If not, then make a change! I |
| applicants there, but only seven positions available. I did | | | | promise you won't regret it. |
| not get hired, and knew I needed to do something that | | | | |