What Employers are Looking For...

You know, my mother raised me to be a responsible adult. My father raised me to be as perfect as I possibly can. Let me explain how he did that. I cannot tell you how many times I had to do something over again until it was done to his standards. It didn't matter if it was a letter to my grandparents or my homework. Because of that "training," as human as I know I am, I HATE to make mistakes. I (used to) take pride in my work.

Where I work, it is important that we make as few mistakes as possible. Some mistakes may cost someone his or her life. Do not take this lightly. To put it plainly, I am currently employed by a company that handles medical records. Charts that are put into the system that contain more than one patient can cost a life. If the "mixed" patient in the chart doesn't have an allergy that the "true" patient has, the health care professionals could see that it is ok to give a certain medication and find out when after it is too late that there was an allergy. Another more dire mistake is that of a DNR. To any readers who may not know what that is, it is an order meaning "DO NOT RESUSCITATE." I'm sure you can fathom what this means. If the mixed patient had a DNR, but the true patient did not, the health care professionals may not do what is needed to save that person's life.

Keeping all that in mind, allow me to explain a couple of other attributes I think I have. I take responsibility for my actions or inaction. Whichever may be the case. I am also honest. Usually to a fault. I am not, I repeat, I am NOT manipulative. I may be a little blunt and few people seem to appreciate that. I try to do my best at all times. I am determined and if I am expected to get a job done, I WILL get that job done.

However, much to my disappointment, this is NOT what employers are looking for. They apparently want an employee who will take them for all they are worth and only consider her/his self and her/his needs. They are NOT looking for someone who consistently goes the extra mile to make her/his coworkers lives a little easier. I am not the person they are looking for. I would try to be someone other than who I am, but that never seems to work for me.

My question now is, what the...I mean...what in the world am I going to do? Tonight, I feel a renewed energy to find a new job. I have and will apply to three new companies. I am honestly crossing my fingers for the one that will give me a leg up into the accounting field. I am planning to get my Masters in Accounting after all.

Regardless of what happens, I know that I cannot work for the company I currently work for any longer. If it weren't for my husband, I would have been gone already and let come what may. However, at this point, I cannot be the employee they seem to desire. Wish me luck and good will, won't you?