1. The Red Pencil

One Ear Man has no right ear. It was lost to cancer over a year ago. If anyone asks, he is still recovering and is in adjustment mode. He is getting used to his new reality.

In all aspects, the One Ear Man appears physically normal. If you see him on the street, you would not give him a second glance. He looks like Everyman. The doctor who performed the surgery did an excellent job in the opinion of those who offer one. Also, the One Ear Man always looks like he needs a haircut. So where his right ear used to be is sufficiently concealed. On this particular humid summer morning, he finds himself on the 55 heading downtown. The bus is quite empty since it is past the busy time when people are getting themselves to work. 

One of the things that the One Ear Man is discovering is that with very limited left ear hearing, he can virtually ‘tune out’ the world and be comforted only by his thoughts. All too often this is a good thing. For he has always prided himself by being a ‘deep thinker,’ a logical thinker, someone who employs analysis more often than not. The One Ear Man is likened to Hamlet, if you will.  

The bus had not advanced too many stops when a college-aged individual entered the bus. She was Asian in appearance, attractive as all are and choose to sit near the One Ear Man after removing her backpack. 

Occasionally glancing at the College-aged Student, the One Ear Man could not help but notice that she appered very sad and dejected. “Not having a good day?” ventured the One Ear Man. It was more of a statement than a question. He never was a shy individual. Perhaps the army did that to him. Sometimes being forward got him into more trouble than enough. But that is another story. 

Silence. Then the College-age Student said, “No, I am not having the type of day I would write home about. I graduated from a local private college over two months ago and have yet to land a job! As a matter of fact, I have not even had an interview.”

“What did you study?”

“Healthcare. I am a healthcare worker, or will be if I ever get a job.”

“Gee, there should be plenty of work for someone in your profession,” suggested the One Ear Man. “What with a growing and aging population in this city.…” His voice was trailing off. 

“Well,” interrupted the College-age Student, “things are not going according to the advertised script. I have done everything right; good grades, a solid resume broadcasted thither and yon, cold calls. Nothing. Not even a nibble.”

“May I be so bold as to ask permission to look over your resume if you have it?”

“Sure. No problem.” With that inquiry, the College-aged Student unzipped her backpack and rummaged around looking for her resume. Eventually she produced it and handed it to the One Ear Man. 

Skimming through the resume, the One Ear Man said, “Excuse me, but I believe that Canada has a prime minister. Your resume goes on and on for four pages. It is far too long. Do you really think that a prospective employer really cares that you were a girl guide in your hometown, Nanjing China? Resumes should not be more than one-page. Busy people have no time to read any more than that.”

Handing the resume back to the College-age Student, she began reading over her resume with a critical eye. “Only one page?”

“Yes. Also, you should state your objective right up front. For example, ‘My object is to work in an entry level position in a modern hospital.’ Then research. Go through a few recent newspapers finding careers that interest you. Cut out the ads. Highlight key phrases and incorporate them into your resume. What that does is link your words with the thought process of the people who are looking to hire.”

“I understand,” said the College-age Student as she glanced through her resume again. 

“I teach college students.” The One Ear Man handed her his business card. “If you want give me a call when you reduce your resume to one page and weaved phrases into it from career advertisements. I am willing to help you with this.”

“Thank you. I just might give you a call,” said the College-age Student with her first smile of the day. 

Two weeks later

As prearranged, the One Ear Man and the College-age Student meet for the second time on bus 55. This time, instead of a sad, down-in-the-mouth look, the College-age Student is all smiles when she sees that the One Ear Man kept his appointment with her. In fact, he was in the very same seat she remembered him in when they last met. She slid in beside him without even asking. 

“Hi,” she said. “How are you doing?” Not waiting for an answer, she continued, “I have been quite busy rewriting my resume. Would you like to read the new version?”

“Sure. But before I do that, let’s change seats and you take the one to the left of me. That is the only ear I have left.” With that the two exchanged seats and the College-age Student hands the One Ear Man a manilla envelope that contains her newly-minted resume.

“Hmm. This is reading much better and it is only one page. Well done!”

“Thanks. I spent more than enough time on it. I also tried to put everything in an active voice.”

“Yes, I see that.” Handing the resume back to the College-age Student, the One Ear Man asked for her business card.

Looking puzzled, the College-age Student didn’t move. The One Ear Man said, “You do have a business card, don’t you?”

“No.” 

“My dear, that is one of the props that separates you from the great unwashed. You are embarking on a career as a healthcare professional. YOU are a healthcare professional! Professionals carry business cards to give out. Even if it simply states your name, your profession and cell number, that is meaningful. It tells the human resource person a lot about you as a person serious about who you are.”

“I understand,” said the College-age Student. 

“Look at it this way,” the One Ear Man stated. “Visualize an ordinary box of 12 wooden pencils spread out before you. They are coloured yellow with the eraser on the tip. Can you see them in your mind’s eye?”

“Yes, I can. I used them as a kid in school. I used to chew off the eraser.”

“Now,” continues the One Ear Man, “let’s say that one of the yellow pencils is coloured red. Looking them over, which pencil catches your eye?”

“The red one, of course,” suggests the College-age Student.

“Exactly. That is the one you want to be; the red pencil so that you will stand out when the human resource people look through the many resumes they deal with day-in and day-out.”

“Your visual is great,” stated the College-age Student. “Be the red pencil. But how do I do that?”

“One way,” stated the One Ear Man, “is to carry business cards and give them out freely whenever the opportunity seems appropriate. I bet you become one of the only ones if not the only one to do such a thing. Look the interviewer in the eye, shake her or his hand and say, ‘Hi. How are you. My name is the College-age Student and here is my card.’” You are a red pencil. 

“Wow,” said the College-age Student. 

The One Ear Man continues, “When I was in first year university, I took a biology course. One of the first things the professor did was to hand out light blue lab coats to everyone in the room. ‘Why are you doing this, professor?’ She answered, ‘If you want to be a scientist, you must dress and act like a scientist.’ I shall always remember her saying that.”

“At college, we had to wear scrubs,” admitted the College-age Student. 

“I suspect they did that for the very same reason,” said the One Ear Man.

“So what else do you suggest I do to be the red pencil?”

With a little chuckle the One Ear Man said, “That my new friend is something you have to mull over and figure out. What you want to keep in mind is pick options that will reinforce in people's minds that are a professional healthcare worker. Also remember to pick strategies you are comfortable with. Then you will be a red pencil. ”