1 00:00:02,080 --> 00:00:05,160 Speaker 1: Welcome back to On the Job. Can you believe we're 2 00:00:05,160 --> 00:00:09,560 Speaker 1: at episode seven already? Where does the time go? Well, 3 00:00:09,920 --> 00:00:12,960 Speaker 1: after all these wonderful profiles of people in the midst 4 00:00:12,960 --> 00:00:16,079 Speaker 1: of their careers, we thought we'd switch things up just 5 00:00:16,120 --> 00:00:18,720 Speaker 1: a bit for this episode and take a look at 6 00:00:18,760 --> 00:00:21,079 Speaker 1: the challenges that many of us face went looking for 7 00:00:21,160 --> 00:00:24,840 Speaker 1: a job. So today we're going to hear about one 8 00:00:24,880 --> 00:00:28,280 Speaker 1: man's search for work and how that path to employment 9 00:00:28,840 --> 00:00:32,880 Speaker 1: helped him to discover a whole new approach to life. 10 00:00:36,960 --> 00:00:40,280 Speaker 2: Let's face it, looking for a job sucks. It does. 11 00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:44,040 Speaker 2: It's a painful experience in so many ways. It's a 12 00:00:44,080 --> 00:00:48,000 Speaker 2: moment of humility, of anxiety, and depending on how much 13 00:00:48,040 --> 00:00:50,080 Speaker 2: money you have saved from the last time you worked, 14 00:00:50,479 --> 00:00:54,680 Speaker 2: oftentimes it's a moment of sheer desperation. Whether you're searching 15 00:00:54,720 --> 00:00:58,440 Speaker 2: online or in the newspaper, or driving around town looking 16 00:00:58,440 --> 00:01:01,920 Speaker 2: for now hiring signs and handing out resumes. Searching for 17 00:01:01,960 --> 00:01:04,800 Speaker 2: a job literally begins to feel like a job itself. 18 00:01:05,640 --> 00:01:08,640 Speaker 2: And one man who knows exactly how that goes is 19 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:09,640 Speaker 2: Leon Albritton. 20 00:01:10,959 --> 00:01:13,120 Speaker 3: There's a job, looking for a job. 21 00:01:13,440 --> 00:01:15,440 Speaker 2: And if you're like Leon, who doesn't live in a 22 00:01:15,440 --> 00:01:19,360 Speaker 2: big city, your options are that much harder because you 23 00:01:19,440 --> 00:01:19,759 Speaker 2: have to. 24 00:01:19,720 --> 00:01:22,880 Speaker 3: Go real far to get something, you know, the half 25 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:23,600 Speaker 3: way gainst it. 26 00:01:24,280 --> 00:01:26,360 Speaker 2: And then even if you get lucky and find a 27 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:29,120 Speaker 2: gig that sounds of interest, you've got to go through 28 00:01:29,160 --> 00:01:33,279 Speaker 2: the whole application process, which means updating your resume, writing 29 00:01:33,319 --> 00:01:36,560 Speaker 2: a cover letter, reaching out to the hiring person, and 30 00:01:36,640 --> 00:01:39,479 Speaker 2: half the time, maybe way more than half the time, 31 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:45,040 Speaker 2: after all that work, nothing and you can't help but 32 00:01:45,080 --> 00:01:47,760 Speaker 2: think that maybe that application you've just spent all that 33 00:01:47,880 --> 00:01:53,040 Speaker 2: time working on wasn't even rent. But fortunately there are 34 00:01:53,040 --> 00:01:57,480 Speaker 2: places like Express and people like Olivia Merhrifeld. 35 00:01:57,200 --> 00:02:00,920 Speaker 4: And I am the operations manager for the About Indiana 36 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:03,640 Speaker 4: and Shareble Indiana Express offices, and. 37 00:02:03,640 --> 00:02:06,000 Speaker 2: Olivia totally knows how hard it is to get a 38 00:02:06,120 --> 00:02:09,560 Speaker 2: job because prior to working at Express, she was in 39 00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:11,880 Speaker 2: the exact same position that Leon was in. 40 00:02:12,680 --> 00:02:16,000 Speaker 4: And you get so caught up in applying for jobs 41 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:20,120 Speaker 4: online or using those different avenues, you so many times 42 00:02:20,160 --> 00:02:22,799 Speaker 4: don't ever get to speak to a real person. You're 43 00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:25,400 Speaker 4: submitting resume after resume after resume. 44 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:29,360 Speaker 2: But fortunately for both Leon and Olivia, they called their 45 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:30,800 Speaker 2: local Express office. 46 00:02:31,000 --> 00:02:34,160 Speaker 4: I came into Express, had my interview, They ended up 47 00:02:34,160 --> 00:02:37,480 Speaker 4: placing me at a property management company where I was 48 00:02:37,560 --> 00:02:41,720 Speaker 4: the leasing agent, and I was there about five years. 49 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:45,320 Speaker 2: Well, Olivia got lucky with that first job. Leon was 50 00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:48,400 Speaker 2: having a harder go of it. How many different jobs 51 00:02:48,440 --> 00:02:51,400 Speaker 2: did they try to get you in? Over a dozen? Right? 52 00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:52,440 Speaker 3: What am I? 53 00:02:53,919 --> 00:02:54,119 Speaker 4: Did? 54 00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:57,360 Speaker 2: You ever get discouraged going after all these different jobs 55 00:02:57,440 --> 00:02:58,519 Speaker 2: and them not working out? 56 00:03:00,320 --> 00:03:00,519 Speaker 4: Man? 57 00:03:01,919 --> 00:03:05,120 Speaker 3: I was feeling just like you said too. It was 58 00:03:05,320 --> 00:03:08,119 Speaker 3: faultlessly ill stressful. Man. 59 00:03:09,520 --> 00:03:12,520 Speaker 2: At Express, well, it's their goal to place job seekers 60 00:03:12,560 --> 00:03:16,040 Speaker 2: in long term positions. They're also realists. I know that 61 00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:19,400 Speaker 2: sometimes it takes a few tries until you find that 62 00:03:19,480 --> 00:03:20,200 Speaker 2: perfect match. 63 00:03:20,760 --> 00:03:24,200 Speaker 4: As much as it's about a client interviewing a candidate, 64 00:03:24,400 --> 00:03:28,440 Speaker 4: it's also a candidate interviewing the client, interviewing them to 65 00:03:28,520 --> 00:03:30,560 Speaker 4: make sure it's something that they're good at and want 66 00:03:30,560 --> 00:03:34,680 Speaker 4: to do. I tell people daily that not every job 67 00:03:34,840 --> 00:03:37,920 Speaker 4: is the right fit for every person. Just because something 68 00:03:38,120 --> 00:03:40,520 Speaker 4: doesn't work out that time around doesn't mean it won't 69 00:03:40,600 --> 00:03:41,000 Speaker 4: the next. 70 00:03:41,240 --> 00:03:43,840 Speaker 2: You're playing the long game here with these people. It's 71 00:03:43,840 --> 00:03:46,560 Speaker 2: not just like, Okay, you fail that doing this job, 72 00:03:46,680 --> 00:03:49,360 Speaker 2: we're done with you. It's let's keep working until you 73 00:03:49,480 --> 00:03:50,360 Speaker 2: find the right fit. 74 00:03:50,880 --> 00:03:54,160 Speaker 4: Exactly and as long as someone is willing to go 75 00:03:54,200 --> 00:03:57,360 Speaker 4: to work, show up every day, do their best, that's 76 00:03:57,400 --> 00:03:59,480 Speaker 4: what matters to me. It's not a matter of odd 77 00:03:59,840 --> 00:04:01,760 Speaker 4: if the good at it or not good at it, 78 00:04:01,760 --> 00:04:04,160 Speaker 4: it's are they willing to try and put in the effort. 79 00:04:04,800 --> 00:04:07,400 Speaker 2: And Leon was definitely willing to put in the effort. 80 00:04:07,840 --> 00:04:11,120 Speaker 2: He went to job after job, showing up ready to work. 81 00:04:11,760 --> 00:04:15,840 Speaker 4: He has done everything from working in a facility that 82 00:04:16,000 --> 00:04:21,520 Speaker 4: did laundry for hotels, to dairy corporations to even a 83 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:23,599 Speaker 4: packager at a candy factory. 84 00:04:23,960 --> 00:04:26,400 Speaker 2: It's quite the range there, it is. 85 00:04:27,040 --> 00:04:30,559 Speaker 4: But he was always willing to go and always willing 86 00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:33,360 Speaker 4: to try something new, even if he was going into 87 00:04:33,360 --> 00:04:35,679 Speaker 4: something that he had never done before, he was always 88 00:04:35,720 --> 00:04:36,679 Speaker 4: willing to give it a shot. 89 00:04:37,240 --> 00:04:39,480 Speaker 3: He wasn't easy going up job. 90 00:04:40,880 --> 00:04:46,240 Speaker 2: They too, Leon acknowledges that they were hard jobs. But 91 00:04:46,320 --> 00:04:49,279 Speaker 2: if we're being honest here, he puts the blame mostly 92 00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:52,599 Speaker 2: on himself because at that time in his life, with 93 00:04:52,720 --> 00:04:56,080 Speaker 2: the stress of trying to find work, piling bills, and 94 00:04:56,120 --> 00:04:59,320 Speaker 2: a feeling that he was letting people down, Leon turned 95 00:04:59,320 --> 00:05:02,520 Speaker 2: to alcohol. And anyone who has ever used drugs or 96 00:05:02,560 --> 00:05:06,440 Speaker 2: booze to cope with life's challenges nose things can spiral 97 00:05:06,480 --> 00:05:10,480 Speaker 2: out of control pretty quickly. Did you lose a lot 98 00:05:10,560 --> 00:05:12,080 Speaker 2: of jobs because of your drinking? 99 00:05:12,760 --> 00:05:15,520 Speaker 3: Yes? I did it, some good jobs too. 100 00:05:17,520 --> 00:05:21,360 Speaker 2: Then, in a moment of pure desperation, Leon decided to 101 00:05:21,440 --> 00:05:24,800 Speaker 2: leave his home in Indiana and moved to Seattle because I. 102 00:05:24,800 --> 00:05:28,440 Speaker 3: Gave up left my property here, I sold my car, 103 00:05:29,720 --> 00:05:32,520 Speaker 3: and I just left, thinking beings is going to be different. 104 00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:35,919 Speaker 2: There may have been a woman involved, but this is 105 00:05:35,920 --> 00:05:41,159 Speaker 2: a business podcast, people. So Leon found himself out there 106 00:05:41,160 --> 00:05:44,880 Speaker 2: in Seattle with no job, no car. And since I 107 00:05:44,920 --> 00:05:48,080 Speaker 2: know you're curious, that woman didn't work out either. And 108 00:05:48,120 --> 00:05:51,400 Speaker 2: while Seattle is a beautiful city, it doesn't exactly have 109 00:05:51,480 --> 00:05:54,240 Speaker 2: the kind of weather to break in your spirits. And 110 00:05:54,279 --> 00:05:58,160 Speaker 2: so Leon's desperation only grew. And what started out is 111 00:05:58,240 --> 00:06:03,880 Speaker 2: some drinking to cope became a full fledged addiction. When 112 00:06:03,920 --> 00:06:07,160 Speaker 2: we come back from the break, Leon hits rock bottom. 113 00:06:16,720 --> 00:06:20,679 Speaker 2: A strong work ethic, takes pride in a job well done. 114 00:06:21,200 --> 00:06:23,239 Speaker 4: This is the kind of person you need. 115 00:06:23,839 --> 00:06:27,960 Speaker 2: Express employment professionals can help because in good times or bad, 116 00:06:28,160 --> 00:06:31,080 Speaker 2: we understand how critical it is to manage your business 117 00:06:31,120 --> 00:06:35,920 Speaker 2: for today. With the right workforce, we offer hiring solutions 118 00:06:35,960 --> 00:06:39,520 Speaker 2: to fit changing demands. Express knows Jobs. 119 00:06:39,640 --> 00:06:40,719 Speaker 3: Get to know Express. 120 00:06:41,160 --> 00:06:44,680 Speaker 4: Go to expresspros dot com to find a location near you. 121 00:06:47,240 --> 00:06:50,240 Speaker 2: We're back with Leon Albrin, who at this point in 122 00:06:50,320 --> 00:06:54,360 Speaker 2: our story is out in Seattle, jobless and womanless, wondering 123 00:06:54,400 --> 00:06:56,719 Speaker 2: why he ever left Indiana. 124 00:06:56,560 --> 00:07:00,479 Speaker 3: And I left thinking is going to be different? He 125 00:07:00,640 --> 00:07:01,400 Speaker 3: got worship. 126 00:07:03,200 --> 00:07:06,039 Speaker 2: What started as a few drinks to combat life stresses 127 00:07:06,320 --> 00:07:10,120 Speaker 2: quickly turned into a full fledged dependency. Any money Leon 128 00:07:10,320 --> 00:07:13,440 Speaker 2: was making went straight to buying a bottle. But as 129 00:07:13,520 --> 00:07:16,960 Speaker 2: Leon's life was spiraling downward, he found out that at 130 00:07:16,960 --> 00:07:20,119 Speaker 2: that same time, his son's life was about to change 131 00:07:20,120 --> 00:07:22,360 Speaker 2: for the better in a very dramatic way. 132 00:07:22,760 --> 00:07:25,680 Speaker 3: Somebody showed me that my son was getting drafted in 133 00:07:25,760 --> 00:07:30,080 Speaker 3: the NBA. Really yeah, the brand and Dawson. 134 00:07:30,800 --> 00:07:33,200 Speaker 2: Leon felt an obvious sense of pride that his son, 135 00:07:33,280 --> 00:07:36,119 Speaker 2: Brandon's dreams of turning pro were about to come true, 136 00:07:36,920 --> 00:07:39,200 Speaker 2: but he also felt a deep shame for where he'd 137 00:07:39,280 --> 00:07:43,160 Speaker 2: let his life lead him. Leon had hit rock bottom, 138 00:07:43,400 --> 00:07:46,760 Speaker 2: or actually he didn't hit rock bottom. He tried to 139 00:07:46,800 --> 00:07:48,240 Speaker 2: walk into it and buy a drink. 140 00:07:48,880 --> 00:07:54,360 Speaker 3: The name of the bottle was rock Bottle. And then 141 00:07:54,360 --> 00:07:56,400 Speaker 3: I looked at the top of it his name rock 142 00:07:56,560 --> 00:07:58,360 Speaker 3: Bottle that said oh wow. 143 00:07:59,800 --> 00:08:03,200 Speaker 2: And somehow that was what did it. The realization that 144 00:08:03,400 --> 00:08:06,360 Speaker 2: just as his son was about to become a professional athlete, 145 00:08:06,920 --> 00:08:09,160 Speaker 2: Leon was about to walk into a bar named rock 146 00:08:09,240 --> 00:08:12,560 Speaker 2: Bottom to have a few drinks and feel sorry for himself. 147 00:08:13,200 --> 00:08:15,600 Speaker 2: That's when he accepted that he needed to turn his 148 00:08:15,680 --> 00:08:18,119 Speaker 2: life around, that he needed help. 149 00:08:20,040 --> 00:08:23,400 Speaker 3: Yeah, well we got we gotta be back in a 150 00:08:23,480 --> 00:08:24,720 Speaker 3: swinging things out there. 151 00:08:25,280 --> 00:08:28,800 Speaker 2: And after getting sober, Leon decided to go back home 152 00:08:28,880 --> 00:08:29,600 Speaker 2: to Indiana. 153 00:08:29,840 --> 00:08:33,760 Speaker 3: And he told me, they said, Leon, well, goob in Indiana, 154 00:08:34,120 --> 00:08:37,320 Speaker 3: surround himself around people as gilbers not take it. 155 00:08:37,720 --> 00:08:41,239 Speaker 2: And Leon did just that. He built up a positive community, 156 00:08:41,600 --> 00:08:45,959 Speaker 2: established a healthy routine, and rekindled his relationships with his family. 157 00:08:46,600 --> 00:08:49,439 Speaker 2: And then, of course he needed a job and Leon 158 00:08:49,520 --> 00:08:52,880 Speaker 2: knew just where to go. When he got there, though, 159 00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:55,720 Speaker 2: there was a new face in the office because in 160 00:08:55,760 --> 00:08:58,880 Speaker 2: the time that Leon had gone out to Seattle, Olivia 161 00:08:58,960 --> 00:09:02,200 Speaker 2: Marifeld went from being a job seeker at Express to 162 00:09:02,280 --> 00:09:03,600 Speaker 2: being a staff member there. 163 00:09:03,840 --> 00:09:06,600 Speaker 4: I had no idea that they were looking for someone 164 00:09:07,040 --> 00:09:10,000 Speaker 4: for the front office here. I ended up getting an 165 00:09:10,000 --> 00:09:13,199 Speaker 4: interview on the spot, meeting with the franchise and then 166 00:09:13,360 --> 00:09:17,240 Speaker 4: started the next day. Amazing rights, such a cool thing 167 00:09:17,320 --> 00:09:20,320 Speaker 4: to have been in the associates shoot in the past. 168 00:09:20,520 --> 00:09:23,280 Speaker 4: I know exactly what they're facing and what they're looking for. 169 00:09:24,240 --> 00:09:26,800 Speaker 2: And right off the bat, Olivia could see that this 170 00:09:26,960 --> 00:09:30,600 Speaker 2: was a new and improved Leon, Leon two point zero. 171 00:09:30,679 --> 00:09:33,839 Speaker 4: It's been such a cool opportunity to see him grow, 172 00:09:34,040 --> 00:09:37,520 Speaker 4: to see him change, to see the things that he's 173 00:09:37,600 --> 00:09:39,760 Speaker 4: overcome in his life. 174 00:09:40,040 --> 00:09:43,199 Speaker 2: Very quickly, Olivia had Leon back out in the workforce, 175 00:09:43,720 --> 00:09:46,520 Speaker 2: doing a few days here and there, but all the while, 176 00:09:46,920 --> 00:09:50,160 Speaker 2: her goal, as it is with all her associates, was 177 00:09:50,200 --> 00:09:52,360 Speaker 2: to eventually land Leon that keeper. 178 00:09:52,760 --> 00:09:55,079 Speaker 4: I think part of our goal in one thing our 179 00:09:55,160 --> 00:09:59,240 Speaker 4: staff really focuses on is the fact that we aren't 180 00:09:59,280 --> 00:10:03,600 Speaker 4: just like any o temporary agency Michal is to find 181 00:10:03,800 --> 00:10:08,120 Speaker 4: long term, permanent placement for these associates. So I want 182 00:10:08,160 --> 00:10:10,320 Speaker 4: to place them where their skill sets are going to 183 00:10:10,320 --> 00:10:12,360 Speaker 4: be valued and where they're going to do the best 184 00:10:12,480 --> 00:10:15,080 Speaker 4: long term. We want them to find a home and 185 00:10:15,120 --> 00:10:15,800 Speaker 4: find a career. 186 00:10:18,559 --> 00:10:21,440 Speaker 2: And with this new and improved Leon, a Leon that 187 00:10:21,520 --> 00:10:26,160 Speaker 2: is sober, clearheaded, motivated and always willing to do the work, 188 00:10:26,720 --> 00:10:29,280 Speaker 2: it didn't take long before Olivia made good on that. 189 00:10:30,120 --> 00:10:33,000 Speaker 3: She's kept the word. And that's how my mom ever 190 00:10:33,080 --> 00:10:35,840 Speaker 3: told me, wherever you go on life, if you don't 191 00:10:35,840 --> 00:10:38,080 Speaker 3: have nothing else, always keep your word. 192 00:10:38,880 --> 00:10:41,800 Speaker 2: Because after all the jobs that didn't work out, Leon 193 00:10:41,840 --> 00:10:45,240 Speaker 2: has finally found the job for him. Working in the 194 00:10:45,240 --> 00:10:48,880 Speaker 2: industrial industry for the last seven months has given Leon 195 00:10:48,960 --> 00:10:51,880 Speaker 2: not only an income, but a healthy routine and a 196 00:10:51,920 --> 00:10:55,960 Speaker 2: sense of purpose. Like all of us, he has his days, 197 00:10:56,480 --> 00:10:59,680 Speaker 2: has afternoons when the clock drags, and mornings when he 198 00:10:59,760 --> 00:11:02,640 Speaker 2: just doesn't want to get out of bed. But then 199 00:11:03,080 --> 00:11:06,400 Speaker 2: he reminds himself how far he's come and how hard 200 00:11:06,480 --> 00:11:09,640 Speaker 2: he and the folks that Express have worked to get 201 00:11:09,679 --> 00:11:11,920 Speaker 2: him where he is today. 202 00:11:11,960 --> 00:11:15,800 Speaker 3: Express Ball feed back and still a human again. That's 203 00:11:15,840 --> 00:11:18,559 Speaker 3: the way I'm gonna put it. They gave him my life. 204 00:11:18,320 --> 00:11:22,920 Speaker 2: Back for on the job. I'm Avery Thompson.