WEBINAR FOUR
ARTS EXPEDITION
Awareness
Education
Experience
Advocacy
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Funding support provided by the
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A Guide to Career Development Opportunities
for Visual and Performing Artists with Disabilities
from
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WEBINAR FOUR
Looking for Work
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As discussed in an earlier webinar, your career opportunities
range from creating in your own studio and performing
professionally to putting your creativity to work for an
organization. This webinar focuses on the latter - applying to
work for a salary or an hourly wage. Seeking employment
can be an overwhelming pursuit. To help narrow the focus, a
seasoned human resources professional gives some great
advice.
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Dennis Stull is the Human Resources Director of
Ghertner & Company, one of the largest
privately held HOA firms in Tennessee providing
professional management services to
condominium and homeowner associations.
The company has more than 100 employees.
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Dennis holds a bachelor’s degree in management and an MBA
from Indiana Wesleyan University. He has over 20 years of human
resource management and business operations experience
including manufacturing, energy, retail, restaurant, and industries.
Dennis holds a Senior Professional Human Resource (SPHR)
certification as well as a Certified Diversity Execution (CDE)
certification. Dennis has been a national member of the Society
for Human Resource Management (SHRM) since 1998, now
serving as the diversity and inclusion chair for TNSHRM, and
immediate past board president for the Middle TN SHRM. He is
also a visiting professor at DeVry University.
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From the perspective of a highly
experienced human resources
professional, Dennis offers
excellent, objective and practical
advice for artists seeking work.
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WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE
FOR AN ARTIST WITH DISABILITIES
SEEKING A CAREER IN THE ARTS?
Dennis: It is important to be you! Too many candidates do
research on a company and then try to parrot back what
they think an interviewer wants to hear. That may get you a
job in some cases, but you will likely not be happy in the long
term. If you create an impression of someone you are not for
the interview, both you and the hiring manager will be
disappointed with the real you.
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WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE
FOR AN ARTIST WITH DISABILITIES
SEEKING A CAREER IN THE ARTS?
Dennis: Not every job we want is good for us. You need to
make sure that your own personal needs are going to be met
as much as the needs of the potential employer. If you don’t
get a job offer, assume it is for the best and move on to the
next possible opportunity. Allowing yourself to get down and
disappointed (for a long period of time) will show up in your
future interviews, and that does no one any good.
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WHAT TIPS DO YOU HAVE ON
WRITING A RÉSUMÉ AND
COVER LETTER?
Dennis: A résumé is like a piece of artwork, you must believe
in its content and be able to “sell” it.
Read your résumé and cover letter OUT LOUD! Reading it
aloud allows you to see how your résumé and cover letter
flows in the eyes of a person who is seeing your information
for the first time. This will also help you find errors that spellcheck does not catch - “form” instead of “from” for instance.
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WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR
IN JOB APPLICANTS IN
GENERAL, BEYOND SKILL SET?
Dennis: Attitude! If someone has an attitude of confidence,
willingness to learn, and humility, a good manager will see
the potential to work with them. Skills are important but the
attitude is often the deciding factor with two equally
qualified candidates.
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DO YOU HAVE TIPS ON
PREPARING FOR AN INTERVIEW?
1. Drink plenty of water and get eight hours of sleep the night
before. It is important that you are hydrated and rested.
That really does make a difference in the way you
respond to questions.
2. Be sure you know where you are going for the interview
and allow plenty of time to get there. No matter how
good the reason, being late indicates potential poor
planning habits.
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DO YOU HAVE TIPS ON
PREPARING FOR AN INTERVIEW?
3. Practice “behavior-based question responses.” Your interviewer
wants to know what experiences you bring to the table, so
telling past work stories will demonstrate your expertise and
abilities. Use specific examples to illustrate how you handled
various situations, the actions you took, and the results you
achieved. (Behavior-based questions address things like
problem-solving, handling pressure and conflict, goal-setting,
teamwork, and accomplishments that were important to you.
Even a quick web search reveals a multitude of practice
questions to help you prepare for an interview.)
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DO YOU HAVE TIPS ON
PREPARING FOR AN INTERVIEW?
4. Answer each question succinctly and then be quiet.
Candidates often become uncomfortable with silence, so
they start sharing information that is not necessary and
may be much more than the interviewer wants to know.
5. Prepare questions of your own to ask during the interview.
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DESCRIBE A GREAT INTERVIEW
Dennis: A great interview is one that has good positive
feedback for both interviewer and interviewee who both
received solid answers to their important questions. All people
involved should walk away with good vibes, questions
answered, and - upon reflection of the interview--more
questions for the next step. An interview is similar to first date.
You should walk away with the awareness that you want a
second date or you need to keep looking.
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Hopefully, this sound advice from Dennis outlines areas of
focus that need your attention during your search for a job.
While you can find hundreds of sources online with tips on
seeking employment - from writing a résumé to preparing for
a job interview - VSA Tennessee and the Tennessee Arts
Commission recommend that you take advantage of our
state’s outstanding resources and support.
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• It is well worth the time and effort to thoroughly explore the
websites of two Tennessee Departments: Human Services
(Vocational Rehabilitation) and Labor and Workplace
Development (Employment Commission).
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THE TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT
OF HUMAN SERVICES
VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION
The Tennessee Department of Human Services Vocational
Rehabilitation (VR) is a federal and state-funded program
providing services to help individuals with disabilities enter or
return to employment. It is designed to assist individuals of
work age with physical and/or mental disabilities compete
successfully with others in earning a livelihood. Just one
example of the many services offered is working with a VR
counselor to create an individualized plan for employment to
help put you on the path to successful employment.
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THE TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT
OF HUMAN SERVICES
VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION
The website includes a comprehensive overview of services
and listings for offices and programs across the state. Explore
the web site in great detail or call 615-313-4891 to request an
excellent introductory brochure or information on offices and
programs in your area.
http://tennessee.gov/humanserv/rehab/vrs.html
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TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF
LABOR AND WORKPLACE
DEVELOPMENT
Take the time online to thoroughly investigate the comprehensive
overview of services offered by the Department of Labor and
Workplace Development (also known as the Employment
Commission, the Unemployment Office, the Career Center and
other names, both formal and informal).
http://www.state.tn.us/labor-wfd/
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Here is some information on types of
services available on this web site.
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Whether you’re a recent college graduate looking for a job
or a seasoned employee wanting a career change, or
maybe an employer expanding your business or a new
employer needing a space to interview prospective workers,
the Department’s statewide network of Career Centers offers
services that can meet your employment needs. All 95
Tennessee counties are served by a Career Center with
qualified staff. Career Centers are open 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.,
Monday through Friday.
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Career Center staff can refer you to employers who have
open positions for which you qualify. Often Career Centers
host hiring events and job fairs for specific employers. Staff
can help you prepare for interviews and arrange for you to
apply.
Job applicants can learn about training available from a
Tennessee Technology Center or other certified programs
available to adults and dislocated workers.
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TRAINING
Several types of training are available through the Career
Center:
• On-site workshops are conducted on honing résumé writing,
how to search for work, and interviewing.
• Staff can refer job seekers to Adult Education classes to
refresh math, writing, and reading comprehension in order to
earn a GED.
• Job applicants can earn Career Readiness Certificates –
assessment-based credentials based on ACT WorkKeys that
give employers and career seekers a uniform measure of
basic workplace skills.
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To search for employment, you can link to “JOBS4TN” at the
main website for the Department of Labor and Workforce
Development or go directly to
https://jobs4tn.gov
You can browse job listings, post your résumé, search for
employers in your area, receive alerts on job openings, and
so much more.
Learn more online or at your Career Center.
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This webinar closes with some more practical
advice on seeking employment from a hiring
manager. The director of finance for Affinion Group,
an affinity based marketing organization, Mara
Greenberg obtained an MBA from Belmont
University and has held positions with CNA
Insurance, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
and Affinion Benefits Group. She is active in the
community, volunteering regularly with Junior
Achievement and supporting charities such as First
Book and Donor’s Choose.
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DESCRIBE A GREAT RÉSUMÉ
Mara: A great résumé highlights the candidate’s strengths
and accomplishments. Your work history, especially if it is
limited, may not reflect all of your skills so it’s important to
have a résumé that incorporates everything you have to
offer – either through additional skills or positions in
organizations outside of work. A résumé that attracts my
attention and impresses me shows progression—personal and
professional growth through increased responsibilities and
topics of knowledge.
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WHAT TIPS DO YOU HAVE ON
WRITING A RÉSUMÉ AND COVER
LETTER?
Mara: It’s important to be both descriptive and concise easier said than done! A candidate should avoid using
acronyms or giving very detailed tasks lists. The focus should
be on key responsibilities and accomplishments, highlighting
progression.
The cover letter gives a candidate a chance to show the
recipient that she did her homework. Use the cover letter to
speak to how your skills mesh with the specific needs of the
organization. This is also a great way to highlight skills that
may not have been developed within a former position.
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WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING
FOR IN JOB APPLICANTS IN
GENERAL, BEYOND SKILL SET?
Mara: Beyond skill set, I focus on an applicant’s drive and
determination. I can teach technical skills but I can’t teach
dedication and commitment. Cultural fit is also very
important. Candidates should make sure that they know
what the organization is about and can support that mission
and vision. There is nothing worse than an interview in which
the candidate obviously hasn’t researched the organization
and has little to no idea about what we actually do.
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WHAT ARE YOUR TIPS ON
PREPARING FOR AN INTERVIEW?
Mara: Practice, practice, practice! The way you answer a question
is almost as important as your actual answer. Show confidence
without being cocky. If you are applying for an entry level
accounting position, “chief financial officer” is not an appropriate
answer for “where do you see yourself in five years?” Neither is
“doing the same job.” Show drive and desire, but, above all, be
realistic. Be prepared for those trick questions. Turn a question like
“What is the one area in which you could most improve” into a
strength with “I sometimes struggle with work-life balance because I
am committed to getting things done in a timely manner.” And if
you do make a mistake, laugh it off, correct yourself and move
forward.
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DESCRIBE A GREAT INTERVIEW
Mara: In an interview, I’m looking for confidence, desire,
authenticity, and cultural fit. A great interview feels like a
conversation. It is exceptionally important that a candidate
ask questions during an interview, such as:
• What skill set do you think a candidate needs to be
successful in this position?
• What defines success for you in this position?
• What is the biggest challenge to success in this position?
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DESCRIBE A GREAT INTERVIEW
Mara: It is important to convey a sense of who you are. You
don’t have to talk about your kids, your cat or how you won
a beauty pageant when you were three, but these are the
people you will spend the majority of your day with so it’s
important to leave a sense that there is a good personal fit.
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WHAT ADVICE AND WORDS
OF ENCOURAGEMENT DO
YOU HAVE FOR AN ARTIST
WITH DISABILITIES SEEKING A
CAREER IN THE ARTS?
Mara: Be confident in who you are and what you have to
offer. You are interviewing the organization just as much as
they are interviewing you.
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IN SUMMARY
Looking for a job takes a lot of work and requires a lot of time.
Fortunately, the State of Tennessee provides free resources to
support your search and develop your career opportunities.
Through it all, like both Dennis Stull and Mara Greenberg
encouraged, be yourself! Take confidence in your creative
abilities and be yourself as you look for work that’s right for
you.
Please fill out the brief questionnaire by clicking the link below
or paste the url in your browser
http://iren.es/artsexp4
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