Iolan finds work after 15 months, 280 applications
The past 15 months have tested Bob and Becky Gill. Their marriage, their self-confidence, their trust in mankind.
It’s been since February 2009 that Bob has been looking for work.
“It’s been a roller coaster,” said Becky of her husband’s search for work as an engineer. He left as a materials manager for Haldex on his own accord. He figured it would take six months to find a suitable job.
More than a year and 280 applications later, the search is over. Bob will start a new job Monday in Geneva, Ill., a suburb west of Chicago where he’ll be working for a company that produces powdered metal parts. He preferred that the company of 150 employees not be named.
BEING OUT of work did not come naturally for Bob Gill.
“As a father, Bob taught the boys there were three ways to do things. Good, excellent, and then the Gill Way,” which was a step above, Becky said.
He’s a graduate of Purdue University’s school of technology with a degree in mechanical engineering. Before he joined Haldex’s upper management in 1991, he and Becky lived in Shippensburg, Pa. It was there that Becky received her degree in education from Shippensburg University. She has taught in McKinley, LaHarpe and Jefferson elementary schools for 16 years; 12 years as a third grade teacher and the last four as a Title I instructor.
“It was more than just a job,” she said of her devotion to teaching children.
Both are natives of Indiana. She is from Fort Wayne, he from Logansport. They get some consolation from their upcoming move to Illinois that they’ll be closer to extended family.
They have two grown sons, Nick, 26, who’s married to Jacki and lives in Arnold, Mo., and Nathan, 23, of Lawrence.
THE JOB hunt “was awful,” Becky said, reaffirming that in a good relationship, bad things are suffered together.
“We recognized the state of the economy,” Bob said of the recession, and knew it would be tough.
The worst part of the search was not receiving scheduled phone interviews promised by job recruiters.
“I’d have everything organized and be right by the phone at the appointed time,” only to wait, and wait, and then give up, dispirited and disgusted.
“It was very frustrating. To some people, I was no more than a number,” he said. “It got very impersonal.”
The reality is that job recruiters are “being inundated by resumes,” Bob said. For the position he was hired, his application was “one of 1,000,” Bob said. It’s typical in today’s recession for middle management jobs to have “400 to 500” applicants, he said.
From his 280 resumes, each with a cover letter tailored specific to a company’s business, Bob secured nine in-person interviews.
Bob applied for jobs online using primarily the job search websites Monster.com, CareerBuilder.com and Indeed.com.
To use the sites effectively he wrote a profile of himself describing his past work experience and what kind of career his expertise and talents would best fit.
He then had the job sites send him “alerts” when a likely match surfaced.
It’s then that his good work ethic worked against him.
“Career counselors advise that after four hours of looking for a job, to knock it off. Go do something else.”
But that went against Bob’s nature.
The first thing Bob did every morning was to check his computer for possible postings.
“I wanted to be the early bird,” he said. “If something comes up, you have to act quick.”
Like a gambler sure the next roll would be a lucky seven, he stayed at the computer most of the day hoping the next alert would be a step to employment.
About two to three days a week Bob also ventured onto other job websites such as Jobvertise.com and Jobcentral.com to see if any hits had come through for his key words that included “materials manager” and “inventory” and “production.”
The system is very much geared in favor of employers. Companies can list confidential postings in which they neither identify themselves, where they are located or even what they produce.
Extensive background checks including one’s financial dealings and health record are also the norm for those who want to compete, Bob said.
Bob worked fulltime sending out resumes and scheduling interviews.
For all of his efforts, “I’d go days without a phone call,” he said.
IT’S THEN that he knew his marriage of almost 36 years would stand the test of time.
“I love him more now than ever,” Becky, 56, said, and her voice softened with admiration of his “tenacious” attitude which saw them through.
“She’s my backup,” Bob, 57, said.
During his long unemployment Bob took on the cooking and cleaning chores at their spacious home at 720 DeWitt Dr., which they built in 1991.
“I’m more mellow now,” Bob said of the experience.
In January, his 86-year-old father died. For Becky’s spring break from school the Gills spent the week going through his parents’ 62 years’ worth of belongings. “We went through every nook and cranny” of the house which included all of his mother’s possessions though she had died seven years ago.
“Her shoes were still lined up in the closet. Her medications in the cupboard.”
A four-hour auction on May 1 pretty much freed the Gills of the senior Gills’ belongings.
“Ever since then my motto has been ‘minimize,’” Becky said.
This last weekend they shed themselves of a baby grand piano, patio furniture, a crib and pool table through a garage sale in preparation of moving into a smaller home in Illinois.
The “whole process of this last year has taught us things are just things,” Becky said.
BECKY’S NOT quite sure what life in Illinois will be like for her. To continue teaching she’ll need to get re-certified for the state of Illinois. A publishing house has its allure as well as other fields that could benefit from her multiple skills.
Still, teaching “has lots of gratifying moments,” she said. “With every graduation I realized it wasn’t the end, but the beginning, for my students and I felt good knowing I had some small role in their success.
“USD 257 afforded me a lot of opportunities as an individual and I appreciated that.
“My job allowed me to really reach these children. Not only in the classroom, but by attending their soccer games and dance recitals. As a teacher, you really care about your students. I always thought teaching was a dream job. I’ll miss that.”
The Gills sank deep roots in Iola of their own making. From their 19 years here they will take rich memories to Illinois with them — made richer by surviving the baptism of fire that came with fighting the worst recession the country has seen since the 1930s — and coming out on top.
