I am searching for a new job and it has not gone very well. So, thinking it would help I went and saw a professional career coach that cost me $1,500.00 which was inclusive of a resume writing service, interview coaching, and a head hunter.

I met with the woman and we had a good 30 minute chat. After which, she actually refunded my money because she felt so bad for me.

First, she said my resume was actually very well written and that I wouldn't benefit much from their writing service. Then she dropped a bombshell on me when she told me with my work history of being laid off from 3 different jobs (2 companies as the first company re-hired me at a different facility thanks to my manager from the first job) in 3 consecutive years, it was highly unlikely that she would be able to help me because I am a WHITE MALE.

I was shocked to hear this from a woman with over 20 years experience in recruiting. I asked, why the fact that I'm a white male is so different from being a minority or a woman? Why should it make any difference if I am qualified for a job? Her response to these questions, have left me questioning if I will ever be able to find a better job than just being a warehouse worker.

She saw just how shocked I was and immediately said first that she was willing to refund my money and apologized (I did get my money back and saw the credit to my account the next business day). Then she explained to me that hiring managers and HR people will see me as a dime a dozen just to begin with. But, when they see (and verify) my work history of being laid off so many times, they will immediately assume that there is something wrong with me or that at least 1 of those companies ended my employment as a lay off to help me get unemployment. However, they would not have this view of a woman or a minority because they would be viewed as people going through a rough patch or that those employees were targeted by sexists or racists employers.

She took it a step further by saying the last thing that works against me is that I worked for employers with a reputation for laying off employees on a regular basis. Because of the reputation of these companies, prospective employers would think of me as someone who did not do their research on a company. This was not seen as an issue for a woman or a minority because the length of time between each job was so short, less than a month each time, it would actually be beneficial to those people because it showed a willingness to work.

I interrupted her asking, "Again, why is it any different, I was the one who found a job each time, granted the 2nd job was for the same company just at a different facility after the first lay off, wouldn't that show I'm willing to work just as much as anyone else?"

Her response was that I am from the New England area which is typically a very liberal area. In New England, the HR recruiters tend to be more flexible and sympathetic to minorities and women and but will tend to assume the worst for a white male. If I were located in other regions of the country, this would not be as much of an issue. I thanked her for her brutal honesty and for my refund that I would receive and she wished me good luck. I walked out and went home.