How to Find a Job: When There Are No Jobs (Book 1) a Necessary Job Search and Career Planning Guide for Today's Job Market (Find a Job Series) Read Free

painful and difficult period in its history. It had begun the process of integration. Unfortunately the experiment went very badly and as a result, rape and assault became a grim reality on the WIU campus. There were numerous cases reported to the police and campus public safety of women being raped and men attacked. Panic struck many WIU coeds. Fraternities began offering escort services as students band together to avoid attack. An alarming message was sent out to all WIU students and faculty, “Don’t Walk Outside Alone After Dark!” 
    Sutch and I were very aware of the problems facing the student and faculty body and saw an opportunity to make a real difference. We formed a martial arts school called the Self Defense Academy to teach our fellow students and faculty how to defend themselves. The business was an immediate success and benefited hundreds of people. The academy was also a boon to Sutch and I personally as our efforts helped to pay for many of our college expenses.  In fact, profits from the business paid for my entire senior year of college. 
    As I neared my graduation date of May 1981, I was still unsure as to what my career path would be as I had decided not to pursue veterinary medicine.  It was sometime during this period that my partner Sutch, came to visit me while I was finishing a dreaded organic chemistry lab. He took one look at me in the lab with my safety glasses and said, “Paul, you are not a scientist wearing goggles, you’re a businessman!” It was then I realized that he was correct in his observation. He knew me well as we had been business partners and friends for quite a while at this point.
    I graduated from Western Illinois University in May 1981, with a BS in Biology and a Minor in Journalism. Still unsure of my career path at this point, Sutch’s comment continued to ring loudly in my ear. As my job search progressed, I began to focus my search on more business related positions. However, the US was unfortunately entering a major recession that started in the summer of 1981. My prospects for a good job were slim as most new college graduates quickly found out. During this time I was still very involved with the Self Defense Academy and continued to train nearly every day. Then tragedy struck. I was involved in a sparring session with another black belt in my backyard when my knee was swept. The devastating blow caused major damage to the tendons supporting my joint. The pain I felt was excruciating and my martial arts career was instantly put on hold. I faced a major surgery to repair the damaged tendons in my knee.
    The timing of this accident could not have occurred at a worse time, as I was deeply involved in my job search. Although I could not train during this time, the Self Defense Academy continued to support me as I pushed forward with my job search. I sent out several hundred resumes and literally limped to many of my interviews. Finally after several months of job hunting, I landed an entry-level sales position with the Fisher Scientific Company in December 1981. The company had been recently purchased by the Allied Corporation and was expanding its sales force in spite of a raging recession. I was very fortunate to have found such a good position during this difficult economic time. Fisher was based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania but the position was located in the Chicago area relatively close to my family. 
    My first job with Fisher Scientific was an entry level Sales position with a territory that covered the south side of Chicago. I had decided that I would focus a great deal of attention on the Illinois Institute of Technology as I saw a vast amount of untapped business. To increase sales I created a unique newsletter for my clients called the “Fisher Highlighter” to help promote Fisher’s product line. The sales in my territory increased tremendously throughout my first year as the result of my marketing efforts.
    My boss at the time was promoted into a