Q: I took five years away from work, and now I can’t get a job. I went back to school and got certified in some “hot” tech specialties. I have offered employers all kinds of flexibility, as well as offered to accept any pay rate until I have proved myself. Still, I’ve had no offers. Could you look at my resume and tell me how I can get my career restarted? – Mike

J.T.: Your situation reminds me of a recent conversation with a real-estate broker. We were talking about a house she had on the market, and how she was desperate to sell it quickly before it got a “reputation,” meaning that people start to assume there must be something wrong with it. I sense that this is your case. And, if you have been offering your services cut-rate, hiring managers are thinking, “Why is he so willing to give his expertise away?”

Dale: And once hiring managers are suspicious, they tend to assume the worst.

J.T.: True : so true. My first impression on reading your materials was that you had the potential to be a high-maintenance employee. Your cover letter is written in an overconfident tone. Furthermore, you articulate some events in a way that is not flattering to you. Something as simple as saying that you didn’t work for five years to “resolve a child-care issue” implies that it was a chore. Hiring managers read between the lines, and I believe they are reading, “He’s going to be a handful.”

Dale: Hideously unfair? Sure. However, if you’re a hiring manager with a stack of applications, you think: “Five years on a ‘child-care issue’? How is that possible? Will it recur? Is that all he’ll talk about?” And that’s it – doomed. Further, J.T. is right about your tone. There’s a fine line between knowledgeable and know-it-all. You write under your “Communications” section: “Just read this. I am able to write and communicate clearly. I understand that effective communication is short and to the point. Companies do not have time to waste in meetings or reading memos.” Bold and strong? Sure. However, think about your readers – they spend half their days in meetings, and initiate many of them. So they think, “Here’s a guy who’ll be moaning about every meeting I call.” And that’s what J.T. means by “a handful.”

J.T.: I’m sure that’s not who you really are or the impression you want to give. Thus, if you really want to get a new job, it’s time to step back and think about the image you are giving. Create the right impression, and you will find a place to do impressive work.