ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, February 8, 1997 TAG: 9702100007
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: A Cuppa Joe
SOURCE: JOE KENNEDY
It's not every day that an individual buys a big newspaper ad to help in a job search, but Derek Deasy figured it might work better than answering blind-box classifieds and give a boost to his efforts at networking.
On Sunday, Jan. 26, he filled about $900 worth of our advertising display space with his song of himself, under the banner headline: "ATTENTION, CORPORATIONS."
"You may wonder what this ad is about," he wrote. "It's about me - Derek Deasy - and my quest to find a company with whom I can make a lifelong career in management while helping the company prosper and benefit from my experience and personality."
A man willing to take risks
Results were immediate. A Roanoke television station called that morning and asked for an interview. A few days later, I called.
Unfortunately, neither of us could offer him a job. But by the time we talked on the phone, he'd had a few nibbles and a few hints at proposals. Maybe the investment would pay off.
Deasy, 30, decided to advertise after hearing that 95 percent of jobs come from personal contacts. Having just moved to Roanoke from Blacksburg, he didn't know many people. He was in no position to network, and he feared he would be answering classifieds for months.
So he put together the ad. But as soon as his words appeared in print, he had second thoughts.
"I wasn't sure how people would take it. Was I being arrogant? `Who does this person think he is?'''
That's why he put off the TV station at first. After a second call, he agreed to be interviewed for the Sunday night news. He reluctantly agreed to speak with me, but he wouldn't have his picture taken.
I didn't find him arrogant. He was creative. He took a risk. Surely an employer can appreciate that.
Job satisfaction before money
Deasy's ad noted his previous jobs working with the mentally disabled, teaching art at a Catholic school in Baltimore and managing TGIF Catalog Outlets Inc., a clothing chain based in Lynchburg, owned by his father-in-law and now out of business.
It listed his pursuit of a master's degree in fine art from Radford University and his degrees in painting and photography from Crawford Municipal College of Art and Design.
If you've never seen Crawford on ESPN, it's because it's in Cork City, Ireland, where Deasy grew up, and where he acquired his curious accent. He taught high school art there and came to the United States in 1989.
"My uncles live here," he explained. "They've lived here 40 or 50 years, on the West Coast."
He managed TGIF from Blacksburg, where his wife, Stephanie, was in the fitness business. But the clothing chain closed, and Stephanie's hours were reduced.
They recently moved into a house off Peters Creek Road.
If his ad had a flaw, it was the amount of personal information he included. That may be a cultural thing. In this country, we focus on the work. The niceties come later.
Deasy likes art but realizes it's a luxury now. He wants job satisfaction more than money, but he wants money, too. He has a lot of ideas, and he wants to work where they'll be valued.
Among other places, he has heard from people in the fast-food business, insurance, from a retirement community and, of course, from Amway. He is interested in human resources, maybe a training job, but he rules out nothing.
He has no regrets about the ad.
"I'm glad I did it," he said. "I thought it would open some doors. You can't second-guess yourself."
What's your story? Call me at 981-3256, send e-mail to joek@roanoke.com or write to me at P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke 24010.
LENGTH: Medium: 78 linesby CNB