Working Smarter, Not Harder: Jontae Grace’s Job Search Success Story

Meet Jontae Grace, a seasoned human resources professional with over a decade of experience. As an Employee Relations Specialist at Do Good Multnomah, a nonprofit supporting veterans experiencing homelessness, Jontae connects employees to vital resources that improve their work-life balance and well-being. Along the way, he’s gained valuable insight into navigating the job market, and now he’s sharing his practical tips to help you work smarter, not harder.

What do you do for a career? Who do you work for? 

I am currently working at Do Good Multnomah, a nonprofit that owns and operates houseless shelters for veterans in the Portland Metro area. My career focus is Human Resources — I recently celebrated 10 years in the field, and I am grateful to have found this rewarding career.

What do you like best about your career? 

The most rewarding part of HR is that I get to help employees match the resources of an organization (health benefits, wellness perks, reimbursement incentives, etc.) with their individual needs. I find that employees often lack awareness of the breadth of resources available to them. 

It’s my job to listen to their questions and concerns in confidence, then align them with programs or resources that will help them meet their personal and professional needs. It’s our job to help employees achieve the best possible work-life balance.

It’s Not Just About the Paycheck

As we age, we have more needs; it’s not simply about the salary anymore. Now that I am approaching 40, I realize that the entire compensation package is important. 

Retirement plans, employer contributions to both 401(k) and health/life insurance premiums, all add up to real dollars that may not be included on an employee’s paycheck, but contribute to the bottom line nonetheless. 

I have learned to look at the entirety of what an employer has to offer, because that will tell you how much or how little they value their employees’ well-being.

What resources ​have helped you in your career and your job searches? Are there specific tools or tactics that have contributed to your success? 

I love the ‘quick-apply’ function on job search sites. That feature allows you to complete your profile and work history once, then you can apply for as many jobs as you wish with the click of a button. It will send your profile as an application, so you don’t have to manually enter your personal and employment history on every application. 

Not every job posting allows for quick apply; this feature must be opted into when the job is posted. But look for ways to work smarter, not harder. 

Tech Tips That Save Time and Get Results

Also, look for job applications that will parse your resume info into the application. You simply upload your resume, and it will attempt to complete as much of the application as possible based on the information provided in your document. This is also why you want to avoid fancy fonts and loud coloring or formatting on your resume — it makes it difficult to parse and read.

Similarly, some sites allow you to connect your LinkedIn profile and use it as an application. So be sure to complete and update your LinkedIn profile regularly! Take advantage of the technology, and it will help you find the best opportunity.

Throughout your career, what obstacles have you encountered when doing a job search, and how did you overcome them? 

Being a Black male, I have had to contend with having a “ghetto” first name (Jontae). There is a study that has shown that employers discriminate against applicants with Black-sounding names, even if they have the same or better credentials (Resume Bias). 

People like us are up to 50% less likely to get calls back for interviews, so I would anglicize my name and apply as “Jon”. It worked, and I received more interviews. Once I got in the door, I would introduce myself as Jontae. It taught me a valuable lesson about first impressions, biases, and the unique challenges we all face depending on who we are.

Facing Bias and Owning Your Identity

I’m not suggesting that you change your identity or compromise your belief system. I’m just saying to step outside of yourself and look objectively at your application and profile to see what a hiring manager sees. Doing so may help you to shore up weak points or simply tailor your application to your audience.

Lastly, understand that employers do check your social media pages! Make sure that your privacy settings are set to prevent access from people who aren’t connected to you. And watch what you say, do, and post online! Nothing ever gets deleted from the internet — EVER.

What piece of advice would you give to job seekers or professionals trying to advance in their careers? 

When you begin, you must put the same amount of time in as if it were a job itself. In short, searching for a job IS a full-time job! Six to eight hours per day should be dedicated to applications, building resumes and cover letters, and scouring the web for leads.

In the beginning, it’s a numbers game. Do not get emotionally attached to job openings, because you do not know where they are in the hiring process. It might seem like the perfect opportunity for you, but they might have just made an offer to a candidate when you applied. So remain coldly detached until you learn more.

Cast your net as widely as possible. You should submit as many applications as you can for your job field. Avoid applications that force you to enter your information manually each time — they are time-drainers. 

Leverage Quick Apply

Instead, look for quick-apply options, such as those on Mac’s List, Indeed, or Monster, which allow you to complete your profile once and then apply to an opening with the click of a button. Come back to the lengthier applications when you have time, i.e., when you have applied for everything else.

As you begin to get calls back and learn more about openings, you can afford to be more selective and decide if an opening is right for you or not. But at the start, your mission is to apply, apply, apply!

Lastly, it’s true what they say: the best time to search for a job is when you already have a job. When you are unemployed, the slow pace of the hiring process adds more pressure to you because, financially, you need to get back to work. 

So, eliminate this mental anguish by starting to apply for openings when you feel yourself coming to the end of the relationship with your current employer. The average hiring process takes a month, from application to offer. So be patient and understand that the process takes time. 

Everyone’s job search story is different, but each individual story can inspire and empower others who are on their own unique path. We love to hear how our readers have found rewarding careers in Portland, and we want to share these stories with you to inspire you in your job search and to help us all better understand the local job market.