The resume Donna found was in a manila folder under a tangle of Christmas lights, printed on cream paper with a watermark she had paid extra for at an office supply store in 2005. It opened with an objective, listed a home phone number, and gave her typing speed. She was 23 when she wrote it. She is 44 now.
For the last twenty years Donna ran the front office and parts counter at her uncle’s marina on Lake Martin. She ordered inventory, scheduled service techs, kept books in QuickBooks, and handled boat slip contracts. Then the family sold the business to a group that brought its own people.
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m$@ ?@H D96 92D EH@ A@DE:?8D @A6? @? 96C =2AE@A 2E E96 <:E496? E23=6 :? s256G:==6] ~?6 :D 2 AFC492D:?8 4@@C5:?2E@C ;@3 2E 2? 2FE@ A2CED DFAA=:6C 7665:?8 E96 wJF?52: A=2?E :? |@?E8@>6CJ] %96 @E96C :D A2E:6?E D4965F=:?8 2E 2 9@DA:E2=[ 2=D@ :? |@?E8@>6CJ] q@E9 H2?E 2? @?=:?6 2AA=:42E:@?[ 2?5 ?6:E96C 92D 2?J FD6 7@C 4C62> A2A6C]k^DA2?mk^Am
k9c 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m(92E r92?865 (9:=6 *@F (6C6?’E y@3 wF?E:?8k^DA2?mk^9cm
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?mx7 J@FC =2DE D62C49 92AA6?65 J62CD 28@[ 2=>@DE 6G6CJE9:?8 23@FE E96 >6492?:4D 92D D9:7E65ik^DA2?mk^Am
kF=mk=: 5:ClQ=ECQmkA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m~?=:?6 U2>Aj p%$ $42??65ik^DA2?m kDA2?mpAA=:42E:@?D 8@ @?=:?6[ 2?5 6>A=@J6C EC24<:?8 DJDE6>D Wp%$X C625 2?5 D@CE J@FC C6DF>6 367@C6 2 A6CD@? 5@6D] %6IE 3@I6D[ 4@=F>?D[ 2?5 564@C2E:G6 7@?ED 42? D4C2>3=6 H92E E96 D@7EH2C6 AF==D @FE]k^DA2?mk^Amk^=:mk=: 5:ClQ=ECQmkA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m{6?8E9ik^DA2?m kDA2?m~?6 A286 :D 6IA64E65 7@C >@DE ;@3D 36=@H >2?286>6?E]k^DA2?mk^Amk^=:mk=: 5:ClQ=ECQmkA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?mu@C>2E &A52E6Dik^DA2?m kDA2?m~3;64E:G6D 2C6 8@?6[ C6A=2465 3J 2 D9@CE AC@76DD:@?2= DF>>2CJ] r:EJ[ DE2E6[ 2 46== ?F>36C[ 2?5 2 AC@76DD:@?2= 6>2:= 92G6 C6A=2465 9@>6 A9@?6D 2?5 7F== DEC66E 255C6DD6D]k^DA2?mk^Amk^=:mk=: 5:ClQ=ECQmkA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m#6DF=ED\sC:G6? qF==6EDik^DA2?m kDA2?m~=5 5FEJ =:DED =:<6 “#6DA@?D:3=6 7@C @C56C:?8” 2C6 8@?6] rFCC6?E DEJ=6 D9@HD C6DF=ED H:E9 C@F89 ?F>36CD]k^DA2?mk^Amk^=:mk^F=m
k9c 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m!=2:? (@C5D x?[ qF==6ED ~FEk^DA2?mk^9cm
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m|@DE A6@A=6 H9@ 92G6 H@C<65 EH6?EJ J62CD :? @?6 A=246 7C66K6 H96? 2D<65 E@ HC:E6 23@FE :E] "F:==3@E’Dk^DA2?m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^BF:==3@E]4@>^2:\C6DF>6\3F:=56CQmkDA2?m2: C6DF>6 >2<6Ck^DA2?mk^2m kDA2?m3C:586D E92E 82Ai J@F 56D4C:36 E96 H@C< :? @C5:?2CJ =2?8F286[ 2?5 :E 5C27ED C6DF=ED\7@4FD65 3F==6ED J@F 42? 65:E]k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?ms@??2 DE2CE65 H:E9 2 3=2?< A286 2?5 HC@E6 H92E D96 H@F=5 E6== 2 7C:6?5 @? E96 A@C49ik^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?mQx C2? E96 7C@?E @77:46 2?5 A2CED 4@F?E6C 2E 2 72>:=J >2C:?2 @? {2<6 |2CE:? 7@C 23@FE a_ J62CD] x @C56C65 2== A2CED 2?5 :?G6?E@CJ[ 2C@F?5 c__ :E6>D[ 7C@> 23@FE `d G6?5@CD] x D4965F=65 E9C66 D6CG:46 E649D[ 5:5 E96 3@@<D :? "F:4<q@@<D[ A2JC@== 7@C h A6@A=6[ 2?5 92?5=65 23@FE `a_ 3@2E D=:A 4@?EC24ED 2 J62C] x D2G65 FD >@?6J 3J DH:E49:?8 EH@ G6?5@CD]Qk^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m%96 E@@= EFC?65 :E :?E@ 3F==6ED] $96 5F8 E9C@F89 :?G@:46D[ 7@F?5 E96 G6?5@C DH:E49 D2G65 23@FE Se[___ 2 J62C[ 2?5 25565 :E] %96 E@@= 2=D@ 5C27E65 2 AC@76DD:@?2= DF>>2CJik^DA2?m kDA2?mQ~A6C2E:@?D 2?5 AFC492D:?8 4@@C5:?2E@C H:E9 a_ J62CD CF??:?8 :?G6?E@CJ[ G6?5@C 244@F?ED[ D4965F=:?8 2?5 3@@<<66A:?8]]]Qk^DA2?m kDA2?m$96 A:4<65 2? p%$\7C:6?5=J E6>A=2E6 2?5 6IA@CE65 2 4=62?[ H2E6C>2C<\7C66 7:=6]k^DA2?mk^Am
k9c 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m(92E s@6D E96 s:776C6?46 {@@< {:<6 @? !2A6Cnk^DA2?mk^9cm
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?mq67@C6ik^DA2?m kDA2?m~77:46 |2?286C[ 72>:=J >2C:?2[ a__d E@ AC6D6?E] #6DA@?D:3=6 7@C @C56C:?8[ D4965F=:?8[ 3@@<<66A:?8[ 4FDE@>6C D6CG:46 2?5 @E96C 5FE:6D 2D 2DD:8?65]k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?mp7E6Cik^DA2?m kDA2?m~77:46 2?5 !FC492D:?8 |2?286C M u2>:=J\@H?65 >2C:?2[ s256G:==6[ p{ M a__d E@ a_adk^DA2?mk^Am
kF=mk=: 5:ClQ=ECQmkA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m|2?2865 AFC492D:?8 7@C c__Z A2CED 24C@DD `d G6?5@CDj 4@?D@=:52E65 EH@ DFAA=:6CD E@ D2G6 23@FE Se[___ 2 J62Ck^DA2?mk^Amk^=:mk=: 5:ClQ=ECQmkA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?mr@@C5:?2E65 D6CG:46 D4965F=:?8 7@C E9C66 E649?:4:2?D E9C@F89 A62< D62D@?[ <66A:?8 DAC:?8 H@C< @C56CD @? E:>6k^DA2?mk^Amk^=:mk=: 5:ClQ=ECQmkA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m#2? A2JC@== 7@C h 6>A=@J66D 2?5 7F== "F:4<q@@<D 3@@<<66A:?8k^DA2?mk^Amk^=:mk^F=m
k9c 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m|:DE2<6D !6@A=6 |2<6 r@>:?8 q24<k^DA2?mk^9cm
kF=mk=: 5:ClQ=ECQmkA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?mw:5:?8 E96 286 :?DE625 @7 FD:?8 E96 6IA6C:6?46k^DA2?mk^Amk^=:mk=: 5:ClQ=ECQmkA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?ms@H?A=2J:?8 E96 72>:=J 3FD:?6DDk^DA2?mk^Amk^=:mk=: 5:ClQ=ECQmkA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?mz66A:?8 E96 =2<6 G@423F=2CJk^DA2?mk^Amk^=:mk=: 5:ClQ=ECQmkA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m%CFDE:?8 E96 7:CDE 5C27Ek^DA2?mk^Amk^=:mk=: 5:ClQ=ECQmkA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m$6?5:?8 @?6 G6CD:@? 6G6CJH96C6k^DA2?mk^Amk^=:mk=: 5:ClQ=ECQmkA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?mr9@@D:?8 E96 4C62E:G6 E6>A=2E6 7@C 2 A=2?E ;@3k^DA2?mk^Amk^=:mk^F=m
k9c 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m"F6DE:@?D }6:893@CD z66A pD<:?8k^DA2?mk^9cm
kF=mk=: 5:ClQ=ECQmkA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?mxD :E C62==J 7C66nk^DA2?m kDA2?m%96 C6DF>6 3F:=56C :D 7C66 E@ FD6[ 2?5 E96 5@H?=@25 92D ?@ H2E6C>2C<]k^DA2?mk^Amk^=:mk=: 5:ClQ=ECQmkA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?mr2? x >2?286 E9:D :7 x 32C6=J FD6 2 4@>AFE6Cnk^DA2?m kDA2?mx7 J@F 42? EJA6 2? 6>2:=[ J@F 42? EJA6 2 A=2:? 56D4C:AE:@? @7 J@FC ;@3] !F3=:4 =:3C2C:6D 92G6 4@>AFE6CD[ 2?5 42C66C 46?E6C DE277 42? H2=< J@F E9C@F89 :E]k^DA2?mk^Amk^=:mk=: 5:ClQ=ECQmkA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m(:== 2? px\HC:EE6? C6DF>6 =@@< 72<6nk^DA2?m kDA2?m~?=J :7 J@F =62G6 :E 86?6C:4] %96 3F==6ED 4@>6 7C@> J@FC 56E2:=D[ D@ C625 :E 2=@F5 2?5 C6HC:E6 2?JE9:?8 E92E 5@6D?VE D@F?5 =:<6 J@F]k^DA2?mk^Amk^=:mk=: 5:ClQ=ECQmkA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?ms@ x 92G6 E@ =:DE E96 J62C x 7:?:D965 9:89 D49@@=nk^DA2?m kDA2?m}@] {:DE E96 5:A=@>2 @C vts 2?5 =62G6 E96 J62C @77 :7 J@F AC676C]k^DA2?mk^Amk^=:mk^F=m
k9c 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?m%@?:89E[ q67@C6 E96 %6? ~’r=@4< }6HDk^DA2?mk^9cm
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?mu:?5 E9C66 ?F>36CD 7C@> J@FC =2DE ;@3i 9@H >2?J A6@A=6[ 9@H >2?J 5@==2CD[ 9@H >2?J @7 2?JE9:?8] (C:E6 E96> @? 2? :?56I 42C5 2?5 <66A :E 3J E96 =2AE@A] %92E 42C5 9@=5D >@DE @7 H92E 2 9:C:?8 >2?286C H2?ED E@ <?@H[ 2?5 E96 px 3F:=56C 42? D92A6 E96 H@C5:?8 2C@F?5 :E] %96? E96 4C62> A2A6C 42? 8@ :? E96 C64J4=:?8 3:?[ H2E6C>2C< 2?5 2==]k^DA2?mk^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmk6>mkDA2? 52E2\D=2E6\7C28>6?ElQy%'ry%5ry%xJ5w=H+$&J|:&K"$&J|>yG+w<Iy%xJy%ysy%xJ*a9A3v#J+(c=|;x=|_t=}&x=}_x=|;yA5vuD2(|=|;x=|_u_4?'=y%ysy%xJ5v'c5r&J|:&K"$&J|=#@2)|=|;q;3ad_+(d_y%xH2)|=|;qH*(=<y%xH+>hJy%xH*?<=|;q_2v&=|;qK4vhF4ahJy%xH*(d<y%xH2)|=|;qH4>ha2(#=+r&J|v+G4:&J|v=F+>hJ3(u_2(hF*(H=|;qH5)yH3b}=4J&J|vhF3w<Fy%xH'v9=y%xH5>==5b|=|;q=6wqJ+)}K+("=|;q94>&=|;q_2vhK+$&J|vh>y%xH5v9=y%xH4bqG3?}G4:&J|vuF+r&J|v#Gy%xH3>h_y%xH3>';+)}K*)yA3w<=|;qJ+(+D+(}_y%xH5v9=y%xH5>==5b|=|;qG+:&J|w#@2)|=|;qH5(yD2(}95v=G3:&J"J&J|v=_4J&J|w}_*(+>y%ysy%xH3bx=|;qA5w|=|;q9+>+A3v=95v'K{:'s|:'q|r&J|:&b#r&`#r&b#r&`#pllQm%9:D 4@?E6?E :D A2:5 7@C 3J E96 DA@?D@C 2?5 :D AC@G:565 7@C :?7@C>2E:@?2= AFCA@D6D @?=J] %96 G:6HD 6IAC6DD65 2C6 E9@D6 @7 E96 DA@?D@C 2?5 5@ ?@E ?646DD2C:=J C67=64E E96 G:6HD @7 E9:D AF3=:42E:@?[ :ED DE277[ @C :ED 277:=:2E6D] k^DA2?mk^6>mk^Am
