3 Issues Affecting the Mindset of Long Term Job Seekers
I have been working now with longer term job seekers for in excess of 16 years and have formed some definite views about the issues that are stopping these job seekers from both finding and keeping regular employment.
(1) Wrong Priorities - I once had a job seeker (who had been unemployed for many years) who I had placed into a work experience situation. The employer liked him and his work was very good but a week into the job the job seeker failed to turn up - making no contact. I finally got into contact with the job seeker, who advised me that his father was sick in hospital and that he had to be there for him. I asked the job seeker would he have done the same if the job was a fully paid position instead of being a work experience. He answered that yes, he still would have gone to his father's side at hospital and stayed with him.
Despite me telling the job seeker that he could visit his father before or after work, once an emergency was dealt with, like I have done when my wife was in hospital, and unlike many other working people in similar situations he refused to compromise.
Unfortunately I have many other job seekers who would do the same, taking time off work, whether it was a sick relative (aside from one off days to look after sick children), family issues, a relationship issue or they have a minor ailment. The problem is they have their priorities all wrong, always putting their wider life before work, then wondering why it is so hard to find and keep work.
Addressing the Issue - I have our job seekers look back over their work track record then work out what motivates them in having a job eg money to pay a mortgage, a holiday, social acceptance, whatever. I also ask them how happy they are not being employed. I then have them think about using the word 'no' more often to others, like family members, friends and partner's taking them away from their work focus. Finally I then get them to weigh all this up and ask themselves what are they prepared to do to find and keep work?
(2) Comfort Zone -Many long term job seekers tell me how hard they are looking for work but when I dig deeper I find that their version of looking for work is checking job boards and newspapers then posting resumes. None of the job seekers are actively networking or cold canvassing employers. Why? Mainly it is because it is too far out of their comfort zone, a zone where they are used to dealing with established routines and behaviours - a zone where they never challenge or feel challenged.
The comfort zone often extends for people when they are in employment, being fearful of using initiative and not wanting to learn from previous mistakes in previous jobs like inappropriate social interaction or negative responses to management when asked to do extra or new tasks.
Addressing the Issue - Job seekers need to challenge themselves, like we all must do when leading our lives. I start by getting job seekers to ring and ask some questions to employers who have lodged jobs, instead of just sending off resumes. The idea is to start developing confidence talking to employers. After this I have them draw up a list of companies they might like to work for plus those companies where friends and family may work for, do a little research on the companies and then start making contact. The golden rules I state to job seekers when setting them off on this path are; always be professional, do not worry about making mistakes as it is a learning process and do not dwell on the word 'no' as it is a numbers game.
(3) Woe is Me Syndrome - A friend of mine once told me that life was not about what happened to you but how you responded to these happenings. I have encountered job seekers who have had major things happen to them in life, including refugees who have lost everything, job seekers who have had major strokes, cancer treatments, breakdowns or suffered horrendous injuries from accidents and people who have lost partners and children. These people have something to complain about but my experience in life generally and, in particular, working in disability employment, has shown me that people who have endured more than their fair share rarely complain. They just want to move on.
The woe is me syndrome seems to come from job seekers who have not suffered like the people listed above but instead have somehow let all the negative things that have occurred to them, particularly in their job seeking, seep into their persona, ingraining them with negativity. I never had a chance, I am not smart enough, I am to old, I am too overweight, employers just use me, I never get any breaks - you name it, I have heard it. These job seekers are their own worst enemies and if they are lucky enough to find a job rarely stay in it long, always finding a reason or excuse to leave or get sacked.
Addressing the Issue - Again, I always look at challenging job seekers in this situation, getting them to start focusing only on their positive qualities, talk about what success is and why they are fearful of success. A lot of times there can be deeply ingrained negativity going back to early childhood which must be faced, addressed, discarded and replaced with positive energy. Positive energy means renewed life and enthusiasm for the job of finding and keeping that all important job.
Sean Teer is the CEO of Envision Australia, a small not for profit organization that trains, places and supports long term disadvantaged job seekers into employment. All through these 16 years Sean has also worked as a job search trainer and has authored a book, "Get that Job You Always Wanted", plus is co-writer and presenter of a unique training program called JobMinded. Sean currently spends his spare time researching and updating his knowledge on employment trends and latest job search techniques as part of his ongoing delivery of job search training at community centers. Sean can be contacted through the website [http://envisionaust.org.au].