Applications, Depression and Uncertainty

This post s for all those who say, "I could get a job tomorrow if I were unemployed." Um no, probably not. The only way that's going to happen is if you have a very high demand skill such as nursing. Even then you too will have to take a trip on the Human Resources merry go round. You will still have to complete an application, possibly pass a background or credit check and go through an interview (even if it is only a formality). All of this takes time. Thins can go wrong. There can be delays and maybe you are not the hot commodity you thought you were. The "I can get a job tomorrow" crowd tend to most often be those who have been fortunate enough to have kept the same job for years and are utterly clueless about today's job search process or retirees who worked through their careers in a very different time. Now if you are a tire changer who walks into a local shop that needs a tire changer yesterday there is a slight chance you may skip the "process." But for most people looking for work, job searching today is a nightmarish mix of endless applications, depression and grave uncertainty. Let me walk you through a little of what they face.          

The days of walking into ABC Corp. and asking to fill out an application are long gone. Instead, you will be referred to their company website. There you can simply upload a resume right? Sure... and complete an online application with or without some kind of long personality / aptitude test. There is a good chance that a human will never see any of this. The only thing you will get is a curt "Thanks for applying" email. Congratulations! You have been rejected by a computer program! Do this over and over day after day, week after week and month after month while keeping that sunny positive attitude. And then depression set in.

In this culture, we judge ourselves and others by what we do for a living, our jobs. What do these bring to mind; Nurse, Lawyer, CEO and Accountant? How about these; Housekeeper, Laborer, Retail Sales Person, Lumper? Different images for sure. Say you are "Unemployed" and soak in the awkward that follows. Nobody wants the "Loser" label. It is very depressing and this in turn makes one less healthy, with less energy sapping strength more and more as time goes on. There are ways to deal with all of this. Check this out. Here is one last thing to consider, uncertainty.

Deep down, you know the nightmare will end. You will finally catch a break and rejoin the workforce. But... that's not today. You have no way of knowing when it will be. In the mean time, checking and savings drain away. Friends stop returning calls. You become a family "problem." It gets harder and harder to leave the house. Sooner or later, you will find yourself back in the workforce. Are you sure you want to get back with those friends or family members who left you high and dry in your time of need?     

If you are unemployed, the nightmare will end. If you have an unemployed friend or relative, I hope this will give you a better idea of what they are dealing with. Be supportive. Let them know you are there for them and they are not alone.