PUTTING
ALL OF YOUR BASKETS IN ONE EGG
A mother of a friend used to get her sayings all mixed up; today I would like to quote her. "Putting all of your baskets in one egg." In the next few weeks I would like to talk a little about the psychology of being unemployed. Today I would like to talk about a trap in finding a job. The good news is that you had a great interview and the bad news is that you had a great interview. For many a good interview turns into "I got a job". When this happens the job search stops and instead of focusing on the job they focus on the good interview. "Why look for another job, the employer just told me they liked me and that I was suited for the job." They even gave me a second or third interview. A big mistake in job search is to change the word good interview into a job. I have seen it happen consistently. I teach a job search class and I spend a lot of time warning job seekers that an interview is not a job. A good interview is not a job and even a great interview is not a job. Too many stop looking and wait for the employer to call only to find out that they don't call. Most interviewers are pleasant people and want to give hope to the potential employee. I recently talked to an interviewer for a large company and asked her how often she gave hope? She stopped and said she must do it to a lot of people for the same job. She said that she did not realize it. A rule of thumb for finding a job: don't let a good interview interfere with your job search.
What things do you see that job seekers do that gets them in the trap of not looking?
RESPONSES:
Job Traps
1. Rejection. Consumers do not always comprehend that searching for employment is a process. One should not stop searching for employment because of rejection.
2. Complacency. It's easy to fall into this trap. You have a lot of time so you begin to think that you will get around to filing job applications. Before you know it, the day has ended and applications have not been found. Searching for employment is a full-time job within itself. Planning and time management is necessary.
3. No record of job contacts. It's difficult to make follow-up calls without a contact sheet, including phone numbers.
4. Fear. The fear of having the responsibility to report to a structured environment (including time to report to work, take lunch, etc.) on a daily basis. Especially for those who have a short work history.
5.
Cultural shock. The shock of working in an environment completely
different from your own environment. You are now exposed to
different types of people, different norms, required dress codes,
different speech patterns, etc. Mary Howard
One
of the things that I see most people fall into is thinking that they are worth
more than their skills are worth. They have the mind set that I won't work
for more than $12-15 an hour. One of the questions I ask them is what are
you bringing to the table that would want to make me pay you $12-15 an hour.
I have them really look at their skills and abilities. Another trap they
fall into is they get lazy, they don't find something right away and they want
to stop looking they lose their motivation. It is vital that they have a
strong support network around them, even if is us as case managers or job
developers to encourage and guide them. As the one response said they put
all their eggs in one basket and wait for "THE JOB" and then when it
doesn't come they are crushed and that can lead to all sorts of other problems.
I try to help them understand that something is better than nothing, you can sit
home and make $0 an hour or you can take that job paying $7-8 an hour until you
find something better. It is easier to find a job when you have one.
Reassure them that they are not in this alone, there are others out there that
are in the same boat. It is just the nature of the market right now.
One thing I have found is that people won't apply for a job when they see these
words "Degree Preferred". I have taught my clients that
"Preferred" means that is what they would like however if you have
most the skills listed in ad by all means apply. Oftentimes "Life
Experiences" will make for the lack of degree. That is a big trap
that job applicants fall into. One more is that many of them don't take
the time to look at their resume until the day of the interview and realize that
it needs to be updated and are rushing around trying to get it taken care of.
Always keep your resume updated at all times. These are some of the things
that I have found to be traps.
I
had a client who was looking for a job as a cook. He stopped by a local
restaurant and talked to the manager just before the Holidays. The manager told
him he needed to hire extra cooks for the Holidays and to come back next week on
Monday. He told everyone he got a job and was starting next Monday! Of course he
stopped looking all that week, during a crucial time when holiday jobs were
plentiful. When he went back the following Monday, he found out they didn't need
anyone after all. Not only did he not have a job offer, he didn't even have an
interview or fill out an application! He confused a job offer with a manager's
instructions on the best time to come back to apply. I see this happen
frequently. Clear and concise communication is essential. I think our clients
get so excited sometimes they don't ask the right questions, and employers often
don't make themselves clear as well. Karen,
Your topic is interesting, and I might have a couple of ideas on the pitfalls in looking for work.
When a person loses a job under unfavorable conditions, the psychological effects are negative, as the person's self-esteem plummets, and there is a "grief" period. Unfortunately all of the traits that one needs to find work again are generally at an ebb tide. Self-confidence, sense of self-worth, stability, and even appearance will suffer at termination. Until the person can work out of those pitfalls, finding a good job is not likely.
If a person has the credentials and background suitable for a job, then the rest of it is getting an "edge" on the other applicants. There is definitely "showmanship" in the interview process, and introverted people need to buck up their courage and look the potential employer in the eye, speak clearly, and show enthusiasm. I don't mean to pick on introverts, as this world has a lot of jobs that require every type of personality. It is just the hiring process that requires opening up, showing confidence (not cockiness), and selling your strengths to the employer.
Just like sports when the players "psyche up" for the game, job applicants needs to do the same before each interview. You have to convince the employer that you are the best candidate for the job. Often it is good to know a lot about the company, and work that into the interview. Look on any website that lists jobs, like Monster.com, and see the interview questions employers may use. There are a lot of questions there, and it gets your mind focused on what might be asked, and you should develop questions as well to ask the employer. Not the obvious questions on money or benefits, but something that shows you are career orientated like the potential for training or the promotion policy.
I know your topic is the "psychological" pitfalls, but I do want to say a couple of things about appearance. Don't dress for the "grand ballroom" or the "beach". Depending on the job, business casual is about as low as you should go in appearance. One ring on each hand and one earring in each ear is a simple rule for body jewelry. Carry a folio or notebook with you, along with a pen. Do not go empty-handed into the interview.
Well, that's a few thoughts on getting hired. I spent a lot of time working with people in finding work as part of my "previous life" as an Employment and Training Specialist with DHS in Illinois, and often the simple details are all that stand in the way of getting that job.
Now
that we are in an election year, it seems that our country, state,
county, cities are in great shape and we owe it all to the incumbent.
Well, isn't that ducky. However, for those who are still working to
help others go to work, things just aren't what they seem.
When I first started out in this business JIST Publishing put out an
overhead informational sheet on averages: it takes so many applications
to get an interview; it takes so many interviews to get a job offer.
The law of averages is still at work in this economy, but the averages
are much higher. The use of resumes used to be for the more
professional jobs, however, even for fast foods, you now have to have a
resume. I am in almost constant contact with youth programs and the
latest development is a portfolio. Even for entry level jobs, a person
must prepare a bio, a resume, a master application and demonstrate
through their portfolio that they are the best choice for the job.
Job Search isn't for wimps. It isn't for the unwashed or unread.
Preparation is key. Persistence is key. Information and knowledge are
a must as well.
Finding a job today means one must know how to use the tools and
resources which are the norm. One must be computer literate and savey.
There are many job banks one may access at home, however, you cannot
scan your resume, or use e-mail to contact the openings you will be left
behind.
I can remember (using the Way-Back Machine) job coaches used to say
that a person looking for work needed to think of himself as a business.
Selling the product (your services) became your job. It's still that
way, only more so. Thinking of yourself as a business, constantly using
successful marketing techniques and always being ready for a 10 second
spot, especially when you've got "hot prospects" will enable the job
seeker to become, eventually, a job finder. BC
One
of the traps is viewing themselves as unemployed....better to see themselves as
looking for work. Lulu
On the subject of today, I also have felt comfortable about a interview and thought it was good but I did not stop looking. So when I finished school (a computer training course), I began looking for work. Because I did not stop looking, when I was called back for employment, I received several calls. So I had more than one job and had to turn down a couple. So it is a good idea to keep looking and then you can decide on what job you want. Thanks Kinnia
I
work with dislocated workers in the Finger Lakes region, not too far from
Our office runs a "Career Club" support group. One goal is to get people to have somewhere to go Monday Morning at 9:00, to get the week off right. Structure is important. The attendees usually number 20-25, many engineers and IT people with degrees in their 40's, 50's and older. We even had a PhD that had to relocate to get a halfway decent job. We have a lot of talent ready to work.
The toughest psychological problem is for the old economy folks, who sometimes worked for the same company for 20-30 years, making an excellent middle class salary, to realize those jobs just aren't there any more and probably never will be. We encourage people to look at new and different possibilities and not to "wait for the economy to turn around." NY
One
trap
Keep
looking for the same type of work instead of using transferable skills to
find a new a new career and opportunities. Fred Saunders
One pitfall that I see is people copping a negative outlook. Not that it's easy to remain positive when you are in desperate need of a job (money) and your "great" interviews keep turning into "we decided to go with someone else, but you came in close!" and the clocks keep ticking. Still, spending time "in fear" does nothing. Not a thing. I tell my clients to name their fear, articulate it, whatever, and then move on. (Go for a run or call me.)
It's not easy--very hard, which I know from my own job search experience and my own time spent mucking around in my fear. I also have to temper myself by remembering that we all have to learn about our fears, and honor this.
I remember (long ago) attending a job workshop as a customer, and the workshop leader started out by announcing that we were going to have "a lot of fun!" Fun? I thought. Lady, it might be fun if I knew that I was going to be able to pay my rent next month. I looked around at the other attendees to see my feelings mirrored in their faces.
My lesson: Honor people and help them to find some balance.
Balance is usually at least beneficial for psychological traps.
I
think the good or excellent interview is probably the biggest stumbling
block, but
the next may be becoming too familiar with the interviewer at the
interview. Sometimes you have a tendency to feel like you've already got
the job (from that excellent interview) so you start talking to the interviewer
as an old friend. This will create too much familiarity and could cause
the interviewer to turn you down just because they feel you would not be
professional. I have had that feeling when I've interviewed someone
and felt they would become too personal, causing me to be more critical in my
review of their interview later. Marge, So.
A common trap is something I call; "Hiring yourself" It results when you emphatically project yourself mentally into the job.( before you really have it) and set yourself up for a huge let down if you do not get the position. Here's what usually happens in that situation;
During the application process you enthusiastically immerse yourself into a company, its background, the occupation or the specific job you are applying for. You believe you are the perfect candidate, and maybe the only candidate. Your mind is working hard, and psychologically you start to place yourself into the job, ( it's like you've already been working there) .Your mind is creatively racing around with great new ideas, setting priorities, doing strategic planning, solving complex problems, reworking processes etc. You really start to see yourself in that new position, that office, with name plate, parking space etc. You envision success there. Positive thinking, preparation, empathy and understanding are all good things to be armed with; but you have to be able to draw a line between reality and hypothetical situations. Sometimes it is encouraged, and rewarded in the interview process where an applicant is requested to " jump into the job" and engage in a realistic , but yet still hypothetical problem solving scenario associated with the job. These can be challenging. While it is certainly to the applicants advantage to demonstrate a strong understanding of the job, potential skills, flexibility, creativity etc. during the interview and application period, it is important for the applicant to remain objective, and be able to quickly disassociate themselves from that role, or projecting, and come back solidly to who they really are, remembering that they are still just an applicant , and not that employee. When an applicant fails to do that, and remains in a mind set of working in that job before they are formally offered the position, it could be problematic. If and when they are told that they did not get the job, they may demonstrate anger or a great sense of loss; very similar reactions to those employees who are actually fired. Optimism needs to be tempered with reality; and clients are well advised to not "hire themselves" or they may experience being "fired" before they even walk in the door...Mark M...
Aloha,
all so true. A friend just reported the We'll call you tomorrow because we
really like you and then no call and so she called and they said well, we
are considering an internal applicant now but we really liked you.
Discouraged and slightly depressed , YES. Did it stop her, NO. Today she
sent resume and cover letter to another company for similar position and
reflected that she had applied there some years ago and overstated salary
expectations then and learned it wasn't realistic so is being more
realistic now. I have seen her in action and am sure she gives a good
interview. I keep sending her leads and she keeps following up. I believe
as long as she believes someone believes in her, she'll keep trying plus
she really wants and needs to work. Keeping self esteem high and focusing
on the future helps any applicant. Winter has arrived in
or freezing temps but grey and rainy and limited tennis time. Aloha, Joy
With regard to your questions relating to looking for a job and associated traps I'd offer the following observation(s). Having spent the last 15 or so years in the field of human resources I've spent considerable time on both sides of the interview process. The one thing that I've noticed that tends to trip people up is their inability or unwillingness to consider what they "can" do instead of what they "have" done in the past. As people we are simply afraid to try new things or even expand upon what we already know how to do in the first place. This seems to be more prevalent with folks who have done a single job (held a single position, worked for a single employer) for a long while. Fear can stop us dead in our tracks if we allow it the opportunity. The noted lecturer and business guru Tom Peters has suggested that individuals consider quitting when they are at the peak of their performance, taking a sabbatical of sorts and purposely doing something completely new and different. While this approach may be far too radical for most of us it does have some merit especially when applied within one's own field. Successfully trying and ultimately doing something completely new builds self-confidence. It also promotes flexibility. The wise job candidate knows that most people hire based on attitude first and skill set(s) second. Having a solid work history, a positive track record of accomplishments, a positive attitude and the willingness to try new things is a pretty unbeatable combination. (If you happen to have all of these things and you still don't get hired you probably didn't really want to work there anyway!)
I've also noticed that when folks come for an interview they are either very well prepared or very ill prepared. There seems to be no middle-ground here. Those who are overly prepared have crisp and succinct answers and often times anticipate a question before it is even asked. Once you take them outside the anticipated script though or probe deeper into one of the more cliché answers they may be completely caught off guard. Others who seem to have not prepared at all will often excel at these non-mainstream questions. Folks would do well to keep their interviewing skills honed, make sure they get plenty of rest prior to the interview, do a significant amount of research about the employer before the interview and concentrate on remaining flexible. The most important thing to remember? Skills are very transferable.
Regards,
John Eastin, SPHR
In
regard to the above statement; the first thing that came to mind is: When people
panic, they look for a job under pressure, highly emotional, they tend to (TAKE)
a job that they truly do not want but they do it anyway.
Patti