The jobs drought and the resulting psychological damage and how to avoid it !
The other day I was at an alumni function and one of the alumni commented that in past 6 months he has had absolutely no luck finding a job despite having worked in the IT departments of a well run conservative bank for over 10 years. The jobs simply weren't being filled and some of these ' senior' position had been eliminated for good. When someone with the best intentions offered some leads and possible contacts, this gentlemen totally broke down ! He burst out saying there was nothing in the book he hadn't tried and no lead he hadn't followed up for 6 long months and all such well meaning but shallow' leads' and ' advise' now just had pushed him to the edge.
It was a very unfortunate incident but there is something accurate in what he said reflecting the current economic situation. While we all wish to put our best foot forward and be positive in adversity, the reality is sometimes it is OK to accept that things really are that bad and not to be too hard on oneself. Life does throw the occasional bad egg and just when you wipe it off.. comes raining the whole basket of bad eggs !
There's a whole new industry now flourishing around resume writing skills, interview coaching, outplacement, networking seminars, job seminars, paid career counselling and of course the whole ' positivity' and ' the power within you' industry ! While some are useful and well meaning, reality is positivity must be consumed in doses of reality and sometimes the ' power within you' is great motivational fodder for speeches and the 'uplifting ' Guru types, it often doesnt work in reality by itself as a magic potion.' What can be imagined can be achieved' seems better as a slogan but not when you are trying to climb uphill without a rope or support !
My problem is people are paying top dollar sometimes for these activities and with dubious results as most of these are geared towards telling the prospect that there is something wrong about the resume or the dress or the shoes.... it was reported that one company in China even sells plastic surgery as a job search solution. If looks could kill......
As we all know, a big part of who we are is determined by our economic status which often means the job we have. There is enough written about the economic consequences of losing ones livelihood i.e unpaid mortgages, schools fees, food etc but less is mentioned about the psychological damage caused. Unfortunately it takes a huge silent toll leading to rising depression, alcoholism, drugs and isolationism and suicides as has been the case in Japan which has the highest suicide rate in the developed world since the economic crash over 2 decades ago. People often do not have time to build a trusting relationship network outside of the corporate/ business world where one always has to put on the ' salesmen smile on how great things are going.' Sometimes it OK to accept that things are indeed not going well and level off with close friends and family or support groups. Denial of problems lays the seeds for further emotional and psychological damage.
Sometimes it is OK to accept ' time out' as all great athletes do get injured, replaced or simply exhausted in the middle of a major game. It's OK to accept that sometimes life does hand you a knockout blow and take the time to recuperate and give it some time to heal so when you are back in the game, you do not carry the 'baggage' of hurt, betrayal or in some cases deep anger at being ' wronged'. It is also OK to accept that just like all injured athletes, you may not have a comeback like in the ' ROCKY' movie series but then there are other options that could be equally gratifying in the longer run like coaching or changing one's career and accepting this change and making the best of it ( Easier said than done, I fully admit but I have enough friends who have managed to do it so I know it can be done )
Meanwhile, those who still are fortunate to have jobs, try best not to be condescending whether intentional or not when some one comes by for help. It could be you tomorrow on the other side of the desk !
