Unemployment Impacts More than Your Wallet

National unemployment rates were averaged at 9.5% in July 2010 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. They also stated that the median time a person has spent in unemployment is 25.5 weeks, about 6 months.

Six months is the time we recommend any job seeker to devote to the job search process. This provides a little relief to know that this average hasn’t changed much considering this recession is about twice as bad as in the 1980s. Even though the job seeking timeline and median unemployment rate matches, the psychological affects have climbed.

The Snowball Effect

It doesn’t help that the media continues to report on how bad the unemployment trends are

within our economy. Just yesterday I received a phone call from a media representative who wanted to do a story on the fact that the unemployment rates haven’t changed and how that impacts my job as a career counselor and the job seekers.

Honestly, what impacts the job seekers outlook most is this developed sense of hopelessness.

Even though we’re able to still hold job fairs with local employers looking to fill 50-100+ jobs, the number of seekers attending the fairs has decreased since the start of the recession in 2007.

This sense of hopelessness with the job market snowballs and as it increases it also impacts additional areas of a person’s life. The Pew Research Center published recent findings that unemployment not only affects finances, but also relations with family and friends and a loss of self-respect.

It’s interesting that the time we need our family and friends the most is also the time we tend to cause strain on the relationships, or just ignore them completely. Shouldn’t it be the other way around?

This is a time to strengthen relationships and really use them to their full potential. All those years of being there for your friends and family should have some residual effect when it’s your turn to need help. Like I’ve said in some previous posts, no person is an island and you shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help.

Self-respect is probably the most critical area that’s impacted by unemployment. If you lose self-respect then you’re decreasing your networking effectiveness, chances to be hired, and overall productiveness of the job search. In essence a loss of self-respect

could spiral people into depression.

Employers want to hire candidates with confidence and competence to do the job well, and if your self-respect has lowered then it’s likely your confidence and ability to market yourself in a job interview has also decreased. If you’re not sure about your level of self-respect then ask yourself how often you use negative language, like “I can’t…,” “This will never…,” or “No one will help me.”

A Positive Effect

There has been one potential positive effect from the recent unemployment, a reassessment of career goals. The forced change of losing a job can lead to a reevaluation of career goals, interests, and overall job and life satisfaction. More and more people are seeking out professional development opportunities and training options to increase their marketability.

An even bigger trend, which I’ve seen through counseling appointments, is an interest in returning to school and changing career directions completely. I’ve heard more people state things like “for the past 20 years I’ve worked to support myself (and my family) but it was never what I really wanted to do. Now I have the option to change my career, but I’m not sure how to go about it.” I applaud this risk taking behavior because it could mean an overall increase in life satisfaction. However, be careful when taking risks because if it impacts basic needs of food, shelter, and safety then it could increase the chances of losing self-respect and even depression.

Dealing with the Aftermath

There are many ways to productively and positively handle the loss of a job.

I’ve actually posted a number of blogs through my career services office that discusses coping with job loss. These contain some good tips about how to mentally prepare for the road ahead, not allow your current situation to have a negative impact on finding a new job, and even some additional job seeking strategies.

It’s time to be more conscious of yourself which means taking time out to daily reflect on the positives in your life, recreate with friends, keep a journal, or whatever method works for you. Times of turmoil call for a deeper intuition of self and a recognition of needs.

Even as counselors we are reminded that the number one person to care for is you, because if you’re not healthy in mind, body, and spirit then it reduces our effectiveness to help others. So take time to renew and balance your life because that is the core to an effective personal and work life!

Tips for Recession Job Hunting

I recently read an article from the Equal Opportunity Employment Journal's September 2009 issue entitled Tips for Recession Job Hunting. It outlines 17 suggestions to help you move along and lessen the discouragement when job hunting.

1. Dedicate Yourself - consider job hunting as a full time job
2. Quit Moping Around
3. Consider the Industry - if you're thinking a new industry would be better, then do your research first and find out if they're having cut-backs too
4. Network Before You Go - even if you're currently employed, it's always good to network. The majority of jobs are never posted publicly, but gotten through networks.
5. Develop an Online Identity - an online presence is key since most employers Google you. Check out Personal Branding with Dan Schawbel for more information
6. Consider Self-Employment - freelance or consult
7. Consider Kind-of Self-Employment - part-time or contract jobs are still an option
8. Hunt in Other Markets - consider relocating
9. What Color is Your Parachute? - good book & workbook to help you "find yourself"
10. Use Resources Wisely - watch your budget
11. Get in People's Face - similar to networking; ask for a meeting like an informational interview
12. Come Unbelievably Prepared - RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH
13. Go Where You Think the Jobs Aren't
14. Exhaust Your Biggest Pay-offs First
15. Stand Out From the Crowd
16. Consider Volunteering
17. Don't Assume They're Not Hiring - the company may be looking for better, cheaper, and more effective ways to accomplish their goals; are you the answer?

And their final advise was to stay positive! Any negative behavior and self-confidence will be evident to potential future employers and reduce your success rate. So find a way to keep yourself positively motivated.

For major/industry specific job websites check out IPFW's Career Services website

Unemployment Coping Strategies

The National Career Development Association publishes a web magazine, Career Convergence, monthly and in the June 1, 2009 edition an article by Tim Lutenski, entitled "Coping with Unemployment" discusses just that.

With unemployment at the Nation's highest in over a decade many of us have job security and stability on our minds. Is my job in jeopardy? Will I get a pay cut? What should I do to ensure keeping my job? What if I lose my job, then what? Well, there are ways to cope and keep yourself functioning so you can keep working and find that replacement job, if necessary.

Lutenski acknowledges three suggestions to cope and survive a job loss.

1. Prepare Emotionally
2. Take Proactive Measures
3. Look to the Future

He also discussed tangible ways to accomplish these like recognizing your grief and job loss stages, view unemployment and job searching as your new job, release any bitterness from the past job, budget, make a daily routine, seek support, volunteer, find ways to increase skills, and follow your passion to encourage growth. I would like to discuss the idea that you need to release any bitterness towards your past employer.

I've encountered a number of people recently that have been release from jobs for a myriad of reasons and many of them seem to have a chip on their shoulder towards their old boss or place of employment. And rightly so! If you just put 5, 10, 15+ years into a job, were a hard worker, and became invested in the company's mission it may very well seem like you were betrayed. I understand the feelings that many people go through; it's typical to cycle through the the stages of grief and loss (Kubler-Ross), but the key point is to not let it run your life.

Even if you believe you've cycled through the stages and are at peace with your previous employer the emotions may still be present and manifest at an unfortunate time, like during a job interview. Employers can tell through non-verbals and para-verbals (vocal tones) if you have have a good relationship with your past employer or not. Employers do not want to hire someone with a chip on their shoulder or who they think might be carrying this baggage which could hinder the productiveness or quality of the employee's work.

So, what can you do to help prevent this from happening?

• Get in touch with your feelings and emotions through self-reflection and/or counseling.
• Contact the IPFW Career Services office, or your local college or unemployment agency, and inquire about doing a mock interview.
• Practice what you're going to say in an interview to increase your awareness of self and prevent the emotions from causing a negative impression on a future employer.
• Remember: bad talking your past employer doesn't make them look bad, IT MAKES YOU LOOK BAD! Employers may see the bad talking as a reason why you were let go or fired.

Read the complete story Lutenski, Tim (2009) Coping with unemployment, Career Convergence, NCDA.