Job Counseling in Hard Times

It starts with their eyes. They say, "I've done all the steps, and I've gotten nothing. Your suggestions aren't working. I don't believe you."

Next comes the body shifting -- the side twist in the chair. Then their face starts. The lips pull up in a grimace, or is it a snarl? The eyes squint in disbelief.

Without saying a word they are screaming, "This isn't a job hunt. It's some kind of desert survival game with a canteen of sour water and a map that leads nowhere. It stinks!"

It's Tough

As a job counselor, it's tough being on the receiving end of someone's irritation every day. Tougher yet is not having good answers -- much of what the job seekers are concerned with is true. The old resume distribution methods aren't working.

The following sections will try to untangle where the system is breaking down and what changes can get the job hunt process back on track. The suggestions are grounded in traditional search methods, but they expand networking to leverage the availability of Web publishing.

The proposed steps are proactive. It's not just an endless request for a job -- in this process, your clients will use their knowledge to address real problems. The sense of making a contribution will stir an energy that has been missing from the job hunt.

Poor Results

Traditional techniques are not working.

If it takes six months to land a position that pays less and demands more, that isn't a successful job hunt. A contact campaign that sends out thousands of resumes without landing a sound position is not effective. Resumes are getting buried in stacks of thousands -- consider them lost.

Even personal networking has broken down. No one knows of any openings.

Reasons or Excuses?

Is the economy responsible for these job hunt results, or has job hunting gotten soft?

A case could be made that job hunters got spoiled over the past ten years. During the good times, the ink wouldn't be dry on the resume and your client have three offers.

It's like going out to lunch and saying that you hunted for your food. It's not the same -- your food was handed to you. After a while you lose your ability to hunt.

Comment:

By blaming the situation on hard times, there isn't much of a solution. It's a matter of waiting until things turn around.

In theory, an efficient job hunt shouldn't crumble just because the economy dips. The system should ramp up in hard times. In fact, that's when it should shine.

Is Anything Right?

Should the current job search approach be scrapped?

No. It's not broken that badly.

If you look at the list of skills the job counselors teach, they seem valid. Job hunters still need to understand their goals and skills; they still need to present their strengths verbally and on paper. Most areas remain the same.

The basic job search elements:

If the elements are correct, what's wrong?

The problem centers on the contact methods. Responding to ads, resume distribution, networking, and even recruiters have become inefficient. The system is too flooded with people.

When the resumes hitting Human Resources offices went from dozens to thousands, the system stopped working. The HR staff could not physically look through three feet stracks of requests everyday. They had no choice but to ignore the incoming stream of resumes -- a key contact channel was eliminated.

Comment:

With industries cutting back, simple networking turned into a dead end. A job hunter's two dozen regular colleagues offered no leads.

Recruiters were hit doubly hard. More talent on the street allowed companies to fit positions without assistance. In addition, recruiting budgets were the first items cut. Commissioned searches dryed up. Recruiters were no longer an effective resource.

An alternative contact method is needed. Job hunters are desperate for a way to showcase their skills. The next chapter tackles this requirement.

Your Part In This

As a job counselor, you play a critical role in fixing the job hunt process. You are the gatekeeper. By virtue of being the advice giver, you have the responsibility to provide the best guidance possible.

Part of this responsibility is difficult -- you must evaluate yourself. Are you being as effective as possible? What should you change?

Some of the responsibility can't be avoided. The "I don't believe you" look isn't going away. You have a tough job.