The last week or two I’ve noticed a trend. I’m seeing many of the same faces looking for jobs, but I’m also seeing those faces drag a bit lower. Individuals are scouring the job banks, checking out the job board, looking at the job descriptions, asking for new announcements and preparing resumes.
But their search is not yielding an end result!
They are discouraged, downcast and unenthusiastic. They know the road ahead is hard and they are looking for that light at the end of the tunnel, but it is not shining on them right now.
It is the job hunting blues. After much time and dedicated effort, so many people are feeling this phenomenon and are wondering what’s next.
Last week, the Women At Work networking session had a larger crowd than I had seen in a while. This monthly session is held in the evening on the second Wednesday of every month and is open to anyone looking for a job.
For a nominal donation, job seekers can share their story about their job hunt while networking with other individuals in the same predicament. This effort was created by volunteer power at Women At Work and has morphed into an opportunity for sharing, caring and outreach
Each person introduces themselves with a short narrative about their past jobs, their recent job hunting experiences and often a few details about the struggles. No one is embarrassed or made to feel self conscious about their issue because they are among friends. Everyone in the room is in the same predicament. They find compassion, resources and strength from the numbers.
I try each month to spend a few minutes greeting the attendees. It is an opportunity to welcome them to our center, but also to make them feel welcome. I was pleased to see more people this month, and I was acknowledged with a smile from many.
I stressed the need for them to keep coming to the center and to continue their efforts. Typically, there are questions about job trends, new markets or new employers being recruited. Are there more jobs coming in? Is there a trend for new fields or new areas? Are you seeing green jobs take off?
Have any new employers been added to the data bank, and if so what types of positions are they offering?
The visitors had a few questions, but their focus was more on what lies ahead.
The sessions typically last about 90minutes. Folks share their stories, exchange information and talk about the next steps. Sometimes their conversation is continued in the parking lot. Sometimes the sessions run almost 30 minutes over.
The positive step here is these individuals are fighting the job hunting blues. They are in contact with others, they are sharing their troubles and they are out networking to keep themselves going, active and involved.
If you find yourself discouraged by the job hunt and overcome with unhappiness try connecting with others. Try going outside your comfort zone. Keep fighting the job hunting blues!
Robin McCarthy is the executive director of Women at Work, a Pasadena-based career and job resource center. She can be reached at 626-796-6870 or at women@work.org.
