Being unemployed affects much more than income

When we hear about someone out of work, whether it be our family, friends, colleagues etc., we immediately think about how bad we feel for that person, that a job loss equates to a loss of income, a sense of security, providing for their family etc. And we automatically jump into positive energy mode, exemplifying optimism that everything is going to be alright, that everything is going to work out and, of course, 'don't worry, I'm sure you'll find somethng soon'. And this is all very true. People feel bad. People want to show empathy.

But there is so much more to being unemployed - I call it the vicious cycle.

Firstly, unless someone has been living under a rock, it is not easy to get another job after losing one. It can take months, even years. (I feel an entire blog series coming on around the whole job search, recruiting, online application process). Can you imagine the emotional, mental and physical health issues associated with being unemployed for that long? Feelings of hopelessness, defeat, struggle - slipping deeper and deeper into complacency that things will never change.

And if people were fortunate enough to get the severance package they deserve, even coupled with savings, they can get depleted pretty quickly. Financial distress can cause further damage in the vicious cycle. No job, no money, no options.

There are always options. But are they the right ones for us.

One of my LinkedIn connections had mentioned how after being a corporate executive for 20 plus years, someone suggested to them they should apply at Wal-Mart. Hey, I love Wal-Mart like the next person but maybe, a different approach could have worked, for example, finding out that person's areas of expertise and then going through their contacts' list and seeing if there could be some introductions made within their network. Like I said, I love Wal-Mart but unless I'm working in their marketing, business development, business operations, employee advocacy and/or people and culture department(s), I'm not sure I would be happy as a cashier. Unless....I was desperate.

This brings me to my next point - there has been this age-old stigma associated with not being open about being unemployed because 'employers look more favourably to candidates who are currently working'. Perhaps, but should it be this way? With so many companies restructuring, it's not unheard of that people are unemployed, people are losing jobs every hour of the day. (I could google for stats but I'm sure this statement is fairly accurate).

People have rent and bills and need to put food on the table. There is nothing wrong with asking for help, with saying you're out of work and are looking for opportunities. We all have an ask, don't we? We spend so much time online and offline making connections, to be part of a supportive community. What good is all that if we can't ask for help?

Being unemployed DOES NOT equate to being a failure. Please repeat after me. Being unemployed DOES NOT equate to being a failure.

We ALL have value, we are all talented. We all have a value proposition. We just need more people to be open-minded enough to translate all those skills and attributes to being a valuable asset to a company or multiple companies. (Reference the blog series comment above).

Side note: When I chatted with some of my connections about some of the reasons it's been difficult to secure their next job, the following issues continued to be mentioned:

Internal hiring or hiring of upper level management family and friends; resume tracking system rejecting resumes immediately; employers seeking certain years of experience even if they post the job is entry level; employers looking for experience but companies not giving employees a chance to get that experience; job descriptions are too stringent, while others aren't descriptive enough, and altogether not 100% realistic; employers looking for the perfect resume, overlooking human intelligence and diligence and much-needed soft skills; the relationship etiquette, or lack thereof, between the recruiter and candidate; age discrimination and various unconscious bias' that exist; resumes don't get through the ATS systems from more than qualified candidates, yet the same job postings are regurgitated online month over month for a year; receiving rejection emails when the candidate didn't even go to the interview; the job search process needs to be based on relationship-bulding between human beings, not a resume and job board. There's so many more and I look forward to exploring them further in future posts.

In the meantime, I've had the pleasure of meeting so many amazing people in my network, both online and in-person who are passionate, driven, motivated and want to be part of something bigger. They are struggling to find work but they remain optimistic every single day. They have hope even when things look hopeless. They show up on LinkedIn daily/weekly, supporting their peers while hoping doors will open for themselves as well.

We might not be able to directly offer people jobs but there are other ways we can support those who are unemployed and looking for their next opportunity. I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know these connections who are amazing people and offer a lot of value. I wish I was in a position to hire them all.

I hope you connect with them and get to know them. Taking a chance on people allows for limitless possibilities.

Below are a few of my connections and a little bit about them professionally and personally. Connect with them, check out their bios, connect them to recruiters if you can, or if you're a recruiter yourself, then take the time to have a phone chat with them. If you see a job posting that might resonate with any of them, let them know. Small gestures can go a long way and truly make a difference in someone's life.

You were there once too. Do you remember the first time someone took a chance on you?

Srbui Alazyan is passionate about finding her next opportunity. Her formal area of expertise is in Accounting, Human Resources and Project Management. She wants to take her career to the next level and shine in the creative areas of event coordination, entertainment production and pursue her dream of being part of the promotions for The Ellen Show. She doesn’t just want a job but a career! Companies would be lucky to have her because of her drive and ambition to impact others, while working in areas that promote her purpose and passion. She wants more than just showing up for the paycheck, although that helps of course. Srbui loves creating things from beautiful baskets to flower arrangements and is very resourceful when it comes to budgeting and finding the materials she requires at discount prices. She loves to travel and explore different parts of the world, where she says, “it’s the best education humanly possible.” She includes cooking, gardening, music and movies to her list of many hobbies. When looking for her next opportunity, she says, “I want marriage and not just to date. Someone took a chance on me a decade ago and I’m looking for that next chance to grow my career and exceed new expectations.”

Anna Bekoeva is looking for her next opportunity in Program/ Project Management in a marketing/advertising space that focuses on retail. She also enjoys the creative environment. She combines an extensive creative background with a strong project management and marketing communications expertise. She has a BAA, Diploma in Multimedia Design, had taken a variety of Leadership and Communication courses through Hudson’s Bay Company University, PMP in-progress and 15+ years of combined experience in Digital and Print Design and Production, Marketing Communications and 4+ years of experience in the Project/Program Management at various companies and industries. Anna’s professional attitude and business etiquette focuses on demonstrated loyalty and dedication to her role and the company overall. She is a great team player and always goes the extra mile to assist her team and deliver an exceptional result. On a personal note, Anna is very approachable and always has a smile on her face ?? Very few people know that Anna painted and donated 2 icons for her church. 

Deborah Bubis has 15 years of accounting, auditing, admin, HR and staffing experience that she would ultimately love to transition into a position in Diversity and Inclusion for Individuals with Disabilities and Employment. Deborah has found her why! Her struggles, combined with the struggles with others, has brought her to her passion and purpose. She would ideally like a role in the Center City Philadelphia area. She continues to look at professional development and growth, for herself and ultimately others. Deborah says, “ I feel like we are one of the most under represented communities, and that there is so much talent to be found. It's time to bring awareness and sensitivity, and to employ us for the skills that we have fought to have.” Deborah’s core competencies in HR include managing, analyzing and auditing functions including: talent acquisition, benefits and compensation, employee relations and compliance with applicable laws and regulations. She is proficient in Microsoft Office, HRIS (SAP and ADP), PeopleSoft Financials, ATS, CRM and proprietary databases. Deborah says that culture is more important to her than money, but she does want opportunities for growth in an environment that is team oriented and goal driven.  I could list an array of fun facts about Deborah but anyone who knows her knows that she is like herbal team, soothing and comforting for the people that cross paths with her. Her good nature is only surpassed by her good heart.

Blessing Dikko is skillful in administrative works, highly proficient in Microsoft Suite, has a knack to deliver optimal customer service and enjoys working with and helping others.  Blessing has experience working with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and has a passion for developing her career in the humanitarian sector. Companies would be lucky to have her because of her positive attitude and work ethic, she says ‘she goes the extra mile to deliver an exceptional service’. She appreciates a positive work culture, where employees can get to know each other on a more personal level, for example, celebrating birthdays and milestones. 

Kaisar Hamid has a ‘can do and will do’ attitude who’s primary focus in on Communications and Client Strategy and Customer Service. His communication skills and problem-solving skills are a complement to his adaptability in various environments, while focusing on collaboration and relationship-building. Kaisar’s willingness to learn and help others provides companies the opportunity to build a strong team who are passionate about achieving team success. Kaisar loves children, enjoys movies and walking in the rain. He enjoys swimming and movies. He was hoping to become a footballer. Nothing scares him but cockroaches.

Henry Gerard Lucero is a creative leader whose primary focus is creative development and brand marketing for a wide range of industries that include but not limited to fashion, sports, and entertainment. His passion is geared towards any and all things creative and he thrives in a strong team environment. He has an extensive skill set that includes creative direction and team leadership, brand development and production design, along with other skills that include photography, media production and apparel buying/merchandising to name a few. Companies would be lucky to have Henry on their team because he’s results-driven, multi-disciplined in a variety of areas, and enjoys helping companies make something out of nothing. His can-do attitude allows him to rolls up his sleeves to get the job done, all while doing so with a smile on his face. He is not foreign to wearing many hats and carrying multiple responsibilities and is often focused on creating positive work environments. Henry enjoys watching movies and tv shows which explains why he can quote almost anything he watches or listens to. Henry has a love for travel and exploring new places, adding to his appreciation for diverse cultures.

Oluwabunmi Oladimeji is a Brand and Marketing Communications Strategist. She is a media buyer and very data-driven, using it to analyze and understand her audience. Oluwabunmi is a go-getter who doesn’t believe in the word ‘impossible’. Companies would be lucky to have her because she believes in teamwork, achieving success for the people she works with, the company who employs her and ultimately for herself. An intelligent woman who is a strategic thinker, she is analytical and resourceful. She enjoys social events and watching movies. A humanitarian who has ‘single handedly sponsored a lot of people through life and helped them find their feet in society’.Oluwabunmi is an anti-bullying advocate who stands up for women by sharing her voice against domestic violence, while giving people hope that their lives will get better. She grew up an orphan and was a mother to her three brothers at the age o 16. She had to stop attending school, so she could earn an income, to send her siblings to school and they all graduated and have successful careers. She re-visited going back to school and graduated with a university degree.

Gina Vastola has been working in control rooms for about 20 years. Her area of expertise includes television graphics and broadcast operations. She has a keen sense of the technical and editorial needs of live television productions. In other facets of her life, she has been a volunteer for a soup kitchen/community center for countless years and aside for her passion of helping others, she developed skills to would help her get work in the non-profit sector. Gina is also a Gala, Silent Auction and Development Committee Member, assisting local businesses in the planning and execution of deliverables associated with various events. During the 45th anniversary of “The Godfather”, Gina met Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall and Talia Shire during an interview at NBC Studios.  She also once volunteered at the Grammy Awards as a talent escort for John Goodman. She recently registered with Americorps, a government program that places people in volunteer positions for one year, in order to acquire skills for placement in federal jobs.

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