Navigating the Emotional Rollercoaster: Under-skilled and Unemployed

Unemployment can be one of the most trying periods in anyone’s career. Though this situation befalls >40% of first jobbers under 25 years of age, not everyone knows how to handle this difficult phase.

In India, graduate-level education can be an expensive affair, especially for middle-class families. In many cases, families’ entire future can rest on a first-generation graduate’s success in the job market.?

However, given the mismatch between the traditional education system and the industry demands, many students fail to secure a job, let alone a career. The result could be devastating not only for the students but for their families. Additionally, unemployment brings great financial and social uncertainty. Then there’s fear of societal judgment. Students may withdraw from their social circles- sometimes even from their friends and family, especially when their friends grab a good offer. And, this alienation only dampens their career prospects further.

Losing self-esteem, and developing a pessimistic outlook on their career prospects or, life in general are only some of the other aspects of the issue. In short, unemployment may set a domino effect in motion- bringing in more challenges than we can handle.

We know that ‘overcoming unemployment’ is easier said than done. Many of us are familiar with the hours of scrolling through the internet and browsing through newspapers in search of a suitable opening. We fill out endless cover letters that become second nature, even when battling the emotional side of the situation. In this situation, keep in mind that the current situation is only a hiccup.

Some Pointers to Help You

True, unemployment is a temporary situation, but only if you have the right mindset and the right strategy.

1.? ? ? ? ? ? Acceptance: The sooner you accept the realities of the situation, the quicker you will be in finding the route to your career goals. Start by paying attention to the constructive feedback you get from your past HR rounds. This will help you identify the reasons behind your interview failures. You could also take note of what the employers are looking for in their candidates. Mentors and peers could also help you in identifying your skill gaps.

2.? ? ? ? ? ? Maintaining Self-Confidence: As you come face to face with your challenge points, it is easy to lose heart and become demotivated. At such times, the cookie jar method could be a useful trick i.e. you would have several accomplishments that you achieved with significant efforts and are proud of. These are your cookies. You could reach for them (remember them) in moments of self-doubt.

3.? ? ? ? ? ? Placement Assessments: Firms use placement assessments to profile candidates’ technical skills, aptitude, domain knowledge, etc. For instance, over 1,000 MNCs including giants like Adobe, Flipkart, HSBC, Capgemini, etc. use the Co-Cube Assessment Test. In fact, online learning platforms provide access to such assessments and some are free of cost. You could sign up for it and identify the careers that would suit you best.

4.? ? ? ? ? ? Creating an Action Plan: Now that you have identified the strengths you could build on and the areas needing attention, develop a comprehensive action plan. This could include brushing up your basics, signing up for upskilling courses- both free and paid, taking up projects on a volunteer basis to strengthen your resume, interning, etc. The idea is to be proactive. For instance, you could actively take part in coding competitions online. This will improve the quality of your skills- eg: practice will boost your coding speed and accuracy.

Once you decide on what you need to do, work on the ‘how’ part of it. Here, setting a routine is important. One consequence of being unemployed is being unbound by a schedule. This could mean unintentionally falling into the habit of wasting time. You should see your unemployment as a period for self-development. There are multiple options you could explore to prevent procrastination- such as the Pomodoro technique. Remembering your goals could also help you to stick to your schedule.

5.? ? ? ? ? ? Network: Unemployment brings out the recluse in many. Resist the urge to withdraw from social circles and make conscious effort to build and maintain professional networks during this period. Reaching out to peers and existing employees in the firms of your choice is an option that mustn’t be underestimated. This could help you gain insights and insider information on what the employers are looking for, the work culture, etc. Social media platforms like LinkedIn could be useful in this regard.

6.? ? ? ? ? ? Eyes on the Prize: When you start following these steps, multiple opportunities start coming your way. At this phase, blindly opting for the first job that the market offers is a mistake many make and regret later on. Pause and consider the job offer in detail. Check to see if the job description matches your career aspirations before signing the dotted line.

7.? ? ? ? ? ? Self-care: Take care to maintain a positive mindset throughout this period. It could be as simple as following the advice of thought leaders or talking to your friends and family who have your best interests in mind. Make sure to take time off for your physical well-being and also for your hobbies. This will work wonders for your general motivation level.

That unemployment is a difficult phase is an undisputed fact. But it is not an impossible phase. Keep your mind open and identify the challenges that are blocking your path to your dream career. With the right mindset, you could convert these challenges into opportunities that even your successful friend may not have had. You just have to trust the process to get you through the tough times and help you land the career of your choice.