Supporting job seekers...just be there!

It took about 15 seconds for me to learn some valuable lessons.

Several years ago, business conditions forced me to look for a new role, and I wrote a short note to a former colleague I had worked with for more than a decade. During our time together, my team supported him and his staff, and I was certain he now could provide me with some guidance.

My note detailed two roles I was considering, and asked for his thoughts on the companies and their leaders (he knew both very well). I asked if he would serve as a reference if I reached that stage in the hiring process. Finally, I disclosed why I would be leaving my current role and that I would soon be in the job market.

Almost immediately after sending the note, his response came back: “Sorry to hear. I’ll keep an eye out. Thanks.”

Ouch.

While his response was short and none too sweet, it told me a great deal in a very short space. First, he had not read my note in any detail. My guess is he skimmed it, thought, “OK, he’s looking for a job,” and took the obligatory time to respond, hit send and delete … and moved on with his day. Just for fun, I decided to check how long that process took and it was – on a good day – 15 seconds. His note also told me that he was not someone I could count on to help in my job search. Therefore, perhaps in that sense, it was useful. There was no need to waste my time reaching out to him in the future.

Those 15 seconds also gave me a quick lesson in what not to do when people ask for my help. Over my career, I have learned much from poor bosses, and this lesson certainly was a “teachable moment.” He moved on, and so did I.

But, it gave me some thoughts on how to behave when people reach out for assistance:

Be there and listen. Typically, when your unemployed friends or colleagues write or call, they want nothing more than simply to discuss their employment challenge. For many, this is the first time they have had to find a new opportunity in many years, and letting them know that they are not alone, and that they will almost certainly find success, can be reassuring. Obviously, this means you must be willing to take the time to talk (and it should be more than 15 seconds!). Make the time.

Provide guidance, not judgment. In some recent discussions, people have told me things that made me understand either why their role was eliminated or provided foreseeable signs that the change was coming. In one case, a friend disclosed a discussion he had with his manager that essentially made the case his role should be eliminated, but he had not seen this coming. My first instinct was to make him aware of these circumstances, but that would not have helped. Instead, I focused more on the task ahead of finding a new role. At the appropriate time (after that role is landed), I may find a way to provide feedback and help the job seeker avoid similar circumstances in the future.

Offer help and follow up. There is usually some way you can help, even if you do not have a specific idea on a new role. Volunteering to look at a resume, (I am amazed how many people have not updated their paperwork for many years) or LinkedIn profile (if they don’t have one, convince them to create one) can be a huge help. Providing a recommendation on LinkedIn or offering to connect them to members of your network also can be helpful. Later, check back to see how they are doing. It’s amazing how beneficial a follow-up call can be.

Be available. When you offer to help, make sure the job seekers know this is not a one-stop shop. It can be comforting for them to know that you will be available as needed, and that they’re not bothering you.

Being thrust into the job market is never easy, but there are things you can do to help people facing that challenge. Taking the time to help your friends and colleagues through this process can be rewarding for them and for you. Take the time!