“The Unemployed Aren’t Lazy…There Just Aren’t Any Jobs”

Last night when shamelessly trolling Facebook in a zombie-like manner after a long day, I came across a comment someone made on a post that was getting contentious (surprised?) regarding the minimum wage hike to $15 per hour. I just kept scrolling thinking “not my circus, not my monkeys,” because I don’t employ low-wage workers. But today, that comment popped up in my mind when yet another candidate I’m trying to hire no-showed for an interview.

No jobs?

Well, I cannot speak for every place in America, but as a small business that employs over 50 people and is, and has been, continuing to hire and grow over this past year (which puts me in a .4% minority of ALL people walking around AND gives me a more credible opinion about the workforce than most people talking about it), here’s what I can say for sure…

There are PLENTY of good, high-paying jobs available – what’s missing are the people who are willing to actually show up and DO them.

Over the last year, we hired over 22 NEW employees. In the sales department alone, we have looked at well over 1,000 resumes from people who applied for a job at my organization. Most are full of typos, capitalization mistakes and poor grammar. A big majority clearly did not bother to read the job ad because they contain ZERO of the qualifications we are looking for. VERY, very few bother to write a short note or cover letter to introduce themselves and explain why they would be interested in working for us OR why they would be a good candidate – so we eliminate nearly 80% of them right off the bat from a glance at their poorly written, sloppy, half-baked resume.

Of the few that actually make the cut and are invited to a first interview with me personally, 53% flat out no-show for the interview. 53%!!!! And I’m interviewing people who are applying for six-figure positions, not minimum wage. In our junior sales position, which still pays well above-average, we have a 74% no show rate for interviews. No jobs? Nuts.

But it doesn’t just end at no-showing for the interview (I wish). Recently I had to fire two new employees because they couldn’t show up on time. Getting up early enough to be at work on time was just too damned hard.

It seems to me that the real problem is NOT a lack of good paying jobs but a lack of appreciation for honest work. Nearly every business owner I know IS hiring and WOULD eagerly pay the right person a generous salary for a number of different positions – IF they would show up, batteries included and actually do their job without someone having to BEG or BABYSIT their dumb ass. Sadly, this is not the majority of people out there.

I know this is an unpopular idea, but genuine hard work, integrity, humility, professionalism, extreme ownership of the results and responsibility of your job (thank you Jocko) and a willingness to EARN UP in an organization is still what brings in the big paycheck and job security. Let’s not confuse the few who are truly “less fortunate” with the majority who are simply lazy, entitled brats who have zero respect and appreciation for an opportunity to WORK. 

And if anyone out there has THAT attitude, please send me your resume. I’m hiring…for ALL positions, but this one in particular:

https://www.dhirubhai.net/jobs/view/2403222015/