Growth and Development

2018 New Year Reflections and Considerations, In Case You Missed Them

Priscilla, Serenity Amidst Frustration

Happy New Year!

I gathered tidbits—from articles I’ve written—I thought would be helpful when looking back on 2017 and looking forward to the New Year. And, during the past week, I shared them on the now-defunct Serenity Amidst Frustration Facebook page.

We’re now in the second week of 2018, but I’m posting them here, in case you missed them. Following are the tips I shared.

2018 New Year Reflections and Considerations, In Case You Missed Them.
Unsplash Original Photo Courtesy of Robert Tudor. Edited by Priscilla.

Monday’s Tidbit and Explanation.

It’s easy to focus on your struggle to find a job—and forget what you’ve done in the past. But I encourage you to:

“Take time regularly and do the following: remind yourself about your accomplishments. Think about the compliments you received in previous roles and jobs. Think about the people you’ve helped along the way.”

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Unemployment Commentary
Snarky Remarks While Unemployed. Criticism Toward Unemployed

Hurtful Comments During Unemployment

Priscilla, Serenity Amidst Frustration

A few days ago, I read a blog post on job hunting, written specifically for ‘unemployed job seekers.’ What I found most problematic about it was: its unsolicited advice and argument—out of work persons shouldn’t stop looking for jobs for anything, including the holiday season.

Certainly, nothing’s wrong with the blogger/writer/”expert” advising her readers to continue their job searches during the holidays. But, something about this piece of content screamed insensitivity. Insensitivity toward the plight of those who are actively unemployed. Insensitivity toward the humanity of adult persons who are going through unemployment, despite their desires to work. Insensitivity I’m all too familiar with from my own experiences. Insensitivity I’ve gotten better at mentally handling but still find disturbing.

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Job Search
self-doubt job search

Self-Doubt: Is It Plaguing Your Job Search?

Priscilla, Serenity Amidst Frustration

Priscilla’s Disclaimer: Some content in this article was originally published in October 2014 and has been republished here with the addition of new content.

Upon publishing a previous article entitled, Oh, The Wait, I received a comment from Mr. John N. Frank of Always Be Job Hunting, which served as the inspiration for this article. He wrote:

“Long-term unemployment is so tough, but keep fighting the good fight. And always keep believing in yourself.”

Now, while his comment was encouraging, it also left me wondering: Do I still believe in my abilities and the value they’ll bring to a potential employer?

self-doubt job search
Self-Doubt: Is It Plaguing Your Job Search?
Unsplash Original Photo Courtesy of Niko Soikkeli. Edited by Priscilla.

An Example of Self-Doubt During the Job Search: My Experience

Sadly enough, upon pondering, I confessed: self-doubt, defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as “a feeling of doubt about one’s own abilities or actions,” had left me doubting my ability to get hired.

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Recruitment and Selection
employers are reluctant to hire long-term unemployed

Labor Research Uncovers the Why Behind Employers’ Reluctance to Hire Long-Term Unemployed

Priscilla, Serenity Amidst Frustration

The latest (July 2017) research by The I Z A Institute of Labor Economics reaffirms something we’ve known for some time now – from past labor and employment research and (possibly) experience: the longer you’re unemployed, the harder it is to find a job. But, it also goes one step further, providing insight into the thought patterns of those in hiring positions.

The lab experiment study, conducted by Eva Van Belle, Doctoral Researcher at Ghent University and other researchers from Ghent University (Professor Stijn Baert), KU Leuven (Professor Ralf Caers), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Lecturer Marijke De Couck), and the University of Oxford (Postdoctoral Researcher Valentina Di Stasio), evaluated the length of unemployment – using fictitious job candidates (differing in gender, educational attainment, work experience, and social activities) and participating HR professionals – on one’s chances of being hired. The participants, for the experiment, not only made hiring decisions, but also rated these qualified candidates based on their perceived characteristics: general signaling theory (lower motivation, intellectual and social capabilities), skill loss (or depreciation), queuing theory (lower trainability), and rational herding (based on the belief: if unemployed job applicants were productive, they would’ve been hired).

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Job Search
bad job search habits

7 Bad Habits That Might Be Holding Back Your Job Search Efforts

Priscilla, Serenity Amidst Frustration

Here on Serenity Amidst Frustration, you read a lot about developing good habits, throughout unemployment. There are articles with tips on: practicing gratitude, taking care of your whole self, getting wholesome laughs, targeting your job search, engaging in an interesting/skill-building activity, taking breaks, accepting your unemployment status, thriving on hope, maintaining a positive outlook, managing stress.

These habits—no doubt—are beneficial in coping with unemployment and moving forward. I say this from personal experience.

But, while these good habits move you forward, there are also bad habits fighting to hold you back. They drain your energy and negatively affect your job search efforts.

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Healthy Practices
Unemployment Causes Stress, Job Search is Stressful

Everything You Must Know About Unemployment Stress – And 5 Stress Management Tips to Consider

Priscilla, Serenity Amidst Frustration

As someone who’s on the search for your next position, you’re likely experiencing stress. After all, you’re going through it: your life has changed. You no longer have a stable source of income, you’re struggling to find a job, you’re living your ‘new normal.’

You’ve reached the point of exhaustion with your unemployed life. Still, stress aside, you’re focused on getting a job fast. You feel you can’t stop and calm down because you need money now.

But, please, reconsider this feeling. I’ve been there. And believe me: stopping to calm down and manage your stress isn’t a bad thing to do, when done in a healthy manner.

Losing a job (or role) and finding a job is stressful. When it comes to looking for employment, 83% of global working adults feel the job search is stressful, according to the results of a HIRED study. Imagine the percentage rate among those unemployed.

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