Growth and Development

Is Being Unemployed Ruining You?

Priscilla, Serenity Amidst Frustration

When you have a desire to work but can’t find a job, unemployment can especially be hard.

But, it’s important to control your response to this challenging situation. Being unemployed, for an extended period, can result in bitterness or brokenness, if you’re not careful.

I recently read a blog post, published on LinkedIn, entitled, Why Being Unemployed Ruins You and How to Stop It. The writer references the results of a personality study, published in the Journal of Applied Psychology, which found: long bouts of unemployment can change personalities. These changes can, in turn, make the job hunt harder, according to many, so the piece includes a few tips for “the retaining of core traits” while transitioning.

The title, though, stayed on mind.

“Why Being Unemployed Ruins You . . .”

Continue reading “Is Being Unemployed Ruining You?”

Advertisements
Job Search
job search frustration

Job Search Frustration: Causes, Responses, and Management

Priscilla, Serenity Amidst Frustration

You’re frustrated.

You explore and research companies of interest, apply for targeted job positions, follow-up on submitted resumes and employment applications, interview for these positions when called, follow-up post interview, and do it all again (with continual learning and improvement)—hoping to land a job offer.

Despite your best efforts, however, you usually receive one of two responses from prospective employers: a rejection letter or the silent treatment.

And, you’re struggling to hold on to your faith and uplift your spirit. You’re struggling to maintain your motivation. You’re struggling to keep up your enthusiasm.

This is normal.

Continue reading “Job Search Frustration: Causes, Responses, and Management”

Growth and Development
new year reflections while unemployed

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.

new year reflections while unemployed
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.”

Continue reading “2018 New Year Reflections and Considerations, In Case You Missed Them”

Unemployment Commentary

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.

Continue reading “Hurtful Comments During Unemployment”

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.

Continue reading “Self-Doubt: Is It Plaguing Your Job Search?”

Recruitment and Selection

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).

Continue reading “Labor Research Uncovers the Why Behind Employers’ Reluctance to Hire Long-Term Unemployed”