The End Is Near They’ve Run Out Of Jobs!
Posted on October 20th, 2008
There are no jobs in (fill in your city’s name). Its not what you know but whom you know that gets you a job in (same city’s name).
How often have you heard those statements? Are they true? They are if you believe them. You will not find a shortage of people willing to spread that negative message. Before you buy into the alleged truth, consider the sources. Typically, those that utter these discouraging facts are either members of the press or people who personally have difficulty finding employment. I would be willing to bet that those same people would find it difficult anywhere.
Lets take a look at the media. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that negative news sells better than happy news. You’ll notice that news programs seldom use a warm fuzzy feel good story to lure you back after a commercial. It’s not sensational enough and it won’t generate good ratings. They’re not going to stand up to a show like the Jerry Springer variety that draws viewers like flies to a carcass.
A financial advisor friend of mine complained that the worst thing an investor could do was to listen to the news or read the financial section of the newspaper. The media needs to sensationalize their material to make you want to read it. He said he is forever calming investors’ nerves because they read in the paper about impending stock market crashes or explosive growth opportunities. What the media was really saying was that the market was either going up or down. Then he likened it to an elevator. Would you get on an elevator if your only choices on the buttons were Soar or Plummet?
A colleague of mine was frustrated after reading a headline in the paper proclaiming that youth unemployment was alarmingly high. He said that, statistically, the numbers have never changed by more than 1% over the last thirty years. The media doesn’t use that information because who would be enticed to read it?
As for those that say there aren’t any jobs here, or you need to be connected to someone, or it will be a hopeless situation, let me introduce you to an old maxim, You will find what you are looking for. I had a client come to me for help with her resume. She told me, People were right. Its not what you know but who you know in this city that gets you a job. I replied, Oh, okay. I asked her about her husband and grown son who had also just moved into the city with her. She said, Oh they are both working. They found jobs right away! Doesn’t it seem odd that for two out of the three newcomers to our city, that the rule doesn’t apply? Apparently, nobody told her husband and son how things work around here.
The next time someone wants to share with you about how bleak and dismal the employment situation is around your city, simply smile, nod and walk away quickly. Are there jobs in your city? Absolutely! I had one client call me at the office to ask me how to politely say no to a job offer. She’d been given four that week but could only choose one. Poor woman, I guess no one filled her in on the news about a job shortage.
A wise man once told me that if he were diagnosed with a disease where there was only a 10% survival rate he would get busy studying what the 10% did that the other 90% didn’t. Same logic applies here, study what the successful job seekers have done and do the same. Create your own good news.
Larry Arrance has facilitated workshops for over 4,000 job seekers and career changers. He has personally guided hundreds through the development of powerful marketing tools in their quest to gain employment. During his 12 years as an employment coach and facilitator he has helped clients that ranged from those who were just entering the market, the long-termed unemployed, professionals making major career changes, and victims of restructuring. He is one the part of the three amigos, specializing in career and job search advice. http://www.winthedebtgame.com
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