Is Career Hibernation an Option for You?

I read an interesting comment recently about the struggles of people to find a new position in these difficult economic times. The comment was “It was easy to find a job when the economy was very strong. Resumes were a formality. If you knew someone you could get into a company fairly easily. The only reason people can’t find a job today is there aren’t enough jobs. Fix the economy and the problem goes away.” It was a valid comment in that it points out another thought about why people may not be able to find the employment they desire. It does have some merit. On the other hand, you may be like most people; you are not likely to place your career in hibernation until the economy makes the job search process “easy”.

The assumption made is that when the economy is strong, it takes little to get another job. For example, a new job may come from someone you know. It might come from finding a company struggling to find someone with the skills the job seeker possesses. They get in touch somehow and employment occurs.

It also assumed when the economy is weak, it will not be possible to gain employment until there are more jobs regardless of the practices the job seeker prosecutes. The answer was focus on economic issues, cure them and employment is cured as well.

We cannot argue with the law of supply and demand for labor, it is not our focus. We are not in charge of economic policies. We cannot implement what we feel are the best economic policies to prevent recessions and the business cycle. We can, of course, vote for those who will. But, that is another story.

We have narrowed our focus to a close examination of how most people go about finding their jobs, regardless of the economic conditions. We also know how the job search process can be made successful for those who want success. We have over fifty years of combined experience in research of that process and results.

Is it true that sometimes the accepted practices such as, answering job postings, sending resumes and cover letters to companies, and networking in some manner will work? Sure, sometimes they will, typically only for a few. Will it work consistently is the real question. Our experience tells us it does not work consistently for everyone. It is more often akin to playing the lottery, except that with the lottery, the odds may be better.

Why have individuals who have exemplary employment backgrounds not been able to find new employment in strong economic conditions? We know that this situation exists today because we have been asked for help from those with exceptional credentials and experience who have not had success gaining employment. In evaluating their situation, they followed all the common or standard practices for finding employment. After teaching them the insider skills they needed, they succeeded in achieving their goal of seizing the right opportunities.

Common sense tells us that when the labor supply is limited and the demand is strong, there are fewer unemployed. At the same time, our experience tells us, even when the job market is robust, there are many who cannot find the employment they seek. As we have examined the reasons why, it became apparent they did not possess the unique skills to achieve the success they desired.

The common denominator we have encountered is the type of skills each possessed and the practices they followed. In every case they applied the common or standard practices that did not create the success they wanted. In each case when we taught them the skills they needed and they applied them, they found the employment they sought. Our conclusions are based on encounters with thousands of people seeking employment we have helped.

For many years this training and teaching has been conducted in a one-on-one situation. Rather than continuing to offer instruction in a one on one manner every time, we have chosen to use the technology available today to help as many as possible at one time. We recognize the magnitude of the problem created and it drives us to offer a solution for many rather than the few. We still offer one-on–one instruction for those who might prefer that type of assistance or for those whose circumstances are unique.

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