Dream Killer or Dream Builder?
One of the most frustrating elements of my job is helping people see the connection between what is and how they want things to be. Dream killer? I don’t think so. I consider it being a realist with a strong aversion to paying bills on time and maintaining a roof over someone’s head. Dreaming can be a key ingredient in imagining where you want to go, but it is the actual work involved, step by step, that takes you there. By identifying circumstances as they really are, a person is able to take tangible, real-time steps to get where they want to be.
Many times, my observations of job seekers’ daily behavior give me a pretty accurate perception of how they will perform on the job. I don’t think too many people would argue that current or past behavior is typically what an employer will evaluate to provide an indicator for future behavior. It is for that reason, I often find myself in the middle of a discussion about why someone has not responded to a request in a timely way, why they were unavailable to attend an event, or why they didn’t complete a promised action, wondering what they would have said if any of the commitments were for required actions at work.
Every day I see plenty of signs that there is work available. I also know that the “cool” stuff is identified by internal folks before it hits the streets. Without investing the time and effort to reach people who are already working, a job seeker is pretty much cutting off the likelihood that they will be in the running for any positions by the time they are posted. But more importantly, by not first exhibiting behaviors that indicate reliability and competence in their field, it is unlikely anyone will stick their neck out to refer them for something when it does show up.
It’s not that I intentionally set out to kill a dream. I intentionally establish and enforce guidelines that are widely accepted as desirable practices in the work place (you know- where you get paid for work and are expected to show up on time). In that regard, I move people to establish habits that ensure projects and responses to others are completed in a timely way. The more job seekers argue about “why I didn’t” and seek less to learn “how I can”, the more I suggest that perhaps they are not ready to return to work and own the responsibility of many of the roles they seek. Employers look for solutions to problems, not excuses. Even carefully thought out reasons for issues are expected to have potential solutions at the other end.
Regardless of the endless reasons someone gives for what they do or do not do when unemployed, an employer will still have expectations that do not allow for excuses. I cannot begin to comment on the psychological aspects of why people do not get things done, but the outcomes are still the same, whether the reasons are physical or psychological.
I would like to see everyone realize their dreams. If the current dream is unrealistic, then there are alterations that need to be made. It will involve a change of habits, change of time frames for accomplishing it, or a change of the dream itself. But, continuing to do the same thing, the same way expecting different results.. well, you know what that is.
The following are some key indicators, and truly elementary issues to address to determine if someone is ready and able to go to work.
Daily Habits - If you are not getting up at an hour that would typically be required to allow you time for your morning commute and expected timely arrival at a workplace, then you are seriously setting yourself up for disaster when it is time to go back to work. If you are taking two hours out in the middle of the day to complete your workout or walk the dog, how will that be accomplished if you are at work each day during those hours? It is important to develop habits that are sustainable after you go back to work.
Time Management - If you are missing deadlines for submittals, or cutting it down to the wire, you are getting in your own way. If you have promised work or responses to others by specific times and found you are unable to meet the deadlines, how do you think that will reflect on you when it is time for someone to refer you? If you are unable to manage prior commitments without dropping the ball now, how credible do you think your project management skills seem?
Excuses or Solutions - If you continue to find excuses for everything that goes wrong or doesn’t happen when/how it should now, how are you going to present yourself during an interview, much less, on the job should you get that far? Test yourself the next time you find an excuse, or choose to defend an action rather than solve the problem. If you were supervising someone that came to you with the same stories, how would you be listening? Would you excuse it, or expect something different if you were held accountable for the overall outcome when it came time to defend a project’s status to your supervisor?
Health - If your health has prevented you from working 40 hours per week on your job search and related activities now, what are you doing to prepare yourself for a 40-hour week (or more) that may be attached to the jobs you are pursuing? Something has to give. Either different type of work is in order, or a part time role may be needed.
Family Commitments or Childcare - What might seem obvious to some, is not to others. Organizations exist because there is work to be done. When a person accepts a commitment to perform or produce, they are being counted on to be present or to deliver as promised. If family commitments or unreliable child care are getting in the way of you doing what you need to do to conduct your job search, then something needs to change before it is time for you to return to work, not after.
Realistic Targets – If you are not getting bites for the roles you are pursuing, there is a reason. It could be that you are not competitive at the level you are seeking, or the roles are filled by insiders before you get there, or there is simply less of a market for what you offer. In any of these cases, it is possible your immediate goal needs to change to become more in tune with today’s market.
Go after your dreams. Make them happen by dealing with your current circumstances realistically. Let us know if there are changes you have adopted that clearly made a difference in your successful accomplishment of any steps related to the fulfillment of your dreams.
Are You Really Ready to Return to Work?
Every day I hear from job seekers that claim their job search is their highest priority..but, there is always a caveat. It is the “except for” that really defines the reality of the moment. I naturally take note of all of the reasons people offer for not immediately jumping on each and every lead they receive, even when they have declared their situation is dire, i.e., close to homelessness or bankruptcy. In order to be able return to work after an extended or even short absence from the workplace, it is important to take inventory of what is currently going on in your life that might truly prevent your from successfully becoming reemployed.
Are you physically able to return to the work you were last doing? Medically speaking, you need to know what you are able to endure, i.e., type of work, number of hours you can perform, and how far you are able to travel to do it. Go get the check up you have been putting off. Practice doing the work you are expecting to do, for 8-10 hours each day, for one week. Drive the commute during peak hours. Know for certain before you start work, that you are able to do it.
Are you mentally able to do the work you last did? If you have you experienced setbacks in regard to your health, sanity or quality of life due to work related stress or demands, then it is time to take inventory of what has happened in your past experience. Pay attention to what has created undesirable side affects in the past and determine if current circumstances will allow you to return to a similar environment or situation without repercussions.
Is your business in order? Many people have open issues that continue to interrupt their focus. Going to work is only going to compound the stress of not having finished a project, and will also extend how long it may take to wrap it up. Make sure you are ready to accept that status, before you commit to something new that you cannot focus on 100%. Auto and home repairs need to be attended to before you go to work. If they are currently interrupting time needed to invest in your search, then how in the world will you deal with them during a normal work day?
Is your family in order? Before you can return to work it is important to ensure that childcare for young children is arranged, transportation for older children to go to school or other activities is arranged, and that medical appointments have been set at times that fit with the your work schedule if you are required to accompany them.
Are your sleep habits conducive to the hours you will be required to spend at work? One of the biggest impacts on people returning to work and a regular business schedule, is their ability to go to bed at a reasonable hour and get up in the morning. If you are currently staying up until 2:00 or 3:00 A.M. and sleeping to 11:00, then expect it to take weeks to change your internal clock to function with a normal work schedule if the expected hours are 9:00 – 5:00.
Are you refreshed and ready to go? Keep in mind, the new kid on the block is typically going to be at the bottom of the totem pole when it comes to choosing vacation days or actually earning them any time soon. If you simply need a break before you begin, then factor that in when negotiating a start date. No need to tell them what you are doing, simply set a date that allows you to do what you need to get back in the game at 100%.
If this has given you a wake up call, or there are any other areas you can think of that could impact someone’s ability to return to work, please share!
