Don't Be Paralyzed by Statistics - Four Reasons to Keep Searching for that Job
Headlines are filled with reports of massive job losses. Last week, the U.S. unemployment rate for June was reported at 11.1%, a far cry from the recent low of 3.5% this past February.
It's natural to feel some sense of despair during a job search right now. You may be asking, "Is it even worth trying given these lousy statistics?" The answer is a resounding "Yes."
Here are four good reasons why you should continue trying to find that job:
Statistics are simply characterizations of a data set. In the case of employment, it's a huge data set. The fact is, you are only looking for one job. Hearing poor job market statistics may drag down your optimism, but people ARE getting jobs. People ARE being onboarded remotely, especially in knowledge worker roles that can be performed at home. Keep your eye on the prize and do your best to ignore sensationalistic headlines.
A lot of shuffling is happening due to the pandemic. The Chinese word for crisis consists of two characters, one representing danger and one representing opportunity. Some firms made tough decisions at the onset of the pandemic, but they may re-staff over time, creating substantial turnover. Not every employee who was let go will find their way back to their original position. Households will relocate, and seats will be refilled in a decidedly random fashion. The mere fact that change is occurring is a reason to be active in your search.
Changes are emerging in the nature of work and the world economy. Some sectors may continue to be disadvantaged for some time, including air travel, restaurants, lodging, and perhaps brick-and-mortar retail. Other areas are seeing a surge in demand, including eCommerce and digitally delivered entertainment. These market pressures will dictate a reconstitution of the workforce, reducing the need for some roles but increasing demand for others. During that transition, there will be movement and opportunity.
With more people working from home, many have regained the extra hours they would have spent commuting. That gives them more time to engage with candidates -- to take that phone call or to have that Zoom meeting. Also, I believe that people may be more empathetic these days since everyone is experiencing some struggle due to the current pandemic.
Don't let statistics deter you from continuing your search. It may take more persistence than before, but the goal is achievable. When you secure your next position, you'll be happy you shut out the noise and kept your focus!
I offer individualized career coaching and advising (remote and in-person) along with text, email, and phone support to help job seekers succeed. I've hired more than 100 people and interviewed over 500 candidates. I've worked at large global companies like Morgan Stanley and a company that is now part of Bank of America Private Bank and founded/worked at six startups. I welcome you to contact me and join my mailing list and receive my free guide, "Top 5 Young Adult Job Search Myths."