on job-seeking...part 1

For those of you who read my blog, it probably goes without saying that long periods of silence mean I am working through something and will return to writing once I have come to some resolve. That is partially the case with this post, but I am certainly not in the clear...yet. What I have found is a new perspective, which has made the last week brighter and restored hope to my outlook. If this post seems gloomy at first, bear with me, I'll get there.

Perhaps it was the way I was raised, thinking that joblessness is simply a code-word for weakness, laziness, or ignorance. I admit, that thought is appalling to me now, but for some reason I always thought that work was simple. You find a job, you work hard: simple. I look back with shame on all the times I have failed to have compassionate thoughts toward those who struggle financially or seem unable to land a job. There are an abundance of factors that play into even the simplest career move, especially in today's world.

Let's discuss logistics. Hiring in our society is no longer a simple matter of walking in the front door of a business, handing them your resume, sitting down for an interview, and being hired on the spot. If you live in a small town or perhaps the town you grew up in, things might still function more simply. But for those who move frequently or live in bigger cities with specialized industries, job-seeking can become much more complicated.

Complications are the name of the game with online applications. Maybe this system was adopted to weed out poor applicants or save the employer time, but online applications may have weaknesses of their own. It is impersonal. The job-seeker spends hours filling out online applications, only to receive a brief, automated response that the computer has, indeed, received your ever-so-personal, data-converted application. You, the job-seeker, are no longer Jana Dough with wonderful people skills and a cheery aspect; you are now the summation of data-entry now grouped with many other e-applicants like yourself.

Not only is e-application impersonal, but it may also be dehumanizing. Honestly, I do not mean this to sound like an over-reaction. But in what other area of life is it acceptable to have someone solicit your time, respect, and attention, only for you to ignore them, fail to respond, or plainly not acknowledge their humanity and needs? Understandably, businesses are likely flooded with applicants for each available opening, and logistically it is probably challenging to speak with each individual. So perhaps this is not merely a problem with e-hiring, but a problem in our tech-savvy society in general. Have we forgotten the importance of acknowledging and honoring human dignity as we become increasingly detached from physical reality and engrossed in nebulous technology? We may be forgetting our people skills and care.

Even though many job-seeking experiences transpire in the manner stated above, there are unique glimmers of hope that have tremendous powers of encouragement. Take Heidi, for example. She responds immediately after reviewing my application. She calls me, hears my voice, and seems genuinely interested in helping me find a position in her company. She sets up interviews and follows-up. If you are in a position responsible for hiring personnel, be a Heidi. Let people know that you believe they are inherently valuable and worthy of your time. As a representative of your company, it shows that your company cares about its employees. And you never know how much your efforts encourage those involved in what can be, a very discouraging process.

In the next post (on job-seeking...part 2), I will be writing about ways to surround yourself, the job-seeker, with godly encouragement, truth, and support. In the section above, I have discussed some of the external difficulties of job-hunting. Now I am moving on to discuss the internal dynamics of the search. Hopefully the discussion of the internal will reach your heart and bring you encouragement, as it has done for me.

the people with a story...

are definitely my favorite. Some people are storytellers, and gosh darn, I enjoy it. My roommate is one of those people, and she can turn any story into a comical saga. Beyond storytelling itself, I enjoy people who have life experiences that dramatically impact who they are today. Frequently I find that the more complicated the story, the more I like the person. There is something intriguing to me about pushing beyond quotidian appearances and hearing someone's heart, experiences, and perceptions.

Maggie told me about The Story of Us in high school, and I think that was the first film that piqued my interest in messy stories. The couple, Michelle Pfeiffer and Bruce Willis, are struggling to keep their marriage and family together. They share memories, seemingly insignificant, that comprise the core of their marriage. There are other films that capture the little, essential details that make a good story; The Family Stone and A River Runs Through It come to mind.

I've realized that not everyone shares my affinity for messy stories. Some individuals are gifted with a lightness in living that seems to soar and lift other people's spirits. Others are consumed by the pieces that don't fit, finding in them darkness rather than hope. But for me, these tiny details of failure, altered plans, glimmers of hope, and turning points, all draw me closer to the storyteller. I believe messy stories make others seem more approachable. "Oh yeah, she's a basket-case, just like me."

Perhaps that makes me cynical, finding hope in the fact that other people screw up too. But honestly, perfectionism is impossible...nobody buys it. I don't buy it. When I try to keep everything in perfect order, I know it's impossible. I know that behind my work and play, I am simply human, trying to make things work and continually wondering if I'm doing things right.

So the next time you're tempted to put on a front and act like everything is a-o-k, remember that your honesty may be more endearing than your perfections.

and then God said...

"Stop worrying."

As some of you may know, I am in the home stretch of my time in North Carolina. This fall I will be taking my last 9 hours of coursework at the seminary (hallelujah!). And after thaaaat, who knows? Every time I try to devise some sort of plan, I literally can't nail anything down. So I'm going to need to re-learn what it means to trust God. It just so happens that this time I'm trusting him with ev-er-y-thing: location, insurance, apartment, job, schooling, church, friends, finances, etc. That's right, it's all going to change.