“I wonder what America would tell this person to do?”

Today, I read an article posted at www.careerealism.com with a very similar story and emails that i receive almost daily!, . I had posted my advise and comment on the same blog, and before i share it with you , i wanted to hear from you and job seeker experts what would they do or say to such job seekers.

“I wonder what America would tell this person to do?”

So America, here’s your chance!
Please read the e-mail below. I haven’t included a name or location to ensure the person can remain anonymous, but I assure all of you, this is a real e-mail, not a single word has been changed. AND, I am going to take the best responses and include them in our nationally syndicated advice column.
Write your response to this person in the comment section below. I look forward to reading your advice and perspectives!
Here it is…
I have been unemployed for 17 months now.  All I hear is that so many are in my boat, yet no one we know understands.  We aren’t seeing the others in our boat because everyone in our families and circles are still working and enjoying the good life.  I am at rope’s end.  There are no finances to return to school and at this point in my life, almost 50, I don’t really want to.  I just want a job in my field (bookkeeping) that pays a decent wage we can live on and have insurance benefits.  I apply for 3 jobs every week to get unemployment but we want to get on with life.  We feel stifled and alone and with so little resources left there isn’t much we can do but sit home.  It is very depressing….Moving is not an option, so when will this end?  I don’t have a really great record….I have had MANY (18 jobs) in the past 25 years….about 8 I have been fired from.  I also have alot of debt, my health isn’t perfect anymore and I have some things on my background check (not bad but there).  How can I get hired and succeed again???????

Rob

Run away of Your Comfort Zone in the Job Search

Everyone these days knows what a comfort zone is?
some define it as "the place, environment and tasks that we
have learned to do and feel comfortable with--a comfort zone".

Lots of people feel devastated and trapped when they have lost a job as their comfort zone no
longer exists.
In other words, the time,place, co-workers, friends, tasks which have been
performed on the job don't exist any more.
It's an uncomfortable place to be in. There is no sense of direction.

if this probably a new experience, people fear many things, and that's what magnifies their fear for reasons such as:

• Fear of the unknown
  
• Fear of failure
  
• Fear of what others might think
  
• Fear of making a bad career change choice

However, if we as workers realize that a comfort zone can disappear at any time,
it is important to get out of our comfort zone while working.
It does not take lots of money to be adventurous in looking at what other people do.
 
Here are some tips to help you overcome your fears and to help you move to the next stage in your career and life.
Assess the Risk and Break It Down

• What would you gain from taking it?
  
• What’s frightening about it?
  
• What’s the worst thing that could happen if it turned out badly?
  
• If the worst happened, what would you do?
  
• What could you do to minimize this?
  
  

Fear Is a Normal Part of the Reinvention Process:
Understand that fear is normal and acceptable as you go through this process. You are not alone, as most career changers feel afraid at some point in the process. But, recognize when your fear turns to self-doubt, inactivity, and paralysis. 
 
Examine Your Fears:
What exactly are you afraid of in the reinvention process? Have a good look at this, and decide if your fear is realistic or irrational.
Remember that most of the things you fear won’t actually happen.

Does Failure Have to Be Negative?
Many clients get blocked in “fear” during the reinvention process because they are afraid of failure or rejection. I help these clients understand and reframe failure.
Failing at something, or not having a new career work out, doesn’t need to be a bad thing. Instead, a potential failure can be an opportunity to gather more information about what you like or don’t like so you can learn from it and make better decisions in the future.
Think of failure simply as feedback on what you need to improve. Listen to the advice failure gives you, and you will improve. And success will come.

Live in the Present:
Keep yourself in present time. Don’t let your thoughts and emotions run away to the future or the past. Being in the present means not dwelling and obsessing on what has gone wrong and what could go wrong. This runaway thinking will only heighten your fear to the point that you might feel unable to do anything. Instead, make your plans, and move forward one baby step at a time.

Bottom Line:
Considering a career reinvention can be an anxious time for anyone. My advice is to understand your fears, address them, and take your career reinvention one step at a time. Life is a learning experience, and so, too, is a career reinvention. Addressing your fears, learning about yourself, and believing in yourself and your career dreams can be a positive and life-changing experience.


Rob
http://www.jobseekerhelp.org