Job Search? Seek Solid Support

I get by with a little help from my friends. ~ John Lennon

     Last week’s Inspiration, Focus on Empowerment, gave you a list of things to focus on while searching for a job.  One of those things is seeking support.  After a job loss, getting the right kind of support can make your unemployment less stressful and isolating. I watched this process unfold with Jerry.

     Each week I would meet with Jerry to hear the latest on his job search.  Jerry had lost several jobs over the years.  Facilities he worked for would close and he would once again be out looking.  With this latest loss, he had several solid job leads and a great resume.  Each week he seemed optimistic about his prospects and over all in good spirits. After all, he had been down this road before and always landed on his feet.

     One particular week, he seemed preoccupied and a bit down.  I knew something wasn’t right so I asked him what concerns he had on his mind. With some hesitation and real disappointment, he shared that his wife was upset with him because he had not gotten a job yet. He knew he was doing all he could and was hoping she would understand.  More so, he was hoping she would encourage him when he really needed it. Over time, she wasn’t capable of lending him that type of support. Loss of income can be stressful for the whole family.

     Knowing that his wife was also feeling the impact of his loss of income, we discussed some things he could do to get support. This was a great opportunity for me to share with Jerry my strategy during my seasons of unemployment:

Seek out people who have experienced similar circumstances and can therefore relate.  Jerry’s wife had never worked and therefore never lost a job.  She had no way of knowing how hard he was working at getting another position. I encouraged him to stay in touch with me and seek out others as well.  It is important to get support from people who can actually help.

Seek out people with the capacity to be supportive.  Normally Jerry’s wife was his rock.  In this case, though, she was not the best person to support his search.  It is important to seek support from people who have time to give and are in a place in their lives where they have the capacity to provide genuine support.

Seek out several people to lean on. I encouraged Jerry to meet with or call one person every day for a half hour to an hour.  He would need at least seven people on his support list.  Names quickly came to mind. He confessed he had been only speaking to me about his progress and that it just never occurred to him to reach out to others.

A friend is a gift you give yourself. ~ Robert Louis Stevenson

     Having solid support during your search is a great way to stay positive and motivated to keep your search in high gear.  Jerry learned first hand that his support base made all the difference. By considering the people you surround yourself with during this stressful time, you break your isolation and improve your overall outlook. As your feel encouraged, your confidence grows, and confidence will lead to success!

Feel free to share a story with the community of how friends have supported you during a tough time, by clicking the comment button.

Have a great week reaching out to your friends