The Job Search Fraternity

If everyone in the world could go through a job search, the world would be a better place.

In fact, if we all decided one day to do a big job re-shuffle, we could get everyone in a job that makes them happy at work.  And give everyone a brief taste of “out of work”. What do you say?

We’d all be more open.  More forgiving of each others mistakes.  And we’d all be part of a big fraternity of people who’ve been in the same hard place.  There would be no stigma at all.

Try to argue with that.

And although it feels like everyone has been through a job search, it’s only been a small percentage of people lately.

I wonder what % of the world population has been out of work at some point in their lives.  Anyone know?

If you’ve ever been in a job search, you are part of the crew.  The community.   And you understand the job search process.  The hard work. The ups.  The downs.

And I’ll tell you something.  I know a lot of people who aren’t a part of this crew.  No job search on their resume.  They are not part of the “in-crowd”.

They don’t get it.

In fact, those who’ve never been out of work are sometimes known as the employed elite.  Complaining about someone having more than one job over the last five years.  Asking stupid or impossible questions during a job interview.  And having no patience for someone who is genuinely trying to deliver their best.

I used to work with someone who has never been out of work.  Every time they interviewed someone, they tore the candidate down.  These same people are among those discriminating against the unemployed.  And actively only hiring those with jobs.  Really?

Some of the smartest people I know have been unemployed in the last 5 years.

This week I attended South By Southwest Interactive in Austin, Texas.  This post popped into my head as I spent a few days with my good friend, speaker and blogger Thom Singer.  Why?  Thom is a Beta (Beta Theta Pi).  I am a Sigma Chi.  We met at San Diego State University.

Thom and I hadn’t seen each other for about 20 years before re-connecting at a football game last year.  Our shared experiences at school and via the fraternity system built a bond that re-connected instantly.  And, as a result, we have a similar perspective and an empathy for each other.  We want to help each other do awesome things in life.

If you are a member of the job search fraternity.  Whether employed or unemployed.  Stick out a huge hand and pull someone out of the muck.  Because you’ve been in a job search and know what it feels like.

Take the call.  Answer the email.  Respond on LinkedIn.

It’s the right thing to do.

Photo Credit

Written by: Tim Tyrell-Smith
Tags: big jobs | book of job | business | economics | fraternities | fraternity | job interview | Job Search | job search fraternitythe job search fraternity | jobs | labor economics | most forgiving | people | search | socioeconomics | stigma | the job | unemployment | world | worlds population
Categories: Social Networking