So, You Are Part of the 99%

So, You Are Part of the 99%

A few years back there was a movement called “Occupy Wall Street,” which was a protest movement about income inequality in society. The focus of the movement was on how 1% of the population actually controlled most of the wealth and capital. Those protesting this fact, called themselves “We Are the 99%,” to highlight they were not fairly getting their portion of the income that was out there for all to partake.

Well in my line of work, job search strategy coaching, there is another group of 99 percenters. They are that portion of the job searchers that apply to a job opening online, and then indicate or moan they are never hired from those applications. Either I will hear, that no one even responded to my application, or if there was a response, it occurred too quickly, and therefore had to have been a form letter. Or the applicants will eventually hear of “Applicant Tracking Systems” which electronically screen all applications submitted, and on pre-identified criteria, only pick out those that match the criteria. The criteria is often particular keywords, or may be looking for applicants with only a particular length of experience, etc.

While those who have been in job search are very much aware of these realities, there are still others who have not been in job search for a while, and upon entering the process, are shocked to learn these “new realities.” Or when first meeting me, and hearing what I do, newer job searchers will address me about what they have been experiencing, almost as if they are telling me something that I don’t already know, as if I will be shocked about learning the fate that has befallen them. For those that will go on and on, without taking a breath, I’ll listen patiently, and if they are interested I will attempt to guide them on how to move forward. However, there are some whom I meet who will still think the answer is “finding a way to beat the machine.”

I mentioned above I am a “job search strategy coach.” When I initially began focusing my coaching on those in job search, I called myself a “career coach.” What prompted me to make the change? There were some who when they met me, and heard what I did, said, “Oh, you find a job for me?” Then they were sad to hear that was not what I did. I explained to them that only they could find themselves a job. To do so was going to take a great deal of research and hard work. For some, they were prepared to take on that challenge, and were happy to learn just how to go about the process. For others, they decided, thanks, but no thanks, if you can’t provide me an instant answer, why should I spend my time with you?

Many of us fall into the “99%” of whatever it is we do, or in comparison to others. That is certainly true of me when going back to our initial mention of income, and is likely true in terms of hundreds of other categorizations that one could make. However, just because we fall into a categorization that seems hopeless and that the odds are stacked against us, does not mean that we cannot obtain what we want. It likely will mean, as it does in the job search world, coming up with multiple strategies, being clear on who we are, the skills we possess and how we can be of assistance and value to others. Additionally, it will mean listening carefully to what others are in need of, and then putting ourselves out there as one who can solve the problem.

When you are told that this is the way you must do something, always be willing to ask, are there additional ways to do so? Yes, you may have to do what many others are doing, but that still does not mean you can’t put your own approach to it. To do so will likely inspire confidence within you and move you forward from that feeling of hopelessness that is there when the odds seemed continually stacked against you.