I admit I’ve had a couple of challenging clients recently. It’s easy to write them off but it’s always best to look inward before casting blame.
So, what’s really going on?
I don’t get it.
We’ve got a rockstar team. Our resumes are the best in the business. Our service is highly personalized.
We’re doing all we can to keep customers happy. We’ve set up a system to control our resume and career development process so that nothing and nobody gets overlooked or under-serviced.
But I guess there is one thing that we can’t control…
The job market. Or lack thereof.
Whenever I get a lukewarm response from a client and inquire further, I usually get a response like these:
“Things are tight right now.”
“I was really counting on this resume to change everything.”
“I just don’t have the money.”
“It’s hard to justify paying for anything.”
“I need help now, not in a month.”
“No one will hire me no matter what I do.”
The pain is real folks, and it flows amongst anyone involved in the job search process, directly or indirectly, especially now. I suppose I need to buck up with my self-absorbed complaints and instead relish the fact that I’m employed and in a position to help. And although my intentions are honest, simply offering or even successfully delivering, such help may not be enough to make the pain disappear.
Only getting a job can do that.
If I’m truly open to criticism (which I try to be), it hurts a little. And I suppose we’re all hurting at least a little right now. If it’s not us, then it’s someone we know.
Unemployed and in isolation, even the most seasoned, self-confident professional will get discouraged. It’s a lonely, frustrating feeling and it seems to be inextricably linked to looking for work, even in good times.
At the base of the issue, people are hurting right now.
And I guess one way to offer support to anyone in this position is to put aside my ego, take their comments, and hurt a little bit with them.
