Every week I talk to people who are looking for work, or people who are looking to restart their careers. Yesterday I looked through about 10 resumes in helping a friend recruit for a position. These were just 10 of many, many others.
It's heartbreaking and encouraging at the same time. Why? It never ceases to amaze me how unwavering Americans are when it comes to work and their future.
I am not an optimist by nature, although I feel that living in America has taught me to be more hopeful of the future. So here I find myself having so much hope that we will get out of these tough economic times if not next year the year after. We will have much to sacrifice but we will make it.
Resilience. Resilience is the word that comes to mind when I think of Americans. Most of the people I've talked to have figured out small ways to make an income, while searching for a full time job. Many have started their own companies. Others have turned to their passions, photography, painting, arts. And many are asking for help and finding that support in unexpected places.
Ultimatelly I hope this will bring us all together as a closer community. In fact I see it happening already.
I want to encourage anyone who is looking for work to do a few things:
1. Tell everybody what you would love to do to make a living.
2. Ask for help.
3. Give help.
4. Be humble. I've seen people turn down good jobs because it was a "lateral move." A lateral move from being unemployed is being unemployed! Titles are insignificant.
4. Do this over and over again and never give up. You are not alone in this.
