Lessons From the unemployed

One of the greatest stresses high school students (and their parents) face relates to the question of “What am I going to do after high school?” From my extensive experience in counselling both high school students and unemployed adults, I believe teenagers can learn some important lessons from adults who are unemployed. Share these tips with your teens.

Tip 1: Don’t depend on future job trends to make career decisions.
In selecting a future career, some students look for the “hot jobs.” In working with unemployed adults, I encounter a number of people who say they made a mistake in choosing a career path based on future job trends. Unfortunately, there are many unpredictable variables that come into play regarding job trends.

For example, five years ago, some students rushed into computers and technology because these were the hot jobs of the future. Suddenly, this industry as a whole went through a massive meltdown, and many of the jobs disappeared. Now this same industry is beginning to move some jobs from Canada to India and Pacific Rim countries.

Another example related to shifting job trends is the number of manufacturing jobs (77,000 last year according to Stats Canada) that have left Canada to countries with cheaper labour. Who can predict the future impact on career trends here in North America when countries such as China are rising in economic power?

Tip 2: Choose a career based on interests and abilities.
Unemployed adults (as well as most other adults) identify the number-one factor that contributes to job satisfaction is doing work that best matches their interests and abilities. While success in school subjects may help to identify strengths, it is useful for most teenagers to explore their interests beyond just schoolwork. Many high school guidance departments use interest inventories to assist in this process. It is also helpful for students to understand the concept of related careers, a list of careers related to their primary interests and abilities. This helps them to remain flexible in the changing world of work.

Tip 3: Get the piece of paper.
When working with unemployed people, a comment I hear over and over again is, “I wish I had completed that piece of paper.”

Whether it’s a degree, a diploma or some form of certificate, the piece of paper that signifies completion of appropriate education/training is an important aspect of a successful job search.

I have counselled some adults who worked for more than 20 years in an occupation and now, unemployed, they have a very difficult time finding similar work because they lack formal certification.

In recent research I have done in the workplace, the number-one factor that employers consider in hiring new employees is appropriate certification for the job.

Tip 4: Decrease your debt.
Although unemployed people would like to find the perfect job, they often settle for less because they are forced to take whatever they can get in order to pay their bills. Unfortunately, high debt can force some graduating students to accept less-than-ideal jobs simply to start paying off the loans (and perhaps their new cars and apartments). High school students and their parents need to closely examine the costs of postsecondary study. For some, living at home and working while continuing their education on a part-time basis might be a wise choice.

Tip 5: Understand successful job-search methods.
I have worked with unemployed adults who have university degrees (including master’s degrees and Ph.D.’s) and a wide assortment of diplomas. Even they have had difficulty finding employment. For many of these adults, they simply failed to understand that finding work is more than blindly mailing out résumés. High school students can benefit from learning job-search techniques. The key to success is networking with people. As teenagers identify future career directions, there is value in meeting and talking to people in similar careers.

Co-op students and those who volunteer or work part time in areas related to their career aspirations develop invaluable contacts. Understanding some basic marketing techniques can also assist in future success. These techniques include understanding the importance of first impressions, how to best meet the needs of an employer and having strong communication skills.

Emotional intelligence (which some people might simply call “people skills”) goes a long way in helping a person to be successful in the world of work.

Tip 6: Be computer savvy.
One of the most frequent skill areas that unemployed adults lack relates to computers. It is a foregone conclusion these days that anyone entering the work force must be computer literate.

Tip 7: Be a postive person.
The unemployed adults I work with who are most successful in finding new, meaningful employment are those who have positive attitudes. (This is often considered the number-one personal trait employers look for.) A positive attitude is based on factors such as optimism, self-discipline and the ability to embrace change. High school years offer an opportunity to learn habits that support the development of being positive. Attitude is critical for future success.

Brian Harris authored career resources that are among the most widely used in Canada for high school students. As a professional speaker, Brian presents more than 50 workshops each year for unemployed adults. Visit him online at www.xplorations.ca

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