This recent BBC article annoyed me enough to warrant a moan about it on my blog. “More than a fifth of UK adults are not looking for work”.
This reductive article cites a case of Can’t Work, Won’t Work – with links to an article listing tips on how to land a job. I’m more inclined to say, What Work? There is No Work!
Quotes from the article say
“…the number of people not employed or actively looking for work has remained at a persistently high level in recent years since it first surged during the pandemic.”
“A recent report suggested people in their early 20s were more likely to be not working due to ill health than those in their early 40s..”
This article also quotes a rise in mental health decline being the reason. Which given what this age group (MY age group!) is having to deal with, is not only unsurprising, but is a wonder they have the capacity to get up every day and try again.
Let’s look at 6 “expert” methods for how to land a job and give it a breakdown…
1. Search beyond a 40 mile radius – yes because fuck you if you have a family or need to travel stupid sums of UNPAID hours to get to and from said work site.
Just started a new flat rental contract? Well sucks to be you doesn’t it.
Ooh the arguments that have been had:
“You knew where the office was when you applied”
Well you also knew where I lived when I sent an application, didn’t you?
Two can play silly buggers here.
This “expert tip” is behaving as if people haven’t had their signed work contracts rescinded mere days before they’re looking to start. Often when they made the big financial splurge – with no support from said potential employer – to relocate near their overpriced and underwhelming office space.
Oops, you moved and then we decided we weren’t hiring. Harsh times, here’s an awkward email attached with thoughts and prayers.
2. Use key words in your searches – No. Just stop. Why is it, then, that I get contacted by recruiters for jobs that have nothing to do with my industry?
Indeed, LinkedIn, here’s looking at you disapprovingly, you CV harvesting travesty of a job search site.
3. Don’t wait for a job to be advertised – This is an interesting one. So what are you saying here? I should get an epiphany that Jeremy from HiringButNotYou Ltd is thinking he needs a role to be fulfilled and send him an email suggesting I’m the best person for that passing thought he had?
Get the actual fuck out.
“Miranda Kyte, a career trends expert at Glassdoor says: “Another route is to utilise your network, let friends, ex-colleagues, family know that you’re looking for a new position.”
Riighttt, so the only way you can get a job is, if someone suggests you? This just cements the reality that merit is nothing and OE is the way..”we decided to hire someone with skills closer matching” means “they bought me a coffee and I’m friends with their dad, so…”
What is even a “career trends expert” anyway?
4. Sell your skills not years – Then WHY can’t new grads get ENTRY level positions, without having X years of experience REQUIRED?
“Yvonne Smyth from Hays says it’s important to focus on skills.“Lots of people look at the years required on a job description but actually it’s more important that a candidate has the right skills. Try to look for parallels and make that obvious in your application.”
Yvonne’s Myth here is telling me the number of years isn’t important. The clues in your name isn’t it Yvonne? AKHTSHUALLY none of this is true. What you want is someone who can do a Lead Level job at an Entry Level remuneration, and that they be grateful for it. Admit what’s glaring everyone in the face for once.
5. Get learning – These “experts” are killing me…look at this quote
“Lots of courses these days are free and you can do them online. Volunteering is also a great way of filling gaps on your CV or asking to do some work shadowing in companies you’d like to work for.”
Realise, please, that those free online courses mean NOTHING when it comes to landing a job which requires a particular technical skill. You need Accredited Qualifications, which take time, MONEY, and effort.
I am a huge advocate for learning – I’ve mentioned this in one of my videos before, get your current employer(s) to pay for your learning, while you’re there if possible. That will be the time to use your own time to do the courses. If you’re out of work, your priority is finding work, so that you can get them to pay for your learning.
“Volunteering….in companies you’d like to work for”, sounds like Exploitation 101. Those companies should be named, shamed, and put in the bin.
6. Celebrate the small wins – Now this almost sounds like it could be helpful, but then looking at who is saying this…
“Career influencer, Mehar Sindhu Batra, says…”
My suggestion is completely dismiss anything an influencer of any kind says. Everything she mentions is another version of a “hang in there!” poster. Keeping track of the fact that you’ve sent 200+ job applications with no follow up is difficult for anyone.
The small wins according to someone who has been on the perpetual job search side are:
- you rested/existed today
- you felt good about yourself today
- you got up and worked out today
- you applied to more jobs today
These are wins to keep you sane. You may have others, please feel free to add yours. Notice how job application tracking is LAST. This has a huge contribution to being able to look for and apply for jobs.
Also know that job-seeker burnout is real. Take some time for you too. Recharge, reflect and re-start tomorrow.
The Beeb has been a disappointment for a number of years now. They need to do better. The least they could have done is some due diligence and ground work on why UK-based adults – or anywhere really – are out of work in such high numbers. And if the above “6 Expert Tips” is the best you can do, save us the “world is your oyster” spiel. The oyster is decaying. You made it like this for us.
I’ll see you at the next post yeah?
Love & Laissez-faire! x