The Causey Consulting Podcast

Bonus Episode: Interview with a Job Seeker

July 11, 2022 Sara Causey
The Causey Consulting Podcast
Bonus Episode: Interview with a Job Seeker
Show Notes Transcript

Labor shortage! Labor shortage! No one wants to work! 🦜

How many times have you heard that? Is it even true? In this special bonus episode, I interview job seeker John Doe (not his real name, obviously) for his perspective.

To protect his privacy, I utilized voice distorting software.

 ✔️Think ahead. In the event of a layoff, how long would it take to replace your job?
✔️ Is it true that there are two open jobs for every one unemployed person RN? 🤔
✔️ Is anyone moving quickly? It doesn't seem like it!



Need more? Email me: https://causeyconsultingllc.com/contact-causey/

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Hello, Hello, and thanks for tuning in. So today is a special bonus episode, I wanted to get it out on the airwaves as quickly as I could sync up schedules with this individual and get everything processed and ready to roll. That way, you're not just taking my word for it in case I'm some crusty old introvert that's just turned into an Eeyore all of a sudden, which is not the case. So this is interview with a job seeker. Now I am going to great pains to keep this person's identity confidential. That was something very important to him. And I want to be extremely respectful of his privacy. I will be calling him John Doe for the purposes of this episode. That is obviously not his real name. I'm not going to divulge any further information, anything that he feels comfortable saying he will say, and that's fine, but I want to be really, really careful about maintaining his anonymity. Also full disclosure, we will be utilizing some voice distortion software. So if things sound a little bit robotic, that is in order to protect John's identity as best as we possibly can. So without further ado, I feel like I've jibber jabber enough here. John, I want to welcome you to the show. I'm excited about this. And well, welcome, welcome. Thank you for having me. It is a pleasure to be here and to have a place to speak my truth. Absolutely. So instead of me giving the typical introduction and general rundown, since I want to be very careful about your privacy and your anonymity. Tell us what you feel comfortable telling us about your current situation and kind of where you're coming from. Yes, I appreciate that. I was part of a layoff earlier this year. Unfortunately, I did not see it coming. And it happened fast. I was not given much severance pay, but I didn't worry about it. Because everyone was still saying there was a big labor shortage and jobs were everywhere. I thought I would probably be unemployed for less than a week. So what do you feel like reality has been like versus your expectation? Reality has been harsh. I know on this podcast, you have talked before about bloated HR and staffing departments. And I was in one but didn't realize it at the time. I guess that is because we were being told over and over again, internally and externally that the entire country was in a labor shortage. So when the layoff hit, it was tough to digest. And now trying to find another HR job has been difficult. A lot of people on social media act encouraging but then when you submit an application, it feels like they are very slow to actually make a move. I'm glad that you're bringing this up. Not glad, obviously that it's happening to you. That's super frustrating. But I am so grateful that you're being transparent with us because I'm seeing the same thing, even just with temporary work or 1099 Consulting gigs. It's almost like everybody in the country has decided to sit on their hands and wait, I'm not exactly sure what they're waiting for if they think there's going to be an official declaration of recession coming soon, or they're trying to plan out the next fiscal year. I'm not sure. But it seems like all of the wind came out of everyone sails and everyone just decided to move at a snail's pace. Yes, that is what I am seeing too. If someone is honest with me, and they say that they are not in a hurry, I don't feel upset. But if an HR manager tells me they want to move quickly, and then they don't, it is obviously upsetting. So since you have been out boots on the ground, so to speak, living this market as a job seeker, you've you've been out there in real time, been in the trenches, what are some of the things that you would like listeners to know maybe things that they're not being told things that they're not considering things that other people on other channels are not talking about? What would you want them to know? I would say that in my experience, it is not a red hot job market. I mean, maybe for some specialized or very specific segment of the market, it could still be but I am not seeing employers making fast decisions. And I am not seeing employers who act like they are truly desperate for employees. It seems like they already know the tables have turned and they have no desire to move urgently. That is what I am seeing. Yeah, I would have to agree that's very similar to what I'm seeing as well on this side of the spectrum. So people who will will want to know obviously how you're doing and where things stand in your search process. Again, I want to be very respectful of your privacy. So please share as much or as little as you feel comfortable sharing with us about where things are at right now. I accepted an offer this morning. So I am feeling better. But it has taken several months. It was not what I expected of, oh, this is not so bad. I'll probably be unemployed for a week maybe too. And I can treat it like an unpaid vacation, maybe catch up on sleep and watch some Netflix. No. Finding another full time job was a full time job in and of itself. So I am skeptical of people saying that jobs are still anywhere and everywhere and that no one should be unemployed right now. John, thank you so much for taking some time out of your schedule to participate in this podcast episode with me. I really appreciate it. I wish you the best of luck in your new endeavor. I know everyone listening also is sending you good vibes. So again, I thank you very much for having the courage and the willingness to come on with me today. You are very welcome. Keep fighting the good fight on your podcast and getting the word out. I am praying that people will be helped by it. Okay, so there we have it. A little interview with a job seeker has been out boots on the ground, so to speak in real time, in this job market as a job seeker, and as he mentioned, he thought that it was going to be easy peasy lemon squeezy to find another opportunity quickly. And in his case, it just wasn't. Now I cannot sit here and say that his experience is reflective of every other human being on the job market in America right now, obviously, I can't say that. Also, I can't give you advice about what to do with your career or sit here and gloom and doom and say, Well, if you get laid off, you're probably not going to find anything else. I my purpose in doing this is not to be an Eeyore. My purpose is really to put some information out there for your entertainment only not advice, just information for your entertainment only. So that when you hear talking heads on TV saying labor shortage, labor shortage like a bad parrot, or you see social media panderers saying everything is fine. There are still two open jobs to every one unemployed person. It's just that nobody wants to work anymore. Bomp bomp. You'll have another perspective on it, you'll be able to flesh out the information that you collect for your decision making. Thanks for being here and I will see you in the next episode. Bye for now.