And So this is Christmas and What Have you Done
The words of the great John Lennon song both ring out and ring true at this time of year and particularly for job seekers as the job market gets tighter and tighter, with a range of factors placing pressure on candidates including at the macro -economic level
3) The after effects of the 2008 Global Financial Crisis also known as the Great Recession
4) Corporate Consolidation regardless of whether we are talking about mergers, acquisitions or restructuring
To these I believe we can also add the tariff policies of the current US Administration as their effects start to be felt.
In addition to that we have these factors in play in the hiring system itself
1) Bad technological change with the introduction of applicant tracking software
2) A culture which works out ways not to hire people rather than hire them.
4) Emphasis on processes ( Networking to build relationships )without thought to outcome
5) A large number of interviews to determine whether someone is the right person for the job or not
6) Emphasis on cliched marketing concepts such as employee brand which equates people to a can of beans on the supermarket shelf and dehumanizes the process.
7) Hiring Managers in many cases being afraid of their own shadows in terms of making decisions.
The macro-economic factors mentioned above are enough on their own to put pressure on job seekers without having the flaws of the modern hiring process, which can take months if not years to resolve, weigh upon them.
While we should help people all year around it is particularly important at this time of year. Those of us able to earn regular income need to help those without regular income where we can so we need to get into the festive spirit and
1) If someone posts in Social media that they are looking for a job don't be so haughty to disregard their application for saying the truth.
2) Look at the candidates resume and treat the application on its merits. We are all flawed none of us are perfect
3) Like posts, comment and refer people to those who you think can help
Those who are earning regular income need to understand that there is a thin line between stay or go in the process of corporate consolidation. I know from my own experience. So rather than criticise walk a mile in their shoes.
I will finish with a few words from the John Lennon song which I think ring true for those seeking work