The folks who had the fantasies? They’re all working now. But it wasn’t so long ago that they were searching for work, more work or better work. A search fueled by fantasies. None of which helped.
What were the fantasies?
1. The most qualified person gets the job. World-weary workers KNOW this simply isn’t true. But it’s hard to let go of this fantasy. Thinking differently about finding work means remembering that getting a job and doing a job are two different things.
2. My resume should be a data dump. There’s only one definition of a good resume. It’s the one that gets you the job. Beyond that, all bets are off. Resumes have evolved into “data dumps” and in doing so, what’s been lost is the time tested value of telling your story. It’s the story, not that data, that engages the reader and communicates value.
3. Just work harder. Perhaps the most evil of all the fantasies because it can lead to blaming the victim. Or to the unspoken judgment that hard work is all that separates the employed from the jobless. Never mind the irrational system we have in place for connecting people and jobs. Never mind luck, chance, connections, age, sex, race, disability, experience or sometimes-even talent. Just work harder. Simplistic solutions like “Work harder” can feel good because they create the perception that the problem is solved. But it’s not. The fantasy remains.
