Diane M. Evans’ Post

This isn’t what unemployment looks like... Once upon a time, in a fancy conference room, I’d just shared my financial planner origin story with the group. My story had gone down surprisingly well. My career history is a bit unconventional. It also has what some people might consider a bit of a “gap”. So, I’d shared my story and some people had even applauded. But, before I could spend too much time basking in the glory and surprise, one of the people running the session said something about my CV “gap” that pissed me off. He was summarising my story, and said about me: “He had been unemployed for 10 years.” They meant to highlight part of my story, making the “turnaround” sound better. He didn’t mean anything by it, but it was revealing. It made me realise how some people who have spent their careers in the corporate world see people who take a break from paid work to bring up their children. I took time out of work partly because I could. And then because I wanted to be around to help bring up my children. I wasn’t unemployed. I wish I could now tell the story of how I pushed back and gently yet forcibly challenged the hidden attitudes contained in characterising parenting as unemployment. Unfortunately, I was too annoyed at the time to say anything. Parenting is not the same thing as unemployment. -It is quite hard work.   -The work is varied.   -It requires you learn new skills.   -It’s also rewarding. In fact, in these ways, parenting is a lot like the jobs people get paid to do.   

The headline of this article (and cartoon) unlocked a lot of memories for me. To be clear, the story told isn’t my story. I had neither privilege nor entitlement growing up. One of my first jobs at the age of 10 was thinning out rutabagas by hand in a farmer’s field, on my hands and knees with burlap sacks tied around my knees. From this I learned how to keep my head down and just get the job done, no matter what. During my final “career transition”, after a spectacular blow up with my previous manager (a story for another time), I found myself aged 56 looking for a job. Age discrimination is real, sometimes tacit, sometimes brutal like being told by an HR manager that I was too old for a job that I was well qualified for. It became clear that I was aging faster than Gorgonzola left on a shelf, and I had to move quickly. I interviewed for a job that was a return to an market I knew well, answering the question “where do you see yourself in 5 years?” with the answer I knew they wanted, and not “retired”. After I was offered this final role, I realized I didn’t want it, it was a step back, a surrender of ambitions for a bigger role. I really would have preferred to remain unemployed and continue looking, but I was getting older, interest in me was waning so I swallowed my pride and moved forward with the role offered (and my wife’s dream husband wasn’t unemployed). So in my final role I adapted. I got used to a new culture with different expectations. There was no path up for a 55+ employee with no internal work history, so when the time came, I grabbed early retirement with both hands. Mission accomplished. So why post this on LinkedIn? A good friend told me once that he doesn’t go on LinkedIn because everyone he knew is now a VP. But that isn’t reality. A career has twists and turns. Some necessary turns end up on a more modest track. But that’s ok, take care of your family, live a healthy life. It is all good in the end. https://lnkd.in/eBBd2H5n

Today marks 2 months of unemployment and although I've enjoyed my time away from working, there is a lot of unpredictability looming. I knew it wasn't going to be a walk in the park, but I didn't think it was going to be this difficult. I have a bachelor's degree. I have over 15 years of work experience in multiple different fields. I have been volunteering for the same non-profit leadership organization going on 10 years where I've had multiple different positions. It shouldn't be this hard... yet I can't even get an interview? 🧐 Then add in the fact that my unemployment benefits are being withheld because [the collective they] are stating I'm still employed, though as fore mentioned it's been 2 months; As are my COBRA (FSA) benefits, because information has not been passed along to them of my departure... So I love these things for me. 🙃 I share "the negatives" to show the reality of life and unemployment. I put in the work to find the best fitting job for me, and yet I can't get an interview. I filed for unemployment the day I was laid off, and am still "fighting" to receive benefits. I can tell myself to do better, try something different, find another way, ask for help; but the fact of the matter is the majority of it is out of my control. I love sharing the positives, but life isn't always sunshine and rainbows. We can share both the positives and negatives and it will all be okay. If that makes me a less than ideal candidate or employee, then I challenge employers to do some introspection. When we only see one side of the story i.e. the positives it creates an unrealistic view of the world and promotes toxic positivity. I'm staying true to myself, being vulnerable, and sharing the parts that frankly... suck. 😑 If you are still out there searching, as I am, know that I see you. It's hard. It's exhausting. It really SUCKS. You're not alone and we deserve better. (And if you are having a better time than me, PLEASE feel free to share your secrets). We can put on a smiling face and only share the "remaining hopeful" posts, but I leave you to ponder... Why is posting our TRUTH (which doesn't hurt, slander, or negate anyone) considered in poor taste? 🤔 So I say, cheer up buttercups, and end with a happy note... Yes, I am being real about all of this, but at the same time, I am not giving up on finding a job. I am open to the right opportunity, and will get the good that I deserve coming to me. With that being said, if you know of any remote full-time jobs available, please let me know! And may the odds ever be in our favor. 😁 #realisticview #Opentowork #unemployment #breakthestigma #columbusohiojobs #support #remaininghopeful #Sharebothsides

🌟 Navigating Unemployment: A Journey of Resilience In my recent job search, I've witnessed the multifaceted layers of unemployment. From dwindling savings to families relocating for support, the challenges vary widely. The bureaucratic hurdles of accessing unemployment benefits, often overlooking essential expenses, further compound these difficulties. Yet, amidst the uncertainty, there's resilience. Whether securing employment swiftly or enduring a prolonged search, the determination to sustain oneself and support loved ones remains unwavering. Regardless of circumstances, the threat of losing everything looms large, underscoring the stark realities of unemployment. But even in the darkest moments, there's a resilient spirit—an unwavering commitment to persevere, despite tears and diminished confidence. To those navigating unemployment or underemployment, know that your journey is valid, your struggles acknowledged. Let's continue to uplift and support one another, knowing that brighter days lie ahead. #jobsearchjourney #resilience #tammiashares

I absolutely love this. Although I understand an interviewing company asking "so why did you leave your last role" sometimes, it drives me crazy when I see it in some application portals as a mandatory. Why? Because I've seen enough in my career to know that sometimes the wrong people are fired, fabulous employees are treated so horribly they need to leave for their own mental health, daycare is too expensive, there was no room for career growth, a spouse or significant other was transferred out of state, family members need to be taken care of, and more. Meet the person. Get to know them. Talk to their references. Go with your gut feeling on how someone will improve your own company instead of why they left another. #opentowork #workingmoms #commsjobs

I resigned without another job offer in hand. It was the best decision I made in my professional career. I'm still recovering from the mental lassitude of having dealt with some of the most #unethical, #tyrannical and #dishonest employers to ever exist. Any lingering doubt I had got replaced by #relief when they showed their true colours after handing in the notice. After I made my #mental and #physicalhealth a priority, the following things happened: > My body got ample time to rest, recover and come back stronger > I started waking up feeling fresh and positive, the nightmares went away > Decided to start again, from scratch > Worked on myself > Learned my worth > Realised that I was not a fool to expect recognition for my hardwork > Found people who appreciate and value my work. > Gained self confidence. Though this year wasn't financially in my favour for the most part, it taught me some inexpensive lessons. You #respect me, I'll give you my 200%. Don't know how to respect your employees? You will continue filling up #vacancies throughout the year, and lead a mediocre #workforce that doesn't respect you or care about your profit. You might think underpaying employees is saving you #money. But the #reality is: your #dissatisfied, #underpaid, #burnt_out employees are using *you* as an example of who to avoid. They're just there for a paycheck while #applying for 10 other "families" each day. Returning home from #work, they're exhausted, thinking, anything is better than this! They're even ready to work for less payout in exchange for #work_life_balance, and a #healthy #culture. Dear #employer, You can either acknowledge your #employee's reality, or turn a blind eye and set yourself up for failure. After all, the #choice is yours. #Resigned #NoJobOffer #MentalHealth #UnethicalEmployers #TyrannicalBosses #DishonestCompanies

A common trap I see immigrants fall into... The Sunk Cost Fallacy. Continuing with an unfulfilling job or failing relationship simply because you’ve already invested time and energy into it.⁣ "I've already invested 2 years in this company. I can't quit now!" "I've been in this relationship for 5 years. I can't leave!" Sound familiar? Let me tell you a story... When I got my first job in Pharma, my neighbor said: "You'll never leave pharma. There's a lot of money to be made. The paycheques will act as golden handcuffs." But 2 years later, I quit. Why? ➡️ I realized I didn't want to live like the higher-ups in my organization. ➡️ I discovered things I was more excited about. I even let go of a $10K - $14K bonus I would've received if I'd stayed 3-4 more months. Let me give you another example: Imagine a climber scaling the wrong mountain... Each step higher gets them closer to the top, but further from their true goal. In this situation, the courageous choice is to climb down and restart on the correct path.⁣ ⁣ Rather than viewing it as a step backward, you should see it as a strategic pivot toward what really matters.⁣ Remember: ✅ Your time and energy are your most valuable assets. ✅ It's never too late to change course. ✅ What seems like a step back might be a leap forward. Don't stay in an unfulfilling job or relationship just because you've already invested time. Your future self will thank you for making the tough choice today. 🦋 Follow me to get tips to land your dream job. #careeradvice

Unemployment story of the Week, this was shared with me by someone else to read the full story (as I had to cut it down on here), go to Unemployment Unplugged dot blogspot dot com The CEO assistant contacted me, she was extremely unorganized from the start didn't bother checking time zones, but did state it was a video call and would be a "discovery call". I joined the interview which was meant to be 15-20 minutes long, but she didn't show up for 7 minutes. After 5 minutes, I sent her a check-in asking if she is coming, and then she eventually showed up and said "Hi, sorry for that". Silence. I asked, "Is everything fine?". She: "Yeah.". Silence. Then, she didn't even introduce herself or give any context to the call, straight asked me to introduce myself to her. I stopped for a second and asked if she is going to turn her camera on since it was meant to be a video call, and she was late, joined from her phone, and had a bad sound quality. She said: "No, not at this time." Silence. I then asked her if we could maybe first start with an icebreaker, and she could introduce the company and the role to me, and then tell me about the hiring itself. She gave me a one-sentence general answer and asked if I had any specific questions about the company. I've never encountered anyone on a job interview before, who would say absolutely nothing about the hiring process nor show zero intention in engaging with me. I could sense that she became tense and hostile from my approach at the beginning, and after I was done talking about my background, her first question was "And why did you quit your last job?". I was laid off due to bankruptcy. Then she continued with the same arrogant tone and asked about my motivation and why I applied. She then used my own answers about the company's transparent communication to validate her own unprofessional behavior, stating that she already knew I researched the company) so she was not wasting time by talking about the same things because this call is not meant for that. And although she asked if I had any questions, she later stated that she felt like she was being interviewed and it was really uncomfortable for her. The whole interaction was super cringe and I ended up sending a rejection email to them saying I really didn't enjoy the interview and her attitude was disappointing. After the interview, I got an automatic notification from an AI-driven software called ReadAI that monitored the whole call and took a picture of me along with a report/scoring. I was infuriated because she never mentioned she would use such software, or she ask for my consent to record the interview. This fueled my anger towards this garbage attitude and I ended up asking her to never contact me again and delete all data they obtained of me. The next day I got a templated answer from another person, to REJECT ME, since they are moving forward with people whose skills match the job better.

"Stop yelling at me please!" It stopped the co-owner of the BPO company I was working for just long enough in his tracks for me to add "I understand you are upset, but I don't appreciate being screamed at!" Needless to say, I lost that job. Do you think I should be blamed for that? Judged for now being unemployed? Should I have put up with a boss who loses his temper at me and creates a space where I do not feel safe? Continued to walk on eggshells day in and day out? I am thankful for the child in me, who grew up with an aggressive father who frequently yelled and more, for taking over and setting the boundaries I could never set when I was little. Even though it meant for me to be unemployed. Again. And all the shame that came with that at the time. A lose-lose situation. But even if I could go back, I wouldn't change a single thing. That was me. Many (over 20) years ago❣️ Never regretted my decision or actions. Everyone needs to decide for themselves. But who are we to judge them??? We don't know why people quit their jobs without having anything else lined up. I have read stuff on here that suggests to NEVER do that. That is nonsense. Should you do it when you are "just not liking" it? That totally depends on how much this "not liking it" impacts your mental and physical health. That should be your compass. No matter what others are telling you. They are right - the grass might not be any greener elsewhere and you might be giving up employment, a salary and stability etc. But when your mental and physical health is at risk, that can't be replaced. You don't get a second life, but you will eventually get a new job. This is not black and white. People need to eat and a roof over their heads, sure! And people need to have a life that's worth living as if they don't, they might decide not to. Live. Let's stop putting judgment on people. Period. Because we do not know what we don't know. #BeACaringPerson #BeACaringLeader #BeReal #OneSizeDoesNotFitAll #mentalhealth