Job Self-Discrimination

 

Applying for jobs can be very frustrating. Been there?

 

If you've applied for many jobs at all, you likely have "been there". And, like many others, you've likely had some of the following questions pop up in your head when you were rejected for some of the following  reasons:

     - "You have no experience." O.k. I understand that if I'm applying for the job of a BRAIN SURGEON! And, yes, I know that there are some positions that DO need experience but, at the same time, I have been turned down from jobs that really didn't require any special talent...just experience. So, like me, perhaps you wanted to ask, "How am I supposed to get experience if you won't hire me?"

     - "Sorry, you're OVER qualified." This one REALLY drives me nuts! There have been times in my life where I was willing and ready to take ANY job - no matter how menial - just to put food on the table. But, because I had a college diploma and because I had previous jobs that paid much more than this particular job, they were afraid that I wouldn't stay long because I was "OVER qualified". I did actually ask the following question: "Yes, I understand that but, if I'm willing to do ANYTHING necessary to put food on the table, what does it matter?"

 

Perhaps you feel that you've faced some of the following situations that kept you from getting a job:

     - Too young or too old

     - You're a woman OR you're NOT a woman  (same as, you're a man OR you're NOT a man)

     - You're a minority OR you're NOT a minority

 

So, yeah, many times, we can feel that we are fighting an uphill battle in the area of trying to secure a job even to the point of feeling as if we have been discriminated against.

 

But, are you ever guilty of "SELF-DISCRIMINATION"?

Huh?

Let me explain...

Sometimes we put up those walls all by ourselves and we "disqualify" ourselves from jobs and opportunities WITHOUT someone else ever even telling us those things.

This may be especially true if you have been in the job market for an extended period of time and you begin to feel like giving up. You begin to "self-discriminate" when you - all by yourself - begin to tell yourself the following things when looking at a "help wanted" ad (for example):
     - I'm too young (or old)...they'll never hire me.
     - I have too much (or too little) education...they'll never hire me.
     - I'm UNDER (or OVER) qualified for that position...they'll never hire me.
     - They'll never hire me because...(fill in the blank with whatever you wish).

STOP ELIMINATING YOURSELF with "SELF-DISCRIMINATION"!

You MUST maintain your level of confidence in yourself and your abilities, especially (again) if you've been in the job market for a while. It can, indeed, become frustrating, depressing and, at times, even dehumanizing.

Stay connected with information such as this and the podcasts as well as other positive information to help keep your mind focused on what is POSITIVE!

Many times - not always - companies are more interested in hiring the "person" more than they are in filling the "position". With many jobs, there are MANY that can fill a "position" but, the right "person" can do that and more.

BE THAT "PERSON"!

Yes, even in jobs that you KNOW that you are "overqualified" to fill, do NOT be afraid to approach such an opportunity (especially if you are needing to do whatever you can to provide for you and/or your family). Yes, your qualifications may exceed the "position" but, you are THE "person" that can fill that "position" and, at the same time, bring a needed positive impact to that "position" AND the company as a whole. Don't you think that this company could likely use a little extra "positive injection" among their workers at this level?

Think about it.

Do NOT give up and, DO NOT allow yourself to get hung up in "self-discrimination" before you ever even get started.

PEOPLE NEED YOU.

Never forget that! And, as you go about your day, always be sure to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

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Consider Every Angle!

"Consider Things From Every Angle"

Now, as we begin this discussion, I want to first address what this does NOT mean - make sure you clearly understand this point!

You cannot ANALYZE to the point that you begin to PARALYZE - see what I mean? Yes, it's good to be thorough and to consider things carefully, however, we can do so to the point of spending so much time LOOKING or THINKING that we never get into the DOING part of the equation.

For example...we all want to be safe when we drive, right? So, one might decide that they need to check out the safety of the automobile before getting behind the wheel. They walk around the car, check out the tires, look underneath to make sure nothing is loose and hanging down, they check the wiper blades to make sure they are still in good shape, check all the windows to make sure they aren't cracked, look under the hood to make sure everything looks good there and then....they do it a 2nd time and then a 3rd time and then a 4th time. They spend 4 hours doing this process not realizing that they could have been well on their way and, perhaps, even back from the journey that they were going to go on.

They OVERDID the CHECKING and never even got behind the wheel to begin the DRIVING!

So, yes, do your homework, but remember that, at some point you must "get behind the wheel and drive"!

So, now, I want to look at this in a little bit different way than perhaps you thought I would (See? I'm considering this from a different angle! :) ).

OPEN YOUR EYES!

Sometimes we can approach things with "tunnel vision" - know what I mean? We can be so focused on how we think something should be done that we cannot see any other possible ways that may even be better than our own. PRIDE and STUBBORNNESS sometimes gets in the way in this area - and we all struggle with one or the other (sometimes both) to some extent in our own lives.

Although we DO want to "AVOID the negative" as we talked about a couple of days ago, there ARE those people that we can and perhaps should check with for advice, guidance and ideas. They may can help us consider angles that we never even saw!

These people should be those that are "like-minded" in our positive outlook and focus. They should be people that we respect to the point that we will listen to their thoughts and consider them rather than dismiss them. They should be people that will not try to shut our dreams down, but, at the same time, can give sound advice that may correct us - if needed - and encourage us at the same time!

Think about this - if you are in some MLM organization you know what I mean by "upline", right? Your direct "upline" would be the person that "sponsored" you into the business and they are usually the one that you go to for help - HOPEFULLY! Notice this - just because they are given the title of "sponsor" or even "mentor" does not necessarily make it so!

Sometimes these people disappear completely and you are left alone to figure it all out. This is not good. Sometimes these people are what I call "rah-rah" people in that they cheer on EVERYTHING you do whether it be good or bad, right or wrong because they don't want to discourage you. This, too, is NOT good!

We need someone that will cheer us on and encourage us AND at the same time correct and guide us when needed! They can help us consider things from a different angle. This type of person would truly fit the description of "mentor"!

So, again - OPEN YOUR EYES! Take some time to see things around you that, perhaps, you have not noticed before. Open your eyes and open the parameter that you have been using as your guide and you may be surprised at what you find!

Do this not only with opportunities but also with people around you. OPEN YOUR EYES and try to see past all of the things we so often use to judge and discriminate against people. Look past how they look, how they dress, where they are from (or any number of items) and try to see WHO THEY REALLY ARE.

This, too, will help you as you move toward your goals and dreams.

OPEN YOUR EYES and see the opportunities and the possibilities that surround us all every single day! Wow! Think about that and LIVE today!

And, as always...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike