The stock market may have rebounded, and many businesses may feel a little less threatened today, but the job market remains a disaster area. Forget about last month’s jobs report.
The fact is that the overall employment picture is dismal. Those of us who are gainfully employed should count ourselves lucky, with a capital L. Even in healthcare, once a bulwark of employment stability, the layoffs and downsizing continue on their demoralizing upward trajectory. With all the cost cutting and greater emphasis on efficiency, the security that once lured people to the industry is gone, and many people who worked in it for decades are now looking elsewhere for employment.
Many of the people who have been let go have mortgages and kids ready to enter college. They’re desperate to find jobs so they can get back to living normal lives. If you have never been laid off, it is difficult to convey the sense of loss and isolation. Even if you did nothing to deserve it, you feel as if you have let your family down.
Those who still have work owe it to friends who lose jobs to reach out and let them know you are there for them. Human instinct may be to avoid unpleasant or awkward situations, but we need to rise above that. After all, there but for the grace of God go I. Open up a conversation so the friend can give full voice to his or her feelings.
Reassuring words help, but do more than provide sympathy. Keep your ears open for job opportunities that might be a fit for your friend. Think of people your friend might network with. Provide the friend with a high-quality reference. Take him or her to lunch and/or dinner, more than once.
Most of the people I respect the most spend a good part of their time helping others in one way or another, and are rewarded with true and lasting friendships. As anyone past the age of 30 knows, friends don’t grow on trees.
And yet, relationships need nurturing. Hard times are when friends show up. I will never forget those friends who got on a plane to show up at my hospital bed when I have been ill.
There is no better feeling than helping someone out of a jam. More than half a century ago when I was starting my career, I had a tough time finding a job. One of my good friends heard about my struggles, so he went to his boss and asked him to interview me. His boss told him that there were no openings on the sales staff but as a favor to him he would meet with me. The interview went well, and about a week later one of the salespeople left the company; I was called and hired. My friend was as thrilled as I was that I got the job. I will never forget what he did for me.
When I tell who he was, you will appreciate the importance of early friendships. His name was Jim Dunn. At the time he was in advertising with Life magazine, but later he rose through the ranks to advertising sales director. From there he moved to become just the third publisher of Forbes magazine and the first not named Forbes. He held that post until he became corporate vice chairman in 1988.
I have been blessed to have many friends like Jim, which is why whenever someone reaches out to me for help I go out of my way to do so. Every time I have been of help I am rewarded far more than the effort I expended.
So please look around you and see if there are people you can help with their careers. The greatest legacy you can leave behind is as a mentor and friend to others.
