A few words to the unemployed…
Today, I spoke with someone who works for California’s Employment Development Department (EDD), who mentioned some “new” (to her 
) techniques that job applicants had experienced recently during the interview process.
In the current “employer’s market” (California unemployment in March averaged 11.2%), some employers have reverted to old tactics like seating interviewees in uncomfortable chairs and maintaining uncomfortable temperatures in interview rooms, to induce stress! (Much like those contrite and penitent Wall Street executives reverted to “business-as-usual” AFTER RECEIVING their bailout checks from taxpayers. )
The interview techniques above remind me very much of workplace tactics used by some of the more “disturbed and sadistic” members of the E/I NTJ personality types (and their “minions” ) whom I have encountered. (For a humorous parody of the Myers-Briggs personality types, based upon the real descriptions and carried to an EXTREME, see this reference. If you are unemployed, you may as well laugh aloud at them – you couldn’t when you worked for people like this – and laughter is great medicine. Remember, a lot of really defective human beings still have jobs!)
You have to ask yourself one question, “Do I really want to work for a company that uses such techniques during the interview process?” Being unemployed is actually quite preferable to WORKING for any of a large number of companies that I could name (but WON’T ) .
Remember that the BEST that ANY company will treat you is during the interview process, when they are trying to get you (and your substantial talents and skills) on board (at the cheapest possible price). After you sign with them, it’s all downhill…..
Those of you who are new to this blog, and who are retired, unemployed, and/or overworked, might want to read a book that I have mentioned several times, The Joy of Not Working: A book for the retired, unemployed, and overworked by Ernie J. Zelinski. (No, I don’t get a percentage; it’s just a great book!) Ernie has a bachelors of science in engineering and a masters in business administration from the University of Alberta (Canada). According to his bio, Ernie “maintains a four- to five-hour workday and doesn’t like to work at all in any month that does not have an “r” in it.” I recommend the book to those whose inner voice is saying “Life is short. Why am I doing this?” The book is written in an engaging style, with great quotes in the margin.
Stress is related to how we RESPOND to circumstances… to the “cards we are dealt.” Read Ernie’s book and use unemployment as a time to view the world, and employers, differently.
As for the “jokers” with the uncomfortable chairs and uncomfortable temperatures – put THEIR company at a competitive disadvantage by refusing to share your talents with them! Work for one of their COMPETITORS! Work for a GOOD company that refuses to play such games. After awhile, they may start to wonder why they have such a bad reputation in their industry, and why their performance is off.
(This may be attributing too much intelligence and insight to them, however. )
-Bill at Cheshire Cat Photo™
You can view higher-resolution photos (*generally* 7-30 megabytes, compressed) at the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Pro Gallery on Shutterfly™, where you can also order prints and gifts decorated with the photos of your choice from the gallery. Apparel and other gifts decorated with some of our most popular photos can be ordered from the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Store on CafePress®. Both Shutterfly™ and CafePress® ship to most international locations worldwide! If you don’t see what you want or would like to receive an email when new photos are up on the site, send us an email at info@cheshirecatphoto.com.
