Looking for Meaningful Work?

We have all been there.............on the other side of the interview desk, dressed in our Sunday best, and as prepared as we are going to be for the job interview. Somehow, you've managed to jump through the screening hoops. Maybe you've even had to write a couple of tests to display your applied knowledge, or your languages aptitude. Maybe by the time the big interview has rolled around, you have already met with individuals in the political peripheral just to make sure that they are aware and supportive of your pursuits..........that maybe they have a little bit of clout and will throw it your way. You've done your homework, tweaked your resume, prepared a cracker jack cover letter, networked, discussed the possible interview questions with a friend. You may have even lost some sleep from nervousness or excitement in anticipation of your interview debut with the organization you want to work for. The waiting process is over......

So, the big day arrives................you have been shortlisted for the job...............a career position that will change the course of you life as well as start helping you pay off the bills accrued while unemployed, looking for work............ (does anyone realize how expensive it is to LOOK for work???)

Best foot forward.................best gleaming smile......................crisp white shirt.................or even brand new duds......................all for the occasion of making the best impression, the right impression............

A NEW BEGINNING for YOU.

Hopeful, and yet trying to be realistic about your chances. You've been down this road and you know that as much as you believe in being in control of your own destiny, the reality is that it's being held in the hands of the Human Resources Officer (or even a whole interview team of suits) who has the privilege of sitting comfortably on the other side of the interview desk. He or she has the control.

Don't forget your armour. Did you hear me? Don't forget your armour.

So........... the hour long interview seems to go well. You were asked a slew of questions, most of which you thought were bogus and ridiculous, but you didn't let them know that. NO, you played the game and answered everything with as much honest sincerity as you could. You spoke from your heart. In fact offered up more of yourself to this band of people who make the decision on your future. But, you leave feeling very positive, like you've scored a winning goal, hit a home run, kicked the end of the game field goal.

Everyone shakes hands..............and all of a sudden you find yourself back in your car exhausted, yet hopeful that maybe, just maybe you will be working with this company or organization and making a difference. You head home feeling light, relieved and a bit exhausted from the mental drain of it all. After all, it wasn't just the job interview. The whole application process has taken months to culminate into an interview.

You head home and wait. And wait. And wait. And wait.

Still have your armour on? You're going to need it. Why? Because if you arent the chosen candidate, you will never EVER hear back from the Human Resource person. You will be left hanging in the wind on a clothesline littered with other exhausted job seekers.

This is now the norm. No further contact. No personal feedback. Not even a PFO letter in the mailbox. The "human" should be taken out of Human Resources because these people have forgotten what it is like to be on the other side of the boardroom table. There is no level playing field. The sick power that has enveloped the HR INDUSTRY (yes, it's an industry all on it's own) has lost any form of human touch. Gone is respect for others. Gone are the manners that they learned from their mommas and pappas. And you what else is gone?

Gone is my respect for the field, and any integrity that they may have accumulated. It seems hat Human Resources..........the people who make the "God like" decisions for your future are more inclined to fill out reports, to complete their statistics, to sit in meetings creating new and refreshing job ads, and to fill their need for power tripping. They are no better than prison guards trapped in power struggle with their prisoners.

People come first. People come first.

Show some respect, and find your empathy. Revisit your personal reasons for entering the field of HR in the first place. Didn't it go something like this??

"I really want to work in a field helping people reach for their best. I really want to be in the frontlines coaching, facilitating, and developing effective teams. I love working with people. I want to help."

I see this time and again. I'm the person on the other end who helps those people you have treated so rudely and unfairly to pick up the pieces and move forward. Do you know how difficult it is to help someone find hope and optimism again when they have been beaten down by a rude and corrupt system over and over again. It breaks my heart. It makes me so darn angry. Who do these HR people think they are????

If you are in HR and you have lost sight of your personal mission statement....................start looking for another job or take some time off and do some navel gazing. Because............you are damaging the esteem of your neighbours and community members. You are not providing any service to the people you thought you were going to help.