Articles - The Voice of Job Seekers

Bringing Your Whole Self to Work with Scott Behson

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Welcome to the ninth year of “The Voice of Job Seekers.” Thank you for making this podcast a staple in your career and life, and many career professionals use it as a resource for their clients and students.

What company matches your values? What company show they care about their employees? How did your company pivot to ensure your employees’ success during the pandemic? Job candidates care about being accepted wholly at work. Are employers creating a workplace where everyone is accepted?

Scott Behson has been on my podcast several times since 2016. On Amazon, his book, “The Whole-Person Workplace: Building Better Workplaces Through Work-Life, Wellness, and Employee Support,” will be out on Aug. 17, 2021. He wrote the book to suggest to employers how they can adjust to the new world of work. You can also read the entire show transcript here.

You are more than welcome to join the discussion. Here are three ways you can:

– Call and leave a voicemail at 708-365-9822, or text your comments to the same number

– Go to TheVoiceofJobSeekers.com, press the “Send Voicemail” button on the right side of your screen and leave a message

– Send email feedback to mark@thevoiceofjobseekers.com

About Scott:

Scott Behson is a professor of management at Fairleigh Dickinson University. He has a doctorate in Organizational Studies and blogs at Fathers, Work, and Family. He is a regular contributor to the Harvard Business Review, Time, Wall Street Journal.

Discussion highlights:

He says the book addresses the question, “…how can employers managers, HR types build better workplaces that work for everybody and help employees in their whole lives? Like recognizing that they’re not just like, they don’t just exist from nine to five. And they don’t have a piece of themselves at work. Like they’re a whole person.”
Since this is the era of #TheGreatResignation, people realize their dissatisfaction is with their workplace conditions affecting how life is lived.
We can no longer treat our careers as a separate part of our lives.
We must manage and control how our careers influence our lives and how our lives interact with our careers.
Scott also asks, “How do we make sure that this whole person who works for me is, is okay, is well, is not stressed and anxious?
And we can maybe help them with some of their responsibilities, priorities stressors, challenges they face in their lives.”

by Mark Anthony Dyson

If Extended Unemployment Benefits Ended For You Yesterday, Do This Today!

If you lost unemployment benefits recently, I have a few suggestions to keep you going somewhat. This is hard. I know. Your situation should look different than it does. I hope you’ll keep your head up and create change.

I would recommend doing a few of the following to get you on the road to hope. A few of you saved some money and have been vigilant since the pandemic began. Although there are many open positions, some companies have chosen to take their time hiring. That’s not good for those who didn’t take into account this confusing job market.

There is work done towards extending benefits that do not include the extra $600. Most states claim they don’t have money to offer jobless benefits or even end the program.

Here’s how to get traction sooner than later (but no promises):

1) Sign up for temporary staffing agencies. You can get paid while you’re looking and test drive the companies you’re assigned. You can network with many of the employees and see if the culture is right for you. If not, you can move on. If it is, connect with others on LinkedIn, and if this opportunity doesn’t work out now, it may work out in the future. Those you connect with may refer you later on.

2) Find contract work as a 1099 employee. Unlike a temporary position, you can find two contracts to work simultaneously. W-2 situations can help accelerate paying bills you’re behind on or increase your savings.

3) Volunteer, but do so strategically. Volunteer work can fill resume gaps and increase networking opportunities. Some non-profit organizations will work with your schedule. If you do good work, ask for LinkedIn recommendations or referrals. I’ve seen organizations call other employers recommending volunteers before they apply.

4) If you’re in a bind, consider working a restaurant or hospitality industry job for a short time. If you have previous experience, you could request a higher salary initially since some companies in those industries are desperate to hire.

5) No matter your situation, make job networking a part of your lifestyle and not just something you do when you’re in a bind. You’re networking should include ways you can help others, not just for them to help you. This creates an excellent career ecosystem you can use for life, not just for your next job.

I wish I were talking exclusively to those who have saved enough money for the next six months or more. You have more options and time than those who didn’t. They were laid off or fired, and their former employer failed to set up unemployment insurance.

We are hoping relief will come in mostly offered opportunities from employers through your efforts. The following scenario is your local government will become creative to provide temporary relief. Your only choice now is to start talking to many people, and you become creative in finding jobs, if only for a short time until you discover the right opportunity.

by Mark Anthony Dyson

Know What Employers Are Expecting From You

To succeed in today’s job search, you will need to be informed of the hiring trends. This informs your networking strategy and understanding of how your skills are relevant. Your LinkedIn news feed is a start. But you’ll need to talk to others in your industry and get insider information. Get ready to maintain a dynamic career outlook. Take control of your career today because you have a “say” in your work life.

I, among others, have commented on the tone-deafness of corporations justifying how they are making money while people are at home than having people in the office. I’ve read countless articles that adhere to the corporate gospel and see how money is more seamlessly made by what the company saves.

I’m sure they vastly differ depending on the type of business. I have some random and partially impaired thoughts I’ll share for the record. I’m someone who talks about this constantly on my live stream shows from one angle or another.

Here are constant talking points you may agree or disagree with how companies are saving money, or maybe they aren’t:

👉🏾 Is PTO (Personal Time Off) less requested now but will it be resumed?

👉🏾Utility costs were significantly lower for those in the office but are rising for homeowners. Does that mean employers should reimburse remote working employees?

👉🏾 Will harassment suits of sorts (race, gender, and equity) occur less frequently because of remote work? Nope. Not according to this report stating that it has increased.

👉🏾 Did companies save money through fewer worker’s compensation claims? There’s not a straight answer. But some states are trying to include first responders and health care workers.

👉🏾 Reduced use of amenities and condiments (sounds like a musical) and snacks. Food for thought, eh?

👉🏾 Reduction in space and maintenance costs is still arguable, and time will tell.

👉🏾Office supplies have several layers to peel back. There’s a shortage of everything office-related, including office furniture.

👉🏾Construction is also a continuing saga with more to come, tied to other industries.

Yet:

👎🏾Google says they consider paying a higher salary for in-office work days and less for a remote.

👎🏾Facebook says they will pay less for locations outside the office.

👎🏾LinkedIn says workers can stay remote.

Dig in and start envisioning what your future workplace and ideal circumstances will look like for you. If you give it enough thought and planning, you can make it work for you.