Imagine you have been unemployed and actively looking for work. Slowly the negatives get to you. Depending on your ability and experience you can be looking for “that” job for months, then years. Depression due to the constant rejection is plausible. It is unfortunate and happens to many job seekers.
Trapped in the System
Being trapped due to the demands of the governments systems and processes is also a problem. The amount of money provided is supposed to cover the basic needs. It leads to a very frugal lifestyle. Add Robodebt and you find yourself unable to even use the recent bonus, afraid that the government will want it back one day.
The pressures are many and the constant reporting due to the system you have to navigate while maintaining food, housing and dependants is stressful. It is a stress only those who have been long term unemployed can understand.
Even getting a small job can still leave you inside the system. Never earning enough to leave the social security network, still having to search for more work due to the thousands of small jobs that still require the ability, skills, time and experience that many do not have.
A Rare Response
Then something happens. You go for a job at a certain plumbing supplies company. It’s a shot in hope. Maybe past experience will get you to the interview. You know they are looking for someone younger and without the minor physical limitations you have.
When the rejection e-mail arrives you are incredibly surprised. Is this is a rejection letter? The language is too… nice. The tone is familial and warm. Phrases such as “we appreciate your interest in joining our company” abound.
The e-mail itself is titled Recruitment Update. The letter concludes with encouragement to try again and wishing you best of luck with the other applications. This is a breath of fresh air. Most companies do not even contact you unless you get to the pre-interview stage.
Recognition of Effort
Why is this so good? Because it is not a rejection letter. This letter says ‘We see what you did here. Look, it didn’t happen this time but you’re welcome to try again”. There are direct links to go for that second, third or hundredth time.
In a desert of rejection and poor communication, this was an oasis. A simple recognition of effort: That the time you took was valuable; that you are not just a number in an application process that favours the successful few. As an applicant this is a justification, that your efforts, while not successful are still worthwhile.
Please if you are connected to the Human Resources and Recruitment team at your business tell them to up their game. Because, unless they are a certain plumbing supplies company that rhymes with peace, they are not up to scratch.
Phillip Hall has been too long in Melbourne to see AFL in the same light as those back in Fremantle. East Fremantle born and bred, he would love to see the Dockers back in the eight. But would settle for just beating West Coast twice a year.
