Chicago based psychologist and career counselor Arlene Hirsch has a lot to say about the state of employment in this country. She’s written multiple best selling books on how to find career success, and is a respected expert in her field. Arlene also appears regularly in the media, offering advice on career growth and effective job searching.
Through her practice, Arlene advises clients on pursing their career goals with conviction and focus. In part one of our two part interview, we asked Arlene about the psychological toll on the underemployed, what stops people from finding meaningful employment, and her strategies for finding a better job.
The Underemployed Life: You offer career and psychological counseling through your practice. What are some of the psychological effects of underemployment you see in your clients?
Arlene Hirsch: There is often a lack of a sense of self-efficacy. People who are underemployed are often afraid to hope for something because they aren’t confident that they can achieve what they want. If they make an effort, and that effort fails, they easily lose hope and give up.
TUL: Do you think their giving up too easily is related to an absence of support from friends and family or more from a lack of confidence they can navigate the job market?
AH: I would say both. When parents are supportive it helps boost their confidence. Teachers, coaches and mentors can also play key roles. Coaches are particularly helpful because they are part cheerleader and part skill builder.
Millennials are very close to their parents and really look to their parents to be encouraging. When parents are discouraging they often lack the courage of their own convictions.
TUL: In your opinion, what prevents people from finding meaningful employment?
AH: The word “meaningful” is important. Often people aren’t sure what would be meaningful to them. This is particularly true, I think, for people who aren’t interested in business careers. It seems that many “fall into” jobs that they don’t want or like because they think that’s all they can get or else they don’t know “what’s out there?”
“a job search is, by definition, uncomfortable. If you try to avoid the discomfort you can’t really engage in the process.”
TUL: Do you think our high schools and colleges are doing enough to prepare students for “what’s out there?”
AH: I think that career services in colleges need to do a better job of letting the students know how they can be helpful. I also believe that one course in career planning should be a required course at every college. Internships and other practical experiences can be helpful.
My 16 year old nephew is attending a college prep school and they seem to be much more engaged with the students. He was just accepted into a four day summer internship program at DePaul University to learn more about actuarial science. I can’t think of a better way for him to learn firsthand what this particular field is like. But I have been very actively working to introduce him to different fields that seem to be a good fit. I think maybe it helps to have a career counselor in the family!
TUL: What strategies do you recommend for those who are chronically underemployed?
AH: Everything begins with self-assessment and self-knowledge. People need to take the time to better understand their skills, interests, values and personality and then figure out how to translate that information into viable career options.
TUL: What advice do you give clients who are struggling with leaving a bad job? How would you suggest they handle looking for a better job when they’re currently employed?
AH: When people who are unhappy with their jobs come to see me, I start by asking them what is and is not working for them. When it’s clear that a job change is the right answer I start teaching them the skills and process involved in getting a job. As they see what’s possible, they often revert to some waffling and try to convince themselves that their job isn’t that bad. I think this is a fear of the unknown and a fear of failing.
“It’s easier to look for a job when you have a job.” I have hundreds of people tell me this. I actually think that it can be harder to look for a job while still employed because there isn’t enough time to do an effective search. As a result people often grab the first thing that comes along because they think that anything would be better than what they have. That’s not a great way to make a decision.
The good news is that social media and technology in general make “armchair job hunting” a lot easier because can look at job postings and apply for jobs on line after work hours. The only problem with this strategy is that most jobs are filled through networking or by word of mouth. So spending a lot of time filling out applications on line isn’t always the most effective strategy. That said it is possible to use social media and the Internet to do some networking with a wider swath of people. But there’s really no great substitute for face-to-face or, at least, voice to voice where people can have real conversations.
TUL: That’s interesting because there’s a whole new generation of kids where much of their social interaction takes place through computers and cell phones. How do you think that will affect their ability to interview face to face?
AH: Yes. This poses a problem. Their writing skills are often abysmal because they’re so used to texting, and the whole idea of face to face networking is a mystery. I think it’s easier to hide behind technology. But a job search is, by definition, uncomfortable. If you try to avoid the discomfort you can’t really engage in the process.
TUL: Underemployment is a problem that cuts across age. Does your advice differentiate depending on how old the client is?
AH: Yes. A lot of my clients are college graduates in their twenties who are floundering in the job market. This is particularly true for liberal arts majors because their major doesn’t easily translate into obvious career choices.
I think this is a time when people have fewer responsibilities and can afford to take some risks. While employers lament all that Millennial job hopping, it is actually age and stage appropriate.
New developmental staged called Emerging Adulthood. It is positioned between adolescence and more established adulthood when people begin to make longer term commitments. This stage, which can last well into their twenties, is characterized by an extended period of exploration and experimentation because this is what they need to do to figure out what they’re good at, what they like and where they can fit in well.
Midlifers are dealing with midlife issues. Time has a different meaning at midlife because people are aware that there is more time behind them than in front of them, so there is an urgency to make that time count. Many of these clients want to focus on more deeply meaningful work — something more creative or intellectual or spiritual, depending on the client. These clients often need to do some real soul searching whereas the Emerging Adults need to do exploring.
In part two of our interview, Arlene discusses the “myth” holding back many college graduates, and offers advice for people unhappy with their job status.
For more information or to contact Arlene Hirsch, please visit her website