We graduated 9 students from a youth employment program recently, and today we are reflecting on the courage it takes for a job seeker to approach an employer.  Confidence may not be high in someone looking for work.  Job seekers question their skills, their value and their potential to be a great employee.  Our employment programs work to build their courage, to help them find their confidence and recognize that each and every person has value to the workplace.  Not everyone is well suited, but everyone deserves the opportunity to prove themselves.  Practice does contribute a great deal to the improvement in a job seekers approach and delivery to an Employer.

So when a job seeker comes calling, consider that they may have walked by your business 10 times before entering, they likely rehearsed their opening introduction in the mirror or to a trusted friend, they have spent time visualizing your business and imagining themselves working alongside you.  It takes courage to walk across the threshold.  If you could, reward the courage it took by spending a few minutes in kindness to provide needed experience in this part of the job search process.  They may not be the right fit for you, but your kindness and patience can help them learn within the journey of finding their right fit.  “It takes a village to encourage a job seeker”.