What Is the Best Way to Help Someone New to the Workforce Who Is Looking for a Job?

What is the best way to help someone new to the workforce who is looking for a job?

Firstly, encourage them to accept and be grateful for an entry-level position that will grant them priceless skills and an opportunity to learn.

There is a tremendous sense of entitlement in our generation. I’ve spoken to many people who claim they can’t find a job. After a short conversation, it’s clear that they want to start at the top. They don’t even know what they don’t know — and their ignorance gives them confidence.

People with little or no experience need to understand that entitlement has no place in the workforce. You have to work for everything you want to get and everything you want to be. It’s so important to find a place where you can gain valuable experience and work your way up. I’ve seen people who took jobs for very little pay and felt cheated, and it reflected poorly in their work and attitude. Compare this to the people who came in with an attitude of gratitude and willingness to learn — they advanced very quickly in the company. With the right attitude, you can grow within a company and grow within yourself — gaining skills and human capital that translates into greater earning potential.

Also, help job seekers keep looking and trying. Candidates need to know a bit about how sales works. In business, not every call results in a meeting and not every meeting results in a sale. It’s the same with jobs. Don’t let job seekers get discouraged because they got one no at an interview. The candidate is in sales right now. They’re selling themselves to a company and they don’t know what their conversion rate is. Often, a lot of factors are playing out and the job seeker isn’t privy to most of them, so keep trying.