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All Job Seekers Matter

There are two sides to the front line workforce development programs. One side is all about assisting job seekers and business customers and the tools and techniques necessary for success. The other side is about the numbers and benchmarks necessary to achieve success. In a perfect world the two would go together and create the perfect mathematical formula for workforce development success. In reality, this may not be true.
 
There are many times that the benchmarks for success rely on the perfect potion for success. All the best ingredients that complement each other must be entered into the pot for the best outcome. As we know in workforce development, many times this is not the case. Sometimes there are too many job seekers without the correct skills and experience for the hiring employers. Other times, the barriers of the job seekers are preventing them from achieving employment. Additionally, the success of providing services to business customers may be dependent upon the larger economic conditions. On top of all of those items, the benchmarks for the program may seem unrealistic. All of the above is out of the control of a workforce development professional.   
Like anything else in life, it is not the condition that matters, but our reaction. How do we deal with the condition that has been presented?  In order to achieve what seems unachievable, it is important to note that every job seeker matters. Even the job seeker with huge challenges should be counted as an important part of the bigger picture. To achieve the huge goals, it is necessary to remember that each and every interaction with a job seeker and a business matters.  
 
Regardless of the barriers to success, as workforce development professionals, we cannot fail to try. When job seekers have huge barriers to employment, we must try harder. When the needs of the businesses we service, does not match with our current service list or the resources that we have on hand, we must try harder. To achieve our goals, even in times of frustration, we must try harder and be creative. Sometimes we must learn from past failures in order to move forward with the most creative solutions, even when the resources are scarce.
 
This week in the United States, we are celebrating Thanksgiving. This comes after a long Presidential election cycle and understanding that we are in a political transition in this country. It is a good time to stop and pause for a moment. Give thanks not only for the usual, but also for all the job seekers that have crossed your path. Give thanks for the opportunity to serve the job seekers and business community. Give thanks for employment and economics. Give thanks for creativity and innovation. Give thanks that all job seekers matter.
~Karen Cirincione
Twitter:@kcirincione

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