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The Truth about Work

Workforce development professionals believe that determining the motivation of a job seeking customer will assist with goal achievement. In the heads of professionals, this translates to the reason a person will become employed. A person will get a job because of the internal satisfaction associated with work or the tangible items that can be purchased with money earned from work.
 
Unfortunately, the above is a fairy tale for many.  There is something missing from the theory and it is the imaginary elephant in the room that is not discussed.  The missing link is that not all job seeking customers of a workforce program actually want to work. The word “work” is harsh sounding word. Our brains have images and feelings associated with the word “work” and the majority are negative.
 
The opposite of work is play. Our brains have positive images and feelings associated with the word “play.”  The images are associated with fun, entertainment, and pleasure.  Why would anyone want to “work” when it is more fun to “play” instead? As a result, many currently working people have the attitude that they are only working until they hit the big lottery. This attitude is contagious to non-working people. In the real world, the majority of people need to work to earn money to for living expenses.
 
This big elephant in the room is not a common discussion between a workforce professional and job seeker, but starting out with an honest conversation will get to the real questions about motivation.
 
I suggest asking questions such as:
 
·       Do you want to work?
·       Why do you want to work or not work?
·       If you did not have to work to support yourself financially, what would you do with your time?
 
I challenge you to ask these questions of your job seeking customer to gain insight into the thought process, fears, and real motivation.  If you do not ask these questions, you may be guessing why a person has not become employed or eliminated barriers preventing employment. As part of follow up, the discussion can then bridge to finding an occupation of interest that will feel less like “work” and more like “play.”
 
~Karen Cirincione
Email: kcirincione@gmail.com        
Twitter:@kcirincione

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