Elisabeth (Harney) Sanders-Park is co-author of No One Is Unemployable, The WorkNet Model and the WorkNet curriculum, and President of WorkNet Solutions

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about hope, and hopelessness. I’ve heard it said that, “Where there is no vision/hope, the people perish.” That may seem a bit extreme, but we see manifestations of hopelessness all the time in clients who are depressed or disengaged, negative or self-sabotaging, or committed to the “yeah but” or a-problem-for-every-solution approach to their forward movement. It’s often some version of hopelessness that makes a client difficult to work with. But, hope and hopelessness are spiritual things. Surely, hope can be bolstered or dashed by our practical interactions, but it starts in the heart, in the soul. Fortunately for us and our clients, the career development process, by its very nature, is one that brings and strengthens hope. I’ve been reminded of this lately in some wonderful, tangible ways.

I was in Jacksonville, FL this month to mentor a group of Christian missionaries involved in inner city ministry, including employment, across the nation. We visited a men’s prison that offers a career development program on Monday nights (based on the WorkNet Model of Career Development & Job Placement for people with significant barriers… that’s me). It’s been running for about a year and has become one of the most popular courses. I got to sit with the men and hear from them what this program and the good news of career development means to them. Overwhelmingly, they spoke of hope and practicality. I never believed, but now I see… I have value, I have skills, I have options. I didn’t know, but now I know… how to choose a job, to market myself, to explain my past so employers can see that I will make them more money than I cost. This hope and practicality means more of them will get out and stay out of prison. Already the prison’s rate of return-to-prison has dropped from 68% (within 3 years), to 8% (within 1 year). This is amazing! [This prison is one of 8 newly organized “faith-based, character-building” institutions in FL. These institutions are seeing a decrease in return-to-prison. There are 16,000 inmates waiting to transfer to these facilities]. The hope and practicality of spiritual growth and career development are making an exciting difference!

Last month, I met a man who graduated from The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center in January ‘07 [in CA]. He shared, “In all my life, I never thought of myself as an employee. I’ve spent most of my life avoiding work or working just enough to get the drugs I wanted. 2 years ago I was in recovery, but when I got out I didn’t have a plan and I relapsed into my addiction. I came back to try again, and figured I’d go get a job at Burger King when I graduated. I didn’t want to work at Burger King, but I didn’t have any other ideas. This time I got to go through the Re-Entry program (WorkNet Career Development), and it’s made a huge difference. Now, I know I can have a career, and I’ve already started. I created my Backward Career Path, I know the Dream Job I want in 5 years, and I’m in my Entry-Career Job on my career path. I keep my Backward Career Path by my bedside and I review it a couple of times a week. I feel like my recovery, my relationship with God, my work, my life are all going in the same direction, in the right direction. I can see that my life will be different and better in the future. I’m gonna be able to give back what has been given to me.” I was teary-eyed half-way through his story. It’s a joy to hear some of the long-term results that we help impact everyday!

Every day of the week, across the U.S., 12-step meetings end with the Lord’s prayer or the Serenity prayer, and a mantra… “It works if you work it, and it won’t if you don’t… so do it!” It’s simple, yet so true. In place of new ideas and tips for you this month, I have a reminder that we have in our hands a process that is proven to work (if we work it) with even the most difficult clients, and an encouragement to include in each step of this bless-ed process the hope and practicality that creates the immediate forward-movement and the long-lasting results we desire.

Life/Work Planning: Forget the labor market for a minute, and start with the unique, valuable (even if hurting) person before you. Help them catch a vision for work, and the vital, nurturing role it can play in their lives as it gives back to them far more than in takes. You know the process, you have the tools… work it with all you’ve got! Once the vision is cast, we have a goal and a direction, and with a little backtracking we have high-quality next steps (Entry-Career Jobs).

Overcome Barriers: People are much more likely to solve problems (and overcome barriers) if what they get is something they want. Help clients identify and overcome anything that could get them screened-out from their next job. Need some hope and practicality?… any barrier can be overcome with our 5 SOLAR Solution Tools: new Skills, adjusted Outlooks, changing where they Look, good Answers, and Resources (see 3-06 article).

Job Search: The workforce has room for all types of people! But, hiring is mostly about screening-out, so teach clients to find the “Side Doors” that get them right to the people who can hire them. Avoid helping anyone craft a traditional job search. Even clients with lots of barriers, and those who are very difficult to work with can cut their job search time in half if they search in the Hidden Market, find side doors and get to the decision makers. Also, setting reasonable expectations for the number of contacts clients will make before they get a positive response, an interview and an offer.

Onward Career Development Soldier!… Take this process, innately hopeful and practical, and work it with every client who crosses your path! Let me know how I can help.

Photo by Adam B.