Reentry Passageways

The Great Recession technically ended in 2009, although the repercussions continued for several years. When I wrote the first draft of “Get Beyond Your Troubled Past” in 2014, this period (the most significant economic downturn since the Great Depression) was still very much on my mind—things were improving steadily; however, the economy and citizenry had been (and remained) unnerved. There were lots of echoes.

Then came 2020 and COVID-19—the economy and the job market were again rocked hard in novel and unexpected ways. Like the Great Recession, many hanging threads remain, and we are still adjusting to the aftermath.

One issue, still under adjustment, is a labor shortage, something we have all experienced in one form or another in our daily lives since the economy re-opened post-Covid.

Take a look at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce chart below. If we stretched it back a few years, an underlying trend would be easier to see: the decline in the U.S. Labor Participation Rate, tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It stands at 62.5% currently compared to 67.2% in January 2001. The decrease has been anything but orderly, but it’s significant. A drop of 4.7% is a very big deal.

Yes, it’s a boring old BLS statistic, but it has real and important implications for reentering job-seekers. In short, it means lots of job openings!

There are many reasons, including tech innovations, automation, fewer Boomers working, and other generational factors. Hardly a proper reasoning, but we’ll let the economists sort out the “whys.” The net result for most of those reentering (regardless of their personal whys) is an abundance of opportunity compared to the dark days during and after the recession. In short, there are many passageways to getting back in, especially entry-level. Furthermore, the need is great for skilled and semi-skilled workers of nearly all types, either as a starting point (i.e., coming out of a two-year associate’s program, apprenticeships, etc.) or as a promotional step-up from entry-level roles.

The book’s subtitle is “You’re Not Looking for a Job, You’re Looking for a Person.” This refers to the background-challenged worker’s need to make and use personal connections (attained through work) to succeed and progress forward—when, as a challenged job seeker, the digits are rarely your friend. Nothing has changed related to the importance of building relationships and contacts to advance, but the number and range of starting points—the openings—have vastly improved.

As plentiful as the opportunities are now, I must raise the cautionary flag. When passageways abound, people can become lax, sloppy, and lazy. The need to touch all the bases and progress through each stage (as I present in the book and post about here) may seem less pressing and relevant. I know. I see it, have seen it, and I get it.

But my message is this: stay tight and buttoned up, picking and choosing the right entry point and position. Once there, buckle down and stick to your plan. Your goal is to progress, and you do this by putting in the work, logging the time, and building a solid and consistent work history.

The chart features two economic shock events. You don’t see the two similar gut punches that preceded the chart data: the dot.com pop in 1999-2000 and 9/11 in 2001. If you can spot a pattern here, take heed.

Use the many passageways available now to your best advantage, proactively and intentionally, but look beyond this “less difficult” reentry time because it will morph and change, like always.

Onward!

Delivering The Mail

In Get Beyond Your Troubled Past, I introduce the concept of "Delivering the Mail"—strategically sharing your narrative with potential employers. This skill is crucial for any background-challenged job seeker, especially those with felonies.

Why is Delivering the Mail so important? Because when you have a troubled past, your story precedes you. Employers will learn about your background through formal background checks or informal Google searches. If you don't take control of your narrative, someone else will define it for you.

This is where the power of your Personal Narrative comes in. As I discussed in a previous post, crafting your own story is an opportunity to reframe your experiences, highlight your growth, and demonstrate your commitment to a new path. It's a chance to show employers that you are more than your worst mistakes, have learned from your challenges, and are ready to contribute your strengths.

But crafting your narrative is only half the battle. The other half is delivering it effectively, where many job seekers stumble. They overshare, diving into too much detail too soon, or they avoid the subject altogether, hoping their past won't come up.

Neither oversharing nor avoidance is effective. Oversharing can overwhelm or alienate an employer, while avoidance creates an atmosphere of secrecy and mistrust. The key is to be proactive and strategic about when and how you share your story. Take control of the narrative and present yourself in the best light.

Effective Mail Delivery is all about timing. You don't want to lead with your troubled past in your first interaction with a potential employer. Let them get to know your strengths and qualifications first. But you also don't want to wait until late in the hiring process, when an employer might feel blindsided or misled. The key is to find the right moment.

I recommend looking for natural openings to share your narrative. Typically, this comes during the first interview. For example, an employer may ask about a gap in your work history, a straightforward opening for you to present your narrative. However, you may need to proactively interject your narrative if it appears the interview will conclude without a natural opening.

Whenever you deliver your Mail, the key is to do it concisely and authentically. This is where your practiced 3-4 sentence narrative comes in handy.

You might say something like:

"I want to be transparent about my past. I struggled with addiction and incarceration for several years. That experience taught me a lot about personal responsibility. I am healthy and sober now and have been out of the system for 11 months. I'm committed to working hard at building my way back."

Notice how this narrative acknowledges the past but quickly pivots to the lessons learned and the commitment to a different future. It doesn't dwell on details or make excuses, but it also doesn't hide or minimize the reality of the experience.

After delivering your Mail, be prepared for follow-up questions. An employer might ask for more details about your background or how you've changed. Answer honestly but succinctly, always steering the conversation back to your strengths and showing enthusiasm for the opportunity.

Indeed, your primary objective is to proceed deeper into the hiring process and hopefully land the position. But you are also positioning yourself in the eyes of the employer. I have seen situations where an employer cannot hire someone due to company policy. Yet the employer was impressed with how the situation was handled, resulting in the name and phone number of someone who could help.

Delivering the Mail is about owning your story and demonstrating your integrity. It is also a deliberate act designed to maximize your chances of success. Creating your narrative and learning to Deliver the Mail effectively takes work and effort, but rewards await those who learn to do it well.

Onward!

Your Personal Narrative

When reentering the workforce after significant setbacks like incarceration, addiction, or homelessness, one of the most powerful tools in your job search arsenal is your personal narrative - the summary story about how things went the way they did and why you are reentering. This genuine and accurate narrative forms the basis for "Delivering the Mail," a significant tactical step I explain in detail in my book, "Get Beyond Your Troubled Past."

Why is developing your narrative so crucial? First and foremost, it allows you to take control of your story – truthfully and accurately. For many with a criminal record or red-flag gaps in their employment history, the knee-jerk response is to avoid the details (as if they won't come up) or to put a spin on them in some street-esque, self-promotional, BS way.

Not good!

Your narrative is an opportunity to face and reframe your experiences. You get to craft your narrative, where you decide what your story means and where it's heading. Think about it this way: if you don't tell your story, someone else will. And chances are, their version won't be nearly as nuanced, compassionate, or growth-oriented as yours. By proactively sharing your narrative, you avoid any potential negativity or assumptions. You demonstrate that you're not hiding from your past but are willing to own and learn from it.

So, how do you go about developing your narrative? Start by setting aside some quiet, reflective time to write your story from the beginning to where you are now. Don't worry about perfection or polish - focus on getting it all out and down. Be honest about your challenges and setbacks, but don't dwell on them. Acknowledge your choices' impacts, but don't get bogged down in shame or self-blame. Focus on what you've learned, how you've changed, and what drives you now.

When done, set it aside - don't touch it for at least a day; two or three is best. Then, haul it out and cut it in half. If it started as ten pages, make it five, keeping the core events, the meat of the story. Then, set this version aside again for another couple of days.

The last step is another reduction, chopping it into a concise narrative you can share in job search situations. Aim for a brief, 3-4 sentence summary that hits the key points: the issues you've faced, the lessons you've learned, and your commitment to a new path.

For example:

"I faced significant challenges with addiction and incarceration in my past. Through that experience, I learned the importance of personal responsibility, hard work, and surrounding myself with positive influences. I've been sober for a year now and am committed to rebuilding my life and career with integrity and dedication."

Practice delivering your narrative out loud until it feels natural and authentic. Get feedback from trusted mentors or job search coaches. Tweak the language until it feels true to you.

The goal isn't to script a perfect speech but to internalize your story so you can share it with confidence and calm when the opportunity arises. Whether in a job interview, a networking conversation, or a cover letter, your personal narrative is a powerful way to connect with potential employers and demonstrate your resilience and growth.

Getting it out and down where you can read it also allows you to release some of the emotions built up over time and helps clarify the facts. Reading what you write about yourself back to you removes the subconscious storyline you've probably used to support or defend your take on the situation.

Remember, the Marketplace doesn't care how you feel about anything, including your background problem. Consider each prospective employer you meet as a stand-in for the Marketplace. As a result, you need a way to manage your message.

Onward!

Job Search Objective II

Rebuilding your career after a major setback can be overwhelming. With so many options and obstacles, getting lost or discouraged is a real possibility. Simply put, it is easy to become a distracted buyer, chasing the next shining object rather than a discerning seller of (your) service. To avoid losing your way, you need a compass. You need to define your Job Search Objective (JSO).

Your JSO is your north star. The job market can be murky and turbulent for anyone, especially someone reentering with background baggage. The fix? A specific, achievable career goal to aim for in the short term, which aligns with longer-term aspirations.

So, what does a well-defined JSO look like? First and foremost, it's specific. "I want a job" is not a JSO. "I want a job as a dental assistant in a pediatric practice" is. The more clearly you can articulate your aim, the more focused and effective your job search will be.

A good JSO is also realistic and achievable. It considers your current situation, skills, and experience. Given that you are reentering or starting over, your JSO might be an entry-level position that will give you a foot in the door. If you’ve got years of experience but have background issues limiting your ability to pick up where you left off, then your JSO must lead to the most likely re-entry point.

Defining your JSO is a process of self-reflection and research. It starts with asking yourself some honest questions:

• What is my longer-term job/career goal (say, in five years)?

• What are my strengths and skills?

• What are my limitations (related to skills & experience AND background issues)?

• What kind of work do I find meaningful and engaging (where I will stay)?

• What is the best entry point NOW as a first step toward my longer-term goal?

Once you define your JSO – STOP!

Take note that you have just established two things:

• The type of job/work you will go after

• The type you WON’T go after

The second one (what not to pursue) is a biggie. It is just as crucial as your defined JSO. And why so, you ask? The reason is simple and often overlooked. You have to know where not to invest time, energy, and effort to avoid the black holes created by chasing after jobs far outside the bounds of your JSO. Full stop!

Then, it's time to hit the pavement (or the internet) and start your search. Proceed methodically. Be selective, but don't be afraid to think outside the box. Your JSO doesn't have to be a traditional job. It might be a freelance gig, a part-time position, or a role close to your JSO that utilizes transferable skills and provides a path toward your eventual goal.

As you engage in the search and have tested the waters a bit, refine your JSO into a clear, concise statement. For example, "My Job Search Objective is to secure a front-of-the-house position in a fine-dining restaurant, utilizing my work ethic and people skills to deliver top-notch service.”

Write down your JSO and put it somewhere you'll see it daily—on your bathroom mirror, fridge, or computer background. Use it as your touchstone and filter for every job search step. When deciding whether to apply for a position, ask yourself, "Does this align with my JSO?" If not, drop it right there.

When crafting your resume (and cover letters), highlight the experiences and qualities most relevant to your JSO. The same goes for interview prep; practice discussing how your experience and aspirations connect to your JSO.

Having a clear JSO will help you stay focused, motivated, and resilient in the face of the inevitable challenges and rejections of the job search. It will help you communicate your value to potential employers and make more strategic decisions about where to invest your time and energy.

Most importantly, your JSO will give you a sense of direction and purpose in your career journey. It's a reminder that your past does not define you and that you can set your course and make your way.

So, take the time to define your Job Search Objective, and let it be your compass as you navigate towards a brighter future. You've got this!

Onward!

Take Care of Old Business

If you're on a journey of rebuilding your life after addiction, incarceration, or other major setbacks, you know how important it is to stay focused on your goals and keep moving forward. But there's one crucial step that many people overlook in their eagerness to start fresh: dealing with old business.

What do I mean by "old business"? I'm talking about all those loose ends from your past that you've been avoiding or putting off—legal issues, debts, broken relationships, unresolved conflicts—the stuff that keeps nagging at you even as you try to focus on your new path.

It's easy to ignore those things and convince yourself that you'll deal with them later. After all, you're already juggling so much, like staying sober, finding a job, or adjusting to life after prison. But the reality is those old issues will continue. They will resurface, often at the most inconvenient times, and demand your attention. It's a matter of when, not if.

Consider this: as you work diligently to build a new reputation and demonstrate to the world (and yourself) that you've transformed, the weight of unresolved issues can threaten to undo your progress. But imagine the freedom and peace of mind of resolving those old business matters. It's not just about avoiding future problems; it's about creating a solid foundation for the future you're building.

Here's what happened to one of my former clients.

Mitch was reentering from a variety of challenging situations, incarceration and homelessness topping the list. But he was making progress. He had a job he liked and had reconnected with family. Little by little, things were coming together. On Thursday afternoon, while on a break from work, he walked over to 7/11, skipping the crosswalk and cutting across a busy street on his way. A cop spotted him, pulled him aside, and found a pile of old bench warrants when he ran Mitch. He didn't return to work. Mitch spent four nights in jail waiting to go before the judge on Monday morning. Ironically, most of the warrants were dismissed (good), but Mitch was fired (very bad).

The lesson from this real-life example is clear - take the initiative. Mitch should have dealt with these bench warrants before securing his job. But he didn’t. As a result, at the most inconvenient moment, his past issues resurfaced and pulled him back.

That's why cleaning up old businesses is so essential. It's not just about tying up practical loose ends (although that's important too). It's about taking responsibility for your past and making things right. It's about building a solid base for your new life so that you're not constantly looking over your shoulder or waiting for the other shoe to drop.

I know, easier said than done, right? Facing your old demons can be scary, overwhelming, and downright discouraging. You might be afraid of the consequences, ashamed to confront the people you've hurt, or just feeling hopeless about ever getting out from under the weight of your past.

But here's the good news - you don't have to do it alone, and you don't have to do it all at once. The key is to take it one step at a time and reach out for help when needed.

Start by listing all the unresolved issues from your past that still hang over your head. Get specific - write down names, dates, amounts owed, etc. Just getting it all out on paper can be a relief.

Then, prioritize that list. What's the most pressing issue that's most likely to trip you up if you don't deal with it? Start there. It might be resolving old warrants (think Mitch), contacting a creditor to set up a payment plan, or writing a letter to a family member you've estranged from.

Whatever it is, break it down into small, manageable steps. Try to tackle things one at a time, claiming small incremental victories to avoid burnout and giving up. And remember, you don't have to take this on alone. Contact your support network - your sponsor, therapist, mentor, trusted friends, and family. Let them know what you're working on and ask for their help and accountability. You'd be amazed by how many people are willing to support you when you take steps to clean up your past and do the right thing.

Now, I won't sugarcoat it - cleaning up old business can be long and sometimes painful. You might have to have difficult conversations, make sacrifices, or face hard truths about yourself and your actions. But the other side of that discomfort is a profound sense of freedom, empowerment, and achievement. I have seen it.

When you take responsibility for your past and do the work to make things right, you send a powerful message to yourself and the world. You're saying, "I'm not running from my mistakes anymore. I'm owning them, learning from them, and making amends. I'm building a life of integrity and purpose, one choice at a time."

It's hard to overstate the importance of addressing old business and is undoubtedly hard work. But it must be done. The key to success is to keep showing up, reaching out, and doing the next right thing. Your future self will thank you.

Onward!

Personal Job One

There's an exception to every rule and an odd duck in every flock. True enough, and it makes life interesting—the exception is the oddity, the one that moves right when the group moves left. However, when it comes to reentry in its basest form, there are few, if any, exceptions. There is always (99.9% in any case) one core behavioral issue that has contributed (more than anything else) to the fall into incarceration, homelessness, or some other form of chaos.

Identifying, accepting, and managing this is critical to success for those reentering from the harshest of life situations. I call this Personal Job One (PJO). To stay on track and avoid falling back into old patterns, PJO must come first. It's the foundation upon which everything else in reentry life depends.

For those battling addiction, their PJO is getting and staying clean and sober. For others, it might be managing a mental health condition by staying on their meds and continuing with therapy and self-care. For those rebuilding after incarceration, it means staying out of situations or away from people that could lead back to trouble.

The message is clear to someone reentering from situations like this: addressing your PJO isn't optional. It's not something to put on the back burner while the focus shifts to other (important) things, like finding a job or a place to live. Because the truth is, none of those other things will stick if you don't have a solid foundation. Think of it like building a house. You wouldn't start with the roof or the walls. No, you'd start with a strong, level foundation because everything else rests on that. PJO is the same. It's the bedrock on which to build your new life.

Now, I understand the many urgent needs that can overwhelm you when starting over. However, it's crucial to prioritize your PJO. Neglecting it could lead to losing your progress in other areas. Imagine finally landing that job but then losing it because you relapsed. Or getting your own place but ending up back on the streets because you couldn't manage your mental health. The stakes are high, and your PJO is your lifeline.

So, how do you identify your PJO and make it non-negotiable? Start by getting ruthlessly honest with yourself. What is the one thing that will most likely lead you back to a dark place if you don't do it? What do you need to do every single day to stay on track? Once you've named it, make a plan. What does committing to your PJO look like daily? What support do you need to stay accountable? Who can you reach out to for help when you're struggling?

And then, make it your north star. Let your PJO guide every decision, big and small. Before you say yes to anything, ask yourself: Does this align with my PJO? Will this choice make it easier or harder to stay committed?

Remember, it won't always be smooth sailing. There will be days when your PJO feels like a heavy burden, and you'll be tempted to set it aside for something more pressing. But I assure you - if you keep your PJO at the forefront, everything else will fall into place. Not instantly, but one day at a time, one choice at a time.

As you build your foundation, brick by brick, you'll see your life transform in ways you never thought possible. You'll find a strength and resilience you didn't know you had. And you'll discover that, no matter how far off track you've gotten, it's never too late to start over and create the life you want.

My approach to reentry includes numerous early-stage attributes, such as adopting a Free Agent mindset, understanding the Marketplace, and being a Seller of Service. As critical as these puzzle parts are, they pale compared to addressing your PJO.

It won't be a straight line, and it won't be perfect. But if you keep showing up for your PJO, one day at a time, I know, because I’ve seen it happen many times, that you can rebuild your life on a foundation that will weather any storm.

You've got this.

Onward!

Homelessness

The U.S. Supreme Court recently heard oral arguments in the City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson case, which challenges a city's ability to prohibit sleeping or camping in public spaces. The potential outcome of this case could be a significant step forward for the rights of homeless individuals, potentially redefining the interpretation of the Eighth Amendment's "cruel and unusual punishment" clause and offering a glimmer of hope for a more compassionate approach to homelessness. Or not. The Court may decide to do nothing, letting the lower court rulings stand or weigh in narrowly, avoiding the fundamental issue of homelessness and what to do about it. Homelessness does not often come before SCOTUS, so let’s hope the Court contributes to the solution by clarifying some of the general tangential issues related to homelessness.

Homelessness and reentry are essentially two sides of the same coin. Reentry is what happens when homeless individuals rejoin society at large. To be clear, I don’t use the phrase “rejoin society” lightly. Homelessness in the US is a vexing, intractable issue, and leaving it on a path to self-sufficiency requires some hefty lifting – something our country could (and should) undertake.

However, there are flies in the ointment. Political and philosophical disagreements about the root causes and appropriate solutions hinder addressing these complex issues. Some stakeholders, operating from an individualistic perspective, view homelessness as primarily the result of personal choices and actions. They advocate for harsher consequences and stricter requirements to incentivize change. Others, coming from a more systemic or structural viewpoint, see these issues as symptomatic of more extensive societal failures, such as a lack of affordable housing, inadequate mental health and addiction treatment, and the over-policing of marginalized communities. From their perspective, the solution lies in addressing these underlying inequities through policy change, increased social services, and a more compassionate, trauma-informed approach.

These divergent outlooks produce political gridlock and a fragmented, inconsistent approach to tackling homelessness (and reentry). Policymakers and community leaders struggle to find common ground, resulting in piecemeal efforts that fail to make meaningful progress. Nonetheless, progress is possible, and there are bright-spot programs to prove it. However, even when there is political and programmatic will to address these issues, a lack of dedicated resources always stands in the way of significant progress. Providing comprehensive, individualized support to help people successfully transition out of homelessness - such as long-term housing, job training, mental health and addiction treatment, and education - is expensive and resource-intensive. In an era of sharp political and philosophical differences, such as what we’re experiencing nationally and locally, securing the necessary focus, funding, and personnel to implement these solutions at scale is an evergreen challenge.

Furthermore, the existing resources are often siloed and challenging to navigate, with separate systems and requirements for housing, employment, healthcare, and other vital services. This fragmentation can create additional barriers for individuals struggling to rebuild their lives, forcing them to navigate multiple complex bureaucracies to access the support they need. The result is a perfect storm of challenges that can feel insurmountable, both for individuals experiencing homelessness and reentry and for the communities and helpers trying to support them.

Ultimately, genuinely addressing homelessness is not a task for a few but a collective responsibility. We must view these not as isolated issues but as symptoms of more profound dysfunction that demand a coordinated, compassionate, well-resourced response. This requires a willingness from all of us to grapple with the complex root causes of these challenges, such as poverty, racism, trauma, and inequality, and to invest in long-term, holistic solutions that address these underlying factors.

At the same time, we must continue to empower and equip individuals to be the agents of their own transformation, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles. By providing people with the tools, support, and belief in their own potential to rebuild their lives, we can foster a sense of hope, dignity, and purpose that can be a powerful catalyst for change.

But here’s the thing. An elephant-sized irony looms over our country's entire social service and social polity eco-space. I’m painting here with a fat brush, aiming for agreeable generalities, so stick with me. Those on the right believe individual responsibility, effort, and the old “up by your bootstraps” lead to achievement. Those on the left believe that leveling the playing field and targeted intervention lead to success. Achievement. Success. For those reentering from homelessness, achievement and success can be measured in terms of (degrees of) self-sufficiency, which is to say, progress toward becoming an independent, self-sufficient citizen in good standing.

An aspiration BOTH right and left can agree on.

So why don’t we? Why the stagnation? If most of us agree, regardless of political or philosophical POV, that being an independent, self-sufficient citizen in good standing is worthwhile, why can’t we FIRST come together on the goal?

Seriously, what’s the real problem?

Onward!

PS – I’ve included a few links to add context to this post. The bottom line is that since the federal government started canvassing the homeless population in 2007 (counting 647,258), the number for 2023 (the most recent count) is 653,104. There have been dips in the intervening years, but overall, intractability.

https://endhomelessness.org/

https://www.statista.com/topics/5139/homelessness-in-the-us/#topicOverview

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/12/15/homelessness-in-america-grew-2023/71926354007/

Seriously, Though, What’s the Plan?

Let's be honest here. Planning, especially in your life, can feel like a massive undertaking. It's the kind of thing that's easy to start with the best intentions, but then you find yourself stuck in the weeds, tangled up in a million different questions and considerations. Before you know it, that initial burst of excitement and motivation has fizzled out, and you're staring at a blank page.

But here's the thing: if you don't have a plan, you're like a ship without a rudder, drifting aimlessly through life's choppy waters. Sure, you might end up somewhere, but it's probably not the destination you had in mind. That's why having a clear, structured plan is crucial, especially for folks trying to rebuild their lives and careers after serious setbacks.

I know what you might think: "Plans are great, but I'm not sure I even know how to make one. And what if I put in all that effort and things still don't work out?" I get it. The idea of planning can be intimidating, especially if you've never done much of it before. So, I’ll break it down.

First, let's talk about why a plan is so important. A good plan is like a roadmap. It shows you where you're starting from, where you want to go, and the route you need to take to get there. Without that map, it's too easy to get lost, take wrong turns, and end up at dead ends. But with a clear plan, you have a sense of direction and purpose. You know what steps you need to take and when you need to take them.

But a plan isn't just about the destination. It's also about the journey. When you've got a structured plan to follow, it helps you stay focused and motivated. You can track your progress, celebrate your wins, and course-correct when things are unexpected. And trust me; things will inevitably go sideways at some point. That's just life. But with a solid plan, you can handle those curveballs and keep moving forward.

So, what does a good plan look like? Well, that will vary depending on your specific situation and goals. But here are a few key elements that every solid plan should have:

1. A clear, specific end goal. This is your destination, the thing you're ultimately working towards. It might be landing your dream job, starting your own business, or achieving specific financial stability. Whatever it is, it needs to be something concrete and achievable. A five-year timeframe works well for this big goal.

2. A timeline, where you break down your big goal into smaller, manageable chunks. What do you need to accomplish next year? The next six months? The following 30 days? Having these interim milestones will help keep you on track and motivated.

3. Action steps. You must perform these specific tasks and activities to reach your milestones and, ultimately, your end goal—where the rubber meets the road, where you translate your plan into actual, tangible work.

4. Contingencies. Remember those curveballs I mentioned? A good plan anticipates potential obstacles and setbacks and includes strategies for dealing with them. For example, having a backup job search strategy, a financial safety net, or a support system to lean on when things get tough.

Now, I know this might still seem a bit overwhelming. But the key is to start small and build from there. You don't have to have every detail mapped out from the get-go. Begin with the big picture—your ultimate, five-year end goal—and then break it into smaller, more manageable pieces.

Think of your plan not as something concrete but as a living, breathing document that evolves as you do. As you start taking action and making progress, you'll learn things about yourself and your situation that you didn't know before. Use that knowledge to refine and adjust your plan as needed.

The most important thing is just to get started. Don't let perfectionism or fear of failure hold you back. An imperfect plan that you follow through on is infinitely better than a "perfect" plan that never leaves the drawing board.

So grab a pen and paper (or fire up that laptop) and start mapping out your future. It won't always be easy, but it will be worth it. With a clear plan as your guide, you'll be amazed at how far you can go, no matter where you start.

PS—Pen, paper, laptop? What about my phone? Well, yes, our phones…hmmm. Try creating your plan offline or via an actual keyboard. Use your phone to augment the plan but not be the plan. Allow yourself to be creative without using a phone app. If it could, your plan would thank you.

Onward!

Being Present

Being unemployed and searching for a job can be an emotional minefield fraught with dangers. For starters, there are ongoing financial concerns to contend with. Bills and payments don't stop arriving because you're out of work. What's more, your roles don't change; you're still a spouse, a sibling, or a child of someone who may depend on you for financial and emotional support, in part or whole.

Financial concerns can build up, resulting in enormous pressure for job seekers. Job searching itself is demanding and stressful. When you include the additional stress boosters of how to pay for things, life can become a grueling slog to get level again.

Given all this, it's no wonder you may have difficulty carrying out a simple job search, not to mention a complex, detailed one. Have you experienced this? Have you tried to maintain your focus and keep your mind clear as the floor slid out from under you and the puzzle parts of your life whirled away from you in every direction?

A standard recommendation to job seekers is to view the search for a job as a job. I agree, but there's more to it than this recommendation alone. Dig into this idea a bit, and you'll discover that, as a job searcher, you must successfully manage both external and internal components of seeking employment.

When I say "external components," I'm referring to "the doing" of job searching. It means doing everything necessary to look sharp, act sharp, and touch all the bases. It also means carrying out your search in a disciplined, organized, systematic manner. Dealing with these external components is demanding and requires as much effort and attention as you can bring to the game; this is where most of the "see it as a job" advisors focus their attention.

The "internal components" are more challenging to pinpoint and refer to what's happening in your mind while so much takes place outwardly. If you could write your script on the search process, you might start here by writing your character as a person who's calm and completely clear of mind internally, regardless of what's thrown in your direction. That would be nice, but you didn't write the screenplay, so you risk showing up on set with whatever frame of mind you have at the time.

On the outside, you manage how you look and present yourself. On the inside, you strive to find the best ways to manage your feelings and emotions because ignoring internal components can and probably will sabotage all your diligent external work. That's why, in the best of all worlds, you'd write a script giving yourself the external and internal attributes of a job search rock star. Why not? You'd look good, feel great, and implement everything in slam-dunk fashion. Then again, it might not be so easy. You might see yourself nailing down the external components; however, those pesky internal issues are another matter.

Fortunately, there's a simple fix. It requires a shift within you, a subtle change of perspective. That's all. There's no cost or tools necessary. The shift I'm describing happens internally and instantly by moving into the present moment. When you do this, you begin operating in the here and now. It's simple, but it's not necessarily easy for many people. Challenges and issues with past events deeply rooted inside you tend to surface unsupportively when the pressure ramps up. Worry and anxiety about things yet to come can magnify and stop you dead in your tracks if given full rein and allowed to run amuck.

So, what does it mean to function in the present moment? Consider this. All you have to work with is the present moment. The past is history, and the future is unseen and yet to come. All anyone ever has is right now. When tomorrow comes, it's another present moment. You can pretend otherwise, and your mind will try to convince you it isn't the case. The truth is, we all must do everything we do in the now, the present moment.

Here's the real issue for all job seekers—you need to follow through on your job search while managing the usual demands placed on you by family and those close to you. Life continues happening, unfolding predictably on some days and unpredictably on other days. It's like you're the actor in an improv sketch, and you don't know what's coming your way next. But for you, it's not a "sketch" or a "scene," it's your life.

The load's even heavier for background-challenged people like you. Stuff has happened. There are things on file, making it all the more reason for thinking, living, and working in the present. Staying present is more than a mere suggestion or recommendation. It's essential. Whenever you think about what went wrong in the past or worry about the future, you need to bring your awareness back to the present. It takes work, but you can do it. Old, unresolved past issues will find ways to resurface at the worst time. Anxiety and stress about things that haven't happened can drain your energy and take your focus off the ball.

Remember, you're a Free Agent operating in a Marketplace that doesn't care about you or your story. There's freedom in that knowledge but a responsibility, too. So get straight with the way things are for you. Stay present, cutting loose negative stuff from your past and ignoring, for the moment, future things that aren't relevant yet.

The first step in managing all aspects of your life while job searching is accepting everything is happening all at once. The experience may also take you outside your usual life pattern and comfort zone. Accepting what's happening in reality is your highway to operating in the present. Non-acceptance is the opposite, and it won't help you achieve your goals, ever. Not accepting reality prevents you from doing what you must do today. It's a mind game leading to inefficiency and ultimately to ineffectiveness. Learn to live in the present and accept things now to change things later.

You aim to be "on" and fully engaged with what's happening to and around you every moment. Being on and engaged means there is no past or future to occupy any part of your mind or body, only what's happening immediately. For most people, the experience of being and working in the present moment comes as a relief. Gone is baggage hauled aboard long ago. Missing is the stress and fear about unknown things yet to come. This new experience will happen as if you remember something you've never learned—something beneficial that's waited patiently for the right time to surface into your awareness.

Onward!

Job Search Objective

It’s not unusual to hear someone reentering the workforce say, “It doesn’t matter. I’ll take anything. I need to get started.” Yes, I get it; there are situations when this sentiment fits, but too often, it’s WRONG because it DOES matter for several reasons.

To start, a decision must be made regarding where NOT to look. Job searching without narrowing the field of play is a prescription for failure. Furthermore, searching for a job (the RIGHT job) takes much time and energy - precious resources for anyone, perhaps more so for someone getting back on track in life and work.

This is where the importance of setting a Job Search Objective becomes evident. The objective is directly linked to a longer-term goal in the best circumstances. For instance, if the person enjoys cooking and aspires to join a back-of-the-house crew in a high-end restaurant, say a sous or assistant chef, her objective should align with this goal.

So, what type of job should she pursue to start her reentry search: in an office, a warehouse, or as a personal care assistant? No, she should start in food service. Right? I mean, that’s easy to see, and it makes sense.

At this point, the role of the reentry helper becomes crucial. They assist in scrutinizing the goal (is it realistic?) and attaching a timeline to it (how long will it take?). They also help identify the necessary steps and create a plan to achieve the goal. Once the goal is set, our job seeker must work backward from her goal, estimating the required steps and leading in reverse order to where she is today. Without the reentry helper's assistance, crucial tasks like goal setting and step identification might not (won’t) happen.

Now, for her (with goal and steps in hand), the question is, where should she embark on her goal journey? Furthermore, which path is the RIGHT path? To you or me, looking at it from the outside, it’s straightforward: She should start in food service, preferably in a restaurant, as a dishwasher or pantry assistant. It’s an easy call for us but not for her. Taking the first step, even with a clear goal and some idea of the steps required to reach it, can be intimidating.

In this case, her goal aligns with her interests. But how often is this overlooked or flatly ignored? From my experience, the outcome isn't good where there’s little or no interest (other than a paycheck). Therefore, interest must be considered when a longer-term goal is set. And here again, I can read your mind, another “Well, dah, you think?” As essential and grounded in common sense as this may be, prerequisites AND interests must be considered. The question, “Do you even like that stuff?” must be asked, yet often, isn’t.

Now imagine if there was no goal, no game plan, only “I gotta find something.” Chances are, “something” will be found. And to what end? Relapse? Recidivism? Cycles of this and that?

This stuff takes work. Handing someone a debit card and a warning never to set foot on state correctional property again (or else risk another felony charge), OF COURSE, just adds to the statistics.

Start by setting the stage. Help those reentering to see themselves as Free Agents Selling their Services in the Marketplace. Assist them in setting goals and outlining the steps needed to achieve them. And encourage them to take the big step of getting on the right bus that will start them on their path to reaching their goal.

Onward!