There is NO unemployment

Alcoa’s announcement yesterday that it is to cut its global workforce by 13% or 13,500 jobs is just one more gloomy story on the job front. This morning, outplacement firm Challenger, Gray and Christmas said December’s job cuts - 166,348 - were the most for the last month of the year since the company began compiling data in 1993.

Those are the bald numbers, but if you are one of those who have been affected by this economy and have been laid off, you are NOT unemployed. As a job seeker, you must work on the basis that there is NO unemployment in your life. You may not have a salary or wages coming in right now, but all this means is that you are in unpaid employment. Huh!

If you are in job search, you are likely involved in THE most important job you will ever do in your life. Right!

The results of this job will determine what your income will be, whether you can afford vacation, send the kids to college and retire at some reasonable age. Right!

If you are doing this job, you are NOT unemployed.

I hate the word ‘Unemployed’ with a vengeance. Those of you who have visited my wonderful homeland Ireland will be well aware that the Irish are not averse to profanities and swearing.

One swear word I work really hard to get out of my vocabulary is ‘Unemployed.’ It is a word which does nothing for the self consciousness of the job seeker and should NOT be a description of the work pattern of the job seeker.

Call it what you will – Job Search, In Transition, Between Successes, Seeking the Future but do not use that ugly ‘U’ word.

If you are in job search, change your vocabulary. It will help you to find that well paying job.

It will help you stay energized and focused during what is undoubtedly a tough time, emotionally and financially. If you believe you are in Unpaid Employment, If you believe you are a NIGEP (that’s Non-Income Generating Employed Person), you will be more motivated, you will be more structured in your job search and when the day arrives that you get that first check from your next company, make sure that the energy level you bring to that new job is the same energy level you brought to your current unpaid employment. Get rid of the ‘U’ word today. A true NIGEP does not use it.

As a keynote speaker and business presenter, when I present SHEIFGAB the World, Eight Building Blocks to Successful Transition, I hit this concept early and often. I have challenged outplacement people, commentators and others on the use of it. Even the government should not be using it as more than anyone, they should hope the people on the register ARE in job search – ergo not **employed.

Remember and say it proudly, "I am a NIGEP, a Non-Income Generating EMPLOYED Person."