5 Ways To Support A Friend Who Can't Land A Job

Millennials have a hard time adjusting to adult life after college graduation, as the huge responsibility, the multiple bills and the pressure to support themselves prove to be too much for them. The main reason which lies at the bottom of all of these struggles is the low chance of finding a job.

With hundreds of millennials graduating at the same time in one area, the career opportunities for individuals drop significantly. Especially since most candidates are very good and have similar skills. The unemployment rates are rising and millennials are one of the generations who have a very hard time landing a job. Even those who manage to get a job are in trouble: 44% of millennials are stuck in low wage jobs.

Yet, if you check social media, you will notice all your colleagues and friends already have a good job and enjoy life, while you stay at home, depressed by the huge pressure of adulthood.

If you recognize your friend in this scenario, you should know the lack of a job, merged with the apparent well-being of everyone you can see online, can lead to severe depression. This means you should be serious about providing support for your friend who can’t land a job.

The problem is how to do it. If you are not in his or her shoes, you can’t relate to their feelings and you might have a hard time knowing what to say and what to do. So, how do you support an unlucky friend, whose career is virtually nonexistent?

1. Find free ways to spend time together

When you have a job, as crappy as it may be, you probably can afford a couple of drinks and sandwiches, but for someone who is unemployed, these can break the bank. When your friend doesn’t have a job, make sure you meet him or her in free places, such as parks, where there is no minimum spending rule.

If you think you can get away with paying for your friend’s consummation, you should think twice, as this can be very embarrassing for them. If your friend is reluctant to go out, make sure you convince him or her, as it’s important to get out of the house for someone who suffers from depression or is in a depressive state.

2. Learn how to talk about your own job

When the main difference between you and your friend is a job, sharing your experiences and accomplishments with your jobless millennial friend can become tricky.

Emphasizing the fact you have a job is the last thing you want to do, but you should be able to talk about your achievements and celebrate them with your friend. Just make sure you are not hurting them – get clues from looking at your friend and analyze their behavior. If they seem to feel awkward, change the subject!

3. Encourage your friend before a job interview

When you are still looking for a job, having an interview is a big thing! Support your friend by wishing him or her good luck before the interview and check on them after the interview.

Showing that you are interested is going to make your friend loved and supported, which gives him or her more confidence and shows them they are not alone.

4. When a job shows up, let your friend know

Another great way to show your friend that you still support him or her, despite the fact they don’t have a job is to talk to him or her about any new job opening or ad you may come across. Job openings show up all the time at companies and if you have reliable friends who can inform you about them way before the public finds out, you are definitely in advantage.

From another point of view, job searching is not pleasant and after doing this for a long time, you start to see all jobs the same way, which makes your prone to skipping good opportunities. Help your friend by sending him or her the information on the job openings you stumble upon.

5. Don’t let them quit

After a long time of job searching, your friend might want to quit, feeling hopeless. Nowadays, people apply and are interviewed dozens of times. When you’ve been through this process multiple times and it all failed, your application being rejected, you start to feel you are alone in this cruel world.

Remind your friend he or she is not alone. Just being there for them can make a huge difference. Show your friend life is still worth living, even without a job, which is going to show up sooner or later. Remind your friend how amazing he or she is and that a job is not going to define them as a person.

A job is just a job in the end, but friendship is more important, so make sure you support your friend during the job search. Even if all you do is sharing a bottle of wine together, on the floor!

Featured photo credit: annelope/Flickr via flickr.com

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