Should You Turn Down a Job Offer if You're Unemployed?
by paulag01

Last week I was at a networking meeting and one of the women there works as a recruiter helping match potential employers who have a need with people who need and want to work. You'd think in this economy and the corresponding levels of unemployment that she would be the holy grail for many. Not so. She explained that one of her biggest problems are people who come for interviews, get offered jobs, and then decide to decline because they would rather stay home and collect unemployment for a while. This situation has her nearly insane!

Her contention is that what these people are doing is illegal. After all, when you are collecting unemployment you have to answer all those questions like "are you able and available for work?" "did you decline any suitable work offered to you?". You agree to answering them truthfully under penalty of law. I guess the gray area comes in the interpretation of suitable work for you.

Of course the definition of this is unique to each individual and is a combination of factors such as someone's current financial situation, skills, and willingness to do different kinds of work for different pay than they may have been doing before.  Before I share what I want to say next let me be clear that in no way do I advocate committing fraudulent acts.  You need to be in integrity with the choices you make and obey the law.  That said, sometimes it is better to say no to the wrong job.  It doesn't serve you or the potential employer to accept a job that you're going to quit after a few weeks or show up and check-out at rather than contribute.

Some might think this heresay in an environment where job seekers outnumber open jobs 6 to 1 (link via Susan Ireland).  For many living month to month any job offer is better than none at all.  I understand this because if your basic needs are not being met or are being threatened, than you must do whatever you can to ensure you can meet them.  Yet, if you have some leeway and can feel like you're more at choice, then it behooves you to jump into a situation that could backfire on you.  The silly saying that beggars can't be choosers is only a limited mindset telling you to repeat the same horrible cycle over and over and over...  because you don't get a choice, right?

Not everyone would agree with me of course. And the article "Unemployed? Any Job is Better than No Job" does just that.

If I lost my job I would be willing to take just about anything to help pay my monthly expenses and stretch out my emergency fund. If this meant working at a home improvement store for $10 per hour I would do it (and work 80 hours per week!). If it meant joining a landscaping crew and working out in the heat I would do it. You should have the same mentality.

I'm not talking about turning down jobs to sit home, drink beer, and eat peanuts though.  I'm talking about using this time of transition (where, let's face it, things are and will continue to be different at least for the foreseeable future) to create something new, to invest in your growth (skills and personal), and consciously choose your actions.  Those choices may indeed include working full or part-time in a position that helps you get your needs met or protect your capital/emergency fund for the short-term, but recognize the choices for what they are and don't turn into a martyr and a victim who wakes up 5-10 years from now miserable because you followed the crowd of lemmings.

Many job interviews entail a great deal of work and preparation. Some require candidates to complete projects as part of the interview process and you can't really decline projects that are part of the interview process because it is essentially telling your potential employer, "no I'm not willing to do what is necessary to work here".  So again, make sure it is a job you would actually entertain before you put forth the effort and expend your and other people's time on an interview.

What do you think?  What has been your experience?  Taken any jobs that you regret?  Would you turn down a job that doesn't fit you?  Share your thoughts in the comments...

Paula Gregorowicz, owner of The Paula G. Company, offers life and business coaching for women to help you gain the clarity, confidence, and courage you need to succeed on your own terms. Get the free eCourse "5 Steps to Move from Fear to Freedom" at her website

Submitted by paulag01 (view blog) on Wed, 09/30/2009 - 10:19am

Comments

 

It Depends

Paula,

I know a lot of people that have been unemployed and it depends on each individual situation and the unemployment rate in that area..  I think you make a lot of good points, but one that was not broached is the depression that not working can cause. 

My daughter was unemployed for 10 months.  She took the opportunity to go back to a junior colledge to improve her skills while she was unemployed.  She struggled.  Financial aid does not come easy or quickly.  She made her school schedule around the potential of a job that may come her way.  With over 200 applicants for each and every job she applied for things seemed very, very bleak. 

She ended up taking a job that was less than her unemployment check just so she could interact with others.  Her moods improved 200%.  It has helped her to remember that she is a valuable employee.  It has brought back her confidence and she intends to start looking for other work after only 6 months of being on the job. 

Unemployment can be a catch 22 for many.  It will pay the bills but it also takes a lot away.  Yes, use it as a transition period but my opinion is that after a couple of months you should take what you can just to get you back in the work force.

 

Enjoying each day, one slice at a time Slice of Life Diet & We're Not in Oz Anymore

Submitted by VirtualWriter on Wed, 09/30/2009 - 18:54
 

EXCELLENT point

You make an excellent point here.  Depression as well as loss of identity (for someone who totally identified with their role at work) is very common in folks who lose their job.  The personal support structure is key for everyone and for many the opportunity to be part of a team and get social needs met through a work environment far trumps many other job factors.

I am glad your daughter is doing much better & wish her much success.

Paula Gregorowicz
The Paula G Company
http://www.thepaulagcompany.com

Learn 5 Steps to Move from Fear to Freedom (free)

Submitted by paulag01 on Thu, 10/01/2009 - 09:07
 

That's True...

I know a few people who have lost their jobs in this economy and can't seem to face the fact that their particular profession might not recover at all. The longer they sit at home filling out job applications and risking that rejection in this tough market, the more depressed they seem to get. It is important for the human spirit to find a way to start over, even if it is for considerably less money, and to give their lives purpose and feel more valuable in general.

I also believe that if you find yourself out of a job, it's possible to turn the awful into hope and a new future if you invest the time, like you said, wisely. For your poor friend in human resources, it would be nice if the applicants would just do their research about the position and decide before they waste her time whether or not they want the job. If they are just going through the process to appease the requirements of unemployment insurance, that seems criminal on a lot of levels. Businesses (even those that are struggling to make ends meet) are paying for that insurance out of their pockets. There are often real people behind those businesses. That isn't magical free money they are collecting.

TJ Smith

www.downturnliving.com

Submitted by tjsmith on Thu, 10/01/2009 - 07:27
 

Many jobs will be no more

TJ - You are spot on...many jobs have or are vanishing from the landscape. Much like the post Y2K found many COBOL programmers wondering why they were no longer relevant.  No matter what your job, it is your responsibility to always keep improving and learning new skills so you are always marketable in a creative way.

 

Paula Gregorowicz
The Paula G Company
http://www.thepaulagcompany.com

Learn 5 Steps to Move from Fear to Freedom (free)

Submitted by paulag01 on Thu, 10/01/2009 - 09:09
 

I think it depends

In the past five years I've been unemployed twice, both pretty much by choice. The first time my company was laying people off and I asked to be one of the layoffs so that I could relocate to another city with better (for me) job opportunities. (They did not like this so much but they did it.) During this time I was on unemployment. It saved my butt. I spent several months searching for jobs and found one that was really quite good and was much better than my previous job. Though some people could have made the argument that I should have taken a job at a restaurant, etc until I found a job. Honestly, I'm glad I didn't and not just because I was earning more on unemployment than I would have in a restaurant. The jobs I was applying for involved 3 hour writing tests and studying. It would have been very difficult to schedule testing and interviews around a temporary job schedule.

The second time I was unemployed was because I quit and no, I wasn't on unemployment. But I did turn down a job offer. I had quit my job because I didn't like the work environment and conditions. The job offer I received was with a company that had a very similar company culture. The emails during the offering process were oh the "OMG. Can' you meet with X at such and such a time TODAY!" and were received about an hour before the suggested meeting time. I turned it down quickly. I didn't want to go into that environment again.

But I also didn't have a family to support. I really do think it depends on a person's situation. And as someone who has worked with a recruiter in the past..well...they didn't always offer something that was good for me. Sure it was a good match on paper but in reality...not always.

Sassymonkey and Sassymonkey Reads.

Submitted by sassymonkey on Thu, 10/01/2009 - 07:50
 

The hiring process holds clues

Sassymonkey thanks for sharing your story. 

The emails you share of "The emails during the offering process were oh the "OMG. Can' you meet with X at such and such a time TODAY!" and were received about an hour before the suggested meeting time."

Indeed hold important clues on what the work environment is like.  All job hunters should know that how you are treated before you take the job is worth taking note of.  Trust your instincts and ensure you are treated with the respect you deserve (and of course that means you have to treat others with respect as well.)

 

Paula Gregorowicz
The Paula G Company
http://www.thepaulagcompany.com

Learn 5 Steps to Move from Fear to Freedom (free)

Submitted by paulag01 on Thu, 10/01/2009 - 09:11
 

Its hard

I have been in the situation where I took the first job to come along and it was H*LL.  I hated that job more than anything and myself for taking it.  I have also taken the first thing offered and LOVED it!  The key is knowing what you want.  Sometimes thinking of survival in short term is not good for your long term goals.  I am a Chemist not a technician but taking a job as a technician for survival caused me to have to fight like h*ll to get back into a position that really reflected my skills.  Know your worth, it is absolutly OK to turn down a job that will cause you maore harm in the long term. 

Michelle

I blog at http://www.mommycan.blogspot.com/

Submitted by Southerngirl on Thu, 10/01/2009 - 08:07
 

Amen - know your worth!

You mention a key point Michelle...sometimes when you take a certain position people will pigeonhole you there. I can't tell you how many people I knew at my last position who were administrative assistants but had multiple masters degrees, but no one in the Corp could see them as anything but an admin.  Now there is nothing wrong with being an admin but if your skillset, expertise, and desire warrants a chance at something new...no one should hold you back.

 

Paula Gregorowicz
The Paula G Company
http://www.thepaulagcompany.com

Learn 5 Steps to Move from Fear to Freedom (free)

Submitted by paulag01 on Thu, 10/01/2009 - 09:13
 

Good Points...

I was once a ski instructor and during the off season, it was perfectly normal to get laid off and collect your unemployment until your summer job kicked in. This was a great way to live at the time, but I think I would be terrified to try that now.

It must be about choices and working a plan that helps keep people looking for work from the depression that so often comes with unemployment, if you are the sole provider for your houshold. There is an awful lot of pressure on some folks to bring home the bacon and I have nothing but compassion for those who are struggling in the current climate.

TJ Smith

www.downturnliving.com

Submitted by tjsmith on Thu, 10/01/2009 - 09:14
 

I am in the middle of this

What a phenomenal post!  I left an incredibly stressful and important job a little over two years ago.  For a while, consulting work sustained me - then it thinned out.  Recently I took a part-time job as a job counselor providing direct services for the first time in many years.  While I am good at what I do, I am working beneath my potential in many ways.  I have to decide when to share what I know about fundraising and how to market, etc., in staff meetings and when to just do what I was hired to do.

I have made peace with the fact that I just don't want to be an Executive Director any more (the fundraising thing wore me out).  I have made peace with the fact that going a bit backwards in my career has meant that I'm no longer on the radar in the way that I once was. 

I also know that I work hard and bring all my skills to bear in whatever job I have - this is the way I roll.   I also know that all any employer can expect is that I (or anyone) will give them my best while they have me.  Longevity at a job is no longer something I hold as a value.  Oppportunities come when they come and you'd better sieze them because some of them never come back around.

Like one of the commentors above, I have found that going to a job and interacting w others does help lift one's spirit and put you back in the game.

We have to look after ourselves first.  I can understand, for those who get unemployment (which I didn't because I left my job), the desire to just take some time off to breathe.  Even though the last 2 years were a roller-coaster in terms of money, I did stop and smell the roses and caught up to myself. 

Thanks, again.  Sorry for the rambling.

 

http://blog.candelarisilva.com

Good and plenty!

Submitted by Candelaria Silva on Fri, 10/02/2009 - 05:21
 

So glad it resonates

SO glad the article resonates with you... There is so much to consider for anyone in such a situation.  I work with clients often on creating a decision matrix (sounds corporate, but it isn't...like a decision cheat-sheet) for them to make such big and little decisions in their life, business, and career......it is most definitely a big relief for many.

And you're not rambling at all-- I truly value you sharing!

 

Paula Gregorowicz
The Paula G Company
http://www.thepaulagcompany.com

Learn 5 Steps to Move from Fear to Freedom (free)

Submitted by paulag01 on Fri, 10/02/2009 - 11:08
 

They turned down jobs?

I think those that are turning down jobs are not in touch with the reality of our current job market.

What will they do when unemployment runs out?

Many people who haven't been unemployed for years are making big mistakes; turning down jobs, not updating their resume, or networking, and not being realistic about our current economy and how that will affect them.

As far as I'm concerned, you take the job, stick with it until things get better (economists say that'll be approximately 6 years) and then hunt for what you want.

Extended unemployment doesn't look good on a resume too, that must be taken into consideration.

 

Submitted by Judy Anne Cavey on Thu, 10/08/2009 - 17:14
 

What is Reality?

Hi Judy,

Appreciate your comments... insome instances indeed folks are making HUGE mistakes.

That being said, however, sometimes one of those HUGE mistakes is thinking that you just "suck it up" for "x" years while someone "out there" like the media tells you what you should do when in fact the divine timing might be for you to take that leap, risk, pursue a dream today, not 6 years from now since tomorrow is promised to no one.  So, yes, we must be financially responsible (and a good portion of people have not been which is part of what led us here).... but not at the expense of being irresponsible with our soul.

Warmly
_Paula

Paula Gregorowicz
The Paula G Company
http://www.thepaulagcompany.com

Learn 5 Steps to Move from Fear to Freedom (free)

Submitted by paulag01 on Fri, 10/09/2009 - 10:29