Good tips to give to a discouraged worker are those that reflect his or her specific circumstances. If you don't know the exact situation as to why he or she has given up looking for employment, it's best to ask rather than make assumptions. Sometimes, a person who has previously searched very hard for employment, yet was not successful, becomes discouraged and feels there are not other options left. By trying to assess a discouraged worker's skill set, career interests, hobbies, abilities and eligibility for certain programs, you may be able to come up with many helpful tips in the form of new options.
There may be general job clubs or specific programs for discouraged workers in this person's local area. Additionally, federal, regional or online employment programs may be of help. If the discouraged worker fits into a minority group by age, sex, race or disability, there may even be funded programs to allow him or her to get updated training or even start a business. Making a list of these kinds of resources can be a good starting point and, in turn, some of these may turn out to be leads for further options.
A career exploration course can be especially helpful for discouraged workers, as they typically do aptitude, skills and interests tests through exercises and self-assessments that prove enlightening for many participants. Understanding his or her positive aspects in relation to career possibilities that have a current demand can be beneficial to a discouraged worker. A career exploration course can also be helpful in that it will usually advise students on work trends, such as part-time or flexible hours rather than the full-time traditional type of job.
Once discouraged workers develop an insightful understanding of their skills and interests, this knowledge may become the catalyst for a new career direction or a business venture. If you have a strong knowledge of business start-up needs and resources, giving tips to the discouraged worker who is considering self-employment can be beneficial to him or her. Sometimes, combining a part-time job with starting up a business can be a reduced-risk way to go about a new venture. Help the discouraged person weigh the pros and cons of many different options before he or she makes a final decision.
