Employment economics

Let us face reality: Changing employment can be a pricey endeavor no matter how you juggle or manipulate the figures. There are both out-of-pocket expenditures, plus the psychological and emotional cost factors. There is no free lunch when it comes to securing new employment.
The out-of-pocket expenses are obvious. There are interviewing wardrobe to consider, grooming expenses, transportation costs, as well as potential agency and résumé writer fees. Eventually, the dollar amounts add up.
On the flip side of the equation, there are hidden costs associated with routine disruptions, planning and scheduling interviews, physically and psychologically rehearsing for interviews and follow-ups. These additional stress factors also extract a mental health toll. Sashay into any interview unprepared and the consequences almost instantly come back to bite you.
Here’s a shocker: Most jobseekers cut corners. Habitual cost cutters often know the price of everything, yet the value of nothing. These types fall under the category of Kmart shopper, and are easily sucked into bargain-basement come-ons.
In employment situations, poverty mentality can prove to be a costly economic decision. Lose a few critical job offers or be forced to start over from scratch because your résumé cannot get past Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are prime examples. Other jobseekers show up dressed for failure, or pancake during a job interview.
Equally bad is not getting interviews due to an ill-conceived résumé. Most, however, will pursue sloppy job hunting methods, which in turn can be a costly decision. We often pursue what is perceived to be the paths of least resistance, which are sometimes associated with ‘quick-fix’ solutions. Here are the three most common examples:
Quick-fix solution
Cost factors
Prepare the résumé yourself or have a friend or relative do it free.
Fewer interviews, and less likely to be taken seriously.
Saturate the job market with your résumé to cover all bases.
Alerts employers that you are an amateur jobseeker, and that you are open to any low-paying job available.
Skip practicing/rehearsing for interviews until the last minute.
You will appear unprepared and stupid during interviews.
Each decision a jobseeker makes has a cost-factor associated with it. Sometimes the cost is blatantly obvious, and sometimes the cost does not materialize until disaster befalls the individual down the road.
It’s a lot like not buying car insurance: If you stay out of the job market, your odds having a serious job-seeking accident are pretty low. Start driving sloppy or reckless on the high-speed employment highway, and your next accident awaits you just around the next bend. Sometimes the cost of not hiring a professional can be the more expensive option.

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