The author examined the role of narratives used by unemployed, underemployed, and displaced workers seeking job training assistance through a government-funded One-Stop Career Center. Interviews with employees of a One-Stop Career Center provided insight on client rate of disclosure of personal narratives and how client narratives are used to facilitate the job search process. Specifically, data from the interviews suggest that narratives give career center employees insight on job seekers' background, barriers, and reemployment mind-set. Furthermore, the act of listening was seen as legitimizing job seekers' experiences. Implications of the findings are discussed.
A man blurts out as he enters the One-Stop Career Center, "I had been with the same company for over 15 years! I had an accident a few years back, and I was forced to go on disability. Now I am off and there are no employers willing to hire me." This experience represents what many are going through given the effects of economic globalization, outsourcing of jobs to foreign countries, and increased technological innovation. These changes have led to downsizing and corporate restructuring that have altered occupational opportunities and existing jobs (Drennan, 1988;Patton & McMahon, 2006;Rahim, 2001;Sales, 1995). The shift from a manufacturing economy to one that is based on information and services has left many adult workers unemployed and without skills to reenter today's job market (Davies, 1996). Additionally, December 2007 marked the beginning of a recession. At that time, the number of unemployed persons in the United States was 7.7 million and the unemployment rate was 5%. Three years later, the number of unemployed persons had risen to 14.8 million and the national unemployment rate stood at 9.8% (Bureau of Labor and Statistics, 2010).
The loss of a job can threaten both economic and psychological well-being (Kan-