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Unemployed Need Not Apply!

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March 5, 2012

Out of work for more than a year? You just might be lazy. Or perhaps you prefer to be home. At any rate you may have lost too much to be useful to me anyway, so I’m not going to hire you. Is this the way you feel about the ranks of the unemployed at your staffing agency or HR department? When you are hiring someone, do you stipulate a candidate must be currently employed? Is there still a stigma around being laid off or out of work for a considerable period of time?Unemployed Need Not Apply!

I was on the treadmill at the club a couple of weeks ago, watching an episode of 60 Minutes that profiled some chronically unemployed professionals in Connecticut.  They are all college educated, all in their 40s and 50s, all had burned through their 99 weeks of unemployment benefits, all had fallen from the ranks of the middle class, and all said they had also been victim to lies, deceit and greed in their thrwarted efforts to become employed again.

To their rescue has come a man by the name of Joe Carbone. He is president and chief executive officer of The WorkPlace, one of five Regional Workforce Development Boards in the state of Connecticut that prepares people for careers while strengthening the workforce for employers.

Carbone says carnage is a strong word, but that he would use it when describing the unemployment situation in this country. He told the CBS TV show he is amazed at the lack of outrage over unemployment.

“We ought to be angry. We ought to be giving every moment of our time figuring out how to restore the American Dream. There is no comparison to being unemployed for six months and being unemployed for 99 weeks. Two years of unemployment erodes your self confidence and self esteem, it seperates you from your profession, your education, whetever you might have done previously. It causes divorce. It causes problems with children.”

“We ought to be angry. We ought to be giving every moment of our time figuring out how to restore the American Dream. There is no comparison to being unemployed for six months and being unemployed for 99 weeks. Two years of unemployment erodes your self confidence and self esteem, it seperates you from your profession, your education, whetever you might have done previously. It causes divorce. It causes problems with children.”

And at least part of it, says Carbone, is happening as a result of discrimination.

“Why have these people been turned down again and again?” asks Carbone. “They are being discriminated against because of how long they have been unemployed. I’ve seen it in print…in newspaper ads that say ‘if you are unemployed you need not apply.’ Businesses cannot legally discrminate by age, race or sex. But there is a new minority group now. The long-term unemployed.”

“To me the whole idea that you have to be employed to be employed is crazy,” says California state Assemblyman Mike Allen (D-San Rafael). Allen introduced a bill making it illegal to advertise a job requiring that applicants be employed. His measure, AB 1450, would impose fines on employers or employment agencies that refuse to consider out-of-work applicants for job openings.

More than 2 million Californians are currently out of work. ”So to take a whole class of people and say you can’t even compete for a job, and you can’t even apply? To me, that is cruel and it’s unfair and it’s wrong, and it’s discriminatory,” said Allen.

“So to take a whole class of people and say you can’t even compete for a job, and you can’t even apply? To me, that is cruel and it’s unfair and it’s wrong, and it’s discriminatory,”

Business groups are “mulling” over the legislation, Allen said. He suggested their biggest concern is whether the bill amounts to “interfering” with who ultimately gets hired.

“That’s not what this bill is about,” Allen said. His bill focuses on the screening process by businesses and employment agencies, not on the final hiring selection.

Similar legislative efforts are underway in Congress. And New Jersey has passed a state law prohibiting advertisements stating that only the employed may apply for a job, according to the National Unemployment Law Project, a New York-based advocacy group that supports Allen’s bill.

With the nation’s unemployment rate at 8.5 percent, the jobless “should not be penalized for the fact that there’s only one job publicized for every four unemployed workers,” said Maurice Emsellem, a policy co-director in the group’s Oakland office.

Back in Connecticut, Joe Carbone has 12,000 people in his program who have received and spent their last unemployment check and have no where else to turn. His staffers tell job seekers “the resume will soon be obsolete in the job hunting process.” Instead, employers are going to do an Internet search and see what comes up. “If you don’t show up online, then you’re not relevant.”

We have all heard for some time that the unemployment figures quoted by the feds are low. That many workers who have gone jobless for so long have essentially thrown in the towel.

Carbone hopes a new approach will breathe new life into their search – and perhaps provide a model for workforce investment boards nationally to follow.

“The workforce system that we are part of really does not have a textbook plan for this situation,” Carbone said. “This is entirely untested waters.”

What do you think? Do you have the right to stipulate a candidate must currently have a job? If that does make a difference to you, why? Legions of workers have been laid off and had their jobs, and even careers, eliminated through no fault of their own. Why discriminate then? Sound off!

{ 36 comments… read them below or add one }

Gregg Dourgarian gregg dourgarian March 6, 2012 at 7:42 am

Although you’re absolutely right that the unemployed can make for the best candidates, the notion that new employment law will do anything to mitigate the bad hiring practice you describe is pure folly.

Why? Employers are already drowning in law and rules and new interpretations of those laws. In 2011 alone, a massive number of laws were passed that even a full-time labor attorney would have trouble keeping up with.

Currentl

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Laws help reduce unemployment March 6, 2012 at 7:50 am

Civil Rights Act of 1964, FLSA, ADEA, EEOC, Equal Pay Act, OSHA, FMLA, Discrimination law, Drug Testing law, Employee Rights law, Employment Contracts law, Harassment law, Occupational Safety and Health law, Pensions and Profit Sharing law, Unemployment Compensation law, Wages and Hours law, Wrongful Termination law

Maybe some new regulations would improve unemployment…of attorneys!

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David Gee David Gee March 6, 2012 at 8:34 am

Point well taken guys. I gather from both of your comments that you feel as if I am advocating for new legislation. Most assuredly I am not. I included that in the post merely to point out that it is an issue on the radar of some lawmakers. I am however very surprised there is still a stigma around being laid off or unemployed. Almost everyone I know working in corporate America has been terminated and found themselves out of work, some for extended periods of time. Often that is more a function of serendipity and (bad) luck as it is competence and performance. It’s too bad some feel we need a law to protect the unemployed from discrimination.

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Steven Cary March 6, 2012 at 3:56 pm

I believe the ‘unemployed need not apply’ is indicative only of a lazy recruiter, rather than an actual company policy. In Staffing certain flags jump up when reviewing a candidates resume, and they have not changed much in the 13 years I’ve been in the industry: Job hopping, employment gaps, etc.

No one wants to openly discuss that there are those who honestly haven’t been able to find work, and there are also those who feel they have a right to 99 weeks of paid time off. They exist, and in greater numbers than many want to believe.

I don’t know anyone who would say you must be employed to apply, but I also don’t know anyone who will just automatically assume that because the candidate has been off for 2 years, they’re a victim of the economy. A portion, and based on my personal experience, a good portion of the 99′ers made a decision to ride out their unemployment rather than actively seek work, or take a step back in their career to obtain work. I couldn’t count how many times I’ve heard, “I’ve got 9 more months of unemployment before I have to worry”, or “I’m not willing to take less than I made at my last job” or something similar.

Again, in Staffing, I see this as an opportunity for diligent recruiters: Sell the fact that we sort out the wheat from the chaff, and actually do it. If a candidate has the skills I need, a 5 minute phone call will tell me whether they have spent their time off searching for opportunities or watching reruns of Leave it to Beaver.

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r.bonner September 7, 2012 at 8:18 am

also some people are only applying for a job to fullfill the requirements of unemployment payments. they do not want the job so maybe the employer does not want to have to weed through the applicants who are only going through the motions

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David Gee David Gee March 6, 2012 at 5:22 pm

All good points Steven, thanks, and my response to each of them is “I hope that’s not the case.”

If a recruiter is using current employment as a line of basic demarcation, then you are right, that is lazy. And dated. And will certainly result in a missed opportunity somewhere along the way.

As for the 99 percenters claiming those 99 weeks of unemployment, I would expect that they use that time to look diligently for work each and every day, but I am sure many do not. Shame on them if that’s the case.

Personally, I haven’t heard many people say “This is who I am and this is what I make and I’m not accepting anything less on either count.” If the are many job seekers with that mentality, they likely won’t prosper today and/or in the years ahead.

And thanks also for that admonishment to recruiters. If everyone had your open and fair minded approach, more good people might be making their way back to the ranks of the employed, and lawmakers wouldn’t need to consider legislation to protect the unemployed from discrimination in that specific regard.

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Steven Cary March 6, 2012 at 6:00 pm

When I referred to the 99er’s, I was referring to the folks who rode out the unemployment benefits, not those identifying themselves as 99 percenters.

If you haven’t heard people saying they will not accept positions below what they made before, I would have to say it’s because you’re not a recruiter. Responses like that from a candidate used to spark comments among recruiters like, “You wont believe what this candidate just said” while today, in California at least, it’s so common it’s not even worth mentioning.

Perhaps only half the recruiters who post “Must be Employed” ads are lazy… the other half are just jaded?

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Sandi Chun March 6, 2012 at 6:25 pm

I’ve been encouraging people who are struggling to find work due to being out of the workforce for an extended period of time (whether due to the economy, a choice to stay home with kids, etc) to do volunteer work using skills they’d like to use in their next job. To me, experience is experience whether you were paid or not and shows initiative. It could also lead to contacts that would lead to your next job and, if nothing else, help restore self-esteem. I’m curious how other recruiters/HR staff feel about that advice.

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Paul Phipps Paul Phipps March 6, 2012 at 6:26 pm

Great advice Sandi!

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Steven Cary March 6, 2012 at 6:56 pm

I have advised others to do the same, Sandi. It re-affirms to potential employers that the candidate is an active, productive person.

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Hugo Traeger March 6, 2012 at 6:25 pm

Look at who these long term unemployed are as noted by the 60 Minutes story. Educated middle class men in their 40s & 50s. Employers know that. It seems that “unemployed may not apply” is a veiled form of age discrimination. It provides the employer with a simple a way of avoiding the issue.

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Nancy Wichmann March 6, 2012 at 9:42 pm

I am a freelance web developer. When I’m working on a job, I feel that it’s wrong for me to be talking to people to fill the pipeline – especially on the customer’s time. So I end up usually with a period of unemployment after each job. I guess this is hurting me?

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Steven Cary March 7, 2012 at 10:20 am

Nancy, I wouldn’t think so, but I guess it would depend on how you’re listing it. I would suggest a single resume entry “Nancy Wichmann ~ Freelance Web Development~ 2007 – Present” and then either list your projects or the details of the work on the various projects.

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Nancy Wichmann March 7, 2012 at 10:42 am

That’s what I do.

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Gregg Dourgarian gregg dourgarian March 7, 2012 at 11:23 am

Nancy, can you explain why you feel it’s wrong to pursue other business while you’re on a project? So long as you are honestly giving the client 100% wouldn’t it be in both their and your best interest to have a thriving business going?

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Nancy Wichmann March 7, 2012 at 6:35 pm

When the client expects you on-site from 8 to 5, they aren’t going to be happy hearing you on the phone to someone else about a job. They are paying you for that time and expecting, as you say, your 100%. Yes, I can do some job hunting after hours, but few recruiters are willing to wait until 6:00 or 7:00 to talk to you. And few will submit you for a job unless they talk to you. I have tried explaining that I am at the job site and asking them to call me after hours; I usually never hear from them again.

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Kelly Lausk March 7, 2012 at 11:15 am

If you are a professional. You will not position yourself as unemployed. You will take an active charge of your employment search. I read and hear lots of excuses and giving up – you have to be creative and present your strengths. If someone is actually long term unemployed – they gave up on their employment search, they may have even given up on themselves. When I found myself unemployed, I went back to school. I volunteered. I became active in organizations and networked in business groups. I offered my services as a contractor and thus never really had that much of a gap in employment. I took full time employment after completing some contract work and knowing that we(the company and I) were a good fit. I am not worried if I get laid off. I know that my services are wanted somewhere. I am a flexible professional and can adapt to the needs for flexibility within business. I have confidence and I know that ultimately I will succeed if I never stop trying and learning.

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David Gee David Gee March 7, 2012 at 11:38 am

This is a fascinating conversation. I almost feel as if I am standing out in the hall or at the coffee shop having an actual conversation with colleagues.

I also came by some more fascinating points in a Harvard Business Review post that I think add some value to this thread and conversation.

HBR has been running a series called “The New Rules For Getting A Job.”

The premise of the latest post, entitled “Find A Job Using Disruptive Innovation,” suggests that a group of people known as “disruptive innovators” ask the right questions, observe the world like anthropologists, network for novel ideas, and experiment to make things work.

HBR says applying the skills disruptive innovators use to a job search can help people unearth more, and better, opportunities. Here’s how:

Step 1. Start asking the right questions (and stop asking the wrong ones).

Step 2. Start looking at the real job(s) to be done (and stop looking at the job you once did). **Point acknowledged Steven Cary

Step 3. Start networking to create a job (and stop networking to find a job).

Step 4. Start experimenting with things you’ve never done (and stop doing what you’ve always done).

To read the entire post go to: http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2012/03/applying_disruptive_innovator.html

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Nancy S March 16, 2012 at 1:12 am

I live in Connecticut and am unemployed a little over a year. I also watched this program. I think it is great they have a program like this for the 99ers, only wish they had something maybe a little bit scaled back for us folks that have been out of work over a year but don’t want to hit two years. I think part of the problem is geographics. There is little manufacturing in Fairfield County anymore. Most of the job opportunities are way up in Hartford. If you own a home in Fairfield County you could find yourself with over a 50 mile one way commute every day if you decide not to move closer to your job. We all know how hard it is to move your homes on the market if you decide to move closer to your job.Most of the homes around here take over a year to sell unless you give them away. This is combined with the huge taxes we pay. I am over 50 as well and have never been unemployed before now. Maybe a better solution is to move out of Connecticut. The job situation is the same wherever you go, but cost of living would probably be less.

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Peacemaker March 18, 2012 at 12:40 am

Interesting points everyone is making here.

I am a 41 year old female out of work on UE for a year now. I believe there is a ton a age discrimination in all of this. I find that no matter what I say in a resume and or cover letter the recruiters see it as a negative. I have been forced to move due to the economy, so now instead of having a chance to explain this in a face to face interview, they just assume job hopper and move on. I think recruiters are destroying the job market. They should be licensed and heavily regulated like mortgage people now. They also refuse to hire anyone without a BA degree. You may have education and experience, but they still refuse. President Obama said he does not want everyone strapped with high student loan debt. He said many will only need an Associates degree, well not so thanks to these strict guidelines put in place by HR and recruiters everywhere. They are telling the gov that they do not have enough qualified applicants, this is simply not true.

I sent proof to a recruiter that I was not a job hopper and sent references. He just sent a rude reply that basically said, Don’t call us, we will call you.

It is not true that they will hire you if you have a job either because I tried that before I lost my last one.

I was told tonight that I did not have enough retail experience to sell a damn book in a book store part time. My resume strongly suggests that I am a top sales and revenue producer. I was horribly insulted, but the truth was, they wanted a part time college student with even less experience than I.

It seems like the more confidence you show on your resume and in your cover letter, the worst things become in your job search. It leaves one to feel that less is best.

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Peacemaker March 18, 2012 at 12:49 am

Oh, I forgot to fully solve the mystery of why they will not hire you for being out on UE for a year or two.

They know UE requires a weekly job search. They figure if no one hired you in that time, why should they take a chance on you either.

Its a simple case of monkey see, monkey do. Lets put the brains back into the hiring process, and throw out the over inflated egos with a BA and a 2.0 GPA.

Thanks for listening.

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Steven Cary March 20, 2012 at 10:44 am

Recruiters rarely set the job requirements, we merely match candidates to them. Much like a Waiter in a restaurant, recruiters are filling orders. Delivering something other than what was ordered is bad business and benefits neither the candidate nor the recruiter.

I do agree, however that there are lazy recruiters out there, who utilize a period of unemployment as an automatic disqualification. In the same breath, I will insist that there are those who are/have milked the UE system for the maximum time and now expect to be placed at the top of the candidate list. Candidates like yourself, who have been actively searching are as much a victim of those folks as you are of lazy recruiters.

I wish you luck, and I believe that if you continue to put yourself out there you will find a good recruiter that can do their job and see the quality of your skills, whether for a Staffing company or directly for a company.

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Gregg Dourgarian gregg dourgarian March 20, 2012 at 11:24 am

That’s an excellent comment Steve, thanks. I didn’t quite know how to respond to Peacemaker but you nailed it.

What did you think of the negativity as in “BA and a 2.0 GPA”?…humorous but risky baggage that interviewers pick up on. Also, what do you think of job coaches?

Finally i really liked your point about the government’s largesse in extending unemployment and how that creates an instance of what economists call the ‘law of unintented consequences’.

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Steven Cary March 20, 2012 at 2:51 pm

Thanks, Gregg.

The “BA and 2.0″ comment made me laugh, probably for the same reasons you did. Also because I used to get frustrated by Degree requirements because I’d chosen to spend 4 years at USMC instead of UCLA. Then I learned about ‘commensurate experience’, which most employers accept, and some prefer.

I can see a value in job coaches, I’m just not sure who should be funding them. I’m of the mindset that there is little the Government can accomplish better than private industry, and my experience with ‘job developers/coaches’ at City/County training agencies (EDD funded centers) generally supports that. I can also see the unemployed being taken advantage of if they are left to pay for their own job coach, as anyone could claim the title and take money for nothing.

In the Marines, I was introduced to the concept of Mentoring. Ever since, I have sought out individuals in my industry, who have earned success to learn from. If companies were to encourage/support this more, then they would have no need to create a salary for a ‘job coach’ either.

A good Recruiter/Staffing Consultant is to some degree a ‘job coach’. It can be easy to get in the habit of simply recruiting the ‘plug and play’ candidates for jobs. To me, the greatest rewards come from placing a candidate I helped to develop (take this six month assignment with XYZ company for the experience and then I can market you to BCD because you’ll have what they want). Recruiters have to select those they would coach carefully though, or they could get stuck in that mode and forget their primary responsibility is to the client.

As I said, tough to identify where the coaches come from!

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David Gee David Gee March 20, 2012 at 9:15 pm

Thanks for continuing this dialogue. Obviously this subject has touched lots of people, and I knew the moment I first saw the story on television that it could spark some conversation.

I just read a Simply Hired blog post by Gerrit Hall, the CEO and co-founder of RezScore, a free Web application that reads, analyzes, and grades resumes.

The tips for the long-term unemployed speaks directly to the comment thread and thought I would put it here for you to read. Everything else that follows is from the blog by Hall.

The tight job market has affected all demographics — but older workers have really felt the squeeze, particularly if they found themselves out of work for one reason or another. Statistics show that older workers are unemployed for an average of 44 weeks (more than 10 months), according to an AARP report.

After a recent post by my co-founder Sean, on the things employers want to see on your resume, we recognized how easy it is to get frustrated and want to give up during the job search. But staying active and positive is the key to job search success. Follow the tips below to maximize your job search and get one step closer to your ideal position.

1. Sell, sell, sell. Consistently, the biggest mistake we see is that people write a ‘me’ focused resume. A primary example of this is the outdated objective statement – if you have the word ‘seeking’ on your resume, you’re writing a ‘me’ resume. Employers don’t hire you for your satisfaction; they hire you to fill their own critical need. Think of it this way. If you were in sales, would you ever say to a customer “Buy this item because I need the commission”? And if you were the customer, would you buy? A ‘me’ centered resume says essentially the same thing.

Your job is to think of the potential employer as a customer. You’ve know they’re a hot lead because they’ve taken the time to post the job – so someone is going to close the deal with them. How do you make sure they go with you? By selling to them like you would sell to anyone else. Figure out their pain points. Why are they hiring? Who have they hired in the past? What’s their most critical need? And then go in there with your sales guns blazing; be the solution to their problem.

2. Really tap your network. As you’ve heard before, “it’s who you know” that often helps you land a job. This is especially true with small businesses who cannot afford to post jobs on pricey job boards (or don’t have the time to sift through the hundreds of applications they may receive), but some larger companies also rely on referrals to fill open positions.

Actively keep in touch with former colleagues, friends, and family, and let them know you’re on the job search. If you know someone who works at an organization you’d like to work for, ask them to grab coffee or lunch to strengthen your relationship and inquire about possible opportunities there.

3. Perfect your resume. If you’re on the job search, your first priority should be your resume. It must show your value to potential employers to ensure you make it to the interview round. Make sure resume uses active writing to show hiring managers and recruiters what you accomplished and what you’re capable of.

Make sure that your resume is clean and clutter free. Anything that does not effectively sell your skills needs to go. Clean up your resume by using the ever faithful bullet points. Always keep in mind that less is sometimes more. You don’t need to get too fancy with fonts, language or formatting.

4. Search for free using your resources. Find job opportunities from sites across the Web — from job boards and government sites, to company career sites and newspapers, and more. Set up email alerts or RSS feeds to learn about jobs as they’re posted. Keeping on top of new postings can help you be one of the first to apply and ensure you get your resume in front of employers before the position is filled.

5. Learn new skills. Although you likely have a lot of experience in your industry, there’s always room to learn something new, particularly if you have been unemployed for several months. Look for certification programs or relevant classes you can take to boost your resume and impress potential employers.

6. Use social media for personal branding and networking. According to a study by Jobvite, 16 percent of job seekers (a combination of unemployed and looking, employed and looking, or employed and open to a new job) said “an online social network directly led to finding their current/most recent job.” Of those, the majority (78 percent) attributed their job to Facebook, 40% to LinkedIn, and 42% to Twitter. Since each network can be beneficial to your job search in different ways, it’s important you don’t write off certain online opportunities because you don’t see the value or think your age demographic isn’t right for them.

You should also keep in mind that your presence on these networks represents your online brand. The majority of employers now use social media to screen job candidates, and 68 percent said they have hired someone based on what they saw about them online (such as giving a positive impression or supporting professional qualifications).

Read more on the Simply Hired Blog: http://blog.simplyhired.com/2012/03/6-tips-for-experienced-job-seekers-who-have-been-unemployed-long-term.html#ixzz1piJBCStq

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Steven Cary March 21, 2012 at 12:17 pm

One thing that I would add to that, and I usually put it pretty close to the top:

Schedule your job search time. Spending 8 hours a day searching for a job is counter productive. For most people, more than 2 hours of hearing ‘No’ or ‘We’re not hiring at this time’ will begin to break down morale. A person in their fourth hour of calling may sound jaded, bitter or even just tired. This is not the best foot to put forward.

Find a schedule that works for you. Perhaps Monday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings you spend 2 hours researching online, checking job boards and submitting resumes. Tuesday and Friday you spend that same time calling or emailing companies in your industry that don’t have job postings to find out who the HR contact is and submitting resumes. In the afternoons, you run a quick search on the job boards to see if anything new was posted during the day and if so, submit your resume. On one afternoon per week, send follow up emails or calls to those companies you have submitted resumes to in the last week.

In the hour in between, do something positive. Whether you enjoy working out, playing with your children or doing volunteer work (which can be added to your resume), fill your time with something that will make you feel like you have accomplished something. This will help alleviate the stress of the job search and prepare you to be positive, upbeat and appealing during your contacts with hiring managers.

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Peacemaker March 22, 2012 at 7:26 pm

Thanks for the great responses, and job seeking tips.

May God Help Us All, in this current economy, and cut throat job market.

Peace

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Cara March 24, 2012 at 10:22 pm

Regarding job hopping and long term unemployed…….every position I have held has resulted in a layoff after anywhere from 12 months to almost 3 years…five jobs in ten years because of this…..I can’t help lay offs or short-term contract work…how is anyone in my situation supposed to find work? There were three of these five positions I would have loved to have stayed at long-term. The corporations bottom line and reduce the work force mentality did not allow me to do so. I am NOT a job hopper though!! Now I have been laid off as of Dec 2011 after not quite a 12month contract….out of work since then….I would have happily stayed at that position. I definitely see age discrimination and at only 36!! I have an accounting degree, I am willing to take a step back to A/P or A/R versus Accountant…but still can’t get hired?? Lay offs like these are not exclusive to me, but that does not make us job hoppers……any advice on how we can handle? Most of us I know WANT to work!!!

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Peacemaker March 26, 2012 at 3:44 pm

Sorry to hear of your all to common plight Cara. I am also sad to inform you that you are among the millions of casualties of what could only be summed up as CORPORATE GREED!

I am one as well. They have sucked the life out of us and the so called American Dream. We have not been allowed to hold a job for 30 years like our parents were, and yet, we are considered the sore losers with an axe to grind, or a chip on our shoulders. I guess the message to us is clear. Don’t go away mad, just go away.

This is why people are occupying public space. They have been put there in their place only to be told you cannot pitch even a tent in our city. Well, what were people supposed to do after they took their homes, cars, jobs, retirement, children’s education funds, medical, and all hope for a brighter future?

Its the Walmart business model at work here. They all want to make the 300 million or billion a year that they do by squeezing the life out of people like they do. It will not work for them. If these companies do not want to be socially responsible to the people of this Nation that made them so wealthy they should get out. We don’t need this parasitic entity causing more issues and risks to our economic National Security.

Hang in, hang out, and hang on Cara, we are all in for a hell of a bumpy ride.

Peace and God Bless this Mess.

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What are you waiting for March 26, 2012 at 9:16 pm

Peacemaker
You seem to have a good heart but what is this woe-is-me vitriolic crap.

If you think corporations have it so good, go form one for yourself. It costs almost nothing in most states, and you can get it done in hours. Then, since you are not ‘greedy’ like the corporations you write about, go and hire a bunch of people. Practice what you preach!

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Peacemaker March 29, 2012 at 5:30 am

Reply to What Are You Waiting For.

Thanks for the vote of confidence and the advice.

I would,however, encourage you to do your homework on Corporate greed. Many of the companies that only offer part time, temporary, low paying positions, and cutting jobs are reporting record profits at the same time.

They are taking the food right out,of our mouths for no other real reason than they can.

I do not feel sorry for Corporate America.

Leave

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Steven Cary March 29, 2012 at 11:20 am

I have found that when I assign the blame for my circumstances on another, I am also subtly relinquishing my own power to change them.

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Me neither March 29, 2012 at 7:56 am

I don’t feel sorry for corporate America either but the question at hand is how can an otherwise highly capable worker get gainful employment given the reticence of employers to hire full-time.

The suggestion is to form a corporation yourself. Since you’re an accountant, form iAccountant411.com today and offer your initial clients a ‘loss leader’ rate (in Houston that would be $50/hr).

Not a fortune but a start.

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Jeff Lucia September 10, 2012 at 5:21 am

It will be 3 years unemployed in about a week from now. I am 50, in good physical and (despite my long unemployment) mental health. I have a bachelors degree. I can complain about “job system” justifiably, but why? HR staff have false perceptions of people, as a result, I never even get called!!
I have 7 kids in the house. 3 are special needs. Foreclosure soon. Kids all disrespectful. Poor wife has to put up with unsuccessful husband. I babysit. It’s all I do now; babysit…fear rules the day.

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concerned September 10, 2012 at 12:46 pm

Hi Jeff
If I’m reading this right, you are home with seven kids, and if you’re doing that job well then you have every right to consider yourself successful because there is no greater challenge before us than to love and nurture our young ones.

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Jon Hawkins September 24, 2012 at 8:18 pm

Well, it’s been 15 months unemployed for me with no unemployment benefits.
Married with 4 children…I have been rejected for several positions….So, I focused on mastering direct sales…AKA…Hustlin’….I’m not selling anythin illegal ….it just describes my method of getting income…yes it’s time consuming…but you get paid instantly…

It..also..keeps me on top of things…when i get money…i have to pay a bill or buy a shirt or buy food…because I don’t know how much i might get tomorrow.

Find Something you know about or something people need and find a way to sell it to them.

Forget the external stuff…focus on what you can do to get out of the situation.

Hustlin’ is the new Employer!!

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