Last week we wrote about the apparent trend of avoiding hiring unemployed applicants, which has been trickling through the blogosphere and sparking quite a discussion. According to this article on a blog at bnet.com, however, the original source of the ad has removed the requirement. The article goes on to make several good points, both for the reasoning behind why companies might make such a move, and for not overreacting to such a seemingly extreme measure.
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The economy is no doubt improving—although slowly—but unemployment numbers are still high and those in the ranks of the out of work are likely to have been in a state of unemployment for a longer than usual period of time. On June 2, the Wall Street Journal published an article on chronic joblessness and the effects it can have on the workforce, and the individual. Along with the psychological implications of increased anxiety, loss of self esteem and depression, long term unemployment can be damaging to one’s potential for finding work. Everyone who has ever changed jobs or been laid off knows that gaps in employment history can raise eyebrows, but today’s job market is seeing more people with this problem than in times past. According to the WSJ article, unemployment rates, and duration have not been this bad since the 1980’s.
The news is not all bad of course, and it’s important to stay positive. There are things you can do to minimize the damage that an extended period of joblessness can exact. Writer, and journalist Anita Bruzzese wrote a great blog post on what one can learn in an economic climate like today’s. Networking remains as one of the best ways to maintain working relationships and get back into the game when between jobs. The days of pouring over the want ads section when looking for new employment opportunities seems to be behind us, although it is still a viable tool in the belt of the job seeker.
Both Bruzzese’s and the bnet.com article also mention that it’s important to stay busy during longer bouts of unemployment, whether that means doing some volunteer work, or staying up to date on your skill set by taking classes or attending seminars. Many people, of course take on part time work not only in order to help pay the bills, but to simply stay active in the work force.
Though we are seeing signs of improvement in the economy and the job market, we also know that it will simply take some time to iron out these wrinkles. What are some of your strategies for dealing with the longer periods of unemployment that we’re seeing today? Have you been negatively affected by being out of work for an extended period, and how have you dealt with the setback?
[Hire Me image via Ms. Career Girl]
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