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I know a lady who was laid off from her job three years ago and has sent out nearly a thousand resumes and gone on a number of job interviews but just can't find work. No one will hire her! They ask her what she has been doing since she lost her job and she is honest and tells them she has been aggressively looking for a job but just hasn't found anything yet. My unemployed friend tells me they lower their eyebrow and seem to say under their breath, "well if no one else wants you, why should we?"
She thinks that because she has been unemployed for so long employers think there is something wrong with her and pass.
How long can a person be unemployed and still be employable? How long can you be unemployed before being considered unemployable by hiring managers?
This has been hashed out endlessly in various threads and there's no "one size fits all" answer. If your friend has been unemployed for three years and all she can say is that she's been looking for a job, the negative reaction from prospective employers is perfectly normal. Anyone who has been unemployed for six months plus should be doing some volunteer work, taking night or online classes to improve themselves - in other words demonstrating that they've been doing something other than sitting around. That stock response just doesn't cut it.
This has been hashed out endlessly in various threads and there's no "one size fits all" answer. If your friend has been unemployed for three years and all she can say is that she's been looking for a job, the negative reaction from prospective employers is perfectly normal. Anyone who has been unemployed for six months plus should be doing some volunteer work, taking night or online classes to improve themselves - in other words demonstrating that they've been doing something other than sitting around. That stock response just doesn't cut it.
Agreed. Past 6 months starts to throw a red flag. I am at 6 months right now and I explain to prospective employers that I have been aggressively looking for a job, have received a couple of offers I turned down, because they were low ball offers, and I had to take a few weeks to help my elderly Mom get a nursing aide, all true.
I think 8 months, 3 days and 16 hours sounds about right.
I was twice unemployed for 14-month periods and I've found employment that paid more than what I was making when I was laid off ... this was 2002-2004 (the bubble) and 2009-2011 (the bubble part deux).
This has been hashed out endlessly in various threads and there's no "one size fits all" answer. If your friend has been unemployed for three years and all she can say is that she's been looking for a job, the negative reaction from prospective employers is perfectly normal. Anyone who has been unemployed for six months plus should be doing some volunteer work, taking night or online classes to improve themselves - in other words demonstrating that they've been doing something other than sitting around. That stock response just doesn't cut it.
Exactly!
It's not about how long you are unemployed but what you have been doing during the unemployment.
Personally I would sign up for classes on day one, K, maybe day two but you get the point.
If you are just sitting around "looking for job" instead of trying hard to learn new things and keep your skills current by going to school etc, you aren't employable.
Just another note to emphasize my point. When she's getting interviews, it means employers aren't bothered by her lack of current employment. They are very much bothered by her interview skills though, particularly her lack of initiative to study and learn.
I was out of work 15 months when I found my job. I've been on it 22 months now.
When interviewed my time off was never even mentioned.
If they want you bad enough (skilled trade in my case) they'll hire you.
Your experience demonstrates from another aspect that the "one size fits all" response expectation is unrealistic. There are seasonal ups and downs where many skilled trades are concerned and, in a recession, the downs can last much longer than a season. As the economy improves in certain areas, those with specialized trade skills necessary for that upswing will generally not be scrutinized during the interview process as much as an average white collar worker. The average white collar applicant's skills (as commendable and as good as they may be) are skills which a huge number of applicants possess and thus the weeding out procedure is more stringent.
I know a lady who was laid off from her job three years ago and has sent out nearly a thousand resumes and gone on a number of job interviews but just can't find work. No one will hire her! They ask her what she has been doing since she lost her job and she is honest and tells them she has been aggressively looking for a job but just hasn't found anything yet. My unemployed friend tells me they lower their eyebrow and seem to say under their breath, "well if no one else wants you, why should we?"
She thinks that because she has been unemployed for so long employers think there is something wrong with her and pass.
How long can a person be unemployed and still be employable? How long can you be unemployed before being considered unemployable by hiring managers?
If they are setting aside interview time for her over other candidates, then she has the qualifications and they are not concerned about the gap. She is killing herself at the interview with that answer. "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results."
Since she has so much free time, she needs to practice on her interview skills. If she spent an hour a day in FREE career skills classes, she can fix that weakness. Has she been a stay at home mom during this time? A better answer would be, "I spent the last 3 years at home to spend more time with my kids, while they were young." It may even work better, if she is interviewing with somebody who stayed home to take care of the kids also. It's not unusual, if the husband is paid very well.
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