If you can’t find a job and are still unemployed after a longer than expected job search, you’re not alone.
I know people who have been unemployed since March so they’ve been on the bench for going on 8 months. As a recruiter, I’ve met with plenty of people who get laid off or otherwise downsized and months later are still looking for a new job.
The longer you’re out of work, the harder it can become to get a new job and the more a potential hiring company is going to wonder why you can’t find a job.
Even recruiters ask why you haven’t found a new job amongst themselves. If I take the resume of a person who has been out of work for say 6 months to a colleague who has a job this person is interested in, the first question from my colleague is usually “why are they still out of work after 6 months?” The reason they ask is because their client will want to know the same thing.
Certainly in this economy, people’s hesitation to hire people who are out of work is lower than perhaps in a “better” economy. People expect that there will be good people who lose their jobs and will remain unemployed for some time.
Still, what can you do to minimize the amount of time you’re unemployed?
For starters, you can:
1. Always ensure your resume is up to date. Even when you’re working, keep your resume updated so it’s ready to use in case the need arises.
2. Keep your references handy. Remain in touch with the people you plan on using as references and know where to find them when the need arises so you’re not running around trying to find them at the last minute when you need them. You never know, they might just point you in the right direction of a job too.
So let’s say you’re already unemployed and Points 1 and 2 above are too late to consider (just make sure you consider them in the future when you’re working again).
Why might you still be unemployed?
3. You’re not really job searching. If you are just firing off resumes to online job ads and posting your resume on these same online job boards, you’re not really searching for a job.
4. You’re not networking with others.
5. You aren’t contacting companies directly.
6. You’re not staying busy and motivated.
7. You aren’t targeting the right jobs.
8. You’re focusing on what you want from an employer and not what you offer them.
Some people who have never been unemployed are surprised when they’re out of work for a few weeks and suddenly find out a few months later that nothing has changed and they’re still out of work. Good, qualified, skilled people can have difficulty getting back into the workforce especially in an economy where many companies are cutting staff and not necessarily hiring new ones.
If you can afford it, taking training or other courses, going back to school fulltime or part-time or looking at self employment options are things you might consider while you’re searching for a new job.
