In this economy, it has become clear that companies are leery of hiring unemployed job seekers. Research has indicated that they are perceived as unproductive under-performers, which has created a major problem even for highly qualified and valuable individuals who may be laid off.
Some contributors to the view that out-of-work professionals lack quality are actually within the job seeker’s control - poor job searching and interviewing techniques, a weak resume, and even negatively-perceived (and overused) terminology. Three of those terms have already been mentioned in this article: “unemployed”, “out of work”, and “laid-off”. These terms immediately cast a dark shadow on you as a professional. That must, and can, change today!
There are ways to transform your mindset and your approach into a more positive and uplifting experience by eliminating these words, changing some techniques, and reviving your search! Here are some tips for doing just that:
Do NOT use these terms in your resume or cover letter. It is a good idea to given a high-level explanation of your situation in your cover letter, however it is a mistake to say “I’m unemployed because…” If you must, use phrases like “between opportunities” or “seeking new career prospects.” Even if your last job ended two or three years ago, these phrases automatically put life back into what may seem like a sluggish and unproductive search.
Be ready to answer that dreaded question: “Why are you still unemployed?” If a recruiter or hiring manager asks you this, it is easy to blurt out excuses or blame an outside influence (e.g. the recession) for your situation. That is exactly what you should NOT do! Practice your answer ahead of time focusing on being upbeat yet honest. “Between my full-time jobs, I have been on the go taking software classes and joining networking groups to collaborate with like-minded professionals in this field. These past few months have been invaluable for my continuing education efforts and expanding my software knowledge…” Even if you don’t feel positive about that time out of work, they need to know you are resourceful and can turn lemons into lemonade!
Fill in those empty job gaps! Surely you haven’t spent your time out of the workplace on the couch, so don’t give employers the impression that you did! They want to know that don't give up when met with a challenge and you used that time to better yourself. Now is not too late to take a class, volunteer, join a committee, pursue an apprenticeship, or take part-time or piece work and include those efforts on your resume.
Re-focus your resume to maximize your results (and minimize your chronology).The most important thing you can communicate with your resume is that you CREATE RESULTS. Whether that means improving a process or saving a company millions of dollars, it’s all results. Highlighting this information in your resume along with other impactful skills will help take attention away from your work history dates.
In this economic turmoil, even highly skilled professionals are running into what some people now call “unemployment discrimination”. While it is easy to let a dire situation project negativity and a lack of productivity, it is more important than ever to stay positive and charged about your job search.