The unemployed person is at a disadvantage. The longer time drags on, the more worried and desperate ... [+]
Race, religion, age and sexual orientation discrimination in the workplace are widely discussed. However, there is another form of prejudice that often goes undetected. It's the bias against job seekers who are in between roles for a certain length of time.
The United States' economic cycles go from boom to bust. During the bad times, companies lay off workers and put hiring freezes in place. During the financial crisis and early months of the virus outbreak, millions of Americans were forced into unemployment. As the economy was weakened, many people were out of work for up to a year.
Instead of feeling sympathy or exhibiting empathy for the plight of folks who’ve been out of work for one to six months or so, companies took the opposite approach. There is an unfounded suspicion that if a person is out of work, there must be something wrong with them. There’s the unspoken feeling,“Why didn’t a company pick the person by now? They probably did something bad at their former employer and that’s why they haven't found a new role.”
Biases Against The Unemployed
The reality is that interviewing isn't a math equation. Having a good résumé, a strong skill set and possessing all of the requirements for the job don’t necessarily equal getting the job. Luck plays a huge factor. Sometimes, you’re in the right place at the right time and everything falls into place. Other times, you just can’t catch a break.
You’d think that savvy hiring professionals would scoop up someone out of work since there is still a war for talent, which is starting to change, and not nearly enough people to fill the open headcounts at companies. Those who are out of work for a while will say they won’t push too much in salary negotiations. They’ll point out that there won't be a need for a two weeks’ or longer notice period before they start a new job. The company wouldn't have to buy out their bonus or stock options.
The unemployed person is at a disadvantage. The longer time drags on, the more worried and desperate they get. The family is going through their savings. The person goes into the interview not feeling confident. Conversely, a candidate who is currently employed has leverage. They can demand a large premium to switch jobs. Their logic is that it would be nice to get this role and more money, but if the company can’t meet their demands, they have their current role to fall back on.
When you compare the unemployed person relative to a person who is happy at their job, but seeking a better opportunity, it would seem logical that the company would choose the out-of-work person. They’d be incredibly happy to get the offer and most likely work very hard to show their appreciation.
This doesn't happen too often. The unemployed person is looked down upon as if they are stale goods. If an offer is made to a candidate who has been out of work for a while, it will likely be lower than what the employed person would receive, as the hiring personnel knows they don’t have the leverage of a counteroffer and desperately desires to get back at work to pay the bills.
What You Can Do To Change The Narrative
You need to show the interviewer that you’ve been actively engaged and not sitting around watching television on the couch all day. It could be writing the next great American novel, going back to school, learning a new profession, getting work in the gig economy, taking on consulting assignments, looking after your family or volunteering for charity. This dispels any myths that you’ve lost your vigor and motivation.
Use this time off from work to update your skills. Go back to school. Gain some accreditations and licenses online. Learn new technologies, software, platforms and apps. Ask to set up meetings with recruiters. Once they meet you and recognize the talent and abilities you offer, they’ll go to bat for you and help you get placed.
Continually practice your interviewing skills and elevator pitch so that you don’t come across as desperate. Ask for references and letters of recommendation from past co-workers and employers. If you haven’t been on social media, join and get active on the appropriate platform that caters to your field of expertise.
LinkedIn is the go-to site for white-collar professionals. Once on the site, engage regularly, so you’ll garner attention. Network to find people who can point you toward job openings. Post comments, articles and videos that can brand you as a thought leader in your sector. This will attract the attention of recruiters, human resources and corporate talent acquisition professionals.
Take care of your health. Being stuck at home, while in between roles, may cause some unemployed people to feel bad about themselves and go down a slippery slope of stress eating, binge drinking and avoiding the gym. These activities will make you feel worse about yourself. Interviewers will pick up on your lack of self-confidence.
Bear in mind that there is nothing to feel bad or ashamed about. Unfortunately, this happens to a lot of people at all levels. In my recruiting experience, most people with 10-plus years of experience have been impacted by a job loss.
It may take some time, but eventually, if you continue to be persistent and refuse to give up, you’ll find a new position. All you need is that one door to open and you’re back in.
