Yesterday, I was on the Yahoo Home page and an article titled "Out-of-work job applicants told unemployed need not apply" caught my eye. The article references a growing trend of employers who will only interview candidates who are currently employed. According to the article, some job postings include restrictions such as "unemployed candidates will not be considered" or "must be currently employed." What??? Can this be for real???
The thought process of companies not hiring "out of work job applicants" seems to be that they believe the job-seeker must've been laid off due to performance issues. While I would agree that some workers probably were cut due to performance issues, the number of viable, highly skilled people seeking work is astronomical. Don't these companies realize that they hold the key to turning the economy around? Paying jobs = paying the mortgage = less foreclosures and short sales. Paying jobs = more spending = better economic conditions. Hello!
A recently passed tax break, which essentially exempts firms that hire unemployed job seekers from paying the 6.2% of the new hire's wages in Social Security taxes for the rest of this year, might change their tune. Let's hope so!
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What a shame that companies would limit themselves in this way. I understand limiting their search to people with relevant experience, but this new prerequisite is absurd. I really feel for people struggling to find work right now...it's tough out there.
WOw...talk about a slam!!! It just doesn't seem right does it??? A couple of years ago I was pondering whether or not I could stay in Real Estate and I started looking for a job on line...can't remember what website...but I saw a number of jobs that said no Realtors or Loan Officers may apply! That didn't make me very happy! yikes!
Catherine:
It's true! Not only are they not willing to interview people that are unemployed, but the candidate better be under 40, have a great credit score, have no "digital dirt" on the Internet, and zero health issues in the past or on the horizon. Believe me they check, even if they say they don't. I've been blessed to continue to be employed but I'm personal friends with several recruiters that have over 20 years experience or own their own head-hunting companies and the requirements they are given are usually the list I've outlined.
How many companies have cut half, three-quarters, or more of their workforce? The performance issues were at the top, not the folks that were cut. Many of those senior executives are still there.
At the first and second line level of management, many times the hiring manager doesn't know those are the requirements set by the company. It's "secret stuff" the HR department dreams up. Often the hiring manager would love to have someone with a lot of experience that can make big things happen. And they don't care about the candidates credit score or that they are 50 or older. But HR won't bring those candidates in because of the perceived overall cost to the company. It's short-sighted.
With the real rate of unemployment - 18%+ nationwide, the number of divorces, problems with real estate, health problems because of stress, etc... there are millions that are "un-hirable" according to some company policies. You wouldn't want to work for them anyway. They're weak! Would a pro coach hire players based on a spreadsheet? There's a lot more to it than that.
It sounds impossible, but there's hope for good people looking for work. They just have to do it differently. Be positive and confident!
If you're in those categories I listed, use your current relationships, go get more relationships - face-to-face relationships - to look for a job. Resume blasting doesn't work. If someone knows you personally and you are a great person with a super track record from good employers, they'll fight for you to get into an organization. They'll even fight HR. And the company will do better with you than the ones that pass you by based on faulty logic.
I've been a hiring manager for many years at large and medium sized companies. In EVERY case I've gone around the HR department to find the best people. The candidates that HR found were all middle of the road. No superstars. I depend on relationships and sites like LinkedIn to find top talent. I have over 1,700 real contacts in my cellphone. You can't find great teammates looking at a stack of resumes, a spreadsheet, a credit report, or an actuary table. That's called LAZY management.
Sorry for the rant but I know a lot of great people looking for work that ran into some bad circumstances, completely out of their control, and they are getting the run-around by weak employers.
They are doing what I suggested above and many are getting jobs even in this economy.
The ultimate oxymoron.....unemployed need not apply!
Have a great weekend.
We should just tell the "unemployed" to get into real estate.... No need to apply to a big scary boss!
Hi Shannon - I agree that these companies are short sighted. They're probably missing out on some of their strongest candidates.
Deborah - I can see how anyone who is unemployed could be seriously depressed. How can they re-coup in these circumstances?
Mike - Thank you for your valuable insight. It's evident that you're a "positive thinker" as am I. Mind set is everything!
Judi and Ryan - Being self-employed does have its benefits!