Why do people say it is harder to get a job when unemployed?

14 Comments

1. AnonymousDecember 18,2024 at 3:14AM UTC

   If you have amazing skills, are great at communicating your value and are a seasoned professional ......you are extremely valuable. Employed, unemployed, it really doesn't take away your value.

2. AnonymousDecember 18,2024 at 3:58AM UTC

   I’m an attorney for a tech company.

3. AnonymousDecember 18,2024 at 5:38AM UTC

   It can take a very long time in this economy to find a job so even if you have money saved you can go through a lot. People are just more attractive to employers if they are doing something productive. So if not full-time then take on consulting work or sign up for classes to upgrade your skills or do volunteer work. Like it or not, candidates who do not have something active they are working on are viewed as less desirable.

4. AnonymousDecember 18,2024 at 1:42PM UTC

   I highly suggest that you not leave your current job and benefits. It is not good out here. I promise you.

5. AnonymousDecember 18,2024 at 2:52PM UTC

   That is correct. Employed candidates are more attractive to employers. ALERT: Do not leave your job without having a job lined up. Regardless of your qualifications, it may take 6-9 months or more to get a job. I made the mistake of taking a career break in 2023 and still unemployed despite actively searching. The labor market is awful.

6. AnonymousDecember 18,2024 at 2:56PM UTC

   This job market is ridiculous! There are jobs out there but the hiring process is crap. It’s lengthy, disappointing, and tedious. Businesses will post jobs even though they already have an internal candidate in mind. There are many jobs that you will apply for and not hear a word back from that company. Or you will go through an interview process and sometimes be ghosted, the length of time to offer you the position is long, or just even waiting to hear from a company if you got the job or not, can be a time waster.

   Apply for jobs while you have one. It will be much easier and less stressful if you aren’t needing a job.

7. AnonymousDecember 18,2024 at 3:02PM UTC

   Companies are starting to gain the upper hand right now. Lots of applications. Now more than ever and even in the past, a lot of companies/people feel if you are not employed now, there is something wrong with you as an employee/person. They are also viewing less than 4 to 5 years in a job as a job hopper and to them equates to wasted time and money on hiring and training.

   Honestly unless you have at least 2 years of all of your expenses including purchasing health insurance on the open market I would say do not quit your job without a job.

   I have been there, so burnt out and just go another step. I did quit to look for a job and focus on me. It wasn't even in a tough economic situation and it took me 5 months to find pretty much an semi-entry level job. Would I do it again, probably not and especially not during this period economic uncertainity.

8. AnonymousDecember 18,2024 at 8:37PM UTC

   Ok, I'm going to lay it out straight to you. I'm a former recruiter, and currently in higher ed helping employer partners hire students. Do not ever quit a job to take time off. Employers receive that as unreliable, they will do that to us, they are not going to be able to make it, etc. We are all marketable. You are in competition with thousands. None of us are one of a kind, we are all replaceable. Someone will replace you one day. You are more attractive employed than not. Trust me on this. Don't quit until you get. Stay strong!

9. Deborah MichaliszynDecember 18,2024 at 9:28PM UTC

   You'll be sorry. You won't find a job for a long time. Worst vacation ever going broke.

10. AnonymousDecember 18,2024 at 10:36PM UTC

    It just is. From their viewpoint, if you don't have a job there must be a reason. And think of it from your experience in past personal relationships, someone you like doesn't want you when you're available. But when you're in a relationship, you're all they can think about because they can't have you.

11. AnonymousDecember 19,2024 at 6:40AM UTC

    It is the perception of value. Someone is valuing you with employment. If you are not employed, there is unconscious perception that you are not valued.

    I'm not saying it's right it just an unconscious bias.

12. AnonymousDecember 19,2024 at 12:17PM UTC

    Unfortunately, there are many hiring managers who are still very suspicious of any resume gaps (ex. personal sabbaticals). Personally, I find that candidates do tend to express less discernment/more neediness if they are currently without a job. That is not so good for either party. Why not plan on a delayed start to your next job? Everything is negotiable when they want you.

13. Vanessa LontocDecember 20,2024 at 3:45PM UTC

    I'm currently looking for my next job. I took a full year off after getting laid off. A true career break from being burnt out -- I didn't apply for any job during that break. I've also been laid off in the past since marketing tends to be let go first. I am fully aware of this.

    It can be hard to find a job while unemployed (more so than when you're employed) even if you have great skills and experience. It all comes down to are you resilient and prepared to weather it financially, mentally and emotionally until you find the job or opportunity that you want and not because you are desperate and feel beaten down.

    We can't control other people's perception (and ATS) of what the gap of time is about or the reason you left on your resume. Yes, some people would think that maybe you're not "as good" as you present yourself or question your reliability. This also depends on what stage you are in your career (early, mid or late). There's always perception to deal with. And then on top of that, if you're a woman with family to support or at a certain age, now you have to consider other factors and not just your own.

    It all comes down to having a plan and holding yourself accountable for the decisions you make.

14. AnonymousDecember 20,2024 at 4:20PM UTC

    I think it’s just a hold over from the pre-pandemic era. I don’t know why it’s such a big deal to take time to not be burnt out on life in general but it is.

    I had to take time off for life saving medical treatment and it took literally months to get a part time entry level job and tons of explaining about my work history gap (Gods forbid I put my life first and get chemo and surgery and recover to actually work). Now I’m working on getting back up to where I was before I got sick.