Blogging Through A Layoff

Signing off, and wishing everyone the best of luck

Robert Gentieu — 2009-09-17T11:00:21-04:00

I am starting in my new position on Monday so I will no longer be “Blogging Through a Layoff."

Writing this blog has been great experience for me. Not only did I have the ability to write on a regular basis, but it gave me the opportunity to connect with other people in the Lehigh Valley who were dealing with similar circumstances.

In addition to documenting my personal experiences navigating through the job market, this blog gave me the opportunity to offer information, insight, and even encouragement to other job seekers. It hasn't always been easy but it has been rewarding.

I know that many readers, both employed and unemployed, have enjoyed and benefited from reading this blog. So it would be great if the blog would continue.

Therefore, I am extending an invitation to the unemployed readers out there who may want to blog through their own layoff.

If you are interested in taking over the blog and you feel that you are up to the task, then please email a letter of interest to Rob Gentieu at robert.gentieu@mcall.com. Make sure you include a synopsis of you writing experience, details about your layoff, your ideas or goals for the blog, and one or two sample blogs.

I have really enjoyed this opportunity and I appreciate all the support from readers. This has been a great experience.

Thank you, and good luck to everyone.

Pop the champagne: Blogger lands a job!

Robert Gentieu — 2009-09-14T11:50:51-04:00

Hold on to your hats everyone because I have some news…

After many months of diligent searching, I have found my new position.

I am very excited to begin this next phase of my life. I have accepted an offer to be the Event Planner at a nonprofit organization located in Bethlehem. This position will allow me the opportunity to use a lot of my strengths.

Some of my responsibilities will include: formatting meeting programs, coordinating speaker agendas, meeting logistics, writing press releases, advertising, and marketing. It also feels good to know that I will be working for an organization that helps many people in the Lehigh Valley.

I am so glad that I stayed true to myself and waited for the right position rather than settling for a position that would not have been as much of a good fit.

I know that a lot of you are still unemployed but I think things in the Valley are starting to turn around. I have noticed an increase in the amount of job postings on monster.com and careerbuilder.com recently. Initially, I wasn’t sure if this was just a fluke in the job categories I was searching or if there was a larger trend. So I checked with my editor and he confirmed that The Morning Call has also seen an increase in the number of Help Wanted ads in August over July. So hopefully many of you will be employed again soon.

Good luck to everyone and thanks for all of your support.

Path to employment seems clear

Robert Gentieu — 2009-09-11T10:40:14-04:00

Yesterday, I had two interviews.

The first one was with a company in the Fogelsville area and it was my first time interviewing with them. That interview went very well and they told me at the end of the interview that they were going to recommend that I be brought back in for the second round of interviews.

Later, in the afternoon, I had an interview with a local nonprofit organization. It was my second interview for that position. Incidentally, I had interviewed with this same organization last spring for a different position. I obviously was not selected for that position but I was told at that time to reapply if any positions that opened up in the areas of marketing or communications. They are planning to make a decision very quickly so I should know by the end of the day today if they are going to offer me the position.

Finally, if all else fails, the company I had a phone interview with last week is going to be contacting me early next week to arrange a face-to-face interview. Initially it was supposed to have been scheduled for this week but the department manager was out of town and will not return until next week.

I know I should not count any chickens before they are hatched but I must say I am feeling pretty good about these most recent prospects. With everything that is going on, I believe that I will probably be starting in a new position sometime within the next few weeks.

De-cluttering the house and the mind

Robert Gentieu — 2009-09-09T11:54:41-04:00

While many of you were relaxing at picnics or shopping the sales last weekend, I took the opportunity to go through my things again to de-clutter and identify more items that could be sold or donated.

My aunt will be participating in a community yard sale this weekend and she said I could bring up some items to put out. The weather will be turning too cold for yard sales soon so I decided to take advantage of the opportunity. Little did she know I would find enough items to completely fill my mother’s SUV!

It is really liberating to get rid of the unnecessary things that clutter a living space, and this way the things that are no longer needed can go to people who can put them to good use. It also creates an opportunity to make some cash in the process. Then whatever doesn’t get sold can be donated to the Salvation Army or some other charity.

During the process I found a few items that I thought would do better on eBay than at a yard sale. I listed those over the weekend and they sold right away. So I have already netted about $70 just by getting rid of things I didn’t need. Hopefully I will make even more this weekend.

Keeping the holidays happy without a job

Robert Gentieu — 2009-09-08T14:46:48-04:00

Well, the Labor Day holiday weekend has come and gone.

Summer is essentially over and in a few weeks the calendar will make it official. Usually, autumn is my favorite season. I love to see the changing leaves and feel the brisk air on my face.

However, the end of summer also means that the holidays are right around the corner. Believe it or not, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah and Christmas will be here before we know it.

For the thousands of unemployed people in the Lehigh Valley, concerns about the coming holiday season are probably adding to their stress. For unemployed and underemployed people who are having trouble just paying their regular bills, the thought of holiday expenses can be overwhelming.

There does seem be some indicators that the job market is improving so hopefully many of us will be working full time again soon. To be frank, though, even if we all got new jobs next week, we probably couldn’t do the kind of holiday spending we are accustomed to because it will take a little time to get back into a good financial position after a long layoff.

I am sure some people will choose to get through the holiday season by maxing out their credit cards if they haven’t done that already, but that probably isn’t the wisest choice. Others may go the other direction and completely abstain from the festivities – but I am sure many of you would find that rather depressing.

Maybe there can be a happy medium. Perhaps Thanksgiving dinner can be at your sister’s house and you can just bring a dessert. And as far as Christmas gift giving is concerned, maybe the adults in your family can agree to pick names from a hat. That way each adult only buys a gift for one person rather than trying to find a way to get gifts for everyone in the whole family. This way you can still participate in the festivities without going broke in the process. After all, the most important thing about the upcoming holiday season is spending time with family – not spending money.

A Light at the end of the tunnel

Mcall.com Blogs — 2009-09-03T21:19:21-04:00

Change is in the air.

Recently, I have experienced an enormous increase in the amount of job calls I have received. The phone just keeps ringing.

I have gone on two interviews during the past week and a half. I also had a phone interview this morning. During that call it was determined that I will be scheduled to come in for a face to face meeting next week.

I also have an interview scheduled with a different organization tomorrow afternoon and I will be interviewing with yet another company next Thursday.

I think I see a light at the end of this tunnel. With this flurry of activity, I can not help but be hopeful that this layoff will finally come to an end and a happy ending at that.

I know that many of my readers are unemployed and I hope that their phones are ringing as well.

Maybe there could be a happy ending for all of us soon.

Rejection with a personal touch

Mcall.com Blogs — 2009-09-01T09:46:51-04:00

Last week I was contacted by the company I interviewed with in New Jersey. When I saw the company name appear on the caller ID I was really happy because I thought they were contacting me to come in for a second interview.

I was wrong.

They were actually contacting me to let me know that they had selected another candidate for the position. Although I was very disappointed that I did not get the job, I was also very impressed that he had taken the time to contact me personally by phone rather than sending a generic letter.

He said that I had much more experience than the position required and they ended up going with a candidate that was closer to entry level. It was obvious that he thought very highly of me and he said that if a position closer to my level opened up in the near future he would contact me. I am really glad we had the conversation because if he had simply sent a generic letter I would have thought that I hadn’t interviewed well enough.

It just goes to show that you never know what the deciding factor is going to be. It isn’t always that a candidate doesn’t have the required qualifications. Incidentally, this isn’t the first time I have had this particular issue come up. Earlier this summer I had interviewed with another organization and they told me during the interview that they were concerned I might be bored in the position because of my creativity and strong background. I didn’t get that job either.

I actually believe I could have been very happy in either of those positions. But alas, my search continues. I have been interviewing with some other organizations and I have resumes out for several other positions that are right up my alley. I know that soon I will find the job that is right for me.

We're all out of work! Friday movie quotes quiz

Robert Gentieu — 2009-08-28T11:17:52-04:00

For a change of pace, I thought it would be fun to post an out-of-work movie quiz today. I really enjoy the movie quotes that Bill White does on Fridays so I asked my editor if I could do one today and relate it specifically to unemployment.

Each of the following quotes is from a movie where one of the main characters is unemployed for all or part of the movie.

No cheating please. Post your answers in the comments. Let's keep it fun.

Have a great weekend everybody.

1. “I ate garbage last night, Barbara... and LOVED it!”

2. “I dunno, really... Let's see, there's the, uh... The bump, the stomp, the bus stop... Me breakdancing days are probably over, but there's always the funky chicken.”

3. “I am not a vigilante. I am just trying to get home to my little girl's birthday party and if everyone will just stay out of my way, nobody will get hurt."

4. "I'm a people person, very personable. I absolutely insist on enjoying life. Not so task-oriented. Not a work horse. If you're looking for a Clydesdale I'm probably not your man. Like I don't live to work, it's more the other way around. I work to live. Incidentally, what's your policy on Columbus Day?”

5. “Are you crazy? You don't feed a baby chili!”

6. “No, just Dorothy. Alan's always Alan, Tom's always Tom, and John's always John. I have a name too. It's Dorothy, capital D-O-R-O-T-H-Y”

7. “Discovered by the Germans in 1904, they named it San Diego, which of course in German means a whale's vagina.”

8. “Hmm. I guess that's how life is, isn't it? Some people are drenched, freezing to death, on a stupid boat, with a stupid hat, while others are in a comfy news studio, suckin' up all the glory. Oh, well. No big deal.”

9. “I thought maybe we could make ginger bread houses, and eat cookie dough, and go ice skating, and maybe even hold hands.”

10. “Sometimes I sing and dance around the house in my underwear. Doesn't make me Madonna. Never will.”

A day at the movies

Robert Gentieu — 2009-08-27T11:37:52-04:00

I went to the movie theater last night to see “Post Grad." I am a “Gilmore Girls” fan so one reason I wanted to see the movie is because it stars Alexis Bledel.

Yesterday afternoon I went online to check out the reviews before seeing the movie. Most professional movie reviewers gave the film between 2 and 3 stars. I also checked the Netflix Web site and the average viewer rating was 3.6 stars. There was even one Netflix member who reviewed the movie and said it was the best movie she had even seen – I suspect this woman hasn’t seen very many movies.

In my opinion the movie was just OK and many of the attempts at humor fell short. I definitely think they could have taken that premise and made a much better movie so don’t expect to be wowed if you go see this film.

The movie has the underlying theme that the people in your life are more important than whatever job you doing. While I agree with that idea, there were some events toward the end that I would have handled a little differently if I were the director. I won’t go into detail because I don’t want to spoil the ending for anyone who is planning to go see the movie. I do, however, hope that Alexis Bledel can get some roles in better films in the future.

Anyway, I have a fun unemployment movie quotes quiz planned for Friday so make sure you check back tomorrow.

Breaking into the magazine biz

Robert Gentieu — 2009-08-25T17:52:20-04:00

I have been keeping busy the past several days.

I have actually completed the first two chapters of the book I started last week. I thought it might be a good idea to get an outside opinion before continuing further. I sent those two chapters to my cousin so she could have a look. We enjoy a lot of the same books so she is already familiar with the genre. I am sure she will give me her honest opinion and be willing to offer any constructive criticism she may have.

I also started an action plan for writing magazine articles as a freelancer. It may surprise some of you that most articles in magazines are written by freelancers. However, breaking into magazine writing is a tough nut to crack. Most national magazines have a plethora of freelancers at their disposal. They usually don’t even consider new writers especially those who don’t have credits from other national magazines.

With this in mind, I have done a lot of background research to give myself the best opportunity for success. First, I purchased subscriptions to all of the magazines I wanted to target. Then I studied them for several months to see what topics they have already covered and what sections are open to freelancers. Then I identified what editors were in charge of those sections. I also checked the editorial calendars to see what special issues or topics are coming up and I researched how far in advance each magazine plans articles – usually it is three months but it can vary.

With my research complete I made a list of nine article topics that would be appropriate to appear in those magazines three or four months from now. Over the next few days I will compose the query letters and send them out.

This may sound like a lot of work to do for something that is a long shot but magazines pay freelancers very well. Also if it works out, it is something I can do for extra money even if I am working full-time.

Craigslist worth a shot, but exercise caution

Robert Gentieu — 2009-08-24T10:43:10-04:00

I have a neighbor who lost his job this year when the company he worked for closed. For a long time he did not have any luck finding a new position in spite of his excellent work background and references. When a friend of his suggested he check Craigslist for a new position he quickly found a new job and he is now happily employed.

As it turns out, a lot of local companies are opting to advertise on Craigslist for budget reasons. Both Monster.com and Careerbuilder.com have substantially higher fees for advertising. As a result, there are many jobs posted on Craigslist that are not advertised anywhere else.

I checked out the site today to see for myself. There were many positions posted that I had not seen listed elsewhere. I decided to apply for some of them and see what happens. I sent resumes in for five positions. I will let you know what kind of response I get from those if any.

However, I would like to mention that safety is a concern when responding to ads on Craigslist. I selected my positions very carefully making sure that there was enough information in the advertisement in an attempt to ensure it was a legitimate posting. I would suggest that anyone considering applying for positions through Craigslist take the same precautions.

If any readers have applied for positions through Craigslist, please feel free to post a comment letting us know if your experiences were positive or negative.

It all begins with the first page

Robert Gentieu — 2009-08-19T12:16:54-04:00

When I was first laid off I had no idea how difficult it would be to find a new position. I have never had difficulty finding work in the past. I think what has surprised me the most is the fact that I have gotten several interviews but no offers yet. It just shows how competitive this market is. This is definitely the worst job market I have ever experienced.

I had recently interviewed for two positions. They are both great opportunities but I am still waiting to hear from them.

That being the case, I recently decided that it may be time for me to start exploring some alternatives just in case I do not land a full-time position soon.

The very first week I was laid off, my daughter suggested I use the time to write a book. Since I felt I would quickly be employed again, I ignored her advice. Instead, I chose to do some freelance article writing and I also took on this blog. However, now I am wondering if she was right. Perhaps it would be worth a shot.

So yesterday I wrote the first page. It wasn’t difficult and it didn’t take a long time. It actually felt quite natural. Today I will see how the next few pages go. If the story continues to flow then I will commit to the project.

It can’t hurt. At the very least, it will be something new to fill my days. It will give me a creative outlet and may even turn into something lucrative – like a real career.

Anything’s possible.

Costly education needs to start paying returns

Robert Gentieu — 2009-08-18T11:43:59-04:00

Yesterday a reader provided a link to an article in the Huffington Post that featured a couple who had supported each other while attaining their respective degrees and now that they are finished with school, neither can find a good job. They are now heavily in debt and struggling financially. The couple is now wondering if it was all worth it.

A lot of people, especially recent grads, may be wondering the same thing.

So many people (including myself) have invested a lot of time and money/debt into completing an education. It is such a shame that for many of us, we are still having a hard time finding a position in this economy. Jobs are limited and competition is fierce.

Getting my education was a lot of hard work and I now have a large financial burden. However, I do not regret obtaining my degree because I know that my efforts will pay off at some point.

I and everyone else will just need to muddle through until that time comes.

Education is valuable. I would not have gotten a lot of the interviews I had if I didn't have my degree. People with degrees are in a much better position to land a job than those who don’t have an education. A lot of companies are not even looking at people who don't have a college degree.

A degree is certainly never a guarantee for a job but it is simply what is expected these days.

There is no doubt that education is expensive but not having an education is even more costly.

Back to business

Robert Gentieu — 2009-08-17T11:03:54-04:00

Last week was a very busy week for me. I had another college tour scheduled for my daughter. She really liked the school we went to so I think that issue is settled now.

The main reason it was a busy week though is because I had taken some summer classes and it was finals week.

One class I had taken was a painting class and I had to complete three paintings and two of those were pretty large.

Anyway with how busy I was with completing my classes I wasn’t able to commit a lot of time to my job search activities.

I haven’t heard anything yet from the two companies I recently interviewed with. Although I am hopeful about both opportunities I still need to get more resumes out there just in case they choose another candidate.

Today it’s back to business.

Michael Vick's job search was too easy

Robert Gentieu — 2009-08-14T11:57:44-04:00

Something happened this morning that really irritated me.

Michael Vick has a new job.

Our own Philadelphia Eagles have made him a member of their team.

I don’t care how talented Michael Vick is as a football player. He was convicted of a horrible crime. He claims to be reformed but I don’t buy it. Only a person with little or no conscience could participate in animal cruelty of that level. And yet the Philadelphia Eagles thought he would be a good addition to the team.

I am not a football fan. But I would have to believe that there are many Eagles fans out there who care about animals. I cannot imagine those people continuing to support the Eagles now that Vick is on the team.

Fan loyalty aside, the most irritating thing to me is that Michael Vick got a job – and a really good job at that.

He should have had to scrounge around trying to find to find work like the rest of us.

Your cash has to last for the long haul

Robert Gentieu — 2009-08-12T16:34:04-04:00

When I was first laid off, I attended a career transition seminar that was paid for by my former employer.

The seminar was great and I think those who attended were given a lot of useful information. One thing the trainer said was that it will probably take an average of six to eight months to find the right position, especially in this economic climate.

Being a positive thinker, I really didn’t believe that it would take that long for me to find my next position. I had recently received my degree and graduated with honors. In addition to that, I had several years of business experience. At that point in time I even had an interview scheduled for the following week. I thought I would probably be offered that position and even if I wasn’t, I felt I would be employed again rather quickly.

As a result, when I did my financial planning for this time I did not plan accordingly. I took the money I had available at the time of the layoff and used it to pay off or pay ahead on several bills, which allowed me to live a relatively normal life for the following four months. I thought certainly I would be in a new position by the end of four months.

I am paying for that choice now. In hindsight it would have been better for me to have made a plan that would support six to eight months of unemployment.

Everyone who reads this blog regularly knows that I believe it is really important to have a positive outlook and I still believe that. However, if I could do it over I would have planned a little differently.

Each person’s experience after a layoff will be different. Certainly there will be some who get a new job 30 days later, but there will also be those who go more than a year without finding work

My advice to anyone else who has been laid off is this: Be positive and look forward to a great outcome but make sure to have a plan in place just in case the right job for you takes a little longer to find.

Interviewing in Jersey

Robert Gentieu — 2009-08-10T16:08:20-04:00

Yesterday I had an interview with a company located in New Jersey.

Normally I would not consider working in New Jersey, but I am making an exception in this case. First, the job responsibilities are right up my alley and I have a lot of relative experience. Also, the position incorporates two of the areas I have been focusing on.

Before my interview I went online to check out the organization. I really liked what I saw. It is obvious that the organization has a great corporate philosophy and values that are similar to mine. This organization seems to care about a lot of the same things I do and because of that I think I could bring a lot of passion to the position.

The person I met with is leaving for a vacation but he said that another person will be conducting the second interviews. So I will wait to see if that person contacts me. I do think the interview went well though. He did ask about my availability to start and that is generally a good sign. So there is definitely reason to be hopeful.

Program won't help me get rid of my clunker

Robert Gentieu — 2009-08-07T17:49:19-04:00

Timing really is everything.

For the past year or so I have been planning to purchase a new car – one that gets really good mileage. The car I have now doesn’t get very good mileage so if I end up working far away I will be spending pretty much on gas.

That Cash for Clunkers program would have been the perfect opportunity for me to unload my car and get a higher-efficiency model.

Of course, I couldn’t take advantage of the program because I am unemployed. Certainly without a job I would not qualify for a car loan. I would need to be in a new job for a minimum of 30 days before I would be able to qualify for a loan.

By the time I am in a position to buy a car that program will be long gone.

You never know when opportunities will present themselves and if you are not in a position to take advantage of them when they come around you simply miss out.

Because of the poor economy, the stimulus program and this car buying opportunity were created.

Ironically, the poor economy has also put me and many in others in a place where we were not able to take advantage of the opportunity when it was here.

Next worry: How to pay for college

Robert Gentieu — 2009-08-06T11:59:23-04:00

Right now I don’t know what my future holds – especially my financial future.

However, life continues to go on and plans still need to be made regardless of those uncertainties. This week I am taking my daughter to visit several of the colleges she is considering attending next year. She is a very intelligent and talented person so I don’t think she will have any problem getting accepted into any of these institutions.

The problem, of course, is whether the financial resources will be available for her to be able to take advantage of those opportunities. Well I can’t let the uncertainties prevent us from at least looking at the possibilities. At this point I am just hoping that she will qualify for enough scholarships and financial aid so that she can pursue her education and have the greatest chance to be successful in life.

For now I will just remain optimistic that I will be employed again soon and everything will work out so that she can have the opportunities she deserves.

Burrito would be one perk of this next job

Robert Gentieu — 2009-08-05T11:27:50-04:00

I am still waiting to hear something about the interview I had a couple of weeks ago. However, last Friday I did have an interview for another position. The job is farther away than I was hoping for but it wasn’t a bad drive. At least if I get this job I won’t need to take one of the more stressful highways everyday.

The interview was held at a different office than the one I would be working in but it had a nice atmosphere and it seemed like a good group of people. They are only beginning their interview process and I was actually the first person they brought in so it will be a few weeks before I will know anything.

On the way home I passed Cali Burrito on Hamilton Boulevard. Their parking lot is always packed and for some time I have been telling myself I should check it out. So I decided this would be the day. The place was filled with customers and the line to place an order extended all the way to the door. A place this popular had to be good.

I opted for a beef burrito. I thought I would make it a little healthier by selecting the whole wheat tortilla but then I made it less healthy by adding the sour cream. I liked that they also offered brown rice as an option and there were a lot of vegetarian selections as well.

I ordered the burrito to go so I had to wait until I got home to try it but it was a very good burrito. I think next time I will try one of their chicken burritos. Anyway, if I end up getting the job I interviewed for last Friday, at least I know where I will be stopping to pick up dinner on the nights that I am to tired or busy to cook.

Turn the frustration into something positive

Robert Gentieu — 2009-07-31T12:48:24-04:00

It is really important to maintain a positive outlook when you have been laid off and you are looking for that next position, but staying positive can be difficult.

When people send out scores of resumes and hear nothing for months, frustration is bound to creep in.

When a person has been to several interviews but has received no offers they can start to feel sad or even hopeless. I strive to maintain a positive outlook but I do get those feelings every now and then - like when I receive a rejection letter or when companies don’t call me to interview for the jobs I know would be perfect for me.

I also know that some of the readers out there have those moments where they begin to feel discouraged because of the setbacks they have experienced. When I find myself beginning to feel discouraged, I remind myself that everything has a greater purpose.

If I didn’t get a position I interviewed for, then that must not be where I am supposed to be working right now. In those situations I try to just accept what happened and move forward.

I believe there is a purpose to all the changes we experience in our lives. We may not know for a long time why we have to go through certain changes and challenges, but maybe in the end those challenges will bring about something wonderful in our lives.

What I miss about working

Robert Gentieu — 2009-07-30T11:04:21-04:00

I really miss working.

I am not just talking about the paycheck. Although, taking home a salary is important and would greatly improve my life, that isn’t what I miss most.

I miss getting up in the morning and getting ready for work.

I miss driving to work and using that time to mentally plan out my day.

I miss having responsibilities and being motivated simply by the knowledge that they are my responsibilities and if I don’t do them they won’t get done.

I miss going to work and not knowing what new challenges I will face that day.

I miss being able to use my skills or knowledge to make a valuable contribution to the company I work for.

I even miss the stress of trying to finish a project when it’s down to the wire but I still need to make sure it’s perfect.

And I miss the satisfaction of completing that project knowing I did the job right.

There’s also the social aspect. I miss being able to interact with coworkers every day.

I really like working and I hope I will start in a new position soon.

Being your own boss sounds great, but ...

Robert Gentieu — 2009-07-28T12:13:07-04:00

Throughout the time that I have been writing this blog many readers have suggested that I start my own business rather than pursuing a traditional job. Even on the very first day this blog went live someone commented that I should start my own thing and make my own opportunity. Readers have also confided that they too are considering this option for themselves.

I know the idea of being one’s own boss sounds fantastic and is definitely tempting, but there is so much to take into account when making a decision that huge. So many new businesses fail during the first year so the risk is enormous.

I actually have considered this option for myself. I have done extensive research on the type of business I would start so I have a pretty clear picture of everything that could go wrong. However, I also know that if it were done correctly with careful planning and effective marketing the business would have an excellent chance for long-term success.

Money is another issue. Although the type of business I would start does not require a large start-up cost there would be some initial expenses. More importantly, a person starting a business is supposed to have at least three to six months worth of expenses sitting in the bank to float them through the tough times. Sometimes business will be slow and there will also be times that customers are late in paying or may not pay at all. If funds are not available to cover expenses during those times the business will fail.

In spite of the risks, if I do not start in a new position soon it is still an option I would consider.

For anyone out there who wants to start their own business and is currently collecting unemployment, I know there is a program available for people who want to become self-employed. Contact the unemployment office for more information about the program and to find out if you are eligible.

Waiting game, Part II

Robert Gentieu — 2009-07-27T11:11:46-04:00

Well, I am still waiting to find out the result of the interview I had recently where I met with six staff members. I thought I would know something by now but for the time being I will remain hopeful.

I was also recently contacted about a position that incorporates two of the areas I am focusing on. Although I haven’t been invited for a formal interview yet, I was sent a thorough job description and asked to respond to some specific questions as a preliminary step in their selection process. It sounds like an exciting opportunity so I will be very happy if they invite me to come in for a face-to-face meeting.

So anyway, I'm still unsure of what my future holds. Fortunately, I started two classes a few weeks ago and I have plenty of course work to do. Since I will be so busy I won’t have too much time left for worrying about my future.

Hopefully I will have something more exciting to report this week.

Competing against the employed

Robert Gentieu — 2009-07-23T12:22:04-04:00

About a week ago a reader had posted a comment describing her recent experience being passed over for a job.

She believed that both she and the candidate the company chose were equally qualified as far as credentials were concerned. One big difference between the two candidates however was that the person the company chose was already employed. They passed on the person who was unemployed.

I know that I have often heard that it is much easier to find a job if you are already working. There can sometimes be employer bias when it comes to comparing candidates who have jobs with those who are unemployed. Whether it is conscious or unconscious there can be a perception that the candidate who is currently working is more qualified.

What makes the situation worse is that in this economy, when someone leaves a company for a new job that company may choose not to hire anybody into that open position. If this situation occurs repeatedly it greatly reduces the number of available positions for unemployed people to pursue.

Certainly employed people have the right to look for a new position and employers can choose any candidate they want without regard to that candidate’s current employment status.

So what can an unemployed person do have success in their job search?

Unfortunately, this phenomenon is simply a fact of life. We just have to find a way to use our skills to overcome the challenge.

Unemployed people will need to shine head and shoulders above the other candidates to create their best chance for success. This means doing homework about the organization before the interview, being ultra-prepared to answer any question the interviewer could possibly ask, and of course, sending a well-crafted thank-you letter.