Any HR People Here? - What Is The Stigma About The Long Term Unemployed.....

[global1]

that makes HR people put their resumes in the circular file and not consider them for a job?

Just heard that even a person that has been unemployed for 6 months would be passed up to one that in only out of a job for 1 month.

Why?

[Major Nikon]

1. It depends on a lot of different things

In general in a down economy with high unemployment, the lack of recent experience is not by itself a disqualifying factor. Some jobs are "use it or lose it" in regard to certain skills, so recent experience is more valuable. Also if you are looking for someone with a particular set of skills that's pretty much ready to go without training, then recent experience is a boon.

[PowerToThePeople]

2. What jobs are really "use it or lose it"?

I hear this often cited, but have never had first hand experience in any area where this would be true. Most knowledge imo is retained, so at worst it would be like riding a bike, skiing, or something similar; you may be out of practice, but the ramp up time is very short compared to someone newly into the area.

I just can not think of any jobs where "use it or lose it" is true (a professional athlete would be one, but "normal" people don't have this career.)

[Raine1967]

3. Graphic and or production design is a one example.

One needs to be up on design trends and software applications. Long term unemployed people in this business would need to be trained again in order to find a job in that field.

I'm not sure what *normal* is.

When technology is involved, knowledge is one thing, being able to use the new tools for said field is another.

[PowerToThePeople]

5. Software gets updated yearly

That is the way it is. Very little functionality is actually changed. The "core" functions of the software packages today are the same as 10 years ago. Menus change, layout changes, and some "features" are added, but the principles used are the same year after year. I think this is a false issue.

[Major Nikon]

4. Employee attributes fall under skills, education and/or experience, and competencies

Of those things, some jobs rely heavily on skills like truck drivers, aviators, barber/hairstylist, machinists, certain construction jobs, graphic artists, and lots of others. That's not to say someone couldn't pick those proficiencies back up in a short time, but while they are doing so the employer still has to pay them.

[JPZenger]

6. Here's one take

I'm not a HR, but I'll take a guess. I believe the attitudes are some long-term unemployed were too comfortable collecting unemployment checks for 2 years, and didn't feel enough motivation to work during that time. Employers take an attitude that the unemployed job should have been willing to take any job, and not keep looking for a job as good as the one they lost. The attitude is that employers hired back their best employees after layoffs, when the economy got better. Also, the attitude is that some long-term unemployed may have lost their ability to show up on time and work a full day.

It is always easier to get hired for one job when you already have another job. That is why a person should try not to quit a bad job until they have another one lined up.