The Plight of The Experienced Unemployed

Recently extended unemployment benefits were cut leaving millions of jobless individuals without an income. Someone said to me "I don't understand. I know people who received unemployment for years." For those who still don't understand let me break it down. State unemployment benefits last up to 26 weeks. Federal benefits (aka EUC- Emergency Unemployment Compensation aka Extended Benefits ) then kick in and is available for up to 14 weeks. Extended benefits are available in Tiers, with the 14 weeks being Tier 1. It's possible to receive benefits on Tiers 2-4 ( this is how people received it for 2-3 years) depending on several factors such as the unemployment rate in your state and date you filed your initial unemployment claim. The recent cut of benefits does not mean individuals can no longer apply for or receive unemployment, it means the Extended Benefits have been cut.

I'm not writing this to get on a soap box about how the government should extend benefits. Although being one who has been unemployed for a little over a year, I feel they should. I read one republican stated, unemployment benefits make people lazy and not look for work. The benefits cut actually takes the unemployed out of the workforce altogether. This is especially true if the benefits were their only source of income.  You can't go on an interview without  transportation or gas fare. You can't receive a call about a job without a phone because you could not pay the bill.

If you look at various job sites, you see a multitude of positions available. Why are so many people who have worked for years with lots of experience (like myself)  still unemployed?  It was told to me, "Maybe you should lower your standards on the type of job you're looking for." I lowered my standards long ago when I reached the six months mark. I knew it would be hard to find a job since I was a part of the hiring process in my previous position. I know many of the things companies look for and don't want. I've also talked with individuals employed and unemployed, visited job sites, read many articles, and watched videos on employment and job search.  I've found there are several factors that are influencing individuals inability to find work. I would like to discuss three. Of course what applies for one may not apply for all. Do keep in mind, this post is more tailored for people who have a generous work history.

Factor 1. The Job Search. Days of simply walking into a company and applying for a position rarely exist any longer. Everything is on the Internet. Going to a company where you normally would just fill out an application, you may now find yourself being directed to visit a website.  This is not to say walking and looking for work is totally useless but you must include looking for work via the internet. You should make sure you have an email address to use for professional purposes, a good resume (digital and hard copies) and cover letter. You also need professional individuals who will give you good professional references. Individuals who may have been at their previous position 10 or more years may find looking for a job to be very difficult if they don't quite know how to look in this day and age.

SUMMARY: You have to be able to find a variety of opportunities to seek employment. The old way is about to be obsolete.

Factor 2. Fit and Qualifications. There are some positions an individual simply may not be qualified for. There's not too much you can do about that.  Unless it's a position requiring some type of specialized training or degree, I've found many can be trained to do the job. (That's from looking at positions I don't have the credentials for but knowing I can do the job) The question most employers ask themselves is does this person fit into the company's dynamic? Age plays a big part. To my surprise I recently found out that age discrimination begins at the young age 40. You can have the right credentials but if you are an older individual applying to a company where mainly younger individuals are employed, you may be seen as not the right "fit".  If its involving physical labor you may feel you are capable and you very well may be. The  interviewer may feel you are not as capable as the younger applicant who applied. Of course there are all the other common factors such as race, sex etc that may influence the "fit factor" as well. Being overqualified can definitely hurt many. When applying for an entry level position, you may not be hired because they feel you will become bored or use the position as a stepping stone until something better comes along(which is understandable). Companies do not like to waste money training people they feel won't stay only to have to spend more money hiring and training again. They may also assume you will want more than they are willing to pay you based on your experience. Then there is always the chance of being interviewed by someone who recognizes your skills and qualifications are too parallel to their own. They don't hire you because they fear the security of their own position.

SUMMARY: It's difficult to find a way to increase your marketability  when it's you against dozens of others applying for one available position. The power of the "First impression" whether on paper or actually in person is not as easy as it once was. Find a way to make an impact.

Factor 3. Technology .This is basically a piggyback off of factor one. If you're not one to keep up with technology, then you should start. This is the wave of the future and you need to have the knowhow in order to secure a new position, or keep the one you have. You must be up to date with the latest technology because most likely the company you are applying for is.  Many companies now require you to register through their job portal or complete a profile before applying for a position. There are companies that conduct initial interviews using online assessment tests that range from 15mins to an hour. You need to be able to navigate and apply using these methods. If you are one who is not used to this, you may find yourself frustrated with the process and not apply. At least two interviews I've had, their contact method to simply schedule an in person interview was via email only. One position required an initial phone interview.  The best yet was a position I applied for, which entailed a video interview where I  had two minutes to answer two questions using the webcam on my computer.....talk about advanced technology.

SUMMARY: The job market has been taken over by Millennials ,and their quest to infuse technology into the workplace is steady increasing. If you're not on the bandwagon you will be totally left behind or kicked off.

"OMG Aurora! You seem to know so much why haven't you found a job?" Simple, I have experienced all of the above at one time or another in my employment search. Well not the technology part. I'm pretty much up on the times in that respect.  However, I am still hopeful. I do see it as a plus of knowing the above because it does give me an advantage and hopefully this has given others some as well. Happy job hunting.