Yes, Unemployment Hurts Employability

The economy makes job-hunting in general much more difficult. That fact aside, employers will still seriously question a prolonged jobless period such as yours. And the issue is not so much that you’ve been unemployed, but more, a question of what you have been doing all these months. And dealing with that issue needs to be your focus.

During these past months have you had any kind of educational experiences? Have your worked part-time or volunteered your services? You want to show prospective employers that your skills have not been lying dormant for all these months, but, in fact, you have been sharpening them through one or more of these activities.

What can you do if you’ve done nothing during all these months? I suggest you immediately look at taking a course or two at your local college — or perhaps a distance learning institution. You might also see if there is a non-profit organization (museum, service organization, school, religious group, etc.) that could use your skills and expertise.

Finally, be wary of communicating any kind of negative feelings about your period of unemployment. Remember that you are always marketing yourself in the job-hunting process, and no one wants to buy (hire) an inferior product; always try to be positive in your verbal and nonverbal communications. You can read more tips and advice in my article, Getting Fired: An Opportunity for Change and Growth.