5 THINGS EVERY UNEMPLOYED PERSON SHOULD DO

...At Least Once

It seems that everyone, everywhere has advise to share with the thousands and thousands of unemployed people (interesting that most of the advice givers are all employed, many with great paying jobs) like myself who are doing everything possible to find work.

From what's wrong with our resumes to how we just blew that last job interview because we didn't have on the "right" watch, there is no shortage of advice from these wise sages.

While I might not have the brilliance of these employment gurus, being unemployed for such a long time has taught me a thing or two that I would like to share. 

Please allow me to present my list of the top 5 things that every unemployed person should do - at least once.  I'm not saying that any of these things will get you the employment that you seek, still they're worth a try.  Let's start:

NUMBER 5 - Prepare a daily list of things to do that will GET you a job.

NUMBER 4 - Read every (and I mean every) book on the market covering how to not be unemployed by very successful, employed people.

NUMBER 3 - Attend as many seminars as you possibly can to learn everything that you are doing wrong and why being unemployed is 100% your fault.

NUMBER 2 - Update your resume every week, for every interview, for every application to keep it current and fresh AND you employable.

NUMBER 1 - Use every ounce of energy (when you're not updating your resume for the umpteenth time) to get on a game show.  Since it would appear that in this current job market, our chances of getting on a game show and winning are better than finding a job.

There is no guarantee that any of the 5 above listed items will get you employed but at least job hunting will take on an interesting twist.

The game continues ...

ONLINE JOB APPLICATIONS: 

A NEW FORM OF DISCRIMINATION?

I have now been unemployed for one year.  I have sent out a countless number of resumes (95% of them to faceless, nameless online recipients), yet I haven't received one job offer and have sadly had very few interviews.

I have attended seminars to find out the best ways to present myself (something that I didn't feel I was doing so poorly prior to becoming unemployed), taken classes on freshening up and super-improving my resume, upgraded my computer skills and even dyed my hair to cover the grey that was showing.

Still nothing!

I have taken the current job market into consideration and know that there is no logical reason why I (and the millions of capable Americans who are also out of work) should not have good jobs (this includes employment that is fulfilling in all ways not just financially).  So I put on my detective hat and started doing a little snooping in between job hunting.  

I have discovered the following things - some of which I am still "investigating":

As many of us know, the way to apply for 99.9% of the jobs available is by way of online applications.  Most jobs are listed in the careers section on a company's website.  

I've sent out most of my applications this way and have now found out that I possibly have wasted my time doing so.  Several HR directors have informed me that many companies prefer to promote from within.  However, they still must list the open position for "legal" reasons.  Wow!  What a mind blower.

The next shocker came when I was informed that most online applications use the same program (that's why so many of them look the same and ask for the same information).  Makes sense to me, especially with the amount of responses that company's must receive to even one posting.  The shocker came when I was told that there are sub-sections in the programs that not only seek out education and experience, but also age, race and other items that can help in eliminating you from the job pool.

The final heart stopper recently came when an Asian friend asked me how my job search was going.  When I informed her that I was still unemployed, she commented that she wasn't surprised (not because of my skills) given my approach to job hunting.  I of course asked her to elaborate since at this point any information can be helpful.  My friend informed me that three things: my name, address and age were keeping me from breaking through the online application stage and heading straight to the in-person interview stage.  Wow!  Another mind blower.

So the question I am putting out there is if this information correct, then how will I ever find a job?  I have enough common and business sense to know that one way to get and lose a job fast is to lie on your job application.  Something that I have never done and don't choose to do now.

I will continue to "play" the game but will also search for better ways to get past those darn online applications.

Multicultural shot courtesy of www.dreamstime.com