Looking for work? Unemployed need not apply

[one...two...tree 2,762]

By Chris Isidore, senior writer

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The last thing someone who is unemployed needs to be told is that they shouldn't even apply for the limited number of job openings that are available. But some companies and recruiters are doing just that.

Employment experts say they believe companies are increasingly interested only in applicants who already have a job.

"I think it is more prevalent than it used to be," said Rich Thompson, vice president of learning and performance for Adecco Group North America, the world's largest staffing firm. "I don't have hard numbers, but three out of the last four conversations I've had about openings, this requirement was brought up."

Some job postings include restrictions such as "unemployed candidates will not be considered" or "must be currently employed." Those explicit limitations have occasionally been removed from listings when an employer or recruiter is questioned by the media though.

That's what happened with numerous listings for grocery store managers throughout the Southeast posted by a South Carolina recruiter, Latro Consulting.

After CNNMoney called seeking comments on the listings last week, the restriction against unemployed candidates being considered came down. Latro Consulting refused to comment when contacted.

Sony Ericsson, a global phone manufacturer that was hiring for a new Georgia facility, also removed a similar restriction after local reporters wrote about it. According to reports, a Sony Ericsson spokesperson said that a mistake had been made.

But even if companies don't spell out in a job listing that they won't consider someone who currently doesn't have a job, experts said that unemployed applicants are typically ruled out right off the bat.

"Most executive recruiters won't look at a candidate unless they have a job, even if they don't like to admit to it," said Lisa Chenofsky Singer, a human resources consultant from Millburn, NJ, specializing in media and publishing jobs.

She said when she proposes candidates for openings, the first question she is often asked by a recruiter is if they currently have a job. If the answer is no, she's typically told the unemployed candidate won't be interviewed.

"They think you must have been laid off for performance issues," she said, adding that this is a "myth" in a time of high unemployment.

It is not against the law for companies to exclude the unemployed when trying to fill positions, but Judy Conti, a lobbyist for the National Employment Law Project, said the practice is a bad one.

"Making that kind of automatic cut is senseless; you could be missing out on the best person of all," she said. "There are millions of people who are unemployed through no fault of their own. If an employer feels that the best qualified are the ones already working, they have no appreciation of the crisis we're in right now."

Conti added that firms that hire unemployed job seekers could also benefit from a recently-passed tax break that essentially exempts them from paying the 6.2% of the new hire's wages in Social Security taxes for the rest of this year.

Thompson said he also thinks ruling out the unemployed is a bad idea. But he said that part of the problem is that recruiters and human resource departments are being overwhelmed with applications for any job opening that is posted. So they're looking for any short-cuts to get the list of applicants to consider down to a more manageable size.

"It's a tough process to determine which unemployed applicants were laid off even though they brought value to their company and which ones had performance issues," he said. "I understand the notion. But there's the top x percent of unemployed candidates who are very viable and very valuable. You just have to do the work to find them."

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[alienlovechild 75]

"They think you must have been laid off for performance issues," she said, adding that this is a "myth" in a time of high unemployment.

Thompson said he also thinks ruling out the unemployed is a bad idea. But he said that part of the problem is that recruiters and human resource departments are being overwhelmed with applications for any job opening that is posted. So they're looking for any short-cuts to get the list of applicants to consider down to a more manageable size.

That's sad news especially for those who've been unemployed and looking for work for so long they are "stale" in job market.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

There so many ways to cover a "gap" I'm not sure why people let companies know in the first place.

[Dan J 277]

I think its kind of complicated, especially for skilled positions.

If you are out of work, by choice or not for long enough time, and you don't make serious effort to keep your skills fresh. You are going to be at a disadvantage to others who are looking to move up or even college grads. We had a developer who had been unemployed for about a year come in for an interview. From the interview it was quite clear why he was having trouble finding a job, either he was never very good or he has not kept up his skills.

[besaangel 18]

This is an unfair thing to put out. Im a junior in college and would be labeled as unemployed... so where do they expect me to fit in??? Thats saying that I shouldnt apply because I'm not fit for a job but how do they expect grads to break into society!!!

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

This is well known and a fact of job seeking. You are better off if you are employed. There is no law against discriminating against unemployed people.

Persons unemployed should seek ANY job they can. ANY. JOB. Unemployment policies allow you to make a percentage of your benefit without penalty, usually about 30%, so there is a monetary benefit to working part time, even if it is bagging groceries or working in McDonald's. It is better to say "I got laid off and have a part time job while I look for better work" than to say "I won't get my lazy @ss out of bed for less than $600 per week" Which is exactly what you say when you sit at home and collect unemployment.

You want a good job? Get a bad job. Go from there UP.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

This is an unfair thing to put out. Im a junior in college and would be labeled as unemployed... so where do they expect me to fit in??? Thats saying that I shouldnt apply because I'm not fit for a job but how do they expect grads to break into society!!!

Your post is saying you do not have a clue. You are a STUDENT, you are NOT unemployed. Big difference...duh.

As soon as you graduate (IF you graduate) get a useless terrible job as a cashier or something, then look for a good job.

[Heracles 417]

The one thing that really drivers me nuts here is this push to network to get a job. So instead of seeking and hiring the best candidate, they are simply hiring their buds.

[Gemmie 142]

People have a hard time finding work as it is... why force them go and work in fast food or something, only to obtain a decent job later on? The skills aren't transferable anyway. I flipped burgers for a few weeks, so can I please come and answer your phones?

[Obama 2012 1,714]

People have a hard time finding work as it is... why force them go and work in fast food or something, only to obtain a decent job later on? The skills aren't transferable anyway. I flipped burgers for a few weeks, so can I please come and answer your phones?

It's an attitude thing.

It sends a positive message to a company when they find someone who's already working and is able to maintain another job while looking for another one.

Anything else is just plain lazy.

The fact that mooches would rather live on the government dime than get a temporary job is ridiculous and I sure as hell wouldn't hire someone that had that entitlement mentality that they would only accept a job like they had before.

Sometimes you have to hit the bottom to work your way back up.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

It's an attitude thing.

It sends a positive message to a company when they find someone who's already working and is able to maintain another job while looking for another one.

Anything else is just plain lazy.

The fact that mooches would rather live on the government dime than get a temporary job is ridiculous and I sure as hell wouldn't hire someone that had that entitlement mentality that they would only accept a job like they had before.

Sometimes you have to hit the bottom to work your way back up.

Or you run a little startup or contract until a job comes. I might be willing to flip burgers to survive but I would never put it on my resume that would be absolutely crazy!

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

It's an attitude thing.

It sends a positive message to a company when they find someone who's already working and is able to maintain another job while looking for another one.

Anything else is just plain lazy.

The fact that mooches would rather live on the government dime than get a temporary job is ridiculous and I sure as hell wouldn't hire someone that had that entitlement mentality that they would only accept a job like they had before.

Sometimes you have to hit the bottom to work your way back up.

If you don't mind my asking, what's your profession?

[Ban Hammer 13,366]

It's an attitude thing.

It sends a positive message to a company when they find someone who's already working and is able to maintain another job while looking for another one.

Anything else is just plain lazy.

The fact that mooches would rather live on the government dime than get a temporary job is ridiculous and I sure as hell wouldn't hire someone that had that entitlement mentality that they would only accept a job like they had before.

Sometimes you have to hit the bottom to work your way back up.

i'm not buying that about the positive message nor the "lazy" bit

i suspect it's more like companies that are hiring may have the assumption that people laid off were the weaker members in the previous companies work force, and the current company wants to hire away from other companies, gaining a valuable asset and weakening the other company's staff.

[^_^ 5,021]

i suspect it's more like companies that are hiring may have the assumption that people laid off were the weaker members in the previous companies work force, and the current company wants to hire away from other companies, gaining a valuable asset and weakening the other company's staff.

+1

[alienlovechild 75]

Persons unemployed should seek ANY job they can. ANY. JOB. Unemployment policies allow you to make a percentage of your benefit without penalty, usually about 30%, so there is a monetary benefit to working part time, even if it is bagging groceries or working in McDonald's. It is better to say "I got laid off and have a part time job while I look for better work" than to say "I won't get my lazy @ss out of bed for less than $600 per week" Which is exactly what you say when you sit at home and collect unemployment.

Try getting time off from a ####### job to go to better job interviews. If you got some money saved up you can weather the unemployment. BTW, no decent prospective employer is impressed that you've got a crappy job. The part-time job is your best bet for flexibility and some compensation.