How the Long-Term Unemployed Can Find Work

5 million Americans have been looking for work for six months or more

October 1, 2009 RSS Feed Print

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Expanding the network. Any career expert can tell you that networking is critical to finding a job, so, older workers would seem to have an advantage on their younger peers through the rich networks they've built over the course of their careers. But job seekers ages 45 and older actually represented a larger percentage of the long-term unemployed than of the total unemployed in 2003, the Labor Department found.

Often, workers who are out of work for long periods are challenged by social networks in which many of their contacts are also out of work, says Mark Granovetter, a Stanford University sociologist. That may be particularly true in this recession, which has been characterized by downturns in specific sectors—such as residential construction and auto manufacturing. There is some promising anecdotal evidence, however, that employers are using online social networks such as LinkedIn and Facebook effectively, to help make connections with potential employees, Granovetter says. Time spent making online connections could help job seekers circumvent the challenge of an unpromising offline network.

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i do not have good feelings. no job no uenplyment help. no food no money no medecines. no dr app, no dreams. no for everything. no what am i doing here?

nona of CO 11:25AM May 19, 2012

In this era of unstability and uncertainity nobody wants to hire someone who's really capable and smart. Those dummies who have the jobs don't deserve them and are lazy and ill-equipped to do the job, so they go to the boss and say, I need to hire more help.
So they get the approval and begin the interview process. They want you to do the grunt work while they take all the credit to make themselves look as if they're capable, and if you try to aspire your ambitions to get ahead in any way, you will be fired!
Smart people really do finish last, good-looking/attractive people will always be hired first. And No, its not that you've been out of work so long nobody will hire you, nobody will hire someone that's too smart, for the threat is very real!
And its hard to prove you're still as qualified and then dumb-it-down to not intimidate the interviewer.
As far as contract work goes, having any job is better than no job - Hell my resume has been consulting for 15 years because you can interview today and start Monday, whereas permanent jobs can take two-three months or more - if any still exists.
Outsourcing was designed to cut salaries while still getting educated drones to do US work for 1/4 the salary, until they discover what a US worker makes and now, they've taken our jobs as a result! The top 500 Corporations have stockpiled millions by abusing 3rd world labor and our Gov't needs to put a stop to it.
Same thing with Bank Foreclosures - Who's gonna "MAKE" them do the right thing by US citizens???
I say, we vote the entire Congress out of office and get Integrity back into Serving the very people who voted them into office!! And let me add, its not Obama's fault, he inherited this mess from Republicans - 10 Trillion in 8 years... We should not be using Tax $$ to fund the Jobs Bill - get those 500 Corporations that didn't pay taxes to foot the bill. Somebody needs to MAKE THEM (Corporations) PAY THEIR TAXES, or penalize them $10K every day for every 1,000 jobs that are overseas until they either Pay, or bring those Jobs back to US soil!

Paula of NY 2:43PM November 21, 2011

I am a well educated lady in a job market that favors employers and the games they play. What blows my mind is the incentives employers are given to hire unemployed worker. Having worked for the automotive industry for years, I have seen it all. The only jobs I have been able to obtain are contract jobs that lead no where. My favorite when agencies and employers make the assumptions the only jobs you appear to enjoy working are contract jobs. A part of me wants to say to them, what country do you live in. Unemployed workers are reminded that when you go into an interview make sure you have done your homework, dress the part, act the role, and when you walk into a room with managers who did not take the time to at least glance over your resume, and take calls during the interview, and tell you I have to run, and dress unprofessionally, I sometime think to myself, what is wrong with this picture.
Furthermore, what blows my mind when you undergo a one hour interview and you place your heart and soul into the job, and the people, you never hear back from the company.
It is disheartening what these companies have done to our economy. When one has bills to pay, birds to feed, the only plan the average person is interested in will I have a home tomorrow, will I have a car, will I have the food to feed my children and pets, will I be healthy enough to be able to breath and keep going.
I think what this country needs to do is pay for every unemployed person cost to see a psychologist. Because, if you ask me Washington is not helping, our state is not helping. When you tell someone you are not working they look at you like whats wrong, can you not find a job.
No I cannot find a job, because I am not competing against unemployed individuals. I am trying to figure out employers who destroyed our country by sending jobs over sea, and who have learned how to be creative liars. What this whole experience has taught me that I have to look myself in the mirror and Karma is a Bitch.

Someone of MI 11:05AM August 17, 2011