Why You Don't Have A Job Yet

[Jim Shaw]

Your qualifications, skills, and credentials are great. You have an effective resume that’s getting you interviews. But, you don’t have a job yet. Yes, there is a lot of competition and that could be the reason you’re not getting offers. However, there may be something else that’s keeping you and many others from getting job offers. That something is your attitude.

I’ve met many laid off workers lately who are going to have a very difficult time getting a new job—and it won’t be because of their qualifications, credentials, or skills. Most of them are well qualified and good at what they do. The problem is their attitude. Recruiters and hiring managers sense anger, bitterness, or desperation and will not hire anyone exhibiting these characteristics. Why should they? People who are hiring have many qualified candidates to choose from. To see this, all you have to do is read the stories about job seekers lining up for job fairs or the number of resumes companies are receiving in response to ads.

If you’re still angry or bitter about losing your job, do not bother to look for a new job. You won’t succeed and that will only make you more frustrated. You can put together your resume and organize a job search, but until you can get past your negative emotions do not talk with prospective employers. Employers sense anger and bitterness and will not hire people who display these characteristics.

How do you get past anger or bitterness? That’s a difficult question to address, and the answer is unique to each person. Some people move on much quicker than others. The main point is to make sure you have really moved forward before you talk to prospective employers. With more than six million unemployed job hunters in the United States as your competition, you want to project a positive, forward-thinking image instead of one that is still tied to a past employer.

The other emotion that may be keeping you from getting a new job is desperation. “I really need a job” is a terrible answer in any interview. Companies want to know what you can do for them, not what they can do for you. You may be desperate. We all have financial obligations and other pressures, and we may really need a job today. However, when you’re talking with an employer, find a way to mask any desperation you’re feeling for the 30 minutes or hour you’re with them.

Your attitude may be what’s keeping you from your next job. Anger, bitterness, and desperation are not the qualities employers are looking for. Figure out a way to keep these emotions out of your job search and you’ll be much closer to securing a great new job.

About the Blogger: Jim Shaw is a Career Coach with LaunchPad Careers. He also has more than 25 years of experience as a recruiter including experience as a headhunter and corporate recruiter.

[Abraham Jankans]

Let me try to put a silver lining on this. There are a couple of factors I believe employers evaluate in making a decision. If you approached this opportunity from a generic job board and were luck enough to get an interview, I agree with Jim that they will go with the most recent experience. Especially if the position is in a technical field such as IT, Acctg or HR, which are continually changing. What I have seen that works is when the candidate takes a class or course to update their skills and highlights that to the employer via their resume and application. If you can demonstrate you have "refreshed" your experience with additional learning this may mitigate their concerns. Secondly, how much rapport do you have with the hiring manager. At the end of the day, decisions often come down to how much they like you, and can deal with you on the job.

[Jim Shaw]

Companies are definitely becoming more selective about hiring. If you haven't worked in a field for a while, even a couple of years, you're competing with people who are currently in the field. Guess who the company will hire? Companies will almost always make the safe choice which, in this case, means the person with the most recent related experience.

It's very difficult to switch careers or return to an earlier career in today's job market because companies will almost always make safe choices instead of taking chances.

[Carroll Chase]

Here is another issue that I found out that is keeping the unemployed from getting that job; is that if you have not worked in that field within the last 1 - 3 years, that you will not considered for that position even if you have worked in that position within a decade.

[Abraham Jankans]

This is a really great post Jim. You address a common problem job seekers encounter...their attitudes. I specifically liked your point about being desperate, "The other emotion that may be keeping you from getting a new job is desperation. “I really need a job” is a terrible answer in any interview." This will cause you to lose out on many job opportunities. Attitude is really everything, especially in your job search!