Disposable People: The Unemployed Need Not Apply

[paft.livejournal.com]

From Clickorlando.com 6/1/10:
Job hunters are facing a new hurdle: businesses asking recruitment companies to keep unemployed people out of their job pools.

Video here.

Yes, you read that right. Some businesses are now placing job ads that exclude all those icky unemployed people. A trend I first mentioned back in July of last year is continuing and, according to this story, growing.

So, many of the unemployed face, not only the cutting off of their unemployment benefits, not only potential employers holding bad credit ratings, (often a byproduct of not having a job) against them, they now are increasingly being barred by potential employers from applying for job openings -- because they are unemployed.

Apparently in today’s society, more and more, once you’re out, you’re out.

Think of the weapon this hands employers. The saying, so beloved of free market types, “If you don’t like the job, quit and find another one,” is becoming not just a platitude, but a mocking sneer. Quitting is no longer an option, being fired, or laid off, no longer a relatively minor blip in someone’s working life.

If this trend continues, unemployment itself could become a catastrophe that knocks someone permanently out of full time work.

Comments

[light-over-me.livejournal.com]

I was always taught to apply anyway if you think you're qualified, even if the ad says you must have a certain number of years experience, etc. You never know. Companies put their ideal candidate on the want ad, but they don't always find someone who fits the bill 100%. If your resume looks good, sometimes they will interview you anyway. This has happened to me. Or sometimes you can apply under your skill level, and try to work back up from there.

That being said, the worse the economy/job market, and the more unemployed competing for the same limited jobs...the more employers can afford to be picky.

[badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com]

Right, and the more picky they're going to be.

Besides, this is a report about recruiters - do that many people go through recruiters? Are people looking for jobs incapable of hopping on a computer instead?

[sandwichwarrior.livejournal.com]

Or harnessing the power of shoe-leather?

[mdinkins.livejournal.com]

" I currently know of no IT corporation in the Atlanta area that is hiring for a position just by itself"

I know of some and I'm not even in that area... The big thing is that they don't really advertise these jobs. If you know someone you can get an interview, but you have to know someone. There is no reason to advertise or use a recruiter - they can get referrals from their employees for much less than the headhunter costs and typically get better candidates too (especially in this market).