Employers Won't Hire The Jobless Because Of The 'Desperate Vibe'

[Crazy Dave]

Inokon, who has worked in staffing and recruiting for almost 15 years, said he has trouble placing jobless pharmacists because the reality of today's job market is that employers "want somebody who's wanted."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/03/employers-wont-hire-the-u_n_791710.html

[bluerum]

1. "Desperate vibe"?!? What the fuck is that? Is that the feeling you get

when you know you have $500k in a retirement account as you sit across the desk interviewing someone with more education than yourself who has been unemployed for ten months for an $8 an hour position?

[Crazy Dave]

2. Looking at the craigslist ads in my town

For a dishwasher or janitor position they want you to send them a resume with a cover letter, have at least 5 years experience, submit a background and drug check and with some, write a two page essay saying why they should hire you instead of someone else.

It gets worse higher up the food chain I'm sure. HR managers will have tip jars on the ends of their desks.

[90-percent]

3. America is just mean

I have recently gotten back to work after 17 months off. At 56 I thought I was virtually unemployable, but a friend managed to get me into a place that needed my skills.

20% pay cut and a hell of a lot less status, but I'm really enjoying myself. It's a career change, but I keep my nose to the grindstone and try to offer a good days work for a good days pay.

These HR pinheads are not serving their companies well if they think this way. People unemployed for a long time do not take their new job for granted like an employed person would when leapfrogging to a new job.

In my 30 year career, I get laid off every 5 to 7 years. I prefer to think my past employers prefer working drones more than "critical thinkers" such as myself. I have an overly sensitive "bullshit meter" and I don't perform at my best answering to empty suits I do not respect.

In today's corporate culture, I feel that the "management class" is made up entirely of treacherous cretins that get rewarded for serving themselves at the expense of their employer, because the entire chain of command they are in is doing the exact same thing! Not an environment where a critical thinker would thrive. In my case, I was the first to go in my dept when the layoffs came. Got to get rid of the trouble makers, doncha know!

-90% jimmy

[Crazy Dave]

5. Same here

I've always been told over the years I could move higher up the ladder and have more job security if I would put up with more bullshit and kiss more ass.

Usually I'm the highest paid and most qualified in my department but always the first to be let go when the choice comes down to either payroll or keeping friends.

I was let go by a company last year where projects I could finish in one week would take the other two designers three to four weeks but since they were both making $3 an hour less than me the company thought they were the better deal to keep but after two months the company saw less (much less) invoices going out because you can't bill what isn't finished and that meant less money coming in.

For two months I ignored their phone calls and emails wanting me to come by and "talk" to them even though I'm currently making $200 less per week.

[90-percent]

6. Crazy Dave

Damn nice to meet a very kindred spirit. Although, at work, I never worked hard enough to become a guru superstar. Competent and capable, but not outstanding for me. Occasional flashes of brilliance only.

-90% Jimmy

[Meeker Morgan]

4. Nothing new. I was told not to look too desperate ...

... by a guidance councilor back in the 1970s.

Something about the psychology of being a hiring manager I guess.

[Warpy]

7. This is the stupidest thing ever

You'd think they'd want that desperate guy because he'd be willing to put up with more shit for less pay than the guy everybody else wants, too.

These 30 something HR guys are the problem and should be the next ones out in the cold. They're bloody useless.

[kenny blankenship]

8. You'd think they'd want that desperate guy, but ...

since they're already thinking about how they'll probably be firing you pretty soon, they won't want "El Desperado, the New Guy" coming around with an assault rifle to pick up your last paycheck.