Must provide proof of current W-2 income
Chris Erickson wrote an article in this week’s New York Post called Unemployed: The Scarlet U. It talks about the frustrating experience many unemployed job seekers have of being eliminated from consideration for job opportunities because they are currently unemployed. One posting actually read, “Must provide proof of current W-2 income.”
There is a certain mentality that “if it’s such a buyer’s market, why would you go to somebody who’s been terminated?” Please let’s not punish the victim!
Given the cutbacks in recent years and the state of the job market. many talented people are out of work.
The one concern that I give credence to is that someone who is jobless may take a job, any job, to get back among the ranks of the employed, and move on when something better comes along. Someone who gave up another job in order to accept employment would be less likely to move on quickly.
Overall, I agree with a recruiter who was quoted as saying, “If you neglect someone for the simple reason that they got laid off, you’re being very narrow in your perspective. The last cycle of layoffs hit some extremely talented people. A lot of really good people got caught.”
Employers, please do yourself as well as prospective employees a favor. Review resumes with an open mind and a measure of compassion. If you see the work history of someone who has never been with an employer for more than a year and a half, you have no reason to think they will stay with you any longer with you. But if you see the story of an employee that has stayed at previous jobs long enough to make significant contributions, receive promotions, and flourish professionally in the past, I think you would be making a big mistake to take a pass just because their current status is “looking for my next career move”.
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