Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am looking at resumes right now. Two things: It is a red flag if someone isn't working currently. I tend to put these resumes in a second tier because I'm uncertain why they are unemployed. Often i never have to look at the second tier pool, because I find good candidates to interview in my preferred pool.

Second, the longer someone is unemployed, the worse their resume looks to me. If you've gone more than a few months, you're in the reject. This means that you need a plan (and I don't mean a "I'll collect unemployment" plan) that keeps you from falling into the reject pool. Maybe you could line up office temping or have a volunteer post that you've already lined up with a project that is meaningful to your line of work?

In sum, I'd be very cautious to quit without another job lined up.

And the job of staying home to care for children I guess means people will fall into your reject pile?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am looking at resumes right now. Two things: It is a red flag if someone isn't working currently. I tend to put these resumes in a second tier because I'm uncertain why they are unemployed. Often i never have to look at the second tier pool, because I find good candidates to interview in my preferred pool.

Second, the longer someone is unemployed, the worse their resume looks to me. If you've gone more than a few months, you're in the reject. This means that you need a plan (and I don't mean a "I'll collect unemployment" plan) that keeps you from falling into the reject pool. Maybe you could line up office temping or have a volunteer post that you've already lined up with a project that is meaningful to your line of work?

In sum, I'd be very cautious to quit without another job lined up.

Do you ever consider that if every HR department does this, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy? For example, if you are laid off from a job and then one by one other employers refuse to hire you because you are not working, you will be unemployed for longer and longer? I appreciate that you would consider temping or volunteer work as some attempt to work that may get the person back in your first tier pool, but I would encourage people not to dismiss people just because they aren't working. They may have a good reason that you just don't know (moved across the country for a spouse's job, left to take care of a sick spouse, was laid off when the company downsized…)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am looking at resumes right now. Two things: It is a red flag if someone isn't working currently. I tend to put these resumes in a second tier because I'm uncertain why they are unemployed. Often i never have to look at the second tier pool, because I find good candidates to interview in my preferred pool.

Second, the longer someone is unemployed, the worse their resume looks to me. If you've gone more than a few months, you're in the reject. This means that you need a plan (and I don't mean a "I'll collect unemployment" plan) that keeps you from falling into the reject pool. Maybe you could line up office temping or have a volunteer post that you've already lined up with a project that is meaningful to your line of work?

In sum, I'd be very cautious to quit without another job lined up.

Do you ever consider that if every HR department does this, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy? For example, if you are laid off from a job and then one by one other employers refuse to hire you because you are not working, you will be unemployed for longer and longer? I appreciate that you would consider temping or volunteer work as some attempt to work that may get the person back in your first tier pool, but I would encourage people not to dismiss people just because they aren't working. They may have a good reason that you just don't know (moved across the country for a spouse's job, left to take care of a sick spouse, was laid off when the company downsized…)

Anonymous wrote:I am looking at resumes right now. Two things: It is a red flag if someone isn't working currently. I tend to put these resumes in a second tier because I'm uncertain why they are unemployed. Often i never have to look at the second tier pool, because I find good candidates to interview in my preferred pool.

Second, the longer someone is unemployed, the worse their resume looks to me. If you've gone more than a few months, you're in the reject. This means that you need a plan (and I don't mean a "I'll collect unemployment" plan) that keeps you from falling into the reject pool. Maybe you could line up office temping or have a volunteer post that you've already lined up with a project that is meaningful to your line of work?

In sum, I'd be very cautious to quit without another job lined up.

Anonymous wrote:I am looking at resumes right now. Two things: It is a red flag if someone isn't working currently. I tend to put these resumes in a second tier because I'm uncertain why they are unemployed. Often i never have to look at the second tier pool, because I find good candidates to interview in my preferred pool.

Second, the longer someone is unemployed, the worse their resume looks to me. If you've gone more than a few months, you're in the reject. This means that you need a plan (and I don't mean a "I'll collect unemployment" plan) that keeps you from falling into the reject pool. Maybe you could line up office temping or have a volunteer post that you've already lined up with a project that is meaningful to your line of work?

In sum, I'd be very cautious to quit without another job lined up.

Anonymous wrote:I am looking at resumes right now. Two things: It is a red flag if someone isn't working currently. I tend to put these resumes in a second tier because I'm uncertain why they are unemployed. Often i never have to look at the second tier pool, because I find good candidates to interview in my preferred pool.

Second, the longer someone is unemployed, the worse their resume looks to me. If you've gone more than a few months, you're in the reject. This means that you need a plan (and I don't mean a "I'll collect unemployment" plan) that keeps you from falling into the reject pool. Maybe you could line up office temping or have a volunteer post that you've already lined up with a project that is meaningful to your line of work?

In sum, I'd be very cautious to quit without another job lined up.

Anonymous wrote:I did, back in 2008 when I was preparing to move to DC without a job. I wouldn't do it again in the same circumstances.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Save more and more and more until you have a year. Look for and apply for jobs now. I really wouldn't quit with just 6 months. There is no way you'd get severance if you'd quit, just FYI. Unless you are being abused at work, I'd suck it up until you find something else, especially since you have a mortgage. And if you are being abused, document it and sue.

Thanks. People asking for and getting severance is not unheard of at my employer as we are unionized. Still, there is no guarantee I would get it. I am not being abused but it is poorly managed, no leadership and others have already fled or are in the process of fleeing the building. It is a bad scene and not likely to change in the short-term.