The nation''s jobless economic recovery has meant that many laid-off workers remain unemployed for not just a couple of months, but often for a year or more, according to CareerJournal.com The Wall Street Journal''s executive career site.
The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that nearly 1.5 million people nationwide have been out of work for at least six months, an 80% increase from a year ago. Most severance packages end after an average of 10 weeks,
down from 21.8 weeks three years ago. Very few families can pay all their bills on unemployment insurance.
Executives who have been unemployed for a long period of time begin to experience financial pressures, sleepless nights, strained relationships and problems finding affordable health insurance, says Tony Lee, editor in chief of CareerJournal.com.
Marilyn Wong was laid off a year ago from a ublishing/media company due to the after- effects of 9/11. She has contacted agencies, former colleagues and friends, plus spends a lot of time researching job postings on many of
the Internet job sites. Over the past year, she''s had seven first interviews through Internet job leads.
I''m still optimistic and hoping for the best, but it''s discouraging that there aren''t many job openings in the publishing/advertising industry, says Wong.
Julius Adams found himself out of work after 25 years of rising up the ranks in the broadcasting industry. Adams was downsized from a six-figure job.
During a six-month stretch of unemployment, Adams sent out 500 resumes, but received no offers. Using advice he found on CareerJournal.com, Adams decided upon a career change. He is now happily doing a job he loves -- working as a
music teacher in the top elementary school in New York City (albeit at one-third his former salary).
If you''re willing to explore options that involve a career change, you''ll likely open up additional opportunities, says Lee.
Top executive Victor Wolters ran an Internet consulting business until October 2001 when business evaporated. He''s done all the right things to find a job - submitted his resume through Internet job sites; worked with
recruiters; wrote directly to CEOs of companies he was interested in; networked with friends, employers, clients and family; personally delivered resumes to HR departments; enrolled in an MBA program; and utilized a professional resume writing service - to no avail.
My biggest frustration is being told that I''m overqualified, says Wolters. I am even willing to join a larger organization at a much lower level in order to prove myself.
CareerJournal.com offers this advice to bring the long job search to an end:
Continually network
Keep a positive attitude
Reinvent yourself
Be a volunteer
Stay busy and productive
Take courses to stay current and increase professional knowledge Rather than sitting around feeling sorry for yourself because the job search is taking so long, you should get out and network so you don''t feel isolated
and helpless, Lee says. Fraternal groups, professional organizations, alumni networking associations, job clubs and trade shows are great places to make contacts.
For more information on job-search advice and career-management strategies:
CareerJournal.com advises how to survive a long job search
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