A recent survey of 323 recruiters conducted by ExecuNet, a career management and recruiting resource centre for executives and recruiters, reveals that the bias against unemployed executive job candidates is fading.
According to the survey, 81% of recruiters believe that the stigma of being unemployed is less detrimental to the executive candidate today than it was five years ago. In 2002, nearly one-in-four (24%) candidates presented to an employer by a search firm was unemployed at the time, up from 21% in 2001 and 13% in 2000.
The bias against unemployed candidates is no longer the hurdle it once was - but it hasn't disappeared, says Dave Opton, CEO and Founder of ExecuNet. When faced with this potential barrier, candidates should focus on demonstrating how they are uniquely qualified to solve the problems facing the company that is hiring.
Despite the diminishing significance of employment status, companies are becoming more selective and less flexible when screening candidates. When asked how the economy's poor performance has affected the executive employment market:
86% of recruiters say that job specifications are becoming more demanding;
75% report that companies are becoming cautious about extending relocation offers; and
74% state that companies are less flexible than in the past when extending a job offer.
For 15 years ExecuNet has kept executives and recruiters informed of trends in the executive employment market. It is the first source executive and corporate recruiters use to find top executive talent. Founded in 1988, ExecuNet posts upwards of 25,000 executive jobs annually; provides information on salaries and market trends; hosts networking meetings in major metropolitan cities across the U.S.; and publishes four newsletters covering the latest tips, tactics, strategies, and resources for executive job search, career management, networking, and recruitment.
Stigma Of Being Unemployed Changes With The Times
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