Anyone know the answer to this one?

[frugalone]

Does anyone know why this adage/cliche is true: "It's easier to find a job while you're already employed."

Is it because you're considered more valuable, as in "hey, she already has a boyfriend. She must be pretty hot"?

It seems like prejudice to me.

Just curious.

[Alan]

I don't know for certain but I'd think that being unemployed raises the question of "why" and "will I be inheriting someone else's headache?"

[frugalone]

Good point. Although, in this economy, I would think they'd be asking those questions less frequently.


I don't know for certain but I'd think that being unemployed raises the question of "why" and "will I be inheriting someone else's headache?"

[catherine]

I've always taken it to mean it's almost a "scent of desperation" I think when you really need a job a prospective employer can almost smell it on you like blood to a shark. When you have a job, I think you transmit more confidence, which helps you get the job.

But it can also mean that the lack of employment raises questions in the potential employer's mind.

[herbgeek]

After I'd been unemployed more than 6 months, I had one recruiter who actually told me I was un-hireable unless I could find someone already inside a company to personally recommend me. Luckily, the bitch was wrong,, but it took me another year plus before that happened.:cool:

[AmeliaJane]

One concern that employers might have is that you are not applying for their job out of a particular interest in the work, but rather to escape unemployment...and thus would not stay with the job when other opportunities arise. I think at this point most managers (other than those who are so unreasonable you wouldn't want to work for them anyway) understand that with widespread layoffs there is no correlation to the quality of the applicant.

[bae]

I've gone over 45 resumes recently for a single position.

You can definitely "smell the fear" on the applications of those who have been unemployed for a while, and it shows up in the face-to-face interviews strongly for most.

So, when you have two good candidates, otherwise equal, and one currently has a position, seems confident, and expresses that she *wants* your particular job for its merits, while the other candidate smells more like "I'd take *any* good job at this point", well, as the employer, why take the risk?

[HappyHiker]

I've gone over 45 resumes recently for a single position.

You can definitely "smell the fear" on the applications of those who have been unemployed for a while, and it shows up in the face-to-face interviews strongly for most.

So, when you have two good candidates, otherwise equal, and one currently has a position, seems confident, and expresses that she *wants* your particular job for its merits, while the other candidate smells more like "I'd take *any* good job at this point", well, as the employer, why take the risk?

Out of kindness? Walking a mile in someone else's shoes...? (I know, this is not the usual business decision..just saying...)

[JaneV2.0]

Short answer? We assign winners and losers in this country, and once you're stigmatized it's difficult to shake off. Survival of the fittest, don't you know.

[lac]

Short answer? We assign winners and losers in this country, and once you're stigmatized it's difficult to shake off. Survival of the fittest, don't you know.

Sad but true. That's why I started my own business. No more dealing with management weasels - LOL!

[Weston]

If you get the chance read one of the books by Professor Robert Cialdini who has spent his life's work studying influence and persuasion. What you describe would be likely to be attributed to what he terms as social proof.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Proof



(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Proof)

[JaneV2.0]

Also known as "monkey see, monkey do."