Unemployed for a Long Time? 7 Steps to Help
More than one-quarter of unemployed people have been job searching for at least six months. How to hone your own search.
These days, if you’re out of work, there’s a good chance you’ve been in that situation for a while. Indeed, 27% of the unemployed people in the US have been jobless for 27 weeks or longer, the highest level since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when thousands of businesses were actually shut down.
Firms just aren’t hiring many new people right now, and even when they do want to bring in a new employee, they often take months to choose them. Many long-term unemployed people, regardless of their profession or career level, are left frustrated and wondering what they need to do to get hired. “Our inboxes are flooded with this question,” says Dayna Keene, a principal in Korn Ferry’s Global Nonprofit and Government Affairs practices.
Experts say there’s no magic formula that will get you hired instantly, but that you can take multiple steps to improve your chances and potentially feel less disheartened about the whole process.
Treat the search like a business problem.
If your job search has proven fruitless for months, perhaps there are problems with the approach you’ve taken. Korn Ferry principal and executive career and leadership coach Sondra Levitt recommends asking yourself a series of questions. Are you getting conversations but not interviews? Interviews but no job offers? Or are you getting very little response at all? “Each problem points to a different issue,” she says. But answering these questions can help you reposition yourself, target more relevant roles, and improve your interviewing strategy.
Stay on top of current events.
Keep tabs on the challenges facing the employers you want to work for. That will help you sharpen the questions you ask in job interviews and networking conversations. “The goal is not simply to do more, but to keep the search relevant and targeted,” says Alyson Federico, a Korn Ferry associate principal and executive/career coach.
Get certified.
Don’t have the skills the companies you want to work for are seeking? Take a course. “Prove that you’ve gone and built those skills,” says Jennifer Williams, a Korn Ferry senior client partner in the firm’s Board and CEO Practice. Many organizations will appreciate that you put in the effort to upskill yourself. For example, plenty of providers offer low-cost training programs in AI, which is the most glaring gap for many people who are currently out of the market.
Highlight your top work skills.
Be very clear about the two to three business problems you are especially good at solving, says Val Olson Armstrong, a Korn Ferry career and leadership coach. People well into their careers might find that advice counterintuitive; they’d rather focus on the breadth of their experiences. But it’s all too common, particularly in interviews or networking talks, that what you think is a great conversation comes off as unfocused.
In those conversations, it also helps to highlight the things that can’t be easily trained, says JP Sniffen, practice leader of Korn Ferry’s Military Center of Expertise, such as the ability to run successful teams or maintain great relationships with clients. “Show off that intangible that you’re bringing to the table,” he says.
Team up.
If you feel like you’re losing relevancy, consider partnering with someone who works in the field that most interests you. Collaborate with them on a piece of thought leadership, a podcast, or conference seminar. “Put something in the universe that’s a topical issue,” says Scott Sette, sector leader of Korn Ferry’s Children’s Healthcare practice. Your partnered piece can spark some additional conversations and job leads.
Tap your network.
Too many people find excuses not to network, says David Vied, global sector leader of Korn Ferry’s Medical Devices and Diagnostics practice. Get over it. Contact people in your network, even if those people are several connections away. Network connections can be valuable on a variety of fronts: They can help you identify your own strengths, provide insights into an organization you want to work for, and serve as references. “You’ll be amazed with what you’ve learned,” says Vied.
Protect your energy.
A long search can be draining, so don’t let it become all-consuming. Set clear boundaries around your job-search time and make room for the people, activities, and routines that recharge you, recommends Federico. “Preserving your mental, emotional, and physical energy helps you stay resilient and be ready to show up at your best when opportunities come,” she says.
Learn more about Korn Ferry’s Leadership and Professional Development capabilities.
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