There seems to be a major epidemic spreading in the labor market these days, according to the July 26, 2001 New York Times article, “Help-Wanted Sign Comes With Frustrating Asterisk.” The message from employers is loud and clear: don’t apply if you don’t already have a job.
How crazy is that? With 14 million Americans without work and the country in the worst job crisis ever, this kind of mindset – that unemployed workers are less than – is truly…well, un-American. It is also a bad move on the part of employers who choose to behave in this manner and ignore the abundance of qualified candidates that are currently work challenged.
There Are No Guarantees No Matter Who You Hire
Okay, so you decide to take the “safe” route and hire someone already employed. What does that net you? There seems to be a misguided belief that hiring someone who is already working makes a better hire.
True, their work experience is more current than someone who hasn’t worked in six or more months. But then that’s why when you interview those who are currently unemployed you ask them directly what they are doing to keep their skills current. That said, you also need to consider this truth: even if you hire workers who are currently employed, this does not guarantee that they will make a better employee or that they will stay with the company longer.
According to the March 2, 2011 press release from MarketTools, a leading provider of software and services for enterprise feedback management, “Nearly 50 percent of employees surveyed have considered leaving their current jobs, and 21 percent have applied for another job in the past six months.” So over 70% of those currently employed are on the fence when it comes to their current employer. You may want to consider how long before they move on again.
If your fear of hiring the unemployed stems from the belief that they will take just any job and move on once they find something better, know that the currently employed are not immune to this practice either. Many an employee has taken a job just to get out of a desperate work situation.
Unemployed: New Hires with Benefits
Based on the MarketTools research the primary reason why employees want to leave their current employer is due to salary (47%). That means the employed workers you seek are looking for more money. Here is some great news about the pool of unemployed candidates available. They are more flexible when it comes to salary negotiations.
That doesn’t mean employers should try to financially undercut the unemployed; however, you have more wiggle room and a much shorter negotiation time. Because the next great thing about hiring the unemployed is that they can start immediately in most cases. No waiting two to four weeks while someone gives notice.
Finally, you have the option to hire unemployed workers on a temporary basis and try them out. You’re not likely to find many working people who are willing to take a temporary or even a contract job.
Unemployed Have Been There
When you’re unemployed, finding work becomes your full-time job. You know what it’s like to be without a job and it’s a scary proposition. Having already faced unemployment, you don’t want to go there again. Besides you really cannot afford to because of the debt acquired while unemployed. So when you get a job, you are thankful.
On the other hand, someone who hasn’t experienced the loss of a job might be a bit more cavalier when it comes to their employment situation. After all because they have become a much demanded commodity (that’s what happens when everyone wants you), it is difficult to know how long they will stay once they accept a new job offer. It ties into that old adage about the grass always being greener.
You May Not Get a Second Chance to Hire Someone
Let’s stop thinking short term for a minute and consider the future. If your organization is posting jobs which suggest that unemployed workers need not apply, someone who doesn’t have a job today may not come back to you once they’re employed. So you’ll be missing out on a potential future hire as well. And consider this: if your firm would have hired someone except for the fact that they were unemployed, you may be missing the boat when it comes to finding the best candidates for an opening.
As the article “Smart Moves to Help Small Business Owners with Hiring” suggests, it can be tough to find the right candidate for a job opening, especially if you are a small business owner. Don’t make it worse by screening out workers who are unemployed.
Deborah S. Hildebrand - Deborah S. Hildebrand is a freelance writer & HR consultant with 20+ years in human resources & a Bachelor's degree in Business.
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