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Home - The Management Association
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Caught Between a Rock and a Hard Place?
by Candace Fisher, SPHR, Manager, Training and Development
Published Sept 7, 2010
After a recent family celebration, conversations about some individuals who are “caught between a rock and a hard place” due to their current employment situations stuck in my head. Specifically, there was (at least) one guest who was unemployed and whose unemployment benefits had run out. I overheard part of a conversation referring to the “99-ers” as individuals who don’t want to work – or who think that some jobs are “beneath them.” I have to disagree with that statement as applying to everyone in that group. When recruiting for positions, even those that pay on the lower end of the scale, I – and other recruiters – would often not consider those who were obviously overqualified because we were worried that, as soon as something better came along, the individual would be gone. As HR professionals, we have to consider the needs and welfare of the organization and make those kinds of decisions daily. But, the unemployed, the “99-ers,” are caught. They can’t find employment in their field at their former level of employment, and they’re often not even considered for other positions, for which they may be fully qualified. (By the way, I had not heard of the term before, so I Googled and found the website, 99ers.net. On the homepage it states that the site provides “Conversation, Information & Support for Unemployed and Underemployed Americans.”)
As we at the Association, discuss - and train - on best practices for hiring, we encourage hiring managers to carefully screen applications and resumes for qualifications and to look for some “red flags” including those who have long or frequent periods of unemployment. Times have certainly changed - but have our hiring practices? Does “overqualified” have the same meaning and disqualify candidates from consideration? I would welcome your feedback on this topic. What are employers’ thoughts about candidates’ qualifications and length of unemployment? Send your comments.
