I have been looking forward to today since Monday. It was my first job interview in several weeks. I spent hours preparing for the interview. I sat down and learned everything I could about the company and the person interviewing me. I made sure I knew my resume backwards and forwards. I had questions ready to ask the interviewers. None of that mattered.
One of the first questions I was asked was, "Why are you leaving your current position?" It struck me as an odd question because my resume clearly shows that I have been unemployed for several months now. I answered that I was let go from my previous position and that I was perfect for the position with their company because of X,Y and Z. The interviewer stopped and said, "I don't want to waste your time, or my time. We don't hire the unemployed. Thank you for coming in today."
I tried to reason with her and let her know that I was a good worker. I had the last several year end reviews that I received showing I was "exceeding expectations". None of that mattered to her. She heard unemployed and it all went out the window. I had driven across town wasting gas, had gotten my suit dry cleaned, and prepared for several hours.
Someone please explain to me why human resource "professionals" (and I use that in quotes because I have been treated anything but professionally since I've been unemployed by HR folks) look over unemployed people?
I am calling on Congress and President Obama to do something. Millions of Americans will never find work if this type of discrimination is allowed to continue. Please make discrimination like this illegal. Also, why not give incentives to companies who hire someone who is unemployed? Something has to be done.