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Popular research by human resource experts have shown that people who have been unemployed for more than one month are prone to experiencing dwindling opportunities in getting a job. If anyone is unemployed for more than a month, positive responses from employers fall sharply and decline further as time passes, even if he or she is qualified for the job. There are a couple of reasons why the unemployed often stay unemployed for long periods than necessary, and they might not have the time to explain these reasons in an interview to their prospective employer. So, why should you, the employer, give that long term unemployed individual a second look? 1. Willingness to Work: Being off the job for that long can equally mean they are seriously willing to get on a job as soon as possible; though it might not be always the case but if you do not, at least, screen them, how would you get to know? In an interview, ask them why they have been off the job for that long, if their reasons are tenable, you can also measure their willingness to give their best to the job you are about to offer them. 2. Easier to hire: Not all unemployed are unqualified; some of them are quite experienced in their field and very qualified for the job you are offering. If you can just ignore the number of years they have stayed without a job because every other employer was considering that too and consider them based on their qualifications, you might get a good addition to your team without the extra burden of trying to woo a great employee from another employer. You must have heard the slogan, “All the good ones are taken.” It is better you make the good ones under you and win their loyalty for as long as you can. 3. Persistence: The unemployed ones you keep seeing going for all the job interviews are a persistent lot. It says something about a trait in them – one of the characteristics employers look for in employees. You can divert their persistent negative frustration against the system towards a persistent positive reason for them to work towards great achievements for your company. 4. Determined to succeed: They are usually determined and burning with the desire to prove that they can deliver. They have no time for frivolities. Those times they have been unemployed is enough for them. Now they want to focus on doing some good work. All they want is an opportunity and a boss that is going to believe in them. 5. Grateful: When they finally get the job, they are indeed very grateful. They do not want to do anything to mess up this opportunity that has been given them. Those who are familiar with work might just term their new appointment as another work like the previous ones they have done. They might be grateful for the difference in the figures but sometimes that is the limit of their excitement. 6. Over-qualified: Usually, one of the reasons that might explain why they have been unemployed for so long is because they are overqualified. Glad they aren’t under-qualified. At least they met the qualifications for the job and some other qualifications that you did not specify. Handing them an opportunity might even be the difference your company needs to advance. Being adequately qualified (or over-qualified) should not be a reason a company would give for not hiring an applicant. Give them any other reason but not over-qualification.