THOSE unemployed believe it will take longer than it actually does to find a new job. Job seekers expect it will take seven to 14 months to find work, according to a recent call-in survey by global outplacement consultancy Challenger, Gray and Christmas Inc.

Of those already unemployed, an average of four months, 20 per cent said it will require an additional 10 months.

However, for callers who have been out of work for less than one year, the average duration of unemployment was about 3.6 months. Yet, only 10 per cent of these relative newcomers to the labour pool thought it would take less than three months to find a new position.

According to the survey, 56 per cent of callers believed it would take an additional three to six months to find a new job. Another 10 per cent thought it would take seven to 10 months. Eighteen per cent said the job search would take more than 10 months.

“Most callers are telling us that it is going to take three to 10 months on top of the four months they have already been searching. That is a total of seven to 14 months to find a new position. That is significantly longer than the four months it is actually taking the average job seeker to find a new job,” said John A Challenger, chief executive officer of Challenger, Gray and Christmas, referring to the finding of the Challenger Job Market Index, a quarterly survey of 3,000 job seekers nationwide.

“That is not a very optimistic outlook. Recent news of a continued economic slowdown, stemming from energy costs and a weak housing market, are probably behind the glum expectations of some callers. However, the lack of job opportunities was not the leading obstacle identified by callers,” he said.

The survey found that age discrimination was tops, not the economy. Nearly 40 per cent said their age was getting in the way. About 30 per cent said it was lack of experience or education, while 14 per cent said there just were not enough jobs in their field.

“Age is typically a self-made obstacle. There is no doubt that age discrimination still exists, but the rate at which people over 45 are finding jobs is not consistent with a widespread problem. Many will start the interview by saying, ‘I know I’m old, but…,’ Challenger said.

“We encourage job seekers to remove the age issue from the equation by focusing on job achievements within the past five years and focusing entirely on one’s skills and training. If you bring energy, enthusiasm and skills to the table, employers will look past your age,” he added.

The Challenger survey also measured the lengths to which job seekers will go to get back on the payroll. Almost 31 per cent said they would accept a part-time job or a position for which they were overqualified just to get a job quickly. But 32 per cent said they would not lower their expectations just to secure a job. And about 10 per cent said they were already in less-than-ideal jobs.

Push those skills

Recognising and communicating one’s abilities can positively influence the course of one’s future.

Michael Farr, job search expert and best-selling career author, said that “on average, everyone has 300-500 skills and abilities. The problem is that they can’t communicate these to potential employers”.

And, basically, people are usually happiest when they have the chance to do the things they do well. Joan and Thomas Harrington can help head you this way. Their “Ability Explorer” is an assessment that raises test-takers’ self-awareness on what they are good at and provides practical insights into career and educational planning.

By acknowledging all different types of skills, job seekers are better able to find a path that leads to a satisfying career. On its Website, CareerKey.org states that “knowing your ‘unique qualities’ is not easy. But, the clearer picture you have, the more likely you are to choose a satisfying career”.