---
title: Contract work can erase long-term unemployment stigma
description: Some employers may be wary of hiring a person who hasn't worked for a year or more, as this raises questions about his or her ability to perform the job at hand.
---

[Skip to content](https://blog.innovativeemployeesolutions.com/ies-blog-nb-24/blog/contract-work-can-erase-long-term-unemployment-stigma#main-content)

[![IES Logo_Full-ColorNavy](https://blog.innovativeemployeesolutions.com/hs-fs/hubfs/IES%20Logo_Full-ColorNavy.png?width=300&height=140&name=IES%20Logo_Full-ColorNavy.png)](https://www.innovativeemployeesolutions.com/)

- [Innovative Employee Solutions Blog](https://blog.innovativeemployeesolutions.com)

- [Innovative Employee Solutions Blog](https://blog.innovativeemployeesolutions.com)

<https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https://blog.innovativeemployeesolutions.com/ies-blog-nb-24/blog/contract-work-can-erase-long-term-unemployment-stigma&url=https://blog.innovativeemployeesolutions.com/ies-blog-nb-24/blog/contract-work-can-erase-long-term-unemployment-stigma&source=tweetbutton> <http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.innovativeemployeesolutions.com/ies-blog-nb-24/blog/contract-work-can-erase-long-term-unemployment-stigma> <http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://blog.innovativeemployeesolutions.com/ies-blog-nb-24/blog/contract-work-can-erase-long-term-unemployment-stigma> [mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://blog.innovativeemployeesolutions.com/ies-blog-nb-24/blog/contract-work-can-erase-long-term-unemployment-stigma](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://blog.innovativeemployeesolutions.com/ies-blog-nb-24/blog/contract-work-can-erase-long-term-unemployment-stigma)

September 24, 2011

# Contract work can erase long-term unemployment stigma

Written by: [Innovative Employee Solutions](https://blog.innovativeemployeesolutions.com/ies-blog-nb-24/author/innovativeemployeesolutions)

Some employers may be wary of hiring a person who hasn't worked for a year or more, as this raises questions about his or her ability to perform the job at hand. Yet, the Atlanta Constitution Journal reports that if the prospective employee says he or she has been "job hunting" over the past year, it may introduce the idea that nobody else believes the prospect to be employable. This increases the risk of the employer, and offers no new information about a prospect's qualifications.

Author Amy Lindgren suggests that in order to avoid the stigma of long-term unemployment, prospects should obtain part-time or contract work in their field. By adding related projects to his or her resume, a person can regain professional traction. Even if the position isn't ideal - such as a weekend shift - the experience will demonstrate a person's willingness as a worker.

WSBT-TV reports that one seasonal option for the unemployed may be temporary work at a costume or Halloween-themed store.  

"This time of year we hire a lot of seasonal help," Victor Cao, owner of FUN F/X in Mishawaka, Michigan, told the news source. "We're looking for a lot of people that are friendly, outgoing, helpful and creative, (to) help our customers."  
  

Tag(s): [Blog](https://blog.innovativeemployeesolutions.com/ies-blog-nb-24/tag/blog)

## [Innovative Employee Solutions](https://blog.innovativeemployeesolutions.com/ies-blog-nb-24/author/innovativeemployeesolutions)

## Other posts you might be interested in

View All Posts

## [Employer Best Practice 2 min read | September 3, 2014 Save money, protect company culture with outsourced HR services Read More](https://blog.innovativeemployeesolutions.com/ies-blog-nb-24/blog/human-resource-management/save-money-protect-company-culture-with-outsourced-hr-services)

## [Blog 1 min read | November 13, 2012 Interviewees feel pressured to reveal private information Read More](https://blog.innovativeemployeesolutions.com/ies-blog-nb-24/blog/interviewees-feel-pressured-to-reveal-private-information)

## [Blog 1 min read | February 21, 2012 CBO offers reality check for unemployment Read More](https://blog.innovativeemployeesolutions.com/ies-blog-nb-24/blog/cbo-offers-reality-check-for-unemployment)

## Subscribe to email updates

Additional content around the benefits of subscribing to this blog feed.

- [Innovative Employee Solutions Blog](https://blog.innovativeemployeesolutions.com)

 © 2014-2026 Innovative Employee Solutions. All rights reserved.

<https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovativeemployeesolutions/> <https://www.facebook.com/innovativeemployeesolutions> <https://twitter.com/innovativees> <https://www.instagram.com/innovativeemployeesolutions/> <https://www.youtube.com/user/InnovativeEmployees>

[CSR policy](https://www.innovativeemployeesolutions.com/corporate-social-responsibility-policy/) [Diversity & Inclusion](https://www.innovativeemployeesolutions.com/ies-diversity-inclusion-policy/) [Privacy policies](https://www.innovativeemployeesolutions.com/privacy-policies/)

```json
{
  "@context" : "https://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "Innovative Employee Solutions",
    "url" : "https://blog.innovativeemployeesolutions.com/ies-blog-nb-24/author/innovativeemployeesolutions"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2024-04-24T18:40:46.755Z",
  "datePublished" : "2011-09-24T16:08:06.000Z",
  "headline" : "Contract work can erase long-term unemployment stigma",
  "mainEntityOfPage" : {
    "@id" : "https://blog.innovativeemployeesolutions.com/ies-blog-nb-24/blog/contract-work-can-erase-long-term-unemployment-stigma",
    "@type" : "WebPage"
  },
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "url" : "https://blog.innovativeemployeesolutions.com/hubfs/Signature-TaglineKarla.png"
    },
    "name" : "Innovative Employee Solutions"
  }
}
```