RETRENCHMENT  SURVEY  

UK - Getting retrenched is no longer a taboo it used to be, say UK managers in a recent survey. However, that sentiment changes when a candidate has an employment gap of six months and longer.

A poll of more than 1,000 managers by the UK-based Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM), eight out of 10 managers said the employment status of applicants was irrelevant, and it was not  an indication of ability or performance in today's economic climate.

However, the sentiment changes after six months, as more than a quarter of employers polled said they would be less likely to hire someone which they considered to be long-term unemployed. The survey noted several exceptions, if the job candidate was studying for a relevant vocation or academic qualification or taking voluntary work."Being able to show you were keeping up to date with industry developments, even if you haven't actually been working, could also help as it showed you had not lost your drive or motivation," adds the ILM report.

Penny de Valk, chief executive of ILM, says companies are understanding that in the economic climate where employees are being laid off through no fault of their own, being unemployment does not reflect an employee's work ability. 

"The research shows that it is important for job seekers to try and get back to work as quickly as possible. They should use their time not only job hunting but finding ways to put themselves in front of the competition," De Valk says.

"The most effective way for job seekers to boost their future employment prospects is to play to their strengths, freshen up their knowledge and skills and keep up to date with developments in their sector."

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