ASK ANNIE
'Will Interviewers Hold Long-Term Unemployment Against Me?'
Probably not, for the unfortunate reason that it's now so widespread. Plus how can telecommuters stay visible?
By Anne Fisher

Q. I got a Master's degree nine months ago, after having worked for six years, and am still looking for a job. Leaving aside my disappointment that the graduate degree hasn't opened as many doors as I expected, I'm worried that being unemployed for so long now is a major liability in getting job interviews. What do you think?

A. This is one of those paradoxical situations—plentiful in this recovery—where rotten circumstances give rise to mildly encouraging news. Half a dozen different recruiters have mentioned to me over the past year or so that their clients used to decline to interview anyone who was out of work, especially if he or she had been unemployed for more than three months. Lately, however, most employers are willing to overlook a long dry spell and at least talk to you. Why? Because, sadly, long-term unemployment is so much less unusual than it was before, especially among the college-educated.

Consider: A study by the National Employment Law Institute (http://www.neli.org) and the Economic Policy Institute (http://www.epinet.org) found that the number of college grads who endured six months or more of joblessness rose from 278,623 in 2002 to 369,115 last year, a 32% increase. Among professionals (including computer scientists), the jump was even bigger—38% during the same period. Data from the Labor Department show that the percentage of college-educated workers who hold jobs last year reached 76%, its lowest level in 25 years.

The only good thing to be said about this: If you happen to be among the well-educated many who have been out of work for a painfully long time, that fact in and of itself is unlikely to make a prospective employer bat an eye.

Q. Coach Peggy Klaus stresses the importance of making one's achievements known at work, really got me thinking. I've been working at home for the past two years and, while I do keep in close touch with my boss and check in regularly with colleagues, I feel kind of invisible sometimes. Any suggestions?

A. "Be sure and attend all corporate functions—office parties, going-away lunches, anything and everything you're invited to," suggests Klaus. "It's easy to blow these off, because they're often inconvenient to get to. But don't make the mistake of thinking that occasions that are informal and 'just social' aren't really important." On the contrary, they're great opportunities to catch up, keep up, and bond with those coworkers you hardly ever see.

Send questions to askannie@fortunemail.com.