And do you think the screeners won't start screening out "personal projects" if enough people start doing that? "Freelancing" for eight months after a career of working for other people, and suspiciously little to show for the freelancing... I wonder what that's about?
Last time I applied for a job was after just shy of two years of contract work full-time. They asked for a portfolio which I sent over. I was confused when they asked for more as I had already picked my best work. After supplying some more samples I asked the hiring manager why they had requested more and was essentially told they were looking at not only quality, but also quantity. They wanted to make sure I had been doing this for two years.
Personally, I think this is good. Saying you're freelancing when you're actually unemployed is no less dishonest than saying you have a degree you don't have or you worked at [X] BigCo for six months longer than you actually did.
I worked my ass off when I was a consultant and I'd be pretty upset if John Q. off the street has been resume blasting everyone for six months while drawing unemployment and saying he's been "consulting."
To be clear, I'm not suggesting somebody flat out lies and claims they were consulting when they were really playing xbox.
I'm suggesting making some actual effort, saying "part time freelancing whilst seeking other opportunities" sounds better than "collected unemployment"
Why are you so worried about what other people are doing? If John Q. has been unemployed for the last six months he deserves to starve because "SEO"ing his resume would make you upset? Get over yourself.
Why would they? Do companies have some kind of feel for how many people are long-term unemployed and how many of those apply for jobs with their companies?
Leaving aside data like macroeconomic statistics which do indeed tell companies how many people are long-term unemployed, companies have a pretty good "feel" about people that send them resumes if they read any of them. If three months ago 10% of resumes you were getting indicated long-term unemployment, and next month 2% of received resumes indicate long-term unemployment and 8% list freelancing for the first time in their careers with little details provided and a sample of candidates are unable to provide details in an interview, do you suspect a sudden explosion of entrepreneurial spirit?
