Job Search Interventions for Long-Term Unemployed Job Seekers: Comparing Approaches to Effective Support

Basbug, Gokce; Sharone, Ofer

Abstract

Drawing from the psychology of working and social resilience frameworks, this study introduces a novel intervention program to address the complex needs of long-term unemployed individuals. We examine the effectiveness of this novel intervention with a randomized, controlled field experiment where we test two versions of this program: one-on-one coaching and group coaching. Our findings show that long-term unemployed job seekers who received either form of coaching had higher reemployment rates and lower levels of self-blame than a control group that did not receive any support. Our in-depth interviews with group and one-on-one support receivers reveal that each type of support helped the long-term unemployed in distinct ways. Our findings suggest that a combination of group and one-on-one coaching to assist long-term unemployed individuals would help diminish the self-blame associated with unemployment and foster reemployment.

Citation

Basbug, G., & Sharone, O. (2024). Job Search Interventions for Long-Term Unemployed Job Seekers: Comparing Approaches to Effective Support. Journal of Career Development, 51(6), 660-674. https://doi.org/10.1177/08948453241282975

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 17, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Sep 8, 2024
• Publication Date: 2024-12
• Deposit Date: Oct 10, 2024
• Journal: Journal of Career Development
• Print ISSN: 0894-8453
• Electronic ISSN: 1556-0856
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 51
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 660-674
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/08948453241282975
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2952626