On Tuesday, NPR’s All Things Considered aired a commentary from author Firoozeh Dumas about the lost art of job rejection letters.  It was coincidentally the same day I sent out almost 1150 rejection emails.  I had to let candidates know they were no longer in the running for an Administrative Assistant position for our show This American Life out in NYC.

By far, this was the largest batch of rejection notices I have sent for any position at the station ever.  It’s a lot of bad news to deliver all at one time, and I was feeling bad about it.

But then, a strange thing happened.  Not long after my email went out I stared getting responses like this:

Dear Mr. Lara,

While I am very disappointed at not being considered for the position, I really appreciate your informing me of the situation re: my resume. It was very kind of you to take the time to notify me in this way, as this has not been done this for me previously by other perspective employers. In ending this letter, I look forward to many more hours of This American Life, and it was lovely for me to imagine working for Chicago Public Radio…I wish the new Office Assistant well.

I received about 20 emails from applicants simply thanking me for letting them know they were out of the running. They all pretty much said the same thing:  Companies just don’t send out this kind of correspondence anymore; it was nice to actually hear back from someone.

As an HR manager, sending out rejection notices can easily fall off your list of things to do, especially when you have a large volume of applicants for a single job.  But job seekers are not letting us off the hook and are being loud and clear:  Don’t leave me hanging!

With no job and no income, it can be hard to maintain that “clean cut” look while navigating the maze of unemployment. That’s why Charles Martin at Salon 64, 1064 W. Bryn Mawr, is now offering free hair services for the unemployed.

“I thought it’d be a goodwill thing to do because so many people are hurting for money, especially now. It’s a really rough time right now,” Charles told me.

The first 20 people to schedule an appointment will receive a complimentary haircut, shampoo and blow dry. To be eligible you must provide unemployment documents and proof of a job interview. Call (773) 728-1128 to make reservations. Salon 64 is open seven days a week and the free services are available through August 20.

But that’s not all. Chicagoans can find free haircuts all over town, especially if you’re willing to take on a dramatic new look. Salonapprentice.com lists salons seeking hair models and the site is also a good source for free haircuts and styling.

Did you snag a complimentary new ‘do? Tell us where and we’ll pass it along.

Recently laid-off Chicagoans, this is for you: Julie Sullivan at the Chicago Work-Life Balance Examiner writes about what to do as soon as lose your job. The article is hyper local so you can find all the resources right here in Chicago.

First things first: file for unemployment. Sullivan suggests filing for unemployment benefits the first business day after you’re laid off.

For those who might see shame in filing for unemployment – are you aware that this is NOT a handout, and that this is a benefit that you have earned by your hard work?

With updated technology, it’s easy to apply for unemployment online at the Illinois Department of Employment Security.

2. Take a look at Illinois Skills Match. You can make a profile and see what jobs match your skills.

3. Update your resume. This can be done any time, but if yours has been collecting dust for a while, update it immediately. Tips for perfecting your resume can be found in our previous posts.

4. Reevaluate your health care options. If your employer provided medical insurance, check out continuing coverage choices with COBRA. Also find more information at the Illinois Department of Insurance.

5. Sullivan suggests taking it easy. Now we don’t mean lounging by the pool all day, but take a deep breath and just breathe.

This probably had nothing to do with you and was a business decision that you are not supposed to take personally (though you probably did). Hopefully, you did not cry in the office – but feel free to do it now. A lot of our identity, good or bad, tends to get caught up in what we do on a daily basis or where we are in our careers. There are potentially a lot of emotions going on inside you, and they may change rapidly. It’s OK. Don’t get upset with yourself too badly if you aren’t in the greatest of moods or feel like retreating. It’s awful and not at all fun to go through this stuff. Luckily, time moves on and this too shall pass. If you can try and adopt the “door shuts another great one opens” philosophy, it may make that time even shorter.

The Wall Street Journal today reports the U.S. job market may bounce back quicker than in past recessions. That’s because, unlike the 1990-91 and 2001 downturns, a big chunk of job losses have come from the service-related industries that now lead U.S. employment.

Firms were unusually aggressive in cutting costs and cutting employment. The flip side of that remains to be seen, but it could mean that companies will be quicker to bring back people because they were more aggressive about getting rid of them. – James O’Sullivan, an economist with UBS

Comerica Bank economist Dana Johnson told the WSJ jobs could rebound quicker because it looks like the economy will also bounce back as it recovers, but an article from Forbes isn’t as optimistic.

Forbes says high unemployment could hinder recovery for consumption, credit and housing. Forbes considers the jobless recovery after the 2001 economic slump a good indicator that there could be another one following this recession. The article says this could be more likely because of companies’ tendency to cut back employees’ hours and rely more on part-time workers.

The U.S. unemployment rate has already risen to a level that is reminiscent of that in the 1981-’82 economic recession, and is likely to move higher and remain in double digits throughout 2010. This will prevent a rapid economic rebound, and is likely to heighten calls for a second fiscal stimulus package. – Forbes

Reuters reports similar jobless recovery findings, but also points out some good news for Midwesterners. The article says nine Midwest and South-Central states showed economic growth for the first time in almost a year.

Readings over the past several months indicate that the regional economy is on the mend. I expect the nine-state region to record positive growth, but with little or no job additions for the rest of 2009. – Creighton University Economics Professor Ernie Goss

Some minimum wage workers will get a pay bump next week. The federal minimum wage increases July 24 to $7.25. The wage hike marks the final increase in a three-step boost Congress enacted two years ago. This raise will affect 29 states where minimum wages is currently set below $7.25. At $8, Illinois minimum wage is already above the wage floor.

How might a federal minimum wage hike affect unemployment numbers?

Chief economist for Moody’s Investors Service John Lonski said the job market might not be able to accommodate the mandate. Advocates in favor of the increase like Matt Goldberg, a staff attorney at the Legal Aid Center-Employment Law Center, say the raise could decrease dependence on government assistance.

The Wall Street Journal considers the minimum wage hike a poor choice with unemployment at 9.5%. An editorial sites a 2006 National Bureau of Economic Research paper to explain why it might not be the best idea. Economists David Neumark of the University of California, Irvine, and William Wascher of the Federal Reserve Bank came up with two conclusions:

First, “a sizable majority of the studies give a relatively consistent (though not always statistically significant) indication of negative employment effects.” Second, “studies that focus on the least-skilled groups [i.e., teens, and welfare moms] provide relatively overwhelming evidence of stronger disemployment effects.”

The WSJ editorial suggests postponing the wage hike a year or two until the economy recovers.

Forbes Magazine says a pay increase affects a relatively small portion of the labor force – about 3 percent – and because of high unemployment; the pay raise will have little effect on the overall economy.

So what do you think? We want to hear from you. Join the discussion in our comment section and tell us your thoughts on the increase.

If you recently lost your job and are in search of a new one, you might be inclined to turn to head hunters or staffing agencies for help. But before spending money to make money, you would be wise to check out a local resource here in Chicago: the YWCA. The Economic Empowerment Institute at YWCA Metropolitan Chicago provides services from a professional coach who can: help you learn new skills, improve your application techniques and give general advice on how to proceed with the job hunt. Below, Associate Director Cynthia Anglin answers questions about getting back on your feet and how the YWCA can help you do that.

1. For individuals who have lost their jobs, what advice do you give for retooling resumes?

When providing advice to people who have lost their jobs, our YWCA Economic Empowerment Coaches offer many tips to help make our clients’ resumes stand out. We emphasize to our clients that resumes have a primary purpose—to get you an interview. HR managers often review hundreds of resumes a day. For this reason, resumes should be well-formatted and bulleted to ensure readability. Hiring managers will often pass over a resume rather than spend time reading paragraph after paragraph, even for the most qualified candidates. We also encourage resumes to be accomplishment-based. Employers are more interested in your successes in a job rather than your general job responsibilities. For example, “Increased company sales by 50%” is much more impressive than “Served as member of sales team.”

2. What are the biggest concerns about the new job market for people who have been employed for years or decades and are now unemployed?

Generally, for people who find themselves recently unemployed, their biggest concern about the current job market is having the skill set to be able to compete. Lapses in employment can be great opportunities to sharpen skills. We often suggest our Economic Empowerment Institute clients enroll in classes during this time to improve computer or trade skills. We also remind our clients that many skills are transferable across jobs, and they could benefit by being open to other career paths if opportunities present themselves. We encourage our clients to stay optimistic and do their best not to become discouraged. Contrary to popular opinion, job searching can be less productive when done every day. Searching for jobs every other day or a few times a week is a good way to give yourself a much-needed break from the ups and downs of job hunting.

3. What trade or graduate schools do you recommend for sharpening people’s job skills?

We believe there are many great learning institutions here in metro Chicago that individuals can use to increase their current skill set, ranging from universities and community colleges to trade schools and community organizations. Our Economic Empowerment Coaches work with clients to research institutions and classes that are specifically suited for their content, scheduling and pricing needs. Currently, the YWCA offers computer classes for beginning and advanced students. The YWCA also works with the CARA Program, Kennedy King College, Olive Harvey College, Chicago Women in Trades, and HSBC – North America to provide additional training for the YWCA’s Economic Empowerment Institute clients.

4. If I am a middle-aged individual competing against college graduates and twenty-somethings in the job market, how can I sell myself successfully to potential employers?

Finding a job at any age is always about playing to your strengths. One of the obvious strengths for someone older is experience. I advise people to look at their experience as a positive when applying for jobs. Maintaining initial salaries can be a challenge, and we encourage individuals to be flexible in this area if possible. However, all things being equal, employers often choose the more experienced candidates over other candidates. Being organized and consistent are good skills to have when searching for a job. Set aside set times on certain days of the week to look for jobs. This will help you keep to a regular schedule. Also keep track of where you apply and when. This can keep you from re-applying for companies and positions that might not be suited to your background and skill set.

5. Where are you seeing people have success in the job search: which industries, using which tactics, selling themselves in what ways, using what interview strategies?

We are seeing people be successful in all industries. Someone in every field is always hiring even during this downturn in the economy. The most successful people, however, are those who effectively use their networks of family, friends and former colleagues to find employment. Many jobs currently available rarely make it to internet or newspaper postings. If you have a particular employer in mind, call to see if the company has a public job board. This can also assist you in knowing what jobs might be available that aren’t being advertised. Websites like LinkedIn can also assist people in using their professional networks to the fullest. As far as interview strategies, make sure you read the job description for which you are applying thoroughly. During your interview, we encourage our clients to use phrases and words mentioned in the job description in your responses. This will reinforce to your interviewer that you have the qualities they are looking for in this position.

Posted by contributor Mary Gustafson.

For the newly laid off, one of the coldest comforts is that in this economy being laid off doesn’t carry the stigma it used to. And chances are good that if you lost your job, you don’t have to look very hard to find someone else in your situation. In fact, if anyone were to ask me for advice on handling unemployment, I would tell them to immediately begin looking for a layoff buddy, whether that person is another victim from your company or industry, or even someone who’s currently employed but has been through it before. This is important for me partly because I can’t seem to find any clear cut etiquette guidelines for being unemployed. I keep hoping someone else will teach me the ropes.

Before this recession started to affect me and my friends and colleagues, I might have advised against discussing the layoff at length in public forums such as this blog. But since unemployment is cutting across so many income levels and tax brackets in this recession, talking openly about it seems like a win-win for everyone.

But this new openness has its drawbacks too. I was relieved to find out that another one of my friends has been struggling with the same etiquette-related conundrums I have been. One of our biggest bugaboos is trying to figure out how much whining and complaining is allowable and expected.

It’s only natural to react strongly to losing your job early on, as you figure out what you have to do to make ends meet and launch your new job hunt. But at what point, or after how long, does your worrying become excessive and wearying for others? The statistics seem to report that American workers are facing longer bouts of unemployment than in the past. It’s fine to confide your worries and frustrations to friends and family, but it’s hard not to feel guilty about dragging them as well. But, at the same time, like my friend said “I know I’m not exactly starving to death in Darfur, but I need to vent too!” There must be a socially acceptable happy medium.

And then there is the delicate issue of what to do with your social life when you lose a big chunk of your livelihood. Your friends — who most likely are facing economic worries of their own — aren’t going to be able to buy you drinks for the duration. And you shouldn’t want or expect them to. Sure, you can entertain at home more, but having the spare time to catch up with friends for lunch or drinks is one of the upsides to not having a 9-to-5 job anymore — at least in the beginning.

So, again, the layoff buddy comes in handy for these kinds of troubles. But the one area of unemployment that you kind of have to navigate on your own is the tricky business of figuring out what to do with the residual anger that latches on to you when you lose your job. After all, nothing is more impolite than walking around with a chip on your shoulder. Commiserating about the circumstances of your layoff ad nauseum won’t help you much in the long run, either. Doing this can lead to an “us-versus-them” mentality, which can sabotage your efforts to land a new job.

One of my tricks for combating this is by practicing what I call Therapy By Proxy. When money is tight you’re less likely to run out and hire a therapist to guide you through the recession. But that doesn’t mean you can’t listen to the advice your friend’s (who may or may not be your layoff buddy) therapist gives her! For example, a friend’s therapist advised her to journal all of her angry thoughts, telling her that once she gets them all out of her head, she’ll figure out what to do with them.

I decided to do something similar. Since I’m planning to be confirmed on Easter, one of the hurdles I had to clear was going to confession for the first time in many, many years. I thought that if I was able to vocalize to a priest all the anger I felt towards my company, I could be free from it. I kind of expected to experience a flood of relief after he assigned my penance, or that I would feel “shiny and new” as one friend put it. But it wasn’t that dramatic at all. I finally just realized sloughing off all the resentment is more of a process than I thought.

So I guess the moral of the story is this: don’t feel guilty for having a very emotional reaction to losing your job, and don’t feel like you must be a robot if you find yourself feeling kind of detached. Also, flood “Dear Prudence” and “Ask Amy” with emails begging them to write an etiquette guide for the newly unemployed. Someone’s got to do it.

Military-to-civilian recruiting firm RecruitMilitary hosts a free hiring event for job seekers with military backgrounds Thursday, April 2. The job fair will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the University of Illinois at Chicago Forum. RecruitMilitary urges all job seekers with military backgrounds to attend: veterans with previous civilian work experience, individuals transitioning from active duty to civilian life, members of the National Guard and reserves, and military spouses.

When applying to jobs, there are many hurdles to overcome: the ever-expanding applicant pool, the unwieldiness of online application systems, the increasing cursoriness of a hiring manager’s cursory glance.

But have you considered that these difficulties might pale in comparison to the greatest hurdle of all? Yourself.

An application comprises several parts, and each step of the way you must appear polished, world-wise and up to the task. If you aren’t receiving job offers following interviews, or if you aren’t landing interviews at all–you should evaluate what’s wrong.

In a recent New York Times Career Couch article, psychologist Paul Powers and consultant Barbara Safani tackle questions about the tricky interview process. Safani says hiring managers prefer candidates to speak in specifics, not generalities. Without citing examples of how you executed a project or solved a problem, “you don’t differentiate yourself and you become a mere blur,” she said. And be sure you can communicate in 30 seconds what you’re all about and how you will add value to the organization. She also suggests asking questions about the direction of the company as whole, not just the job.

If things went poorly in the interview, or if they went well, it’s important to debrief with yourself or a colleague. Powers encourages a “post-interview review” to determine where there is room for improvement. Also consider asking a friend to conduct mock interviews with you, especially if you begin to notice that hiring managers are asking you the same questions again and again.