This new format provides a “frame of reference” regarding the relationship with your reference. How you worked together, what the relationship entailed, what you accomplished together or under their supervision. Allison & Taylor provided samples on their website on this new format. Check it out here.

There’s more to the picture that goes unanswered. What happened to those 164,000? Did they die? Did they start their own business? Win the lottery or gain an inheritance? How do 164,000 jobless decide, “ah the heck with it, I’ll just stay home, it’s no use.” As if they can afford to just give up a job search and sit on the beach.

The article goes on to cite survey data from Barclays, which shows, that about 35 percent of the people want a job but have become so disheartened that they have stopped looking for one. I have a hard time believing it. It’s more like 164,000 people stopped collecting unemployment benefits, which is how they measure unemployment data. The numbers reflect how many people are signed up for, and receive a bi-monthly stipend from their state employment commission. But when the benefits run out, it’s gone, and so are the people who are being counted as such. That makes the rate of “official unemployment” go down. Less people are collecting, but not all found work. They’re just no longer eligible. However, they’re labeled as being disheartened and “giving up.”

In my 11 years as a professional resume writer, I have only met one person who “gave up” on finding work. He decided to work for himself after 18 months in the job search (I did not write his resume). But it’s not very common to see people just throw in the towel and give up on earning a living. Further, when small business owners close up shop, they are not eligible for benefits, even though their employees are. There’s yet another segment that’s not being counted. And I’m seeing a lot of small businesses going belly up after many successful years prior to the recession.

When I launched 1st Rate Resumes in 2000, the unemployment rate was around 4 or 5%. Jobs were easy to come by back then, and my services were not really needed. But this past year, has been my busiest yet. That tells me that people are NOT giving up, but are getting desperate. Desperate for a competitive edge for those fewer available jobs, because what worked 5 or 10 years ago, no longer does. The job market has changed. And so have strategies for re-employment.

Plus, I have to ask, if employers can get away with this, what’s next? They already monitor our credit and our urine. Now they want to look at our Facebook conversations and photos of funny cats? Don’t be surprised if they ask you to hand over your checking account records so they can question a late night ATM withdrawal or debit card purchase. Or maybe they’ll seek permission from your grocer to see what you buy every week with that loyalty card of yours. Baby diapers? Pregnancy tests? Cigarettes? Beer? Where will it end?

It’s up to you if you want to hand over your password to a nosy employer. Remember, however, in doing so you are violating Facebook’s policy, and violating your friends’ privacy as well.

Additionally, I scratch my head at folks who look at résumé samples and copy sentences word for word thinking that’s going to grab the attention of a recruiter. I know I’d never copy anyone else’s tax return in order to get mine done, because it just won’t work. We all have a unique background. The same is true for the job search. Do you really have any idea what you might be leaving off? And what if the résumé you copied is out-of-date and has information no longer necessary?

If you’ve ever tried to complete your own taxes chances are you had to complete worksheets. A good resume starts with good information gathering as well. Both industries rely on worksheets, and client interviews for the best outcome.

While taxes need to be filed every year, thankfully we don’t need to apply for a job every year! Although a résumé should be updated once a year, or you should at least keep a running list of accomplishments and compile them in a folder. This should include annual performance reviews, job descriptions, awards, sales figures, and anything else where you helped your company make money, save money, become more efficient, etc. And just like your taxes, you’ll need to quantify in dollar ($) figures or percentage (%) points. Numbers are important!

Tax Filing fees are tax deductible. The same holds true for expenses related to the job search, which includes professional résumé services and software programs. So don’t forget to save those receipts if you do decide to invest in professional services.