to ask why people say its easier to get a job when you're in a job?

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I don't gt it at all, I've been looking for a new job and it's been hard. I apply for a job and usually someone phones me asking me to come for an interview. But I cant take phone calls at work and by the time I'm finished work the person calling me is gone. Then there's trying to get time off work for an interview, or trying to leave work early for an interview, without them knowing you are desperate to get another job. Also collegue got through the second interview stage and was offered a job but was told she had to start immediately and she couldn't as she had to work her notice (the company wanting her was Sainsburys).

Am I missing something?

It's because being unemployed is seen as a big red flag.

I'm self employed and in my head I imagine that it'll be challenging to get back into the job market. My skills have evolved and I don't have the up to date knowledge in some areas. Plus the lack of current references will be a big hurdle. I'm going to do this for another 7 years ish until family is complete and at school so who knows how I'll get a job then

Gaps in employment always make it harder.

Having A job doesn't make easy to find a new job. But having a gap in employment makes it harder.

I think its a dog with a bone! They want what someone else has - competitors love stealing staff

Yep. If someone else employs you currently, you seem a safer bet than if you're not currently employed. If you feel more of a gamble, you have to do more to persuade them.

Of course it should matter why you don't currently have a job but as most people who don't have a job for a "bad" reason will pretend it's for a better reason, that tends to be disregarded.

Because it demonstrates that you are already perfectly employable.

I'm not sure how fair that makes it, but most recruiters think it's a positive.

Quitting a job in order to look for another can give the impression you're a flouncer.

The phrase 'it's easier to get a job if you have a job' refers to having experience and evidence of competency not practicalities of applying.

I think it's all about mindset at the interview. If you already have a job, you don't NEED the interview to be a success, you WANT it to be a success, so the pressure is off. When you go in, unemployed, you can come across as desperate as you really NEED the job, as it can influence your whole life. As someone who regularly interviews candidates, I've seen this at first hand. Hope that makes sense?

As lozter says, the ease isn't in the logistical side at all- it's in the fact that you are much more likely to be seen as a viable candidate and thus get interviews.

TheNaze so how do you come across as not desperate? I'm not working at the moment and I would like to impress the interviewers with my enthusiasm about the job...would you mistake that as desperation?

I've probably interpreted it wrong, but I have always taken that phrase to mean that when you have a job, you make contacts and are exposed to different jobs and people, so that widens your potential job pool. I'm not very good at explaining, but say you have a job working in a cafe in a craft centre (like I did) - well then you hear of all the jobs that are going in all the other shops, you meet suppliers who bring the food etc, and you might be attracted to a role that you hadn't even known existed before.

You have to say to recruiters or people ringing about jobs that you can only take calls eg at lunchtime or leave a voicemail and you'll ring them back.

Interviews can be arranged for a lunch break, after or before work (give excuse of personal appointment or doctor/dentist). Some companies also do phone interviews. Also annual leave you can take half days for interviews.

Notice period should be sorted out any job who wants you ASAP and not to work your notice isn't worth having in my opinion.

I think a lot of jobs do want people who can start immediately. If most notice periods are a month, by the time the job has been advertised and interviews have taken place, it will probably be 3-4 weeks into the current postholder's notice period. If the employer then has to wait another month before someone can start, there will be a pretty big gap between one person leaving and the next person starting, which makes handover trickier and the transition quite disruptive.

If you're in a situation where you can start immediately that might put you in a favourable position in some cases.

As someone who has been involved in interviewing at various stages, I'd agree with the pp above. It's not about the practicalities of getting to interviews, it's about it looking bad if you don't have a job. There are valid reasons to leave a job without another one (eg kids/full time study) and less valid reasons.
It does surprise me how inflexible some employers are though. If you're struggling to take phone calls email is your friend. Its perfectly legitimate to explain to a potential employer that you struggle to take calls but can answer email promptly (within a day). Good luck!

From the employer's point of view, the fact that an applicant is prepared to go through the difficulties of taking phone calls, time off for interviews, working notice etc whilst working in another job shows that they are keen and are probably not applying for hundreds of jobs. Whereas with an application from someone not working the motivation is less clear, they might be firing of hundreds of applications because the jobcentre told them to or they might be really keen, it's harder to tell.

As a prospective employer I would half expect an already working applicant to say they can't take calls / have certain days off work for interview because it shows a good attitude towards their current employer. If they just drop everything that tells me how they might treat me in future. I appreciate that large employers such as supermarkets might not show flexibility in this respect towards changing interview dates etc though.

Sorry x posted I mean I'd agree with pp saying it's about it looking better if you have a job!

As a prospective employer I would half expect an already working applicant to say they can't take calls / have certain days off work for interview because it shows a good attitude towards their current employer.
Agree. I've done a couple of out of hours telephone interviews for potential employees as an initial 1st stage to stop us wasting each other's time.

And regarding notice period I'm a bit horrified re sainsburys... Some jobs do require someone immediately so you use that as a screening process before interview. If as an employer you decide to interview you are effectively accepting the applicants given availability. Someone at sainsburys got that very wrong!

It demonstrates that you are employable. I would expect most people to email about an interview (we certainly do) as that way the important information about time, location, panel composition, interview/assessment tasks are all clearly written down for the candidate.

If you can't take calls during the day then you should make it clear in your application and request contact by email

DW tells me that a man is always more attractive if he already has a girlfriend. If someone else fancies him, that increases the odds that he's OK.

The saying about jobs is analogous. If you don't already have a job when applying for a new one, your new potential employer is going to wonder if there's a good reason someone else hasn't already given you a job.

If you've already got a job, you then look like you really want the new job, not just applying for any job as you need work.

It is easier - done it as has DH - you get better response rate if you already have a job.

It is a pain though taking phone calls and arranging interviews - especially if you don't want current employer to know - that can be particularly hard with references as you can say don't approach current employer and they still do.

If you really can't have your phone - as oppose to having it and letting it ring or pick up and saying need to call back - vague stuff going on and need phone if anyone asks then move to somewhere private.

If you really can't have phone - know some people for child protection reasons can't - then you need to take a break or a lunch break check for calls them back during the day as soon as possible.

IME recruitment firms were better at dealing with restricted times to call or could e-mail.

I've used accrued holiday to reduce contract period at one place - depends on your HR dept but it might be open for negotiation to leave before contract ends. Most places understand if you have a job you have to work notice.

Interviews were a bigger problem - I took holiday but not always easy to do known others ring in sick.

I think basically if you really are desperate for another job you find ways to jump through the hoops necessary - even if it pisses of current employer.

It shows you are currently employable and able to stick with a non ideal job/ have strong work ethic rather than someon who can't cope if everything is less than rosy

op, it's all about creating an illusion. The only accepting calls at certain times, almost interviewing them, rather than vice versa, being comfident & most importantly remember you're the prize. They should be honoured you've even applied!