If your resume declares that you're currently unemployed and desperate for a job, you could be at a disadvantage in your job search. I suggest you change "desperate" to "not desperate" right away.
Why "Not Desperate for a Job" is Better
According to Don't Quit Your Job by Susan Joyce, a passive job seeker (someone who's employed and not actively looking for a new job) is more sought after than an active job seeker who could be seen as desperate for a job.
In her article, Joyce contends:
"...the most desirable potential employees are those passive job seekers who aren't looking for a job. The passive job seekers are happily employed because they are well-paid, highly-successful people. It's similar to the old "playing hard to get" dating strategy. It's not logical, but it is human nature."
The "I'm Not Desperate" Resume
So what should you do if you're currently unemployed and actively looking for a job but don't want to look desperate? To avoid being put at the bottom of a pile of job candidates, make yourself seem like a passive job seeker by looking busy during unemployment on your resume. Put something in your work history that's current. That could mean:
Volunteerism
School or relevant training
Pursuit of a passion
On your resume, these activities might look something like this:
2011 - present, Committee Member, Berkeley Chamber of Commerce
or
Present, Student, Javascript and WordPress, Franklin City College, 2011-present
or
2011 - current, Blogmaster, IranHereAndNow.unknown.com (more than 15,000 impressions per day)
The idea is to look involved, content with your current status, yet open to a conversation about a new "position," but definitely not desperate for a job ... even if you really are.
