The reality is that more than 40% of unemployed have not worked for six months or more, says Rosemary Haefner, chief human resources officer at CareerBuilder. Job seekers need to take steps to make themselves stand out as a candidate during the search process.

The first step is creating a resume that grabs attention. Then job seekers should read industry publications so when a company does reach out, they can show off their knowledge. Signing up for online classes and courses focused on the industry that job seekers are targeting is also a good way to show employers that they are proactive in staying relevant.