The first thing I thought of when I read Robert Half Management Resources survey on how long you could be out of work before it adversely affected your career, was that's the same amount of time that someone's pregnant, which, at least at the time, seems like a long time.
That said, given this job market, employers are much more understanding about candidates being out of work. When there are so many people who have lost their jobs, being laid-off or unemployed for a significant amount of time doesn't have the same stigma it did in the past.
Paul McDonald, executive director of Robert Half Management Resources, says “Most hiring managers recognize the economy has sidelined many outstanding people. In fact, some companies are taking advantage of the current employment environment to hire experienced workers who would not have been available one year ago.”
Employment Gaps
Keep in mind that if you do have an employment gap (or more than one) on your resume, there are ways you can tweak your resume and use your cover letter to explain. It can simply be a matter of not being too obvious (using years instead of months if you had a job for over a year) or including other work - freelance, volunteering, etc., on your resume. Your experience is more important than when you did it. Here's more on handling an employment gap.
Extended Unemployment Benefits
Also, there are extended unemployment benefits available in many states for unemployed workers. Check with your state unemployment office for details.
