DEVELOPMENT OF THE “GETTING READY FOR YOUR NEXT JOB” INVENTORY FOR UNEMPLOYED INDIVIDUALS

This article describes the development of a self-administered inventory to provide unemployed job seekers of varying education levels and backgrounds with insight into their job search. The inventory was refined in 5 phases with multiple samples. Evidence for predictive validity was provided by examining the relationship between the inventory components ( job-search intensity, Internet use, job-search confidence, job-search clarity, support, stress and worry, skills, barriers, job-search experience, difference between last wage and wage desired, time spent in job search, and number of interviews in last 2 weeks) and employment outcomes several months later. The inventory, titled “Getting Ready for Your Next Job” (YNJ), is shown in the Appendix. Interested users may download a PDF or Microsoft Word version of the YNJ from http://www.ynj.csom.umn.edu/.