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Advice Seekers Flooded Phones For Job Coaching Hotline

CHICAGO (CBS) -- The outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas wrapped up its annual job advice hotline event Wednesday, and there was no shortage of takers.

As WBBM Newsradio's John Waelti reports, Challenger, Gray & Christmas has been hosting the free call-in advice sessions for the past 26 years.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio's John Waelti reports

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This year, chief executive officer John Challenger says the phone lines were jammed with job seekers looking for all kinds of advice.

"Long-term joblessness – 'how do I deal with that issue?' Being considered for jobs that they felt they were overqualified for; maybe they want to get out of; find something better," Challenger said.

The firm said 10 percent of the job seekers expected it would take more than a year for them to find work, but 30 percent expected a new job within 3 months. Both are up from last year, according to a survey of 600 callers.

The majority – 65 percent – expected to find a job within six months.

Challenger says while the economy is improving, unemployment remains at recession-like levels.

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