Looking for a job? Get a job first -- or something

It's common knowledge that the job-seeker who is already employed has an edge anyway (even if it's the psychological advantage of dealing from a position of power.) However, it's looking like having a job is almost a prerequisite for getting a job. From the Wall Street Journal:

With unemployment at 9.4% and rising, it’s a buyer’s market for employers that are hiring. But many employers are bypassing the jobless to target those still working, reasoning that these survivors are the top performers.

“If they’re employed in today’s economy, they have to be first string,” says Ryan Ross, a partner with Kaye/Bassman International Corp., an executive recruiting firm in Dallas. Mr. Ross says more clients recently have indicated that they would prefer to fill positions with “passive candidates” who are working elsewhere and not actively seeking a job.