Every day, millions of people have to cope with the consequences of losing their jobs. In this process, the psychological, social, and economic functions associated with work can be lost. Additionally, those affected often face societal prejudices and stereotypical assumptions. The central focus of the study is therefore on two perspectives and their possible divergence or affinity: On one side are the external perceptions of those individuals who are not affected by unemployment but consciously or unconsciously arrive at assumptions and beliefs about how unemployed people are doing or why they became unemployed. On the other side are the self-perceptions of unemployed individuals. They express why they lost their jobs, how they experience this loss, what experiences they have with their social environment, and what they are doing to find employment again. The author investigates whether and how these two patterns of perception relate to each other and where stereotypes and prejudices may exist.