Any other unemployed Dopers out there?

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
21

Maybe a mutual butt-kicking. I did a whole lot of nothing yesterday, and it really didn’t improve my outlook much.

There seems to be a common thread here - so many people leave fields they don’t particularly like, but don’t have any idea what else to do. I think I would like to start my own business, but I can’t figure out what that business should be, so I usually end up temping again (you’re so right about the agents, QuickSilver - they can only dream of making it all the way up to incompetence someday).

Well, I’m not giving up hope. I’ll figure out what I want to be when I grow up someday.

22

It would probably be fair to call myself unemployed, since I have no job prospects. Honestly, though, I haven’t been looking. I’ll be trying to gain employment in the upcoming months as a chemlab towel boy, but in the meantime I’m content with being young and broke. Work, for me, would be more about spending-money, of which I spend none - the reason why I have any money at all in the first place. School, reading, and designing projects keeps me happy during the day, so I never become bored.

For everyone else, keep your chins up and keep trying. I had a friend in Atlanta who tried forever to get employment after getting laid off. Finally, he got a good, steady, full-time gig that pays pretty well. Of course, it was with the Red Mafia, but he is a really great package runner with the chance of vertical position mobility. Good benefits, too.

23

I was laid off early Feb, thanks to the current political climate and my employers lack of cajones. Johnny LA, the temping world awaits you. It’s a strange jungle filled with “why are you here?” stares, condescencion, and low expectations. On the plus side, I’m getting 15 dollars an hour to read the Straight Dope today.

24

Eh? How’s that possible? Let me in on it… (if you can do it from 3,000 miles away, that is).

25

Since the expectations are so painfully low, finishing what was assumed to be 16 hours of work in a mere 3 is the usual name of the game. This leaves you much internet cruising time.

For example: Today, I was to chart 500 check stubs, just entering the amounts, the sender, the signer, and check number in Excel. I was to finish this tomorrow. A cup of coffee and 3 hours later, this was done. There are the ocassional temp gigs that are actual strenuous, but they are well worth the gamble. I had one a week ago where I sat in a BofA convention and handed out free fleece sweatshirts. This took 1 hour, whereupon all the normal-human sizes were gone. I then read a book. A whole book. ANd got overtime because I was scheduled for 10 hours.

26

I was working for a politician that was termed out in November so I’ve been unemployed since January. Sweet christ the economy sucks right now. I’ve sent out my resume to countless companies and have gone in for about 10 or so interviews and nuthin’. It’s really a blow to the 'ol self-esteem. I’ve never had this much trouble finding a job before. Apparently no one wants to hire an admin that doesn’t plan on doing it for the rest of her natural born life.

Fortunately, I’m in law school and work as a law clerk 12 hours a week (which is actually costing me money since they take my gross wages out of my unemployment check), so I keep busy. But my unemployment insurance isn’t really enough to cover all my living expenses expenses, my credit sucks so I can’t get any student loans and I’ve got no health insurance. Tuiton is due in a month or so and I’ve got no clue what I’m going to do.

Good times.

27

I registered with Manpower, Inc. They’re looking more for admin types, and not data analysts. Still, they have my number if a job comes up.

A few years ago, when I was trying to relocate here on my own terms, I went to Apple One in Bothell. Here I am, gobs of experience processing and analyzing corporate accounts receivable data, a libraryful of Easytrieve Plus programs I’ve written, and the better part of two decades working with JCL in TSO. Know what the woman told me? ‘Maybe you should look at Retail.’ Okay, she probably meant that if I were to get any job (say, with Nordstroms; which is based in Seattle), then I would be Johnny L.A.-in-the-spot if a more technical position opened up. But the way she said it was so condescending that I’m loth to sign up with Apple One.

Still crossing my fingers on the videography gigs. I really like that sort of thing. (Yes, I really liked my Easytrieve programming too.)

28

Temping definately isn’t a career (unless you’ve read and emulated the Fermata, which is a damn good book by the way…avocados…) but it’s easy money. And, sorry to say, the odds of Manpower or any other temp agency getting you a job you actually WANT are slim as all get out. Sounds like you have skills that are actually marketable, unlike me, who can really only play the banjo and stand on my head for hours at a time. Maybe if I combine the two…

29

Although I used Word and Excel in my job, they weren’t my primary duties. They were just tools I used in support of my job. (e.g., using Word to write documentation, goals, etc.; and Excel to keep track of my programming.) Manpower is looking for people whose primary talents are typing and filing. Of course I can do that. I’ve done it as it related to what I was doing. But it wasn’t my primary function, and that’s what they’re looking for.

30

I don’t guess workers-comp counts does it? I been on it for 2 months and will probably be lucky if I’m back to work within the next month. What really sucks is that after the busted kneecap and all the bone contusions and strained ligaments, etc. I don’t know if I’m gonna be able to stay on my feet on the concrete for 10 or 12 hours a day…What really sucks is that even though the workers-comp pays me for 40 hrs a week, this is the time of year where I’d be getting pretty much unlimited overtime. With the move on the hhorizon and the 3rd daughter due at the end of may, I could of used the money.

31

Bum here. Been out of work for nearly 2 years now. Still working with recruitment agencies, but there’s not much on the horizon.
18 years in IT about 13 in IT Project Manglement.
My job was sent to India (like a lot of IT work in my city) so I don’t hold out much hope of being employed soon.

32

Last week I had a great interview. At least I thought it was great. Got an e-mail Wednesday with the bad news. :frowning:

That’s three interviews and three refusals in one month. Very depressed.

33

It is seriouly disheartening, isn’t it? I’ve been registered with the temp agencies for almost two months now, and I’ve had one call for a job. If I’d known it was going to be such a dry spell, I would have taken the crappy offer. We’re not out of money yet, and I hope to be going back to work in a couple of months, but we’re not getting ahead in paying off our huge debts this way, either.

34

Signed on as a temp, got a job that was supposed to be three months.

Five and a half years later, I am still a “temp” at the same place.
(Long story, but at one point could have gone permanent, but decided not to do that.)

I might be unemployed soon, but who knows?

However, having gone through the unemployed route, first suggestion is to NEVER buy one of those books/pamphlets that offer “work at home and earn big bucks” books. All scams, both the books and the jobs.

A few suggestions that have always worked for me:

Don’t just look in the want ads for a job, go out and find a job that needs you.

Just like in the dating world, the more you are out there looking, the better your chances are. (How many times have you been shot down in a bar?) So don’t send one resume today…send 10, and another 10 tomorrow, and another 10 the next day.

Everybody has a talent. Your trick is to find who needs your talent. Often, those people don’t know they “need” you.

Blow people away with preparation. Do research before going to a job interview…the internet is your friend, so go armed with info.

Imagine your dream job and go for it. Anything less is not worth your time.

In the meantime, take anything…it is easier to find a job when you have a job (makes no sense but is true).

Location, location, location…sometimes you have to go where the jobs are, even if it means a major relocation. I know, easier said than done, but true nonetheless.

Unemployment sucks, but if George W. Bush can get a job, anybody can.

35

Sorry, but I have what might be a really silly question: is “worker’s comp” in the USA the same as our bizarrely-named “jobseeker’s allowance” (formerly the more sensible “unemployment benefit”) in the UK? I.e. paid by the Government to people who do not have a job?

If not, what is it?

36

Worker’s Compensation is a programme administered by the states that provides money to people who are injured on the job.

Disability Insurance pays people who are unable to work because of a disability. People can be on temporary or permanent disability.

Unemployment insurance pays people who have lost their jobs. It’s of a temporary nature, usually 26 weeks. The amount of the payments are based on your previous salary. UI is administered by the states, and there are requirements that you actively search for work. If you work, any income you earn is deducted from your UI payments. Typically you’ll have a certain amount in your claim, and the money would provide 26 weeks of cheques if you don’t work. By working, you ‘stretch out’ the time.

There’s also Welfare, which I think might be like The Dole. I don’t know enough about Welfare to provide any more information.

37

I am sort of unemployed. I run a paper route and also have work fixing up a house for someone. I would like ‘proper’ fulltime work but that is not happening. College degree with a double major. No job. What is the point?

38

I’ve been unemployed almost 7 months now. I was let go from by far the worst job I had ever held, so I was more relieved than anything. I actually had already planned to quit and at the time was taking courses to obtain my teaching certificate. Because they let me go and it was a “no fault” situation, I qualified for unemployment benefits.

It worked out for the best. I’ve been substitute teaching, which not only supplements my UE but also gives me valuable classroom experience that I wouldn’t have gotten were I still working. I just have to hold out until August and the start of the next school year. My UE will run out pretty much exactly when school ends in May, so I can hopefully cobble together a couple of part time jobs and just hang in until I get a teaching position.

I’m glad I have the teaching thing, though. I have to do the job searches for UE benefits, and I have sent out many resumes. So far, not a single nibble to well over a hundred resumes sent out.

39

You would freak if you knew how long I’ve been unemployed.

I don’t even know where to start again. At my age and condition, there is not much to do. Try being computer literate in the woods, and find out how many people need your help.

I could complain onward, but I need a “kick in the ass” and a direction. If I remain as I am the insanity will get me, if not the poverty.

40

Where there’s life, there’s hope, Hermit. Trite but true. So, you’re living in the woods, and somehow not able to find work? Think the two might be related?

My mom left her husband of 30plus years four years ago, when she was around 59. She had no computer skills, and had only worked as a teacher many decades ago, a housewife, and a doughnut shop worker. She is currently working at a job as a document scanner at an Oil and Gas company that is paying her a very healthy salary plus full benefits right now. You need to figure out what you want to do, what you need to do it, and how to get from where you are to where you want to be. Baby steps, baby.