# So am I pretty much unemployable? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 17, 2016, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-pretty-much-unemployable/743417 "2016-01-17T17:29:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![wellanuff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/57b2e6/32.png) [@wellanuff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wellanuff)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-pretty-much-unemployable/743417/21 "2016-01-17T21:36:37Z")
> [@pidgeon92](#): > > Have you considered teaching? A person with your skill set should do very well teaching Japanese in the US. You know, that thought had crossed my mind in the past, but maybe tutoring would be a good fit. A big part of why I want to work in an office is because freelancing had lost the element of human interaction for me. When I started in the late 1980s, there were phone calls to arrange my schedule, visits to the office to drop documents off, etc., but after moving to the U.S. and with the advent of e-mail, I could go for years without actually talking to any of my clients in Japan. (There was no need to chat or schmooze or anything, because they kept sending all the work I could handle as it was.) Tutoring would have that element of human interaction. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-pretty-much-unemployable/743417/22 "2016-01-17T21:38:32Z")
> [@wellanuff](#): > > Tutoring would have that element of human interaction. I was going to suggest tutoring, but I think most people seeking a Japanese tutor would want a native speaker to get the accent better. ---
**Author:** ![wellanuff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/57b2e6/32.png) [@wellanuff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wellanuff)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-pretty-much-unemployable/743417/23 "2016-01-17T21:56:25Z")
> [@kayT](#): > > I got fired from a job when I was over 40 and was able to get a job at a school district that had a personnel commission which tested for jobs. I was always good at passing tests. I came #1 on a couple of tests for clerical jobs which had basically nothing to do with anything I had ever done before. The top three people on the tests got interviewed and I came first on the interviews. Then the person who was actually doing the hiring took the top three, and hired me. During my time at the district I tested for other jobs whenever something that paid better came open. I got two of them and turned down for about four or five others. > > The point here is that if you can get to an environment that takes age out of the equation you can get hired. I hope you can find a personnel commission (I also hear that the Post Office has similar hiring practices) and that you can test well! Man, if life were based on tests, I’d be on easy street. I searched for “personnel commission” and my local school district (in Illinois), and everything that came up was in California. (I see you’re in Texas.) So the terminology might be different here, but I’ll look into this. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![wellanuff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/57b2e6/32.png) [@wellanuff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wellanuff)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-pretty-much-unemployable/743417/24 "2016-01-17T22:03:08Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > You might have to buck up and change your mind about that. Right off the bat, you’re ruling out your best prospect. Yeah, I get that, but what is really behind my situation is a desire to rejoin the human race (slight exaggeration). I was freelancing and investing for the past 25 years, doing both out of my home with minimal human contact. I am still in a position where I don’t HAVE to freelance for survival…but that won’t always be the case. If my situation was desperate, I’d be freelancing for sure. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-pretty-much-unemployable/743417/25 "2016-01-17T22:10:03Z")
> [@Mr.Nylock](#): > > A full time job with benefits, stability etc. may be hard to come by. Generally speaking, the trend in employment is toward “gig” type jobs AFAIK. This is a well-debunked myth and I wish people would stop repeating it. The percentage of working Americans who are self-employed has actually decreased over the past 20 years. The types of jobs available have certainly changed a bit, but full-time employment is still very much a thing. ---
**Author:** ![wellanuff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/57b2e6/32.png) [@wellanuff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wellanuff)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-pretty-much-unemployable/743417/26 "2016-01-17T22:10:11Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > I was going to suggest tutoring, but I think most people seeking a Japanese tutor would want a native speaker to get the accent better. Yeah, I think there is a place for a non-native in helping people who are just getting started, but I could be wrong on how the student would perceive that issue. My accent is not bad (my wife is Japanese and we speak Japanese exclusively, and I have a decent ear), but I do have an accent. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-pretty-much-unemployable/743417/27 "2016-01-17T22:23:14Z")
> [@wellanuff](#): > > Yeah, I think there is a place for a non-native in helping people who are just getting started, but I could be wrong on how the student would perceive that issue. > > My accent is not bad (my wife is Japanese and we speak Japanese exclusively, and I have a decent ear), but I do have an accent. Have your wife tutor, and you can play golf! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![wellanuff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/57b2e6/32.png) [@wellanuff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wellanuff)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-pretty-much-unemployable/743417/28 "2016-01-17T22:23:21Z")
> [@GythaOgg](#): > > This. And it’s a great way to ‘get started’ and make contacts. My daughter has JLPT level 3 and is currently doing retail/customer service for Disney, and is doing well at making connections and networking. She’s using it as a springboard for bigger things with the company. She hopes to gain level 1 proficiency eventually and in the meantime, she’s got a job. > If you can do interpretation as well as translation, there are phone services that are always desperate to hire people. We use Language Line at my job. I understand the pay is excellent for expert interpreters and it can even be done as work-from-home. The people who can do specialized stuff like medical or business are in even more demand. Good for your daughter. Is she with Disney in the U.S., or in Japan? If she is learning Japanese in the U.S., my hat is off to her. I had to go live in Japan for a few years before I got to that level, and I doubt I could have done it without going the “immersion” route. I got JLPT 1 in 2003, but that was because I hadn’t heard of it before then, and my then wife said I should take it just for the sake of having the certification. (I had been translating for about 15 years by then with all of the work I could handle, so I didn’t see the point.) When I went to take the test, people were cramming for the test in the hallway whereas I was just winging it, and I started to get nervous (“maybe I should have studied…”) but I passed. Didn’t ace it or anything, but I passed. Thanks for the tip on Language Line. I’ll look at that. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-pretty-much-unemployable/743417/29 "2016-01-17T22:25:01Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > This is a well-debunked myth and I wish people would stop repeating it. The percentage of working Americans who are self-employed has actually decreased over the past 20 years. The types of jobs available have certainly changed a bit, but full-time employment is still very much a thing. In areas yes, but in narrowly focused job categories where employer demand for services is variable and everyone else is freelancing, not so much. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-pretty-much-unemployable/743417/30 "2016-01-17T22:33:49Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > This is a well-debunked myth and I wish people would stop repeating it. The percentage of working Americans who are self-employed has actually decreased over the past 20 years. The types of jobs available have certainly changed a bit, but full-time employment is still very much a thing. Hmm, interesting. I added the “AFAIK” at the end of my post so as not to give the impression that it is something I have looked at in any depth. It is a pretty common meme - I hear it often on NPR (which is not a source I consider authoritative). Not to derail the thread, but where is the media getting this idea from? What data are they bludgeoning to reach these conclusions? As you said, it is repeated very often; so often I was beginning to think it was a generally agreed upon thing. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-pretty-much-unemployable/743417/31 "2016-01-17T22:39:10Z")
> [@wellanuff](#): > > While I appreciate you taking the time to respond in depth, I’m not sure why there is all this virulence in your post. A “tough love” approach?:rolleyes: I made a point of saying that I was laying out the situation realistically, not self-flagellating. I’m not depressed or beaten down, and not sure why you got that from my post. Since I was not seeking employment from the SDMB but instead seeking feedback on my prospects, it would be kind of pointless to emphasize the positive and minimize the negative, right? I am a self-aware person who has strengths (I said I was a good translator, a very non-sad-sackian comment) and weaknesses, and if commenting frankly about my weaknesses makes me a sad-sack, I can’t do anything about your perception. > > I am not in danger of losing my house, or in any other sort of desparate situation. I would like to return to work in an office environment, but I suspect that is not very feasible for me. Hence my OP. > > Your comments about freelancing were spot on…but not anything I wasn’t aware of. As I said, I have zero desire to resume freelancing. However, your observation that I would have to do that before I could consider getting 9-5 employment is useful. As is “9-5 jobs for 52 year olds starting over with rusty skills is a pipe dream.” Thanks. (Not sarcastically.) I refer you back to your OP. > [@](#): > > So a weak work history, lack of recent experience, failed to keep up with the field, old, lack of network, poor interview, an overwhelmingly positive outlook (wait, isn’t today Opposite Day?), and just the fact that it is hard for anyone to get a job, am I right to think that trying to get a conventional job by conventional means is going to entail a lot of futility? The skill set you are bringing to the table allows for jobs in poorly paid, physically demanding service work or leveraging the skills you have in translation. If you are an introvert who has trouble in face to face interactions your technical translation skills would seem to be the leg you are going to have to stand on unless you have other desirable skills you have not discussed. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-pretty-much-unemployable/743417/32 "2016-01-17T22:39:13Z")
A random thought. Do you understand the basics of science? Can you communicate that both in English and Japanese? Japan has a significant nuclear program. So does the U.S. Seems to me there is a place for somebody to do some translating there… How you get that spot is beyond me. But I have no doubt it exists (and probably pays fairly well). Best of luck! ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-pretty-much-unemployable/743417/33 "2016-01-17T22:42:24Z")
Can you teach people to read, write and/or speak Japanese? I would guess there is almost certainly a way you can make money doing that. Can’t you? ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-pretty-much-unemployable/743417/34 "2016-01-17T22:44:42Z")
Try searching for Japanese on the various job sites. You may find a job which will fit your personality. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-pretty-much-unemployable/743417/35 "2016-01-17T22:44:56Z")
> [@wellanuff](#): > > I tried my hand at investing for the last 12 years. Gave it a long, patient shot, and I guess I am just not good at it. The last 12 years? There were huge market disasters during the past 12 years - especially in 2008. I wouldn’t beat myself up for losing money because I cannot imagine how anyone made money during those Hellish times. The trick is to invest “other peoples’ money” and not your own. So, if you lose, you are losing “other peoples’ money” and not your own. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-pretty-much-unemployable/743417/36 "2016-01-17T22:47:03Z")
> [@pidgeon92](#): > > Have you considered teaching? A person with your skill set should do very well teaching Japanese in the US. Apologies. I must learn to read the entire thread before I shoot off my mouth. I suggested the OP teach as well. But I did that near the end of the thread and you did that near the beginning. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-pretty-much-unemployable/743417/37 "2016-01-17T23:02:43Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > …Such things as “poor interviewing” can be mitigated with training. I would suggest joining something like Toastmasters. I say this because I know someone who can barely string 2 sentences together do the best presentation I’ve ever witnessed. He was informative, funny and made everything easy to understand. … I’ll add another testimonial for Toastmasters: my father (like me) was very introverted, and got a lot of good out of Toastmasters. It didn’t turn him into an extrovert, but it did give him some tools to use; by the end of his working life he had a secure, well-paying job. Admittedly it was in accounting (where introverts tend to do well), but he was able to handle the constant meetings, etc., that are part of business life. ---
**Author:** ![mischievous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@mischievous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mischievous)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-pretty-much-unemployable/743417/38 "2016-01-17T23:45:38Z")
If you’re willing to learn about some of the hot technologies in biology today, there are about 10,000 Japanese biotech companies trying to put together English-language FDA filings, websites, grant applications, and papers for publication. It would probably have to start out freelance, but some of the larger companies would probably be willing to take you on full time pretty soon. ---
**Author:** ![HeXen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@HeXen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeXen)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2016, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-pretty-much-unemployable/743417/39 "2016-01-17T23:56:48Z")
I know this guy who speaks Russian. He started his own translation company online from his home and companies pay him very good money to translate Russian to English documents of some sort. It’s nothing for him to earn a few thousand a week. ---
**Author:** ![BrassyPhrase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea666f/32.png) [@BrassyPhrase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrassyPhrase)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2016, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-pretty-much-unemployable/743417/40 "2016-01-18T00:22:17Z")
I read the whole thread. And I saw that I wasn’t the only person that thought, “Teach or tutor Japanese!” I’ve taken classes in it myself (years ago, but with the BFF that ended up teaching English in Japan). The best teacher was a professor at UT who was Japanese (he was into linguistics–that was probably what he was there for and the language thing was extra) so he was able to teach us about where the sounds come from and help us get the l/r thing right. But I’ve also taken conversational Japanese at a community college (North Harris/North Harvard/ Now Lonestar). I think her qualifications were she was Japanese and spoke English. She was great, but not a teacher. These were all years (maybe decades? ago) but fluency in more than one language in the US is an awesome skill. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-pretty-much-unemployable/743417.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-am-i-pretty-much-unemployable/743417.md?page=3)