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May 20, 2011, 12:50 PM
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Desert Kitty hates titles
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Member Since: Jul 2008
Location: TARDIS
Posts: 12,724
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jadedmoonbeam
It's not fun...especially when other people are working.
You can say "I'm between jobs...I used to work at company X doing Y."
Or you can say "I'm a ________ (whatever kind of work you used to do). Nobody's business to know that you aren't doing it right now.
I always tell people what i do, even if i'm not working because they might know someone looking for my kind of job.
Funny that you say that - I was talking to a girl I know yesterday that is a waitress at a local diner - i actually have a lot of respect for someone that does that - I could never do that - it's really hard, 16 hour days, on your feet, dealing with hungry rude people, carrying heavy trays and sometimes people stiff you for tips....it's very honest work. you can't fake your way through the day the way I've seen people do it in my profession.
People think a title and an office mean something...most of the time it just means you're better with the BS.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SadNJNY
Wow, I can really relate to this statement! I've been in so many corporate situations where people have allowed their jobs to somehow "validate" themselves. And I've also caught myself doing it at one point.
There is absolutely an attitude towards the unemployed, especially from people with jobs who rarely, imho, understand just how difficult the job market in the US is right now. I have a friend constantly telling me to "just take anything for now." She certainly means well, but having been in her own job for over 20 years, she really has no idea how difficult it is to even find "anything for now."
This is a very good thread, thank you.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jadedmoonbeam
It kills my mom that I left my job without having another one. I took a month off and then took a work from home job without benefits and way less money, to keep my sanity.
When I told my mom, first of all, she reacted like I'd been out of work for a year, not a month...and this was with my husband telling her it was fine for me not to work, totally supportive...I think she just really liked saying, "My daughter works for _______"
Unfortunately staffing agencies aren't what they once were because the job market isn't what i used to be. This is actually what i do for a living - I started in staffing agencies back in the 90s, when there were tons of jobs and we could just call someone and place them.
Now, one job opens and literally hundreds of people will apply for 1 job. Many of them will be qualified too.
I don't work in staffing anymore, but even in the corporate world it is the same thing. Whether it's a entry level or a senior level person, a lot of people apply - there are just so many more people looking.
Stay at home moms are starting to look because their husbands lost their jobs. Retirees are coming back out of retirement because they lost their retirement money in the stock market. Plus there's the millions of people who were laid off in the past 3-5 years who still haven't found a job.
I talk to people all day long who have been out of work for so long...i want to help all of them.
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Wow, lots to comment on here....Great posts, guys!  This leads me to ask a related question...does anyone think networking is overrated? This thing about telling everyone you know that you're looking, etc. Thing is, IMO, is people are different towards you if you're out of work. If you're not, their attitude is different. Personally,I don't think it works the way it''s supposed to. Any opening they might know about is something they're unlikely to share, unless they are unusually kind, because you are their competition!  And being employed, they have a better chance at getting it anyway.
Jaded, you're right that it's nobody's business what you do, but people make it their business for some reason. I have a lot of respect for people like waiters on their feet all day, dealing with rude/hungry people, and getting looked down on! Also, you're right it's wrong to assume it's just "temporary" for them, as they couldn't possibly want to do that forever! But you're right...it IS honest work and they can't "fake" their way through anything. There, customer service means something, whereas "customer service" at the phone company might mean just following the script, even if they are rude to you!!! Plus, you don't take something like waitressing "home with you" in the literal sense. White collar jobs might expect you to be available 24/7, and work at home as well as from the office! Work, work, work....You're right that BS-ing your way can be easier with your fancy title & office.
Geez, one month is not long! It's not like a year or more off, and besides you often need that to "regroup" or "recharge"!
You are so right that staffing agencies are not what they used to be! They suck now, and I have fond memories of when I was working for just one, right out of high school. It was how I got experience. They kept me busy, while also giving me a day or two off between assignments! NOW, there are many more agencies around than back then, BUT with less work available to spread among all of them! They are great at talking you into signing up. But then, they never call you. Sure, you call THEM, but you get that, "Sorry, we don't have anything now" when their stupid ad says they have TONS of jobs, etc. Blasted!
Staffing agencies also make you go for an interview with the client first, whereas before they just sent you. Staff at the agency used to be so nice in telling me stuff like where to park, whether I should bring lunch or there's places close by, dress code, etc. Now, they expect you to just know this stuff somehow. I was with as many as 4 agencies at one time, and not a single one had any work. Here,they are often in places that don't validate parking or have much available even on the street. So even if they don't charge you a fee (which they really advertise), you end up paying an arm & leg for parking.
Sad, you're right about that "take anything for now" thing, as it usually comes from people who have never been out of work a day in their lives. And they forget that they are not immune to that fate! And, a disconcerting comment I read from some "career coach" is that not working in your field or chosen field will hurt you, since it's something unrelated to what usually do! But if you have bills to pay?????!!! I read about a truck driver job that had over 1,000 applicants.
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