[johnf22881]

I have been applying for jobs like mad as of late, not even 1 interview. It has to be mentioned that I have a terrible work hisory: I quit so many jobs, just walked out of jobs, and am not a model employee. I cannot imagine any of my previous employers would say anything good about me if a prospective employer called (I was in sales mostly and did well at it, but beng bipolar caused soooo many fireworks). I also have things like DWIs against me -- and employers want to know that these days. On top of those things I am not driving right now because of a DWI, so that makes things that much more difficult.

I've even applied for jobs that I have no interest in, just to earn some income. I really had to swallow the ounce of pride I have left to do it (I have always made between 65 and 90K a year and the jobs I desperately applied for only pay the minimum). Yeah, I am really disgusted with all the idiotic things I've done. I wish I wasn't foolish, never did drugs or drank, and really wished I saved something to fall back on. I guess I am really saying that I don't see any light at the end of any tunnel.

[BuggsBunny]

How are you filling out your resume? Leave off any mention of mental illness. Put as positive a spin on it as you possible can. "I was having a little medical problem during that period, but have it under control now." You may have to start at the bottom and work your way up again to get yourself out of this mess. Even if it is beneath you, there are always places like walmart that are hiring, and it will give you a chance to rebuild your resume. You may need to prove you won't walk out on yet another job before you can get into the higher paying ones again.

There is always the option of temping, if you don't feel you can handle full time without walking out. That will give you a solid looking job period, without actually working a 40 every week. It will also give you a chance to build up positive references to use instead of your old jobs. Worth a thought.

[bowhunt72]

I agree with Buggs. You may have to start at the bottom - way at the bottom. Yes, WalMart is usually hiring, yes, it's probably beneath you - but it's where I'm working now. I was making $80,000 + as a well respected professional firefighter/paramedic, and now I change oil and tires for 9 bucks an hour. Big step down, major blow to my pride, but my illness cost me my real career and I had to make money somewhere.

Best of luck as you continue your search.

[johnf22881]

Originally Posted by BuggsBunny

How are you filling out your resume? Leave off any mention of mental illness. Put as positive a spin on it as you possible can. "I was having a little medical problem during that period, but have it under control now." You may have to start at the bottom and work your way up again to get yourself out of this mess. Even if it is beneath you, there are always places like walmart that are hiring, and it will give you a chance to rebuild your resume. You may need to prove you won't walk out on yet another job before you can get into the higher paying ones again.

There is always the option of temping, if you don't feel you can handle full time without walking out. That will give you a solid looking job period, without actually working a 40 every week. It will also give you a chance to build up positive references to use instead of your old jobs. Worth a thought.

Thanks. I absolutely agree about starting at the bottom, I am trying that. I do not say a word about being bipolar or anything about issues. I say I left employers because I want new challenges, which is true to some degree (My challenge is figuring out how not to walk out of a job). I would even join the armed forces right now, but they sure as sh** won't take me. Damn, this is a struggle. It doesn't help that I have a terrible reputation on a personal level either, wonder if it is really that small of a world.

[johnf22881]

Originally Posted by bowhunt72

I agree with Buggs. You may have to start at the bottom - way at the bottom. Yes, WalMart is usually hiring, yes, it's probably beneath you - but it's where I'm working now. I was making $80,000 + as a well respected professional firefighter/paramedic, and now I change oil and tires for 9 bucks an hour. Big step down, major blow to my pride, but my illness cost me my real career and I had to make money somewhere.

Best of luck as you continue your search.

Thanks for your input. I am ok with the bottom right now and if I have to change tires and oil I will do it, but usually that requires a dl and I don't have one. I don't know if I have the courage to work in direct view of people at a walmart, like a cashier or whatever.

How did you get on the FD?

[Moose72]

Depressing subject for me as I had psychosis at my last job and they basically fired me. All I was trying to do was what was best for my health and called the dr immediately. I never said why.

[dmight]

Originally Posted by johnf22881

I have been applying for jobs like mad as of late, not even 1 interview. It has to be mentioned that I have a terrible work hisory: I quit so many jobs, just walked out of jobs, and am not a model employee. I cannot imagine any of my previous employers would say anything good about me if a prospective employer called (I was in sales mostly and did well at it, but beng bipolar caused soooo many fireworks). I also have things like DWIs against me -- and employers want to know that these days. On top of those things I am not driving right now because of a DWI, so that makes things that much more difficult.

I've even applied for jobs that I have no interest in, just to earn some income. I really had to swallow the ounce of pride I have left to do it (I have always made between 65 and 90K a year and the jobs I desperately applied for only pay the minimum). Yeah, I am really disgusted with all the idiotic things I've done. I wish I wasn't foolish, never did drugs or drank, and really wished I saved something to fall back on. I guess I am really saying that I don't see any light at the end of any tunnel.

Just have push threw all the objects in our way to secure employment

[dmight]

Originally Posted by johnf22881

I have been applying for jobs like mad as of late, not even 1 interview. It has to be mentioned that I have a terrible work hisory: I quit so many jobs, just walked out of jobs, and am not a model employee. I cannot imagine any of my previous employers would say anything good about me if a prospective employer called (I was in sales mostly and did well at it, but beng bipolar caused soooo many fireworks). I also have things like DWIs against me -- and employers want to know that these days. On top of those things I am not driving right now because of a DWI, so that makes things that much more difficult.

I've even applied for jobs that I have no interest in, just to earn some income. I really had to swallow the ounce of pride I have left to do it (I have always made between 65 and 90K a year and the jobs I desperately applied for only pay the minimum). Yeah, I am really disgusted with all the idiotic things I've done. I wish I wasn't foolish, never did drugs or drank, and really wished I saved something to fall back on. I guess I am really saying that I don't see any light at the end of any tunnel.

Keep trying don't give up something will happen soon.

[johnf22881]

I have no choice but to keep trying because it is only a matter of time before I am out on the street or something.

[JsterJ]

Part of the problem could be if you're applying for jobs that have significantly less income than your last job. As weird as it sounds, you don't want to appear to be overqualified. Employers will begin to wonder why you're applying for this job and will think you will ask for more money than they want to give you.

A good resume is also very important. If it looks professional, you'll be more likely to get a second chance on a lot of things when it comes to interviews and such.

I just went through something similar. I graduated college and was applying for my first "adult" job. The problem was, I was overqualified for wal-mart because I had a degree, but under-qualified for everything else because of lack of experience. A good reference and a good resume was what got me into my current job.

Good luck!

[johnf22881]

Originally Posted by JsterJ

Part of the problem could be if you're applying for jobs that have significantly less income than your last job. As weird as it sounds, you don't want to appear to be overqualified. Employers will begin to wonder why you're applying for this job and will think you will ask for more money than they want to give you.

A good resume is also very important. If it looks professional, you'll be more likely to get a second chance on a lot of things when it comes to interviews and such.

I just went through something similar. I graduated college and was applying for my first "adult" job. The problem was, I was overqualified for wal-mart because I had a degree, but under-qualified for everything else because of lack of experience. A good reference and a good resume was what got me into my current job.

Good luck!

Thanks for your input. I think I do look overqualified. I have really toned down my resume for the lower-paying jobs, but it has been tough to do because all my jobs have started off on the bottom and then I immediately got kicked up to management. I would have a 3 month great run and then all of a sudden I would start to come undone. I also know if they do call my employers they would find it hard to give me a good review. I think I might make up a job and talk a friend into posing as my boss because I am out of options.

[JsterJ]

Most jobs don't call references anymore, and most workplaces aren't allowed to say much more than if you worked there or not. The best way to get a good reference is if you know someone who works there and if you give them your application to give to the hiring supervisor.

Professional-looking resume doesn't just mean it looks nice, it also means that you have your most important skills/abilities/experiences at the top of the list and that you have a professional-looking email address. Basically, if the interviewer only looked at the top thing on every list (and they sometimes do), you want it to be the best thing.

[BlackPup]

Best of luck, job hunting really sucks. My best wishes to you.
I'm trying really hard to keep my current job because there is nothing else out there that I can get.

[Moose72]

Add me to the group...

[bowhunt72]

"How did you get on the FD?"

Hiring onto the fire department was a very long and complicated process. It started with taking a written test (I tested #4 out of 400 applicants). Since I was in the top 50, I was invited back to take the physical capability test checking strength and endurance during simulated firefighting tasks. Once I passed that in the top 10, I was brought into the office and given my application packet. It was 20 pages long and covered everything you can imagine. There was a very long list of questions to answer. I had to list every job I've ever worked, including during high school, with a name, address, and phone number of a coworker and my supervisor for each one. I had to give references that had seen me frequently in the past year. I had to give references that had known me for at least five years. For every work and personal reference, I had to fill out a waiver saying that there would be no repercussions from anything negative they said about me and they had my permission to answer in any way they saw fit. When the paperwork was done I had to go give blood and urine samples for drug testing. I had to take a lie detector test. Once that was all done I had to interview with the chief and assistant chief with an assistant checking over all of my answers. In addition to all the usual interview questions, the assistant read anything my employers or references had said that could be taken negatively and asked me to explain them to the chiefs. After all of that, I was given a conditional offer of employment. I then had to go take a very thorough physical exam, lung function test, EKG, etc. to basically verify that I wouldn't fall over dead fighting a fire. Only after I passed that was I finally hired.

Great job, but not an easy one to get.

[Moose72]

Wow! I suppose I have asthma so I wouldn't get in.

[johnf22881]

Originally Posted by bowhunt72

"How did you get on the FD?"

Hiring onto the fire department was a very long and complicated process. It started with taking a written test (I tested #4 out of 400 applicants). Since I was in the top 50, I was invited back to take the physical capability test checking strength and endurance during simulated firefighting tasks. Once I passed that in the top 10, I was brought into the office and given my application packet. It was 20 pages long and covered everything you can imagine. There was a very long list of questions to answer. I had to list every job I've ever worked, including during high school, with a name, address, and phone number of a coworker and my supervisor for each one. I had to give references that had seen me frequently in the past year. I had to give references that had known me for at least five years. For every work and personal reference, I had to fill out a waiver saying that there would be no repercussions from anything negative they said about me and they had my permission to answer in any way they saw fit. When the paperwork was done I had to go give blood and urine samples for drug testing. I had to take a lie detector test. Once that was all done I had to interview with the chief and assistant chief with an assistant checking over all of my answers. In addition to all the usual interview questions, the assistant read anything my employers or references had said that could be taken negatively and asked me to explain them to the chiefs. After all of that, I was given a conditional offer of employment. I then had to go take a very thorough physical exam, lung function test, EKG, etc. to basically verify that I wouldn't fall over dead fighting a fire. Only after I passed that was I finally hired.

Great job, but not an easy one to get.

Wow, that was a serious process. What was the lie detector for?