My prospects are not good....

I've been unemployed for a year and 4 months. My extended benefits expire at the end of December and I live alone so I absolutely HAVE to find some kind of job.

I have a Master of Social Work which I got late in life - just 6 years ago - and I'm 54. My job experience is varied but I have been trying to find a social work job. However the competition is intense as there are not enough jobs; this was verified by the man at the unemployment office. Social services are being cut and people being laid off. So I am thinking I will have to try to find something else but not sure how to go about it. Apply for retail or some kind of office job and be told I'm overqualified/overeducated? Leave the advanced degree off my resume (as someone advised me)? I have tried applying for customer service positions since my last job was partly customer service for a health care company, but most of those are also sales. I can't do sales; I've tried.

I have tried applying at temporary or other employment agencies but I don't hear back. In fact I don't hear back for most things I apply for! My resume and cover letters are well written. I get lots of advice but no real help..... no attempts at networking have led anywhere...volunteering hasn't led anywhere....

Believe it or not I'm not feeling hopeless or depressed most of the time (I am I think in a pretty good space as far as recovering from depression) but I am starting to feel useless and like I won't be able to do any kind of job, and that it would be too hard to work around other people since I'm so isolated!

Well I just wanted to put this out there. Maybe there are others in similar situations. I'm not opposed to real suggestions but tired of empty advice.

(And yes, I have gotten interviews - about one every 2 months)

Any way you could put up your shingle and go into business for yourself?

i agree i get advice but no real help. i want real help not advice because advice is not getting anyone anywhere it just keeps leading to dead ends at least for me it is.

SisterSRN-

I'm exactly where you are. Just a small difference - I'm employed part-time but in a job a high school student could do. I've got a friggin MBA! I've also thought about leaving off the MBA on myresume when applying elsewhere but it seems it raises more flags. Right now I leave the secretary thing off.

The best thing about the job - I was still somewhat depressed when I took it so at the time it was safe. But a year later I'm chewing at the bit to get the hell out.

I'd say go out there and get whatever you can find, but then I know the other side, taking something that your way overqualified for. Weigh the pro's and con's.

Lots of temp jobs around the holiday season - maybe apply to a big retailer?

Also, look under the subcategory of "Distractions" on the main community page. There is a thread that includes "job postings." Have you checked it out? Granted there's an assortment of comments, etc. But I think you'll find people in the same boat there as well.

I didn't know there was a job postings thread. Can't hurt to look. And yes, I know I'm not the only one and that does help, though I don't personally know anyone who is still unemployed.

I have attempted to start my own business and got as far as building a web site and getting business cards, but then I realized it would take much too long to build up a practice and I have to focus on a "real" job. Although focusing on anything is a joke!

Thanks Deb for relating. Yes I am going to try for anything and I know I am likely to get bored at certain jobs but anything would be better than having to give up my own apartment and live with my very dysfunctional relatives! I have been living alone for most of my adult life and I like it!

I am trying to put together a resume for office & customer service type jobs. So far I have asked 2 people to help me - who said yes - but they haven't come through. Working on it on my own. I've been crying at lot all week but in a way that's good because the reality of my situation is hitting home and I think I was in denial before.

The last two nights people have again offered me unasked for advice: "Did you try this? Have you tried applying there?" And in the middle of SOCIAL situations when I was trying to enjoy myself and keep it together. The one person I somewhat snapped at, and the other I said I don't want to talk about this right now (but it ruined my mood). You would think the least a supposed friend could do is offer their advice privately - not as if it's casual dinner conversation for goodness sake!!

But I am extremely sensitive about this subject right now. And unasked for advice has always been one the the things that bothers me the most. I know why -- it always feels like a criticism to me. That they are saying these things because they think I am stupid, that I can't think for myself, that I am not trying.....

All the therapy and support groups I've had and that feeling does not go away. Crap.

Well thank you for your support and for listening to me vent. I really appreciate it.

I also find it interested in giving "free advice" The ones I know are working or on a pension. Being self employed most of my adult. I like the to ask "advisors" if they ever made a living for themselves. They say yes. Then ask them if they ever paid for health insurance or their full Social Security. They always start making excuses.

Even though I am not exactly in your situation, I can understand what you are going through. Not financially but professionally. I am am a public school SLP with enough years and savings to retire at the end of this school year. That's nice but then what? I am to the point where I feel that I have contributed all I can to the present situation but after that, what??? Like you, I feel the need to be active, productive and contributory.
I noted in your posts a couple of tings that we as professionals are aware of but sometimes don't see in our won thinking. You mentioned a feeling of uselessness, that can be a difficult load to bear. You also indicated that it might do no good to start your own business. Both of those seem like negative predictions.
A couple of suggestions/querstions. About how much are you getting from unemployment? Have you considered trying to return to school and get a teaching certificate? Have you explored any nearby colleges that might need adjunct faculty? Here in TN, a substitute teacher with a degree makes about $75 a day. If schools near you need subs, that might be somewhat of a bridge to help you until something appears.
I had no idea that layoffs were hitting so close to home until my psychologist got laid off by the hospital. Hard times indeed.

Im in the same field. I have the credentials, a work history and excellent references BUT my depression is crippling to the point where I quit when I see dismissal on its way. Social Work is about as stressful as it gets. Im 59, 60 in two months. I hate to depress you but employers want younger employees they don't have to pay as much for and who can be molded into the current version of SW practice.I live in an area of Canada where there is a shortage of workers. Every two years it seems I crash and burn. Im coming out of a deep depression now that saw me fired at its peak. It is really really frustrating when normal depression is added to clinical depression. I would search for a niche where there is a shortage of SWs and use that lilly pad as a hopping place into a better place. Good fortune and luck on top of everything else you are doing.

To get some of the jobs I've had, I did leave off my advanced degree. I worked retail for years until I finally got a position in my field. At first I was totally against working in any other field other than what I went to school for. But nothing was coming in, so I eventually resigned myself to applying to whatever I could. This meant retail, fast food, etc. I landed a job at McDonald's pretty easily, but I was very depressed, and on rx painkillers and drinking heavily, and I was so miserable there that I left to go on a week vacation and never went back. I then got a job at Kmart. Not a horrible place to work, until I broke my back and had to move back home. The last job I had was at Lowe's, which I loved. That was a great place to work. I stayed there until my current job opened up and I was really cynical about applying because nothing had come of it in the past, but I got the job. If I hadn't gotten this job, I'd still be with Lowe's. They're a good company to work for. The only problem is most of the jobs are part-time and in the winter the hours are cut back dramatically. So there were times when I had to take a second job. Anything to try to make ends meet. My experience with the employment office was never productive. Nothing I ever did there came to fruition. It was me looking at company websites, looking through the classifieds and going into local businesses that got me my jobs. I've had to take menial jobs to survive in the past, anything to pay the bills. But if you wouldn't mind retail, Lowe's is a good place to work if you have one near you.