[nonightowl]

This is a thread for those of you here that are part of the MILLIONS of unemployed in this country. The Great Recession is NOT over for everyone, and since the forum for the Recession has been dormant, I started this in this forum instead.

Feel free to vent about how you're doing all the "right" things (networking, follow-up, new suit for interviews, etc) yet still can't get work or even interviews. You're NOT lazy, etc. like the rest of society and employers always imply.

You can vent about an interview, an online application that asks if you're employed, etc. etc. etc.

Anyone who is employed, please hold your tongue and refrain from bashing the unemployed. They get beat up enough as it is, from politicians, the public and employers. It can happen to anyone, at any time and any industry. Besides, there's other places online to bash the unemployed.

You may have a crappy job too, but at least it's a job. If you want to complain about your job, there can be a separate thread for THAT!

VENT AWAY!!!!

[kaliope]

I am fortunately working, but I work for a resource center and deal with a lot of people who are unemployed. one of the biggest complaints I hear is about is the move to the online application process. people do not believe that this gives them the chance to "sell" themselves to a boss and prevents them from getting jobs.

[nonightowl]

Thanks, Kaliope.

I can't believe just one reply to my thread, with all the members joining my social group for the unemployed lately....

[offthegrid]

Frankly, I beat myself up a lot over this issue because the fact that my business isn't instantly successful and I can't pull a 50k+ job out of the hat, I do feel that using the economy as an excuse is well, an excuse (for myself). I've become what I always have tried to avoid and I don't feel like I deserve to participate in society. I feel like it's my fault because I wasn't/am not savvy enough, smart enough, charismatic enough to get by in life. I'm not even hot enough to bag a rich man and be a trophy wife lol.

The best I can do is ignore it and take it a day at a time.

[SmileHere]

Well, technically I've been long-term unemployed (partly because of my own wish), but I don't do all the super things written in the initial post, so I didn't feel like I 'belong' in this thread.
Maybe some people also fret that an employer might find the posts or such?

We have the online CV thing in our country too and it's a hassle. It takes ages to find the appropriate education out of a pull-down menu and you can write all of it and then it might not save etc. Also the 'official' website for jobs is clunky and search is very rudimentary. (Then you have a better site search-wise and it has only a few jobs.) I know they probably mean well and have probably poured a lot of money into the system, it's just very clunky.

[Strive4health]

I am employed now, but I would like to rant on behalf of one I love: my husband.

Employers, why do so many of you SUCK so bad? My hubby is not a bad guy. He is very motivated. He works hard, and he produces tangible results. I've seen the actual data collection from his results, and he works so hard he puts veterans to shame. Oh, didn't notice how your long-time employees just sit around and play on their phones while my hubby is kicking ***? Why do you come over and take a look at Mr. Fist. He might be able to teach you a lesson

It is hard to have to bear witness to this crap. I know my husband is experiencing a deep bout of depression, and it won't go away until he gets a job. He's been to 10 interviews and not a single job offer. All people do is focus on stupid crap instead of the skills and motivation he has to offer.

I recently read in my local paper how employers would rather hire people with no experience, than long-term unemployed experienced people. Which makes no ****ing sense, because people with experience require less training and can be expected to take on more responsibilities. But leave that up to the marvelous employers who are supposedly helping our economy "grow." Yet, there is high long-term unemployment.

[spring2014]

Amen night owl I hate unemployment they want me to change my mind about my availability to.work I.want me to.change it.to okay I will work any shift any time now when I can't do that I'm still waiting for my test results from the psychological evaluation that I toolbox October 21 nothing yet still

[ManOfConstantSorrow]

And then of course there is underemployment where many jobs, especially newly created ones, are short or zero hours and people cannot work the hours they want to: The Work Foundation | Bell-Blanchflower Underemployment Index

[CosmicRose]

The only jobs I get called back for are jobs that directly relate to how attractive someone is, like a receptionist or a cashier at a trendy clothing store. I know that's the only reason people want to hire me because I have nothing else on my resume as far as references or actual work history or degrees. I'm going back to college soon to get my associate's degree. I feel like I'm generally unemployable right now unless I want to skate by on my looks alone, but I absolutely hate customer service positions and that's the only thing I get offered. It kinda blows. They don't care what's behind my face as long as I smile for eight hours and repeat "Thank you Ma'am, come again!"

[UpHill]

Darn that's a great GIF of the cat!

Don't get me started!

US human resources is a tyranny run by lawyers. I got fired from a college tenure-track teaching position purely because of a student hallway whisper campaign complaining about my methods. I have no idea how students can evaluate a teacher and have that count on your performance review. But that's the way it works! Student evaluations count for double over your peer reviews!

I've been unemployed for 6 years. Teaching positions in my field (art) have been 3 per year since 2005 (in the college professional journal employment pages, now all online only).

I don't have the skills for present day jobs. My years of experience, my lateral skills, all count for nothing; they are a liability. Age is a liability. Losing that job at 54 devastated me and devastated my reputation. A hole that big in a resume is the kiss of death. I did nothing wrong. I simply had a clique of "unsatisfied customers." (Students are clients, doncha no; the customer is always right) I filed grievance with the college HR; the HR manager was an attorney!. Not even an HR professional; an attorney.

I've filed hundreds of applications. Since the Great Crash, I've not had one call back. I have talked with three actual managers who found me and called; HR in each case rejected me, and I found out that you cannot reapply to these jobs. You can't fix it. You can't talk directly to the hiring manager or project lead. HR is a complete firewall. I am too overqualified, and too old; I found that out from networking contacts in the HR field. I am NOT suited to self-employment and not going there again; I've tried that, and went bankrupt the first time.

This is absolutely terrifying. I currently function on only social security SSDI, but it is soooo meager I am destitute. It's utterly humiliating. I went from a $55K/year job with terminal graduate degrees to zero income, and grinding poverty. This is so humiliating!

[ManOfConstantSorrow]

A story one hears all too often: too overqualified, and too old I hope you can find some work that you enjoy and pays enough.

[gloamingone]

I finally realized (with the help of therapist and pdoc) that I can't work right now, but when I WAS looking, all I could find was part-time $12/hour bookkeeping jobs. I am a master's level financial accountant, and it hurt to have to go in and beg for one of those jobs. Of course, they'd all tell me I was overqualified. So WHAT????

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[FourEyesAK]

I've been lucky that I've never experienced long-term unemployment, but I've had friends who are extremely qualified in their fields, struggle with *years* of unemployment. I was recently briefly unemployed of my own choice and I recently went back to work ona part-time basis because I'm attending school full-time. But, one of the supervisors said something to me that stuck out to me that alluded that I was getting old for a career change! I'm 36! I didn't catch it at the time, but when I was thinking about the conversation with the supervisor later on (she is older than me) I felt somewhat offended. What does age have to do with it? If anything, I find life experience to be very beneficial to one's job. I've never been accused of being overqualified, but sheesh, sometimes you just need a job to pay the bills. Some of these employer should take a chance on those people because should a higher position come open later on, then you could have a person who's already familiar with the organization in there. Seems like these employers are not thinking ahead very well and not thinking in their own best interests.

[CosmicRose]

Being told you're too old for a job sounds very insulting. I think employers do that because they consider potential illness and retirement. For example, take a 55 year old man who is applying for jobs. A company knows that the retirement age is 65. That means, disregarding any potential illnesses, the employee would have on average 10 more years on the job and then the company would have to account for his retirement benefits which costs the company money depending on their retirement package or benefits or pension etc...so they would rather hire a 35 year old as opposed to a 55 year old to be on the "safer" side. It's cut throat and horrible but that's business for ya.

[nonightowl]

Originally Posted by CosmicRose

Being told you're too old for a job sounds very insulting. I think employers do that because they consider potential illness and retirement. For example, take a 55 year old man who is applying for jobs. A company knows that the retirement age is 65. That means, disregarding any potential illnesses, the employee would have on average 10 more years on the job and then the company would have to account for his retirement benefits which costs the company money depending on their retirement package or benefits or pension etc...so they would rather hire a 35 year old as opposed to a 55 year old to be on the "safer" side. It's cut throat and horrible but that's business for ya.

Fewer companies even provide retirement (traditional) even more. They want you to fend for yourself, meaning have a 401(k) or an IRA or something like that. People are lucky if they can stay on the job a year even, and it's not always in one's control on how long you stay on a job. The company may have other ideas.......

20 years ago, and later, people would stay on jobs for years and earn a pension. That's rare these days. You're right that it's about money. Everything is.

I am 49 and closed my solo law practice about a year ago. I have bipolar disorder and have been in a depressive episode since about that time. It was severe but now I would categorize it as mild.

I don't want to practice law anymore (too much stress) but would like to work as a paralegal. I've been looking for a job as a paralegal for about 6 months, have applied to tons of jobs online and via regular mail and got only 2 interviews so far.

My feeling is that an employer should be glad to have an attorney who's willing to work as a paralegal. Do you guys think my desire to work below my skill level, so to speak, is hurting me?

I'm so tired of having nothing to do and feeling unproductive. In about a week I'll be volunteering for a museum to get out of the house and feel productive.

[CosmicRose]

Originally Posted by newgal2

I am 49 and closed my solo law practice about a year ago. I have bipolar disorder and have been in a depressive episode since about that time. It was severe but now I would categorize it as mild.

I don't want to practice law anymore (too much stress) but would like to work as a paralegal. I've been looking for a job as a paralegal for about 6 months, have applied to tons of jobs online and via regular mail and got only 2 interviews so far.

My feeling is that an employer should be glad to have an attorney who's willing to work as a paralegal. Do you guys think my desire to work below my skill level, so to speak, is hurting me?

I'm so tired of having nothing to do and feeling unproductive. In about a week I'll be volunteering for a museum to get out of the house and feel productive.

Hi, no I don't think you wanting to get a job below your previous job is hurting you, I think its a good idea to take on a possibly less stressful job and they would be lucky to have someone with such great experience such as yourself. Don't give up, keep applying, its only been 6 months, make sure you're sending out resumes basically every single day. You could also apply to other positions that are more office related, you could look at law enforcement buildings that might have an open administration position available. Be open minded and apply to jobs that relate to your experience but it doesn't mean you're confined to a courtroom or a lawyer, these skills can be applied to many other businesses and institutions. If they ask why you've been out of work for x amount of time, say you had personal family business to take care of (like being a caregiver for a family member).

Originally Posted by CosmicRose

Hi, no I don't think you wanting to get a job below your previous job is hurting you, I think its a good idea to take on a possibly less stressful job and they would be lucky to have someone with such great experience such as yourself. Don't give up, keep applying, its only been 6 months, make sure you're sending out resumes basically every single day. You could also apply to other positions that are more office related, you could look at law enforcement buildings that might have an open administration position available. Be open minded and apply to jobs that relate to your experience but it doesn't mean you're confined to a courtroom or a lawyer, these skills can be applied to many other businesses and institutions. If they ask why you've been out of work for x amount of time, say you had personal family business to take care of (like being a caregiver for a family member).

Thank you for the good advice.

Sadly, in my career field, it seems like employment is not based on skill or even education (except a doctorate is required for university teaching for the most part), but who you know (or more specifically, who you're sleeping with…). I'm starting to suspect that you have to have been born to the right family, grew up in the right environment/city, go to the right school(s) and somehow magically know EVERYONE. And maybe you'll get a job. Of course only one job isn't going to pay the bills, so you either have to have two or three jobs or marry rich. If this wasn't literally the only thing I'd ever want to do with my life, I wouldn't bother. I really don't have the energy to get to know EVERYONE and be everyone's best friend. But apparently I have to. Apparently, I have to get involved with all this social media crap because it's the only way to "communicate" with people (that's a laugh!). I never wanted a Facebook again…I find it psychologically damaging, but maybe I have no choice? Maybe I have to become the complete opposite of myself? I sort of had an idea that I was going to have to sell my soul to get anywhere, but yikes…it's difficult to just get rid of morals like that.

And the saddest part of all is the only leads for jobs I have at the moment (that I can do while being a full-time doctoral student which affords almost 0 time to get to know EVERYONE AND have an actual full-time job AND work on a new and developing relationship) are leads I've gotten because of who I happen to be sleeping with. Yep, apparently I'm a *****.

[jayblaze]

I have been out of work for so long that I developed mental and health issues.
I was "blackballed" from being hired and had problems even with getting in the door.
9 years later 6 months later, I am still unemployed the process it is rigged to where you still excluded from being interviewed or considered to be hired.
I have no felonies and dress professionally but no such success.
I have a degree and still no job, I get no government assistance I'm still out here on these street surviving.

I' m still looking but no results so what you say to peoples who just gave up or about to give up?

[nonightowl]

Originally Posted by jayblaze

I have been out of work for so long that I developed mental and health issues.
I was "blackballed" from being hired and had problems even with getting in the door.
9 years later 6 months later, I am still unemployed the process it is rigged to where you still excluded from being interviewed or considered to be hired.
I have no felonies and dress professionally but no such success.
I have a degree and still no job, I get no government assistance I'm still out here on these street surviving.

I' m still looking but no results so what you say to peoples who just gave up or about to give up?

People who give up or are about to give up aren't even counted. So the "rate" is not accurate at all. The only thing I can think of to count people is to have a Census like survey, given to every single household. I mean, they count homeless people...and the two (LT unemployment and homelessness) are connected, if they would realize this.

The rate is padded by low-wage temporary jobs too. SO, they say it dropped, but they only count people drawing unemployment. Government is so incompetent in so many ways they use "statistics."

[growlycat]

I had a 2 year bout of unemployment back in 2009 and it was harrowing. I went from a corporate salaried position to not being able to get a pt supermarket job (although I interviewed!!) I finally finally got a great salaried job at my previous level, but not without my days wondering if I'd ever work again.

Some things I've learned from the experience---

1. Do not isolate yourself! Keep in touch with others out of work, keep in touch with your friends, work on your resume at a coffee shop. Be around people. Talk talk talk. Don't be ashamed to tell the world you need work. You never know who will provide the right lead!

2. Volunteer if necessary. Keep active and involved.

3. Visit your town's Workforce Center (if in USA)--they can provide job search help no matter what level you are at. AND they often offer grants or other funding for classes!!! I ended up with so much help, I am so grateful to them.
I originally thought it was for welfare recipients but it is for anyone.

4. Don't take rejections personally. Keep moving on, moving forward. Fill out tons of applications. Be willing to take anything. All you need are stepping stones.

5. For the most appealing jobs, spend more time on the application and re-format your resume. Tailor your resume to the job by doing this--take as many key words in the job description and work them into your resume. You may need to do this for each job (I suggest putting this work into the jobs that appeal most, not all) HR often uses a program to scan resumes for keyword matches. This gets your foot in the door

6. Join Linked in!!!! Connect to recruiters, former co-workers etc.

7. In interviews remember that most things are train-able, but enthusiasm can't be learned. Stay upbeat, energized and act happy to be there. I've seen great candidates knocked out by having a crappy attitude.

8. Don't give up on yourself.

[growlycat]

PS some churches and civic groups offer free job help groups or classes

[CosmicRose]

I went to a clerical testing appointment today for one position and the conference room was filled with people, every seat was taken. There must have been 25-30 people there. For one position. This is something I'm seeing often with every pre-interview appointment I'm going to, whether its an orientation for the job, a pre-test for the job, etc. there's always a full room of people for the position. The competition is strong. It sucks.

[nonightowl]

Originally Posted by CosmicRose

I went to a clerical testing appointment today for one position and the conference room was filled with people, every seat was taken. There must have been 25-30 people there. For one position. This is something I'm seeing often with every pre-interview appointment I'm going to, whether its an orientation for the job, a pre-test for the job, etc. there's always a full room of people for the position. The competition is strong. It sucks.

Not only are there are a lot of people, employers want "extroverted, bubbly, vivacious, energetic" people. (And these are not sales jobs) It's like if you're not the Energizer Bunny, you can't do the job. They should just say "Introverts and unemployed need not apply".