Jobs around Denver? My kids need help.

[Blue_In_AK]

My daughter and her family moved to Denver (Aurora, actually) the end of August and have been having a hell of a time finding work. It was against my better judgment that they moved since they were quite comfortable here financially, but my daughter has wanted to leave Alaska since high school (she's now 37) so when the drummer for their band, who was originally from Denver, moved back there and suggested that they come, too, they jumped at the chance.

Here's the deal. My daughter had been working in the legal field here over the past 12 or 15 years, as a legal secretary, paralegal, office manager, and most recently self-employed as legal support services doing whatever anyone needed her to do. She was always busy and turning down assignments. Her first job out of high school she worked for a large local security company, starting as receptionist and working herself up to assistant manager within five years. She's highly motivated, very smart, a very quick learner, adaptable, and has a great personality (like her mom, of course).

My son-in-law has managerial experience, having managed a couple of Kinko's here, and also knows computers inside and out.

They've applied for dozens and dozens of jobs and aren't even being responded to, maybe because they don't have history in Denver, I don't know, but they're starting to feel really discouraged. My son-in-law posted on his Facebook "WTF is up with people in the Denver area? I've sent over 100 resumes out in the last 6 weeks for jobs that I am HIGHLY overqualified for and received ONE call back. I interviewed for a position that pays 12/hr??? WTF...I haven't made that since ...1995? However at this point I was excited at the opportunity.....BUT.....the b**** never showed for the 2nd interview!?! If I intended for my family to be unemployed and on the verge of homelessness.....I certainly would have chose someplace TROPICAL!!"

You can cut through his frustration with a knife, poor guy.

Plus they're looking for a good bass player so they can get the band going again. (I always think of John Belushi. Haha ... they're on a "mission from God.") Heather sings, Robby plays lead and the drummer is there, so all they need is the fourth. They've auditioned a couple of guys, but the fit isn't quite right. They billed themselves here as "four decades of rock 'n' roll," and also had a country set, so they're quite versatile in that, as well. They were making about $3200 a month here just with the band, their share.

Like I said, I wouldn't have left if I were them, but I'm not, so....


Any help from any quarter would be deeply appreciated. They're really good people, good Democrats and if someone gives them a chance, they won't be disappointed.

[DavidDvorkin]

1. I've been out of work in Denver since May

The local job market is picking up, and our unemployment rate is below the national average, but it's still not a good time to be looking for work here.

In my field (IT), it's not essential to have local connections. I don't know about law. I've seen a fair number of ads for jobs supporting hardware, both desktops and networks.

[Blue_In_AK]

2. Thanks.

It's good to hear that things are picking up a bit. I'm sure that something will come along for these two soon, and once they get their foot in the door they'll be fine. They're both highly motivated and have great skills and references, but I think it's always kind of psychologically deflating when you don't get hired right away. Up here, Heather got every job she ever applied for, so being rejected is kind of hard on her.

I told them I think they ought to concentrate on finding the bass player because it seems like no matter what, people like to go to bars to drink and dance and enjoy some good music. Everybody always had a good time when they played up here.

Patience was never one of my daughter's strong suits. :)

[Blue_In_AK]

3. Good news!

My son-in-law was hired by OfficeMax today. He'll be making less than his unemployment benefits have been, but he's just glad to get his foot in the door. Thank you, David, for replying to my earlier post.

[intheflow]

4. I'm so glad to hear this!

Or, I guess I am. How fucked up is it that he's got a job making less than unemployment and he's happy about it? I feel the same way at my job. *sigh*

You still for a possible January visit? Sebastian misses you! (Me, too!)

[stewartcolbert08]

7. You should check out this link also

I always see IT stuff on here. Worth keeping an eye on anyway :shrug:

http://www.gssa.state.co.us/announce/Job+Announcements.nsf/$about?OpenAbout

[vinylsolution]

5. Hats off to your son-in-law!

I've been applying for a better job here in Colorado Springs for four years - no joy.

I've sent out probably 100 applications in that time, and got only one reply.

In this town, you can be an astrophysicist working for the war machine, or you can make beds in Motel 6, for minimum wage.

There's almost nothing in between.

Considering moving back to Florida.... pretty desperate of me, I know.

[stewartcolbert08]

6. Here

I'm not sure what other qualifications they have but here are a few websites I have been keeping my eye on waiting for an opening in my field in southern colorado. Hope this helps! Is a matter of fact, tell your daughter to check out this website, click on "recently released job announcments" and look under the date 012910. I'm pretty sure there was some administrative assistant stuff on there. Also tell her to click under "other job links" and there are some other places they might be able to look on there also. Good luck!

http://www.gssa.state.co.us/announce/Job+Announcements.nsf/$about?OpenAbout