Support Thread for unemployed, jobseekers, entrepreneurs... post here for support & to share.

[crispini]

I'm unemployed for 1 month now and I'm having a problem keeping my spirits up this season. I'm sure there are lots of other people out there in my boat. I thought perhaps we could share a thread once a week, or more often if there is demand, to discuss what we've been trying in our job hunt, share tips and tricks, and encourage each other.

I'll start: I do user interface design (technical type job for computers) but I'm kind of specialized, so there are very few jobs out there who want exactly what I do. I saw 2 posted this week; both were not in my area and did not want telecommuters. That is where I'm at, so I am exploring my options as to how I can sell myself to be eligible for more jobs. I have a good recruiter I'm working with, but he says there will not be a lot until January. I have a good prospect at one firm, but they told me this week they will not be hiring until January or February. So I have been having "informational interviews" with people in areas which are similar to mine, or with friends who are in a similar boat. I had one of these interviews Tuesday, one on Thursday, and I will have one on Saturday and a brainstorming session with friends on Sunday. Also, talking to my neighbors the other night, I think there is some demand for a unemployed / jobseekers support group in my neighborhood, so I am going to send an email to the neighborhood association head and ask them to forward it to the big email list to see if there are some people who want to do this.

In short, "Plan A" -- get a job in my field -- is looking very thin at the moment, so I am trying to brew ideas for Plans B, C, and D. However, I am living off my savings and this is not good, so I am probably going to have to look in to getting some kind of "anything" job, sooner rather than later if I can.

How about the rest of you guys, what are you doing, what are you trying to do, and how are you holding up?

[ogneopasno]

1. Have you checked out elance.com?

I know they have some work for computer/programming people. I don't pick up a lot of work there, mainly because I get it elsewhere, but my experience with elance has been good so far.

[crispini]

2. I'll check it out, thanks!

I'm starting to wonder at what point I should just say, "screw it, I'll move for work." The problem is, that I own a house, and it will be quite difficult to sell the house and relocate in this economy -- also, of course, I have so many friends, connections, and family here that I really hate to give all that up in these uncertain times.

[ogneopasno]

5. Good luck with it -- that's why I like elance, because they assume you'll be working from home.

It's all freelance, although anything could develop into a long-term gig. I hope they have what you're looking for!

[nebenaube]

22. yeah... I've checked it out...

It works out to about $100 for 30hrs of work.

[ogneopasno]

28. Hm. I don't bid on jobs unless they meet my (writing and editing) rate, which ranges from $25-35

an hour depending on what the work is. I've found people that are willing to pay for that.

[WhollyHeretic]

3. I'm sorry to hear you lost your job. Have you tried a place like Robert Half Technology?

They found me my current full time position but they also came to me before that with a lot of contract work.

Good luck :hi:

[CatholicEdHead]

7. Just be aware of a 100%+ pay markup

From what they bill out and you receive. The same goes for TEK Systems, it is high, but not as extremely high.

[WhollyHeretic]

9. I never did any contract work for them. I was looking for a full time position.

The money they offered for contract work was usually better than the other companies I got offers from. I was hired by my current company through them but I've always worked directly for my current company. They just paid Robert Half a fee.

[crispini]

8. Thanks, that's worth looking into as well!

:hi:

[CitizenLeft]

4. Hi Crispini

I'm saddened to see someone who worked so hard for the campaign to be out of work. Hell, I'm saddened to see anybody out of work. I'M out of work. I lost my job the day before my birthday. I'm in accounting - both AR & AP. It's been 2 months for me. There are some accounting jobs out there, but the competition is fierce, the average salary being offered seems to be getting lower by the week, and companies in trouble are cancelling job postings they place on Monster, Careerboard, and all the other job networks. I can probably hold out until mid-April, but then I'll be in trouble. I've been interviewing on average once a week, but like I said... 2 jobs I've interviewed well for were retracted completely, they decided not to hire at all. That's what's going on out there, companies, especially small ones, are starting to operate in survival mode. I even had a recruiter lose her job right in the middle of her trying to find me one. It's awful.

Hang in there. If you're able, think about relocating to find a job in your specialized field. I can't do that, but maybe that's an option for you.

Thank you for starting this thread. Good luck to you.

PS: I saw the mention of Robert Half in one of the replies. I've gone to them, they also place accounting jobs, and they are one of the best recruiting agencies. Give that a shot, good advice.

[crispini]

10. Wow, an interview a week -- that's wonderful.

Good for you!

The nice thing about being me is that although I have very few interviews, there are also very few of people who do what I do around, so there's not as much competition, and I'm very good at what I do. On the other hand, there just isn't as much opportunity out there either.

Typically when my prior company billed me out hourly, they'd ask $100 or $150. I talked to a recruiter the other day that was only offering $50, and you could not telecommute. Ick.

[CitizenLeft]

13. the IT industry has really been hit hard.

Actually, it never recovered from the first blows 5 years ago. So many IT jobs have been out-sourced. I know, I've also done help desk work, for 6 years. I have 16 years of accounting experience, too, and am an (unpublished) writer. So my resume is really strong, but that also means that the older I get, the harder it will be to land a job. I'm not 50 yet, and I don't look my age, but there's no question that I'll soon be up against the age issue in a few years.

[NightWatcher]

6. I too am unemployed and pigeon-holed in my profession

My industry is one of those that disappears when the economy and personal spending dries up (no I dont sell luxury boats). I have been under employed for two years, tried to open my own business which folded a year later, and have been trying to work in "related fields" for the past year.

I was a government contractor and transitioned to the private sector, but there is not much call for intel specs and private investigators right now. When I apply for a job, all the HR person sees is 10+ years of "spookiness". Good news is three months ago, I was solicited for something very bad, which I of course turned down.

Now, I am trying to live on the super cheap. My SO is also somewhat pigeon-holed in her career (marine biologist-marine mammal observer). We are trying to live as cheap as possible, while exploring alternatives for traditional needs.

I am currently looking into plans to convert shipping containers into affordable housing. I would like to develope environmentally friendly, self sustaining housing that I could set up somewhere rural and then send the plans to others. I have looked into growing my own food and dropping out of the rat race.

I'm afraid I'm going to be living in a box before too much longer, I only hope that it is one that I have converted into a home. (hyperbole)

[CitizenLeft]

11. wow. I'm looking at that photo of a container you posted...

That is not a bad idea. Have you seen those Extreme Living episodes on HGTV? I think it's called Extreme Living... it's amazing what people can do to the most unusual materials to make a home. Connect a couple of those, and you'd have a house. Good luck, I hope you find something soon, and be at it long enough to start that container business. Better yet, I hope we ALL find something, and you won't have to start a container business, unless you want to.

[crispini]

12. Wow, it sounds like you had a very interesting job.

Or at least different.

I am trying to think, with all this unemployed (and underemployed) talent out here it seems like we should be able to do SOMETHING to harness our "brain power" and put ourselves back to work. I have been "munging" on that for awhile, so far it's just a "brew" of thoughts in my head at the moment.

[sarcasmo]

20. That's a cool house made out of a trailer container. Who made that thing, do you know?

[justabob]

14. lost my job in september

I was a catering manager at a well established local restaurant, and I was good at it, but I kinda snapped under the strain of restaurant management. My bosses said I had to go. Unfortunately most of my working life has been spent in restaurants, and I only have an associates degree that took me several years to earn. I did get a job selling insurance, but it was a 100% commission, cold calling, and would have had to work 6-8 weeks until I had any shot at making any money of consequence *if* I was lucky and survived the difficulties of those weeks working for free. It is a job that I really don't have the personality for. I do still have the option of going back to that after the holiday, and I might, but insurance is really NOT what I want to be doing, for many reasons.

I have applied for every kind of job I can find that doesn't require a 4 yr degree or other certification. I have received *one* invitation for interview from my resume online and that job would be selling cars-Nissan, at a location 25 miles from home. At this point I am going back to my roots and trying to wait tables, but even with decent connections in the business I can't find work as a cocktail, waiter, banquet server or anything. I have applied at hotels, bars etc and there is nothing. I have one lead to work at the American Airlines Center cocktailing, and a friend there who is doing her best to get me hired, but it is very frustrating.

Nothing to do but carry on and hope something comes along. *sigh*

[crispini]

15. Hey! You must be in Dallas.

:hug:

Me too. I will keep my eyes open for you. I have signed up for "Career Connections" which is a local career networking group. I'm going to my first meeting next week and I will keep you posted as to how it goes.

Have you tried the temp agencies? I think that might be my next stop.

Are you coming to the county party holiday party next Friday? I think I might be there. Maybe we could say hi! :hi:

[justabob]

16. I am indeed a dallasite

Please do keep me posted, I appreciate any help! I did not know about the party. I would love to go.

Yes, I have applied at temp agencies as well, and I am hoping hoping hoping something comes out of it.

:hug:

[crispini]

21. The party info is on the home page.

http://www.dallasdemocrats.org/default.aspx

Let me know if you decide to go and I'll look for you there -- I'll PM you my cell phone.

[justabob]

27. Thanks!

I can probably make it especially since it is close by and early :) I'll let you know.

[justabob]

33. aa center called! hooray! interview tomorrow

I never thought I would be so excited to be any kind of server, but I am so grateful for even a chance! It won't be much money, assuming I do get a job, but I can at least stay afloat for a few more months.

[crispini]

34. Good luck to you!

:party::toast::party::toast::party::toast::party::toast::party::toast:

[supernova]

17. Here's my story

I was a contract technical writer starting in 1999.

I have been laid off three times during this decade so far including now for the past couple of months.. :grr: :grr: Yes, it's tiring, dispiriting, and downright awful. Everyday I get up and fight the urge to give in to despair. I really would love to have someone who could provide encouragement and let me know that I'm not crazy, nor unuseful and untalented. But it is really, really hard doing it alone. :scared:

While I enjoy technical writing, and I am very good at it, like you crispini, I am one of the few in my area in my field who does it well. At this point, I'm in my mid 40s and I am very anxious to get away from contracting. It's way too cutthroat and capricious, and is disconnected from your performance. You could be "employee of the month" one month and still be laid off the next. (this is not to far from what happened to me once.)

My choices are:

* to find something safe and dependable, like I dunno nursing or something, but I don't have the science or math skills to do nursing. Though I was trained as a teacher, I am a lousy teacher. That door is closed.

* Try to start up my own writing business, with an emphasis on technical writing. Maybe get enough technical jobs to support more creative endeavors. (This is the most attractive to me, but it is again, very iffy and there is no back up for me. I'm alone.)

* I am up for a job at a state medical association. They need a database admin to keep track of their board exam questions. This would be a good place to ride out this (d)(r)recession and replenish my savings. The competition is fierce though. The recruiter told me they got a much bigger response than they anticipated. :-(

* Lurking in the background all this time has been a desire to go back to school and get my Masters. Not really because I expect it to enhance my earning power, but because I really want it. I would love to get my M.A. at Duke, just like my Mom got her B.A. there. I would love to see our diplomas hanging side by side on the wall. But the lay offs have put off big plans of mine like that.

Sometimes, I just want a hug. :-(

[crispini]

23. Aw....

:hug:

It's scary, isn't it... there is so much "possibility" out there and it's hard to know what's the best way to go in this uncertain time. I hope you get the job! I think it's better to have money coming in and work on your "side projects" on the nights and weekends if it is possible.

[babydollhead]

59. glass mosaic artist here

always looking for commissions.

[Irishonly]

18. My husband and I are disabled

Living on a fixed income is difficult but we have no fear of losing the money coming to us which unemployed people do.

We forgot to register our vehicle and only remembered because he got a ticket. Monday we took the registration to traffic court, My husband suffers from severe PTSD so I don't let him go to stressful places alone.

We were standing behind a young man holding a toddler girl. His child was cold and he was having difficulty getting the blanket around her. I was troubled he was so surprised I helped him but then I remembered how Scrooge like the world is becoming. His little girl was getting bored and he promised her they would go to the park when he was done. He told her that since daddy couldn't find a job they should enjoy time together. She said she hoped Santa would bring him a job.

The poor guy missed his ticket by one day and didn't have the money to pay it (don't know what it was). The system gave him until January to pay it and my heart broke a little more. I wish I would have had the money to pay the ticket for him.

I have always known about homelessness, not having utilities and food but I had never thought about a stupid ticket.

The unemployed do not deserve our scorn. I would say most are not idle and something has to be done soon.

[crispini]

25. The world is turning into a scary place.

I hope we can respond with hope and love and pull together somehow to overcome. :hug:

[sarcasmo]

19. Company closed on 4-20, yes that's right 420. Have been looking for work since.

Michigan, you can't even get the McDonald's jobs anymore.

[crispini]

26. Good luck. It's scary out there.

:hug: Keep on keeping on -- that's all we can do.

[sarcasmo]

29. We are just lucky my wife has Disability coming in, keeping us alive.

[ColbertWatcher]

24. Kick and rec for more attention. n/t

[supernova]

30. K & R

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

31. thanks for starting this thread, crispini : )

I'm not a newbie here, I just don't post often. Anyway, I was laid off 12/31/07--I just read that the recession officially began in 12/07. My sitch is a bit different--I'm not close to the best in my "field", and I use that term loosely because it lies somewhere in the nebulous world between finance and accounting.

If you and others haven't already, you should at least investigate Meetup


OOOOoooops, I didn't mean to post this, as I hadn't yet completed my thought. To be continued...

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

32. ...continued

So like I was saying... I was laid off 12/31/07. The timing was pretty awful since I had purchased my first (and last) condo--I live in Chicago--just prior to my 41st b-day only 6 months before getting whacked. I'm originally from Cali, but have lived in Chicago for nearly 20 yrs and do not want to leave this wonderful city or my relatively modest digs. I poured much of my personal savings into my down payment, you know, to shoot off my left foot...err, I meant to say, to build equity. Additionally, I live alone, so I have a single income household. So, I, too, have been burning through my savings and, after a year, it's not as horrible a thought as it seemed last December--I am still in my condo, after all.

So after getting whacked, I went to every recruiter and temp agency, but the interviews just weren't coming. It's not hard to discern why that would be: 42 y/o with no discernable career path, no management role, etc.. :) I did temp 4 months of 2008, making crazy $$$$ and would have been quite content temping indefinitely. But my last job ended 7/31 and I've been told the same thing every week since then, "It's kind of slow now, but you did a great job for us, and you are at the top of our list. Call back next Monday."

Honestly, I've looked at a thousand jobs in my "field" and have said, "God that sounds horrid," to each one. So I went to plan B: career change--I'm now in an HVAC-R program at a trade school :) Thing is, I had to go deep in debt. Prior to Dec 2007, I had a good paying job, a large chunck of cash in the bank and absolutely NO (zero) credit card debt. Since, I'm burned through much of my savings (eeeks!) and have taken out $18K in student loans, but here's the kicker: at 15.2%!!!! I still have no credit card debt :)

An aside: Since, as I mentioned, I have a ton funds tied up in my condo, and not having worked since August, I tried to take out an equity line of credit a couple of months ago. DENIED! Insuffiecient income. I should and could have showed myself leaniance and fudged with my income because, frankly, I don't know how much I'll bring in from month to month. When I work, I make great cash money, when I don't, not so much.

Anyway, if you're not familiar with Meetup, go check them out. I'm a member of the Italian Meetup Group, but there are a myriad of others including groups for unemployed and networking.

Good luck to you, and you, and you...and me!

[crispini]

43. Career change -- yes, the thought has crossed my mind.

Not sure into what, though. Yes, I've joined a couple of Meetup career groups and will look for some more. Thanks! and good luck to you.

[backscatter712]

35. Have you tried networking through LinkedIn.com?

That particular site has a lot of people on it, and I found a surprising number of people I know from previous jobs and through college through it - it's a professional social networking site, you'd probably find it helpful.

[crispini]

44. Yes, one of my favorites. Have a good network.

A good place for anyone to be on!

[Lisa0825]

36. My job ends January 17th.

I am a Recruiter at UTMB. My job title is HR Generalist, but 90% of my experience is in recruitment

I have known it was coming for almost 2 months, so I have been searching every resource I can find. The thought of being out of work during a recession/depression scares the shit out of me. I have had 3 interviews, 2 rejections, and 1 "haven't decided yet." I have 2 interviews next week, and I REALLY want one of them. It would be a good job with a relatively stable company, a raise, and keeping my short commute. All the others are at least an hour's commute, but that's life in this area. I found out today that my boss has already called the recruiter to offer a "pre-recommendation" on me. I hope that helps!

I am on several sites and networking groups:
CareerBuilder
Monster
HotJobs
Jobing
Job.com
JobFox
ItzBig
LinkedIn
InHouston
HRHouston
SHRM
TalentBar
Houston Networking News

I have signed up for search agents for about 30 different companies, and I have about another 30 that don't have search agents bookmarked to check weekly. Each week, I target another geographical area around her to go for a drive and see if I am missing anyone.

In addition, since this massive layoff was announced, other hospitals and other companies have been contacting us with their openings, so I occasionally get a good HR lead that way too.

I have started studying for my PHR certification, and hope to take the test when it is next offered in May. If I happen to be out of work that long, at least I will have that to add to my resume by then, and most jobs I have applied for have mentioned it as "preferred."

I am actually still working right now. I could just sit at home and still collect my paychecks until mid January. But I feel it makes me look better to stick it out, plus it gives me a feeling of stability and structure for the time being. When January 17th comes, I am going to focus on studying for the test and try to stay on a business-like schedule so I don't get lazy. I tend to get really lazy when I have too much free time!!!

[crispini]

45. Good luck! I hope it all turns out well.

It sounds like you are doing a really good job with your hunt. :D

[Lisa0825]

37. One more rec, please....

to get this thread more views.

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

38. kick it!

[TheWraith]

39. I just got canned about three hours ago.

Or at least downgraded from my already low-end status to "freelance." It sucks horribly.

[Lisa0825]

42. Ouch.

I know how you feel. :hug:

[intheflow]

40. Been underemployed for a year and a half.

Only working 15 hours a week and can't find anything that will let me utilize my $70K master's degree that I have to pay off. I'm thinking I'm going going to have to go back to secretarial temping--what I was trying to get away from by going to grad school. :(

[Lisa0825]

41. I'm sorry hon...

Think about it this way... the temping will just be temp-o-rary... until the economy picks up and your options improve. It will get better eventually. Trust me :pals:

[intheflow]

55. I "temped" for 15 years before seminary.

One assignment I had was 10 months long, another was two years long. :( Temping is this horrible catch-22 where once you've got years worth of temp work on your resume, employers assume you're only temping because you're too incompetent to hold down a real job. So I'm really not looking forward to going back to that life. But you know, beggars can't be choosers, especially in this economy.

Thanks for the encouragement anyway, my friend! :pals:

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

46. the life of white collar zombies

Except for the position I held for 7 years up till 12/31/07, I've temped most of my "professional" career. Since returning to temping, however, I've learned I have been promoted to "contractor", so I've got that going for me.

[intheflow]

56. The Life of the White Collar Zombies

I like that! Suddenly a full-blown documentary, a la Michael Moore, sprung into my head--great documentary title, that.

So... do they pay contractors more than temps? If not, it's the difference between being called a secretary or an administrative assistant--just bullshit to make the worker and the employer feel better without any real change in the work or pay. x(

Well, I stand in solidarity with you, Fellow Temp Traveler. :patriot:

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

58. Ding! Ding!

It's the difference between calling that stuff on your shoe "dog shit" and "excriment". It still stinks.

Salut! :patriot:

[KG]

47. residential architectural drafter. no need to plan. there's absulutely no jobs out there.

nothing even to apply to. there's some drafting work i'm doing at home and handyman stuff to supplement my unemp comp.

it might be 2 years till i have a steady job again.

[mnhtnbb]

48. When my tech son was laid off last January (first day after New Year's)

he went on several job interviews generated from this tech job site: http://www.dice.com/

He landed a job doing tech support for a local city government 6 weeks later through a newspaper ad.
He had never seen the job advertised on any of the job websites he regularly checked.

Good luck!

[Feron]

63. Thanks for the site.

My brother will appreciate it. :)

[eridani]

49. Should this be a DU group?

I vote yea.

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

50. please elaborate

I don't know what a DU group is. Will this thread be moved from this discussion forum? Will others find us? I would not have found this thread had it been hidden somewhere else.

That said, I want to join, too :)

[eridani]

51. DU has 100+ special interest groups on just about every subject

You do have to be a donor to access them, however, which might be harder for the unemployed. If that is the case, maybe it could be a group like Health, Economy, Election Reform, Science, et al.

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

54. membership fee :thumbdown:

sorry, I'm cheap... :(

[Donnachaidh]

52. won't that close it off from people who haven't given money to DU?

Considering how bad the economy is - that would not be a good thing.

[tabbycat31]

53. been unemployed since June

and have used the time to go back to school. I'm studying to become a paralegal for a bankruptcy attorney (there will be no shortage of need in that field).

I couldn't even get a seasonal retail job. I'm ready to offer "gift wrapping" services on Craigslist to pick up a few extra $$ (I'll have the time when the semester ends).

I'm getting desparate, but continue to tell myself that I'll be done with school next year and hopefully things will look up :-)


In the mean time, in the spring, there's a Kohl's nearby opening. I spent 6 years there before I moved down here, and my old boss said that she would recommend me to get my old job back (at the new location).

[XemaSab]

57. Unemployed consulting biologist/soil scientist

I worked this summer, but I haven't been employed full-time since the fall of 2006.

The collapse of the housing market has meant a tough employment market for me. People just aren't building stuff, and there isn't really enough work to go around.

Frankly, if I was offered a plush consulting job I'd take it, but I hate the work and I want to change my career path.

My plan is to get on with the feds. I've been applying for GS-5 work as a soil conservationist. Either the NRCS or the Forest Service should be hiring people with my skill set. In addition, I am considering going back to school for another semester of calculus, which should open up hydrology positions too.

The pisser about working for the feds is that in my last job I was making 50K a year. GS-5 pays about 28K a year. I suppose I will just have to suck it up for a few years, but I'm not happy at the prospect. :(

[barbtries]

60. i'm fortunate to have a terrific job

which i got through craigslist. in fact, all of the jobs i've had in the past four years i got through craigslist. good resource. it worked for me in los angeles and in raleigh nc.

[mopinko]

61. starving artist

luckily i married well. but i am getting pretty tired of dragging it out there, getting ooohs and aaaahs, but no money.
this weekend is the annual sale at my artists co-op. tonight was the opening. it was pretty sparse. at least some of the other members do ok. folks love to give hand made coffee cups for christmas.

thank ja for barack obama. i have sold an awful lot of obama buttons. still not a lot of money a dollar at a time, but still.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

62. My job died in 1994.

I was burned out on it anyway. Very stressful.

Have had some temp jobs since then which don't pay nearly enough. Last job i had was in the summer of 2001 for nine days.

Decided to retire. Have three college degrees, a BA in Biology, an AA in vocational trade(my former profession), and Juris Doctor (law degree from a private school).

Kicked to the curb a LONNGGG time ago. Me and a few million other baby boomers with good educations and plenty of skills and experience.

[Blue_Tires]

64. i had my job cut by the state last month

those here who know me know i've had chronic unemployment problems since 2005 (former journalist)...Now I'm in public relations, and even though I don't have a lot of experience in my new field, I am open to all advice...i can add more details about my backstory if needed

[Feron]

65. I'm looking for a job.

After graduating college, I spent a few years helping my family take care of my grandmother who has dementia. I'm glad I did it because I got to spend time with her when she still had her mind. But now that she is in a home and her estate settled, it's time to press on.

I have an interview on Monday and hopefully I'll get the job because it sounds like something I'd enjoy and the hours are perfect. I'm trying to avoid retail if at all possible and there isn't much out there. But I'll find something even if it takes a little longer than I anticipate.

[Blue_Tires]

66. kick