Retired at 45

Hi, I am new to the forum, but have been lurking here for some time reading everyone's posts. This post is a long story so bear with me. I haven't held a permanent job since 2007 and I am at my wits end because I have applied to thousands of jobs with no hits at all! I have done everything I could to improve my situation such as finally earning my Bachelor of Science degree in the Environmental Sciences. Additionally, I have had family members and former co-workers look closely at my resume and they could not find anything wrong with it at all, and I have joined networking sites with no luck. Yes, here I sit in the so called land of opportunity at the end of my rope and feeling hopeless. Therefore, I would say I am involuntarily retired at the ripe old age of 45. This is depressing and do not now what to do next. My wife is getting fed up with my chronic unemployment and has told me I am not trying hard enough, but I try to explain to her that the economy sucks at this time and she still won't listen. Most of my family thinks I am a loser, pathetic, and hopeless.
Most of my friends have abandoned me long ago since they do not seem to want me around them least they catch a serious case of the unemployed bug from me. This is not good and I have caught myself having thoughts of stealing because we are barely surviving. However, I really do not want to go to jail because I did something stupid and I do not want to damage the very few relationships that I do have. As a result of all of this stress, I made myself go to a therapist and I realized this is not my fault at all. In the mean time, I will keep applying to jobs even if it means I have to move far away. If that doesn't work, I will try to re-enlist back into the army for a last chance at a career. Sorry if this post sounds like I am whining, but I really have no one else to talk to. 

Welcome to the forum!

The main problem is most people just don't, or won't realize just how bad things are. This economy sucks, and if there was a weak recovery, it was a jobless one at best.

People don't want to be around the unemployed because they're reminded of just how close they are of being in the same situation.

Tell your wife not to fight you, especially at a time like this. Tell her you must work together, not against eachother, if she wants you to get out of this situation. Is she working? If not, maybe she can get something to help out for a while, until you get back on your feet.

Hang in there! If we have the kind of recovery we're supposed to be having, and companies REALLY begin to hire, there will be jobs for everyone who wants a job.

Welcome! We here understand completely because our situations are similar. Know that you are not alone. Keep your determination and stay strong. Things will get better.

Thanks for the support!! My wife does work, but I feel that she looks down on me for being long term unemployed. Hopefully, she will understand.

We all have that paranoia because the situation is so far from normal. She isn't looking down on you, but probably worried (aren't we all). Just keep trying - she will know that you are doing your best. Something will break through when you least expect it.

welcome to the forum

For every job posted--the real ones--there are at least 100 resumes being sent in for that one job posting. I saw on the news yesterday that unemployment went down from April to May but that doesn't mean much. For those who were not affected by the mass layoffs, to them it seems something is wrong with the those who were laid off. With stock market mysteriously booming, you gotta wonder, if keeping so many unemployed is doing well for the stock market?

To me, this stock market crap is all a very big lie. It is only being used to prevent a national panic of sorts if you know what I mean and it is also utilized to draw attention away from the real issues this country is now facing. And today was yet another unproductive day prospecting for any kind of jobs. Overall, it is very hard on me not to be working and being a productive and useful member of society. I am seriously thinking of attending grad school to wait out this perfect storm that is brewing. take care.

If you are thinking of taking out a student loan, Congress is fighting over raising the interest rates to 8.9%

No, I will get scholarships and a fellowship. That should do a good part of it. Anyways, I was only thinking about grad school and not sure about it yet.

Keep coming back here for support. I was in a position similar to everyone's here & it sucks!!
As one poster said, people who seem to "look down" on those who are dealing with this bullshit are afraid it will happen to them, but if we could all rally around & support one another, I think we would all gain much more strength to deal with this.
We have been told for 4+ years now that the economy was getting better, but I disagree.
Yes, I found full time fulfilling employment, but what about those who are still looking?
This is just not fair to anyone, especially those of us who WANT TO WORK!!
Good luck to you....hang in there; things will happen when you least expect it.
Keep us posted!
DD

I am really trying to stay positive, but it sure is a losing battle anymore. I have several hundred resumes out there and keep getting rejected over and over again. This just sucks crap and being rejected by Wal-Mart, McDonalds, and the Military has put my self confidence in the toilet. As a result of all this stress, I started drinking again because of of all the B.S. that is going on. Probably should move to another state and have a fresh start. Looks like I will be out on the street corner with the cardboard sign. I never thought that this could happen, but look it is happening to me now. I should probably turn to crime to support my family. I really don't know what to do anymore.

Don't give up and absolutely refuse to let this situation get the best of you. It won't be like this forever and we just have to be strong and get through it. You have come a long way - cherish that thought and just keep on applying. This B.S. is taking a toll on all of us. But our day will come. Your break could well be around the next corner - they tend to pop up when you least expect. So don't take a chance on almost getting there, keep going until you get there. Hugs to you!!

My Father is in the same situation. His company moved headquarters to another state and he couldn't go because he has elderly relatives to care for. He was unemployed for 3 years- he now works part-time delivering medical supplies -and my Mom would not leave him alone. She was just as hard on me as my Father and it really does nothing to make unemployed people feel guilty or worthless. My Dad was almost 60 at the time, there was no way anyone wanted to hire him as a senior accounting specialist. Maybe he should have taken the CPA test and gone into public work because they don't really care, but he seems content with his current situation.

But anyway, yeah, he had so much bad luck on top of that. He got offered a job at PepsiCo while they were restructuring and after 3 weeks they decided they didn't need his position and let him go. That would have been a great job for him. Then he had some leads through his network of accountants and two of them DIED right before they got him interviews!! That was crazy!

But yeah, please don't give up. You are still relatively young. A career change might be a good option for you right now. You'd be very hire-able right out of the gate with your experience.

The economy is doing better. All kinds of McJob positions (WalMart greeters) are opening, enough so that you can have at least two. My 401k and other investments are hitting record highs. We are winning on main street and Wall street here.