Unemployed and Depressed

First topic message reminder :

So I've been unemployed for two years and I've tried everything under the sun to look for work. Well apparently it hasn't been enough for my folks who I am currently living with. My father who divorced my mother two years ago, has now just shown up and decide to work things out with my mom. Well long story short, I just got yelled at for not trying hard enough to look for work. And as he stated "You are a child of God. What effects the world shouldn't effect you. You should be able to find work, etc, etc, etc," "And I just drove a guy to Michigan works the other day and they are training him to work because businesses can't find experienced workers. And there's no reason you can't do what he's doing." etc, etc, etc.. Basically in a nut shell I was told to get over my depression and go find a job or at least get training for one that probably won't even hire me considering I'd be applying for the job alongside fifty other people. At this point, I'm getting ready to throw the towel in.

bprosen wrote:I've hired hundreds of employees over the past 30 years.

The key to getting hired, whether or not there is an opening, is to customize your approach. If not, you won't stand out or get an interview.

Companies hire people to solve problems (both positive and negative). Your ability to uncover your target employers problems and position yourself as the solution is what will get you hired even when there are no job postings.



Here are a few potential problem areas. Completing projects on time and on budget, improve product quality, improve service, increase sales, reduce costs, enhance online marketing, etc.




Bob Prosen

CEO

The Prosen Center
for Business Advancement
www.mycareeraccelerator.com

Bob...sounds great, however, some of the positions that some of us are applying for are just mid-level jobs, and we'd be happy starting at the bottom..therefore are interviews do not consist of in debth questions, or discussions. Most of the interviewees ask questions off a paper... and most of them are half our age, who haven't been in their position very long. Most of these young people don't want someone coming in and telling them how to solve a problem. They don't want their job in jeopardy. I hired plenty of people in my time as well, and the last thing I wanted to hear is newby telling me how to run my department.

Well said Marilyn. And I know I m jaded, but at some point I feel a sales pitch coming from Bob s company.

Marilyn - Sounds like you have a lot of experience. Why are you applying for mid-level jobs? There are quite a few jobs out there. It's always best to shoot high in the organization. When you impress the senior folks they'll make things happen beneath them. Getting hired in today's market requires bold action.

Bob, I've applied for many career positions, only to never hear from them again. Apparently their wisdom has figured out that I am 59 years old.

Secondly, I am no longer interested in putting in the hours, and being married to a business as I once was, and no longer interested in being on the road at 5:00 in the morning, and home at 7:00 just to gain that position, because unfortunately many of these jobs aren't in my surrounding towns...it would require me to travel by train an hour or so away.

Thirdly, no longer interested in managing people...did that , done that.

I would be very content in mid-level position, work at 8:00, home at 5:00, but age discrimination and being over qualified stifles all my chances. Why is it that employees think some of us would never down grade their career...I have no problem doing that, it's my choice.

Hi Marilyn - You definitely know what you don't want and that's good. I agree quality of life matters. All the best.

I have been out of work for almost 2 years..my unemployment anniversary is Dec. 3rd. The toll it takes on you psychologically is devastating. My marriage is suffering, as my husband and I are basically co-existing like roommates. He was out of work too for almost a year and found employment last year making a lot less doing what he's been doing for 15 years. There is this feeling of shame and embarrassment that makes it hard to open up to others, even family. They don't get it - and I didn't get it ether until I voluntarily left my job almost two years ago due to a hostile work environment. I really believed that I could find something else rather quickly. I've been in the same industry for 17 years (insurance) so I felt I was very marketable. WAS I WRONG! I was making $50K a year and I cannot even find a job making $10/hr.
I have been trying to look at this experience as positive as I can. I do get to be home with my 3 year old daughter and my husband does have a job, which albeit does not pay what it should, but does cover the bills. But there is a part of me that believes that society has to wake up and see the big picture. How can we be more proactive to fix this? I feel like our lives no longer belong to us and we are reverting back to some kind of feudalistic society where we will all be scrounging just to cover our basic needs. Why have we not done more to stop the 1% from controlling our lives and our government? Why does the right feel so oppossed to making the rich pay their fair share in taxes? And why aren't more people outraged!?
I propose that the rich should only be given a tax break if they ARE creating jobs. Get the money out of the Cayman Islands or wherever it is stashed and put it to work here and then you can qualify for a 14% tax rate.

by laylasgaga Today at 11:50 am

""I feel like our lives no longer belong to us and we are reverting back to some kind of feudalistic society where we will all be scrounging just to cover our basic needs. Why have we not done more to stop the 1% from controlling our lives and our government? Why does the right feel so oppossed to making the rich pay their fair share in taxes? And why aren't more people outraged!? ""

people are very distracted with their daily lives.

I know people who are surprised when i tell them the extended UI benefits are being phased out end of year (and they are on them)

many people ARE upset, they have been channeling their anger at the wrong crowd however...

it takes effort to research some of the true causes of the decline of our country (as well as many others)

along with the effort when researching one must be careful not to get caught up in some "crazy: theory.

as an example of the later i will give you that dreaded concept the "Illuminati"...

a desire to run things in a scientifically verifiable manner without superstitious input has been called "evil" and devilish...

to lighten mans burden through science, has been attacked by "organized
religion" simply because the organization loses influence over the people

the response is to preach a "fear" of such knowledge, the church seems fit to spread fear (the opposite of love) in an effort to retain its power.

this spreading of fear is not an act of love and compassion.

My fourth year unemployment anniversary was November 1st. With applications being sent on an almost daily basis, job searches that give me a migraine. I have many skills--skills never get out dated, do not buy into that--that I can give a job but for some reason they want to hire people who will work for seven bucks an hour. Recently, In the news about the hostess strike and how the company is going out of business and many people will lose their jobs. The bakers went on strike. In today's economy going on strike is not an option with millions of people unemployed. If I were hostess, I would fire all the striking bakers and hire new ones who do not belong to a union.

Hunterforjobs wrote:My fourth year unemployment anniversary was November 1st. With applications being sent on an almost daily basis, job searches that give me a migraine. I have many skills--skills never get out dated, do not buy into that--that I can give a job but for some reason they want to hire people who will work for seven bucks an hour. Recently, In the news about the hostess strike and how the company is going out of business and many people will lose their jobs. The bakers went on strike. In today's economy going on strike is not an option with millions of people unemployed. If I were hostess, I would fire all the striking bakers and hire new ones who do not belong to a union.

i agree job skills may get a bit "rusty" but after a few days they come back, way faster than learning them the first time...

and this is no time to be real particular about jobs

just cruising the web, and came across this info on the Hostess twinkle strike....i am not surprised that union bashing is in the mainstream media.

http://www.aflcio.org/Blog/Organizing-Bargaining/Hostess-Spreads-Misinformation-on-Strike

elvis44102 wrote: by laylasgaga Today at 11:50 am

a desire to run things in a scientifically verifiable manner without superstitious input has been called "evil" and devilish...

to lighten mans burden through science, has been attacked by "organized
religion" simply because the organization loses influence over the people

the response is to preach a "fear" of such knowledge, the church seems fit to spread fear (the opposite of love) in an effort to retain its power.

this spreading of fear is not an act of love and compassion.

I don't know what church you are talking about, but the ones I know don't spread fear. That went out when Vatican II entered in. That was the old thinking when people in those centuries thought they had to fear the power of God. Unless you are involved in those religions that haven't moved on in hundreds of years, then I would say that maybe you haven't familiarized yourself with a religion or church in a long time.

MarilynL wrote:

elvis44102 wrote: by laylasgaga Today at 11:50 am

a desire to run things in a scientifically verifiable manner without superstitious input has been called "evil" and devilish...

to lighten mans burden through science, has been attacked by "organized
religion" simply because the organization loses influence over the people

the response is to preach a "fear" of such knowledge, the church seems fit to spread fear (the opposite of love) in an effort to retain its power.

this spreading of fear is not an act of love and compassion.

I don't know what church you are talking about, but the ones I know don't spread fear. That went out when Vatican II entered in. That was the old thinking when people in those centuries thought they had to fear the power of God. Unless you are involved in those religions that haven't moved on in hundreds of years, then I would say that maybe you haven't familiarized yourself with a religion or church in a long time.

maybe i come off a little strong, as i don't believe ALL church's..
are bad or any such thing

i am think of the "religious right" when i get mad, because they "pollute" Christianity in my opinion..

there are many positive activist within the boundaries of organized religion..

it is my opinion that THE major cause of human suffering is the notion that some humans are lesser than others...
and many religions preach salvation only in their "chosen way"..that those who follow that religion are somehow superior, that belittles the non-believer IMO..

the fear would be the fear of going to hell

And that is no longer the case...As a Catholic we recognize all other Christian Religions, and no longer consider ourselves better or deserve better than the others..but I will admit there were some at one time that did preach that. However, there was also a priest some time ago, that did preach that salvation was only for Catholics, and Rome dispelled him from the church for that statement...since that he has been reconciled after a formal apology.

However I must add...that while we recognize all other Christian religions, many Christian religions do not accept Catholics. If a Baptist, say, decided to convert to Catholicism, we would never perform a Baptism on him in our church...simply because we recognize the Baptism that he received in the Baptist Church, we believe that person is already a Christian. The same way for a Methodist, Episcopalian, Presbyterian, Lutheran, and some others. However...if a Catholic were to join the Baptist Church, we would be forced to receive their Baptism, because they do not recognize ours, they do not believe that we are already a Christian. There are many misconceived notions about the Catholic Church, yet we are the less judgemental Church

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check this one its an part time online job

I look for work everyday. I live in oregon. Our minimum wage is going up to $8.95 on Jan 1 2013. I go to interview after interview but am not selected. I am college educated, solid skills, solid work history. So I started contacting those who didn't select me and ask them for professional advice on how to be more marketable. The thing I keep hearing over and over and over again: You're fine, you're just overqualified. I don't get an employment offer because they feel I will get a better job offer eventually and leave them, then they have to start over again. So to avoid that and make it better for them they pass on me. So here I am, still unemployed, overqualified. But when I interview for the jobs where I'm qualified, someone else has a little bit better edge than me and I'm passed over.

My benefits run out Dec 29. My rent is still $910 per month. I can't move t a cheaper place because I don't have a job. I couldn't even get a job at the local Target store because I was deemed, overqualified. I don't get it. I even applied to pump gas (Oregon you don't pump your own gas). They hired a college kid. I applied at the 7-11 up the street and the manager told me he wouldn't be able to hire me because he knows that when the econmy gets better (whenever THAT will be) I will leave and he doesn't want to do the hiring process again.

I'm depressed. I'm 44 years old and not getting any younger. My references from my previous employment have either retired or lost their jobs too! How do you put down previous employer references when they have moved on as well but you don't know their personal life? Current potential employers look at you like you're messed up when you try an dexplain your references are no longer available either.

Oregon Employment dept says I can do TUI, Training Unemployment Insurance program (I can train for a new job and get unemployment and not be required to look for work for 26 weeks) but I have to pay for it myself. I barely make it on my UE benefit, I can't afford to pay for training. I used all my financial aid except $1600 getting my Bachelors degree years ago. I can't get a Pell grant for this year and would have to wait for the academic year beginning June 2013 ... but what to do until then?

I'm too qualified for the jobs that are open here or I'm being edged out by someone else better qualified ... and now my UE benefits end Dec 29 .... yes, I'm depressed.

I'm trying not to get depressed, but it's almost impossible.

I've been working as a bartender for most of my life, but the last bar that I worked in closed down a little over a year ago, due to slow business. In the past, I've always been able to find work easily, and I don't know whether it's due to this recession or to the fact that I'm now over 40 or both, but I can't seem to find anything right now.

I never finished college when I was younger, so I've been thinking about enrolling in the local community college to either get a degree or garner some better computer skill in order to get some secretarial work. I don't know if that would pan out, either, but at least I'd feel like I was doing something other than wasting away.

I feel so useless right now!

I have just hit rock bottom. For the past five years I've been trying to hold on, but nothing I do has any effect. In an online forum I've been in for almost ten years, I've being attacked and called names because I said that the job market has changed since the Recession started, and employers aren't offering cushy benefits like they once were. But I'm just stupid and ignorant and lazy, and that's why I don't have a job. I just incurred several thousand dollars of repair expenses on my house, and I had to beg my stepfather for money. And I get another chorus about how I'd just damn well better start looking for a job, a real job, not this messing around freelance stuff that I claim I'm doing. I get so tired of people assuming that I'm too stupid or lazy to look for a job, when I've been doing almost nothing else. When I do get a freelance or contract job, it's just "measly" and "piddly," and why don't I just go down to Walmart or McDonald's and start working there? I try to tell people that McDonalds is not going to hire a college-educated professional worker, especially one nearing 60. Even if they did, I could never pay my way working there. What's wrong with wanting to live indoors and eat at least two meals a day?

I'm just so depressed. And nobody understands. Nobody cares. I'm cold and exhausted and hungry. I can't talk to anybody about this anymore because they just yell insults at me or give me useless advice. What's the point of going on if the rest of my life is going to be a downhill version of the past five years?

I just want my life back!

Ditto, Kitten....I'm at 48 and feeling the same way....being stuck in a less than full-time Homecare Worker position....having to fight tooth and nail for every hour with a 2nd client....and still coming up short....been called by technical recruiters, however nothing has panned out.