Finally found this community!

[JadeBlue]

First topic message reminder :

I’ve been going insane over the last 4-5 years, and finally found a forum that is geared towards my needs. I am very sad to see that it is not as active now as it used to be, which probably means that people are finding jobs, but that almost makes me more angry.

I’m going to explain my situation as briefly as I possibly can, but there is so much to tell and until now I have had no where to tell it! Anyway, thanks in advance for listening to my sobs/rants.

I’m now a 26 year old female. I’m married, I own a home that my husband and I purchased when the market crashed (it was a fixer-upper, but a good investment.) I finished my degree in 2008 when everything went to hell. I graduated with a degree in education, expecting to wait a year or two before finding a position, but was pleasantly surprised to get a 4 month (maternity leave) position as soon as I walked in the door, followed by a non-steady daily sub position for the rest of the school year.

The next few months, I took other jobs doing camps and afterschool programs to supplement some income. At times, I was working 3 jobs weekly AND still collecting unemployment, it was so bad!

Even worse, my husband got let go from his position 2 years after we moved. They stated it was a mutual agreement (the company wouldn’t pay for the tools he needed to land more contracts), but they really wanted to hire someone fresh out of college for pennies. This was 7 weeks before our wedding…

I managed to stay “employed” for a good amount of the time, even if I had no work. My husband couldn’t find anything, so he focused on the business he already owns and operates on a voluntary basis. It’s getting there, but he cannot pay himself a salary yet, but it is (thank God) paying for our health insurance. Don’t even get me started on Health Insurance!!

Anyway, this is the longest stint of unemployment I’ve ever gone through. I’ve begun ruining my excellent credit and driving myself into debt trying to keep up with the bills, but I just can’t… I’ve been working for my husband part time for minimum wage and can’t even hope to get myself out of this hellhole unless something changes SOON. School starts next week and I’ve had two very good interviews- came extremely close to getting an offer a month ago, but I was 2nd choice. Story of my life.

All I want is a simple full-time job at a reasonable wage. An entry level position somewhere with a salary so I can start digging myself out of this and take the burden off of my husband. Am I not deserving of one? According to what I’ve been reading here, I’m of the right age and qualifications/experience, so why is it still so hard? I see all of my former classmates getting jobs at Google, Indeed.com, and generally doing well in life, and I feel left out in the cold! I can’t stand it! I do so much volunteer work for my husband’s organization, I take care of the house, I work extremely hard at everything I do, and I have nothing to show for it! No appreciation for the skills I have! Only punishment!

How are young people like myself going to start a family when things are like this? We can barely feed ourselves! And now we can’t refinance our mortgage to help because we both make nothing! It’s nonsense! I WAS NEVER EVEN GIVEN A CHANCE TO HAVE A CAREER!

My anxiety is now off the charts and I cry almost every night! I want it to stop!

[need_a_break]

Congrats, JadeBlue. Good luck.

[JadeBlue]

Hey all,

Started the job yesterday! As I predicted, the teacher left earlier than expected (she was really pregnant when I met her!), but come Christmas I will be unemployed again. Going to plug away, work weekends for my husband, and make a dent in my debt while I can. Maybe they will have more temp work for me after the new year.

So conflicted right now about what to do next. Do I ignore them pulling me back in and go back to school to become a medical assistant or do I go with this and see if it leads to a permanent offer?

[Guest]

Yes

macky

[JadeBlue]

Hi all. I am back after my 3 month position ended. It was hell. These were some of the worst students I have worked with, but I made some great connections, got new references, and all the experience I could ever ask for. The problem is, I have no where to go from here.

And I honestly think this community brought me luck in the job hunt. Now I don't know what to do... I came across an article stating that getting a minor certification in certain industries can really make a difference. I took that as a sign that I should go back to school for Medical Assisting or Office/Billing management, and I plan to call up a community college with a program I have been looking at. But I am so scared to take this step. What if I finally get offered a permanent position? What if school is too expensive or a step in the wrong direction?

[jmainframe]

Hi all. I am back after my 3 month position ended. It was hell. These were some of the worst students I have worked with, but I made some great connections, got new references, and all the experience I could ever ask for. The problem is, I have no where to go from here.

And I honestly think this community brought me luck in the job hunt. Now I don't know what to do... I came across an article stating that getting a minor certification in certain industries can really make a difference. I took that as a sign that I should go back to school for Medical Assisting or Office/Billing management, and I plan to call up a community college with a program I have been looking at. But I am so scared to take this step. What if I finally get offered a permanent position? What if school is too expensive or a step in the wrong direction?

Hi Jade,

I'm happy yet sad to see you back here. Don't sell yourself short as to your future prospects there. Of course I don't know the full details about your last gig, but you got some great connections. This is good as gold these days. Today especially, it's all about NETWORKING! Don't be surprised if, thru one of your connections another temporary position opens up, one that may lead to a fulltime-permanent position.

Having certs is valuable these days. It seems every occupation these days requires some type of cert or license, even a handyman! It's just a symptom of the fierce competion with so many people being out of work. Again, I don't know your situation, but if you can afford the time and tuition to get certified, it will probably be worth the investment. In my opinion though, stay away from those for-profit "schools". To me, most are just glorified scams that charge huge amounts in tuition and do little to get you a job after the program ends.

[JadeBlue]

Hi all. I am back after my 3 month position ended. It was hell. These were some of the worst students I have worked with, but I made some great connections, got new references, and all the experience I could ever ask for. The problem is, I have no where to go from here.

And I honestly think this community brought me luck in the job hunt. Now I don't know what to do... I came across an article stating that getting a minor certification in certain industries can really make a difference. I took that as a sign that I should go back to school for Medical Assisting or Office/Billing management, and I plan to call up a community college with a program I have been looking at. But I am so scared to take this step. What if I finally get offered a permanent position? What if school is too expensive or a step in the wrong direction?

Hi Jade,

I'm happy yet sad to see you back here. Don't sell yourself short as to your future prospects there. Of course I don't know the full details about your last gig, but you got some great connections. This is good as gold these days. Today especially, it's all about NETWORKING! Don't be surprised if, thru one of your connections another temporary position opens up, one that may lead to a fulltime-permanent position.

Having certs is valuable these days. It seems every occupation these days requires some type of cert or license, even a handyman! It's just a symptom of the fierce competion with so many people being out of work. Again, I don't know your situation, but if you can afford the time and tuition to get certified, it will probably be worth the investment. In my opinion though, stay away from those for-profit "schools". To me, most are just glorified scams that charge huge amounts in tuition and do little to get you a job after the program ends.

Thanks.

That's why I want to make sure that I choose the right path. My Mother literally went off on me because she thinks getting these lower-level degrees is completely worthless and doesn't improve your earning potential like a Masters will. Easy to say when you have an MBA in accounting!! A Masters these days without a job is worth less than the paper it is printed on. And no one in my family understands that. It would cost me my house to go back for a Masters, so I think a small certification in an in-demand field is the way to go. But is it meant to be? I also don't know if I will be able to get enough financial aid! From my research, it doesn't look promising.

[jmainframe]

The good thing Jade is that you have options! It may not seem so now, but that's a great position to be in potentially.

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