I Got Laid Off Last Week.

[MarianJack]

I lost my job last week and today is the first day that its really hitting me. When I started in May I fully expected to retire from this place and now I'm out on my 50 year old ass in a place where jobs are hard to come by.

If necessary, I could get a job for minimum wage where I'll never see mt wife and son just to keep some money coming in, but I'm starting to be really afraid for the first time in my life.

I'm afraid that my life, as a professional person, may be over. I have a Master's degree in Counseling, but have to jump through hoops to get licensed in a profession that may not yield a position. I CONSTANTLY hear about how teachers are needed, but when I sent out about 30 resumes for the 2004-05 school year, I didn't get 1 interview. When I subbed in that year, the schools were replete with new 23 year old teachers. I went to the alleged "Career Center" here in Augusta, Maine and was given the useless advice to do the same crap I've been doing for the last 3 years where I've been mostly un or underemployed.

The worst part is that I feel that I've let my family down. ChicaAzul was so hopeful when I got this job and it felt so good not to have to worry about bills for once. We were almost out of the worst of our debts and were looking forward to starting to save for a house. Now, its back to the same old shit. I haven't been this depressed since I stopped drinking almost 16 years ago. I know how much I have to offer, but I know that there aren't many people out there looking for it. I hate having to put Grecian Formula back in my hair again. I hate having to go on interviews where clueless people will look at the resume that clearly has the letters M.S. after my name and my degrees listed and open with the question "you DO have your GED, don't you, Jack?". I hate that I may have to accept a job from one of these assholes.

OOOPS, I forgot. The economy is turning the corner.

Anyway, pardon the rant and thanks for "listening".

[musette_sf]

1. hugs & positives vibes for you

my 52 year old ass ended a contract three weeks ago, and I'm looking too. it sucks. :hug:

[MarianJack]

2. Job Hunting Bites...

...majorly!

:grouphug: :hug: back at'cha!

[Deja Q]

3. Welcome to the real world... (mostly depressing, but I do feel for you.)

Forgive me. I've already had some royal treatment, some 'education' on what employers are looking for via a free state-funded service, and am about to get some more.

I've been to job hunting courses and they ALL have said that the trend is to NOT hire full time workers. Part time only. And retail, by large, is the only "career field" that's expanding. (and if you can't pass the profiling test, they won't even give you the painless death they'd give to mass murderers and rapists.)

Most of us have a shitload to offer. But our society is an effective "race to the bottom". Has been for a long time, but none of us really noticed it because we had half-decent jobs. And we've been led to believe that janitorial work deserves piss poor pay, that the jobs being offshored at the time were justified, and so on.

And if you notice the laws and what large corporations are doing, they are making it near impossible for small businesses to thrive. If ANYONE in politics gave a fuck, they'd make laws to help the small businessmen. Not the large fuckers who have it all and more already.

BTW: You'll not be considered for many jobs because you are OVERQUALIFIED. They do not want educated (e.g. lots of pieces of paper with fancy letters enscribed on them) people because they will demand more money. They don't even want people willing to learn. They want "yes men" because they do not give a fuck. Managers do not care for anything except their own jobs. It's as simple as that.

Welcome to the real world of your society. The rat race ended a long time ago. The rats won.

And you still wouldn't believe how many of these imbeciles still support these corporate vermin. But when they lose their livelihoods, they'll probably figure it out too. Not really; many still don't and refuse to care.

I could tell you quite a few more "trends" these bastards are doing. But if you're depressed now then perhaps I should not...

It's just a matter of time for us all.

Hell, we could be ran over by a bus tomorrow and we'd still be better off.

[MarianJack]

6. WOW, HypnoToad!

I thought that I was depressed!

I'll pass on the being run over by a bus, but most of what you say is true.

I suspect that Msny of us are looking forward to a future of temping!

[Deja Q]

9. The difference is. we're still here.

And I'm not jaywalking on the busy street just yet...

I think there is hope... and even peak oil seems less a concern because the media now hypes it.

I think the elites are just encouraging "population control" amongst us.

I will have to learn to live without my things, but I will find ways to survive - as will us all.

I'm just hoping it's not as bad as I've heard. But it is sadly quite vile out there. :(

[MarianJack]

13. But, But, But...

...nochild left behind is a JOBS program! And the economy is turning the corner! AND jobs going overseas is GOOD for us!

Does the bullshit ever end?

[politicat]

4. Notes from the same playing field....

Honestly, drop the MS from your resume unless the MS is required for you to work in your field.

I get far more calls back when I just send it out with the BA/BS I have than when I mention my MA/MS. When I apply for a human resources position (where psych degrees are useful) they don't call back if I have the MA/MS listed. But the same damn resume, same except for the degree, gets 10 or more calls back.

If you don't need the advanced degree for the job, don't mention it.

[MarianJack]

5. Thats the Sad Truth!

My Master's degree is basically good for wrapping sandwiches!

I had already started leaving the DATES of my degrees off of the resume!

[DainBramaged]

15. Leaving dates off the resume was pointless for me

as soon as they see the number of jobs and/or years employed, it sets off this little age discrimination button.

I even tried absolutely phony resumes to get a decent job in my field, but the competition Domestic and from outsourcing was too great.

In 2003 I finally got an interview with a sheet metal bending company for a sales position from one of my phony resumes on Monster. I had no longer walked in and sat down in the HR office than the little person deserving of the c-word says to me;

"Sorry, don't take your coat off, we're looking for someone much younger. Oh, and try to sue us."

She walked out and didn't come back in. I sat in my car devastated for over an hour. I couldn't even drive. But since they went out of business later that year, and I don't feel bad for them.

[MarianJack]

18. Not to be Nasty, But...

...I hope that the little snip had a hard time finding another job when the company went out of business!

[DainBramaged]

19. You're not being nasty

The sheet metal benders as a whole suffered immensely from the flight of manufacturing, and so many of the larger companies who depended on them just wound up opening their own shops internally the last couple of years. Out of work machinists, lots of used equipment available at rock bottom bankruptcy prices, bingo vertical integration.

If there's any satisfaction, HR people are screwed too. That degree they got is as meaningless as yesterday's paper. I too hope that little "snip" found out the hard truth about unemployment.

[DainBramaged]

7. My 54 year old ass has a few suggestions and big hugs too

My last real "paycheck" job was just before 9/11, and on the 28th of September 2001, our little engineering firm closed because ALL of our contracts were canceled from fear. Our 14 50+ engineers out on waivers, one recovering from cancer, a few in their 60's. Talent you can't buy anywhere. One a NASA engineer who worked on the original Mars Rover way back.

I struggled with unemployment and bullshit menial jobs for two years before I started my own little computer/it services company. I survive with what I make. I'll never get rich, and every day is a struggle. I had to sell my house and I had to declare bankruptcy earlier this year because I'd never pay the health bills I accumulated from surgery after being laid off without health insurance.

This is going to be a bitch, and unless you are attached with a cable to where you live, move south, move to the suburbs of NJ where I live because they can't get teachers of ANY age, the demand is just too high. Try it, spread out your range on Monster, because at our age, survival is the necessity, comfort is not the option any longer.

:hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug:

[MarianJack]

8. My Thanks and My Empathy To You, DainBramaged!

We're more likely to start a small business than move south. We love Maine and are staying even if I have a lifetime of shit head jobs to look forward to. ChicaAzul is firmly i place in her school and we have ties to our community that we aren't willing to sever.

We moved here from the Philadelphia suburbs, and are never going back there to live!

BTW, :pals: :hug: & :grouphug: back at'cha!

[XemaSab]

10. That sucks!

I'm looking too...

But on the bright side, it's a good time of year to plant bulbs.

[MarianJack]

11. I Planted Some Bulbs,...

...but they all broke when I shoveled the dirt on.

So I just got the store brand of 75 watts from the super market!

Sorry for the bad joke!

[XemaSab]

12. Booooooo

:P

[MarianJack]

14. And HISSSS, Too!

That one WAS a stinker!

[Gormy Cuss]

16. Are you looking just in the Augusta area?

There are a lot more opportunities in the Portland area although I know that commute would stink. What sort of counseling do you do?

[MarianJack]

17. I Have Varied Experience,...

...and up here in Maine, commuting is a fact of life!

The fact that my wife and son are within walking distance of their schools somewhat mitigates a long commute for me!

[newyawker99]

20. I am sorry to hear this MJ. I hope you find something soon.

:hug: :loveya:

[MarianJack]

21. Thanks, newyawker99!

If you come up to Maine for a visit, I may be delivering a pizza to you!