Goddamn it! I just need a job!

[LuckyTheDog]

I honestly am losing interest in all the minutiae about who is getting appointed to what in Washington. I am becoming numb to nuance, subtlety and the wonkish aspects of policy. When you don't have a job, your world shrinks. I was laid off in October. And now the severance pay has run out. It just cashed my first tiny unemployment check.

Fuck it. I just need a job. I want to NOT fall behind on my mortgage. I want my life back. I am working hard every day to find something -- anything. And I am getting nowhere. I am really scared.

I don't care what else happens right now. I want my life back. I just need a job.

:rant:

[Subdivisions]

1. Have you thought about what you'll do if you don't find a job?

Do you have a plan?

[LuckyTheDog]

2. I have to get a job

I don't even want to think of the alternative.

[hlthe2b]

7. I'm reading your reply and have to ask what plan many COULD

have?

While taking any job to survive is certainly within the realm, if, as is certainly the case for many.... they have no family to help nor savings to tide them over or to move to an area more favorable--just what would be their plan?

Honestly, I see virtually no one that is not vulnerable to total disaster in this current mess....:shrug: (and I wish all the very very best to the OP)

[Subdivisions]

16. I was hoping the OP does indeed have family or other means

of tiding himself over. It's clear the OP has no savings. Heck, who can save? The OP also has a little money coming in from unemployment payments.

Just what would be his plan? Well, I don't know, that's why I asked. I was hoping the OP had options failing finding a job. And, if not, perhaps someone would have advice or be able to help. For instance, on DUer recently offered up one of their houses to another DUer for free.

Honestly, I agree with you. Times are bad and are getting worse. I just hope the best for the OP and anyone else who has found themselves in a similar situation through no fault of their own.

[Lance31]

26. I have a suggestion..!

This may not be much, but get your CNA. its only eight weeks long in most places. You can make 12-17 an hour. Not great but it will put food on the table while you work out other options. Like becoming a full nurse or something else.

[LuckyTheDog]

28. I have thought about health care

It's a possibility, for sure.

[emilyg]

35. Good suggestion.

[Digit]

38. That is what I just started

The Nursing Asst course through my local community college is 160 hrs of classroom time, but the job only pays $9-10/hr in my area. Yes, it is far beneath what I was accustomed to making, but I need health insurance and desperately want some stability.

The unemployment commission offers programs to retrain displaced workers and they will pay for all school related costs. It takes awhile to get approved, so he should start now. I could not wait for all the red tape, and the course only cost a little over $100.

He may be able to find out more by going to his employment commission website and look for anything related to "training".

Another thing to check out is the local school system for Teachers, Substitute Teachers, Cooks, Bus Drivers and many other jobs.

[Le Taz Hot]

41. Excellent suggestion.

You're right, it's not the most glamorous position but there are some nursing facilities that will train you for free. The one I'm thinking of locally offers a 7-week course and, unless a student is completely incompetent, will hire you after you are certified. We also have 2 local adult schools that offer 8-week courses. One of them is actually free, all you have to pay for is the textbook(s).

[Digit]

44. You will need plenty of immunizations though

You will feel like a friggin pincushion when they are all done, but they can be costly.
I managed to receive many of mine free through my local health dept since I was unemployed and returning to school.

[Lance31]

49. SOMETHING ELSE TO THINK ABOUT TOO:

With the shortfall in Nursing. It is very easy to get assistance to become a nurse once you are in as a CNA. For example: The VA, once you work a year for them, will pay for your education in Nursing if you contract with them for so many years after you finish.

I myself am a Respiratory Therapist. I make around 26 an hour with shift differential plus I get Special Incentive pay for any overtime which is another 10 on top of my total overtime pay.

Currently I am working on my Nursing degree compeletly online. Should have by the end of this year. Then I will work on my Nurse Practictioner which can ALSO be done online. NP guarantees me a six figure income and the ability to get out of the country (so does nursing) if the Sh*t hits the fan and the country goes Mad Max.

[BlooInBloo]

3. :( I hear you.

I can't get you a job, but I hear you.

[terisan]

4. Can you tell us what kind of work you do and where you live?

[sandnsea]

5. You've probably already said

but what is it that you do again.

[LuckyTheDog]

9. I used to work...

... in the local news media.

[sandnsea]

11. Oh my

That can't be good. Is there anything you can think of besides local journalism? Do you write, or graphics or photography?

I don't mean to forget conversations and people, I blame my hormones and thyroid. Sorry.

[LuckyTheDog]

13. I am hitting up PR contacts

But local PR firms don't seem to be hiring. And most media outlets are laying people off. I might have to relocate. But that would mean separating myself from my wife and son for what could be a pretty long time.

We'd have to sell the house (at a steep loss). Also, my wife would have to get a new job in the new place (she works, but never made as much as me) and the kid would have to start a new school, which is hard to do in the middle of the academic year.

[shrike]

47. Can you freelance?

I've freelanced for fourteen years; it's not nearly as lucrative as it used to be, but it will at least get you some money to keep the wolf from the door.

There are also some freelance editing gigs. I realize this is only a temporary solution for you, but at least it'll get some money coming in.

[terisan]

17. Writing/editing? I've noticed that your command of the written word is really fine

and that you are persuasive---I have had my own reasons for not always being a fan of the Big Three but I did contact my reactionary senators after I had read one of your posts and asked them to vote for the aid.

[LuckyTheDog]

29. Thanks

I used to tell my wife that I was good for two things: Being an editor for a news organization or picking up cans and bottles along the road in order to collect the deposits.

Well, now that editing jobs are drying up...

[Iwillnevergiveup]

6. Hope you don't mind.....

I clicked on your profile to see where you live, and Michigan has been SO hard hit.

Do you have a spare bedroom you can rent out in the meantime? There must be someone who needs a place to live, but who can't afford a whole apartment.

I wish you the best - your situation is bound to improve.

[Faygo Kid]

8. All the best to you. You have a right to be scared. Family and friends matter most.

I am going to be 58 this year, and I don't think I will lose my job, but the cutbacks are severe, and I will make way, way less than last year. My goal is simply to stay employed. At my age, I have zero options. I was unemployed for the first time since college after 9/11, for 2 1/2 years. It was tough. More than tough. Just don't panic. Scared is OK. Panic is not.

All the best to you. Do what you need to do to stay afloat, and watch the credit debt.

Keep us posted.

[Faygo Kid]

10. P.S.: Born and raised native Detroiter. Hope to retire to TC.

Are you able to relocate? I'm in the DC area now. I think this is where there may be some opportunities.

Love it here. Not as much as Michigan, of course.

[greytdemocrat]

12. You're lucky in one sense

At least you got some severance pay. When I lost my job in Florida I got zip. Just
asked to turn in my key and log off my computer with my friggen boss looking over
my shoulder.

I haven't posted on DU in a while but your thread struck home tonight...

[LuckyTheDog]

15. A lot of folks are worse off than me, I know that

But... DAMN! You know?

[blaze]

19. DAMN is right!!

So many people WANT to work!! Are ready willing and ABLE to work!

DAMN. There should be jobs for anyone who wants them.

I'm thinking good, employed thoughts for you.

[greytdemocrat]

30. Yep... I do.

After getting canned in Florida I collected unemployment for the 6 months the system allowed. I looked hard for a new job every damn day but couldn't find one, I'm in IT by the way. I was down in Sarasota and looked all over the blasted state but nothing.

And my wife to be was getting ready to move down to Florida with me! In the end I ended up having to sell my house for a loss and move up north to the St. Louis area. Thankfully I did find a new position up here with a small company that actually paid better than the FL job and we got married. Things can work out but I can tell you I don't feel secure...I'm the last person in this company so you know what that might mean.

Crap...try not to feel down...even though I know it's hard.

[stillcool]

14. I know it sounds crazy to say "Don't worry"...

but try not to worry. Something will turn up, maybe out of left field, but something. Life in our future, may not resemble our lives in the past..but there will be life, and there will be a future. Hold on.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

18. For what it's worth

Twice in my life, I have built up what I thought to be good lifestyles. Twice in my life, I have lost everything. The one thing I have learned is that no matter how good or how bad it gets, things will change. I have been, on more than one occasion, considering suicide because things sucked so much but things changed. They will change for you too. It may take awhile and you may have to re-adjust your priorities, but I guarantee, things will change.

[davidwparker]

25. I'm glad things worked out for you. Suicide is not a solution. If things

change for you again, remember that.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

33. They have, they are and they will.

Things don't look so well now. Tomorrow is another day.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

37. It's not a function of remember that. It's a matter of remembering that

life ebbs and flows. Sometimes it's good, sometime, not so much. It is, however relative. I guarantee that if you compare your difficult life in the United States with existance in Darfur, you are living like a king.



It's all relative.



It shouldn't be, but it is.

Fuck em, chop their heads off!

[Yavin4]

20. Take an Inventory of Your Skills

Look at all of your skills, like typing. How fast do you type? You may be able to get a secretary job.

[sandnsea]

23. I have been a secretary

Those jobs aren't available either and they don't pay alot more than I was making 20 years ago and I mean in real dollars.

[usregimechange]

21. What's your profession?

[doodadem]

22. Same here

The husbands's unemployment is running out, with nothing else in sight. We are waiting on the cash-in from his little 401K (minus huge penalty/taxes) to pay our mortgage that we just managed to pull out of foreclosure by getting the payment reduced. I just have to hope my business picks back up.....

I hear that the Census Bureau is hiring.........have you tried that? It'll at least supplement unemployment.

[sandnsea]

24. They are hiring right now

I saw it on the news so anybody who was thinking of that needs to hurry. Including me because I keep forgetting to call.

[Neecy]

27. someone from Kos started a liberal networking site...

A lot of the employment stuff is tech but it might be worth looking through...

http://kossacksnetworking.ning.com/

When things are really stressful, don't forget to take care of yourself, okay?

[LuckyTheDog]

31. Thanks... I signed up

I am now "pending approval."

[Neecy]

34. it doesn't take long

A couple of ideas...you might want to freelance during your job search. At least it would be a supplement, and if someone likes your work you might be able to negotiate a permanent gig:

http://www.guru.com/index.aspx

I think there are a couple of folks at that Kos-related site that do editing for large business sites. That might be a good possibility until you can get back into your field.

[wildflower]

36. That's a good tip

He could probably do freelance writing.

[Waiting For Everyman]

32. Lucky, you may lose your credit score but your probably will not

lose your home. Credit scores aren't worth much anymore - few banks are lending anyway. If you're going to hit the fan, don't pay the credit cards - it won't do you any good unless you can stay perfect. Concentrate on utilities, food, gas, just necessities. If you don't have a whole mortgage payment, don't send part of one - it won't count anyway. In that case, hold onto the money and just negotiate - for a change in terms. That probably won't be considered until you're 90 days late, but that's ok, that gives you time to possibly get hired. Meanwhile, keep looking, and take it one day at a time.

I've been unemployed since October too, and my 2 mortgages are hanging by a thread... but... I just got hired last week. I have a workout on one mortgage and I'm trying for the same thing on the second, but don't have it yet. While I was in the middle of that, I got hired. Anything is possible. Remember, no matter how many other people are looking for jobs, you only need one. Odds don't count, you only need one. Just focus on that. And don't pay anything that won't get you something necessary.

Try to "think outside the box" too. Something will come to you. And if you can rent a room in your house, that is not a bad idea. That's my "plan B" too.

[nadine_mn]

39. Been out of work for 15 months.. I hear ye.. overeducated

and underemployed... got my JD but cant afford to take the MN bar since we moved up here a few years ago from IA (passed that bar, but doesn't do any good here)

so when I apply for jobs they look at me like (1) I must have really fucked up to not be practicing law, (2) I won't stay long so I am not a good investment or (3) that I am going to try to be their boss if I just get my foot in the door


tempted to leave my education off my damn resume

[BlooInBloo]

40. What states does IA have reciprocity with?

[nadine_mn]

42. it has to do more with practicing law for "X" amount of years

I never practiced... took the bar, then 6 months later we moved to MN

[lifesbeautifulmagic]

43. good luck to you Lucky

you are not alone. My family is with you, both my husband and i are now unemployed. No one seems to be hiring in my area. i will be hoping and praying for the both of us.

[populistdriven]

45. I have the same problem thanks for the rant

[UpInArms]

46. have you checked into the 2010 Census Bureau Jobs?

http://2010.census.gov/2010censusjobs/index.php

[undeterred]

48. And there are some who are just cashing their last unemployment check.

And some who don't get severance or unemployment at all...