Discouraged and concerned. I am unemployed and have been

[yy4me]

since December. Since I am a senior, I find the openings of interest to me are almost nil. Each week, several times, I check Monster and Craigslist for openings. I find it very frustrating that the job descriptions in most cases are so vague. I have sent only a few resumes.

Like many, the frustration is unbelievable. I am not able to commute long distances nor am I able to find listings that offer a 4 day week. At my age, I know my limitations.

To say that I have almost given up is true. Today, I did my weekly filing, I believe it is the second or third for Extended Benefits. There is now an on-line form to fill out with your weekly activity. I missed it before as it is printed at the bottom of the form I click on to do the weekly filing.

My activity seems to be the same week after week. Networking for me is now stale. Everyone I know is aware that I am trying to find something that will challenge me but not exhaust me to the point that I cannot do the job.

This past week I sent out 1 Resume and of course, I have not heard anything. The job description is vague and the company unknown. How am I to figure out anything about the company, how can I really see if this is of interest? Maybe I sent them a resume before? Who knows!

I know employers are now in the drivers seat but I wish their ads were a little more helpful.

I can imagine filling out this form with the same information week after week. If I did not need the money so critically, I'd just forget it. I know they don't want people to use Extended Benefits as an easy check but I now feel frustrated that there is yet another form to fill out.

Today the message said that the form was not available on Sunday. I guess I'll have to do it tomorrow.

I don't want to get into any trouble by not doing this form but to tell you the truth, I'm really tired of the same old-same old. Sick of the forms, tired of trying to read between the very few lines on job listings.

I can't even find some of my old notes, it seems to have been forever that I have been following this same path.

Help me feel a little better, anyone else just plain tired of all this? Maybe I'm just having a senior spell of self pity or something.

[Triana]

1. not a senior moment. not self pity

You have every right to be frustrated and concerned. On top of the Depression we're in, there's ageism. Everybody wants a 20-something hotshot for cheap - or they outsource or insource the job for cheaper. There's no value in experience in today's job market.

It's been seven months for you - that's a LONG time to be idle - and worries magnify when you're stuck at home with nothing else to think about.

I wish there was something I could say to cheer you and even more, something I could DO! There are too many of us who are in your shoes or unfortunately, soon will be. EVERYONE'S worried!

:hug:

[grace0418]

16. Not just a hotshot, everyone is expecting to hire someone who can do everything.

I'm a graphic designer, and I just have to laugh at the ads I see for design job openings. Companies want someone who is "expert level" at print design, package design, catalog design, web design (not just the look but all the code as well), animation, motion graphics, etc. Oh, AND, they expect this jack of all trades to be happy with $30,000 a year. It's ridiculous.

[undeterred]

19. That's exactly how it is in IT infrastructure.

There are 15 or so requirements, and they want someone with depth of experience in all of them. (If you have 15 areas to your job, you probably aren't getting "depth" in any of them.) They just make a wish list and put it out there. And the salary is about half what it used to be, so you wonder if its a misprint.

[CrispyQ]

24. It's ridiculous, isn't it?

I switched to an IT career at the worst possible time - exactly as the dot-com bubble was bursting. It's been a battle for me! I made much more as an experienced executive assistant than I have in IT, plus I've spent a small fortune on training & software. I didn't mind making less of a salary, until I added up the number of hours I was working. I calculated my hourly pay & I gave notice the next day. I've checked the job ads & can't believe what they are asking for! I know people who have been in the industry for 20+ years & don't have all that.

I'm so sick of the corporate rat race. I've decided to start my own virtual assistant business. I still have all my executive contacts & as businesses scale down, outsourcing work/projects piecemeal can be a savings, compared to a full-time, or even part-time, employee. And since it's my business, I'm going to offer my development skills, as well, but I suspect the bulk of my initial business will be admin work. But I can do it from home with my dog by my side. :7

[Neecy]

2. what kind of work are you looking for?

Maybe a DU'er in your area might know of some openings.

[stillrockin]

3. Yes, I'm tired of all this too.

I'm sorry you're having such a difficult time. Just a thought, if I may. Could you spend an hour or two a day volunteering in your community? If you've done this in the past, you know that you get back as much, if not more, than you give.

This could potentially lift you out of the doldrums and introduce you to more people while brightening others' days.

I do feel for you and I hope I don't come across as patronizing. It is in no way my intention. :hug:

[tavalon]

4. A few things come to mind and just like any unsolicited advice,

it may be worth a big fat nothing. I've seen those ad sites you are looking at and they do in fact, suck. If you are close to retirement age, is starting to collect SS a possibility? No, it wouldn't give you your old earning power but it would keep you from starving. Also, have you checked on your states government website for "stimulus jobs"? Lastly, if you live near Minneapolis/St. Paul, they have thriving communal living situations for all ages. That may or may not work so that you won't have to be so desperate for a job.

That aside, you sound understandably depressed. I don't work for the pharmaceutical companies and there are many more holistic things you can do, but just living with depression makes the rest of a job search that much harder and hellish.

[lib2DaBone]

5. Over 50?.. just enter all your personal information and we'll get back to you

Unemployment is hard work... and now, in Florida.. they want you to get drug tested on top of it! (of course the drug testing will come out of your stingy weekly benefits)

All applications are done on-line these days. In this day and age of Identity theft.. I can't tell you how I hate to send out my personal information like SS# and Birthday. Yet, if you don't supply it.. the electronic application will not go through.

And who's to say the people reading these applications at these shadow/vague companies are honest and legitimate? Hell, I took my grandkids to dinner at Disney World in Orland last week and had my credit card cloned. (that's where they steal the magnetic information off the back of your card using a small hand-held reader) Whoever did it stole thousands of dollars in charges within 1 day. It is a nightmare.

I send out about 30 applications a week and have heard nothing. Employers don't want you calling back or sending stupid thank you notes or coming to the office to show your interest... one opening brings THOUSANDS of applications and they are swamped.

I did get an interview as an airport chauffeur for an upscale hotel. The Human Resource "Director" who interviewed me was a 20-something with a gold pin sticking out of her nose and 10 pierced earrings on either side.

The interview went well.. but I don't think I really 'connected' with her? I tried all of the usual approaches I learned in sales training... Rapport building, ask 'yes' questions, AFTO- ask for the order or job opening... nothing seemed to work. She fiddled with her blackberry and I never heard back from her? She did say I was over qualified with too much customer service. Yes.. I can see where that might be a problem. I am over 60 and I might work there 3 or 4 years and take advantage of all the companies great benefits and then leave... you know how reckless and disloyal people over 60 can be.

One interview out of 200 applications.. at this rate.. it's going to take awhile.

Anyway, I must continue to work.. and I will be working until I'm 90 or unable to walk... thanks to the Bankster/Gangsters and our good Friends in Washington.

[Leftist Agitator]

14. "...a 20-something with a gold pin sticking out of her nose and 10 pierced earrings on either side."

From your phrasing, it's clear to me why you weren't able to build a rapport with her.

Good luck with your job search, and a word of advice: Don't be so judgmental.

[demodonkey]

27. Judgmental, my butt. What ever happened to expecting a professional appearance in the workplace?

People can wear whatever they want off the clock, but to me a hotel or especially a restaurant allowing multiple piercings (especially in the face and tongue) is unprofessional unless it is an establishment that caters to similar clients.

I actually get nauseous when a waiter or waitress or a bartender in a "family" or upscale restaurant opens their mouth to say something and there is a huge spike sticking through their tongue. It seriously makes me ill. If this is judgmental, so be it.

And I'm not THAT old.

[noamnety]

30. Who gets to define "professional"?

(and yes, it's judgmental. Learn to embrace cultural diversity.)

[demodonkey]

34. So if I don't care to look at someone's pierced tongue while I eat, I'm not "embracing diversity?"

How about someone embracing MY diversity, and respecting that such things make me ill while I am trying to eat?

And to answer your question, the CUSTOMER should be the ultimate definer of "professional." I would hazard to guess that most mainstream business people who patronize upscale type hotels don't find multiple piercings on display in the workplace to be "professional." I don't.

[PVnRT]

37. How many customers see the HR director?

Frankly, a gold bar in the nose is pretty tame. Multiple piercings? Those aren't even considered "edgy" any more.

One of my wife's bridesmaids seems to have no problem working at a fabric store (her second job, in addition to working for the state) with about ten total ear piercings and a stud in her nose. "Professional" is defined more by behavior and performance than by outward appearances. In fact, professionalism would include being able to build a rapport with all of your colleagues, not just the ones whose appearance you approve of.

[noamnety]

44. "most mainstream business people "

hehehehe

That says a lot about who you value in society. Capitalists who don't make waves.

I think it's silly (and perhaps elistist/classist) that you expect people to alter their appearance to suit your personal quirks. There's no reason for a piercing to make you ill, except that you've led a sheltered enough life that it's not part of your culture. That's what I mean about diversity.

It's not like they are rubbing their piercings in your food, it's not like you are going to have more germs in your meal because they have a piercing in an eyebrow instead of an ear, or because they have two earrings in an ear instead of one.

Respecting YOUR diversity means they allow you to dress how YOU want to dress without judgment. It doesn't mean they have to dress to conform to your personal tastes. This is sort of like religious people thinking we aren't "embracing their right to their own religious beliefs" if we don't allow them to dictate that prayer can be taught in school, or that religious monuments should be built on public lands.

Embracing diversity means being allowed to do your OWN thing, not controlling other people so they do your (not their) own thing.

[walkaway]

6. Sorry you are so bored. How about volunteering? n/t

[xchrom]

8. i'm reading your tarot -- and i see a pizza in your future. nt

[peacetalksforall]

7. You sound down and it's not surprising. Not describing the jobs available

seems to be a form of absence of truth in advertising equal to 'untruths' in advertising. In one way, it reeks of something unpleasant.

You were strong enough to come out and share with us. I hope that will be valuable in some way.

Have you looked for blogs of those in the same situation?

My wish is for fortitude. Think about how it shows to others? And take on an added role of actor if it might make a difference to your self support system. I do it and it helps - its something like imagining. I believe if forms part of the courses on motivation.

[izquierdista]

13. I've noticed that too

Job postings have gotten very vague since the beginning of this downturn. Even for engineering positions, which require a precise set of knowledge and experience. It's as if HR just wants to get a bunch of resumes in, after which they will cherry pick for the PhD with 25 years experience who will work part-time swing shift with no benefits.

The truth of the situation is that there isn't a lot of work to be done in the U.S. any more. Food is grown by less than 1% of the workforce; over 90% of clothing is imported and buildings everywhere (shelter) are vacant and wanting for tenants. An economy works by having money flow from producers to consumers in a cascade of cycles. Very little is produced in the U.S. any more, and consumers are holding tight onto the money they still have left, so the economy is at a screeching halt. If you can grow your own food, sew your own clothes and keep your own (paid in full) house maintained, you will be able to survive these times, but there is nothing you can do as an individual to get the whole economy turning again.

The best you can do is to wait it out, and the suggestions about volunteering at least give you something to do during the wait. My parents used to tell me stories of life during the Depression; I just never thought I would have the pleasure of experiencing it for myself.

[Coyote_Bandit]

9. .

:hug:

I'm right there with you. Long-term unemployed and approaching my 50s.

I've not been able to replace my former job with one that paid a living wage. Instead I've acquired new skills, been involved in my community, expanded my circle of friends and acquaintances and earned what money I could by working out of a desk in the corner of a spare bedroom.

I represent job creation. Yet it does not provide enough income to meet my financial obligations and I have been depleting my savings and retirement funds. My unemployment ran out a long time ago so bringing in money from any source is a good thing.

I'm fortunate to have some savings and home equity - however, I've found that means that there is simply no assistance available to me. My meager and rapidly depleting assets disqualify me from basic assistance such as food stamps and from functional assistance such as job retraining and job placement assistance. Even though I am single and fully responsible for supporting myself. I am a throwaway.

I've decided my only real option is to work for myself. I hope to secure the finances to go back to technical school and to open my own small little business.

I think there will be a lot of folks just like me. It will take years for business to replace the jobs that have been lost. And in the meantime folks like me have to find a way to earn a few bucks.

The one thing I know is that I believe in myself and my abilities even though the society I live in and the government that is supposed to serve me does not. If I were to unexpectedly secure the funds to buy my way out of this country I would not hesitate to do so.

I wish you well and I assure you that you are not alone. There are millions walking in your shoes.

:hug:

[peacetalksforall]

15. I am struggling with what should be a three person business and I can't afford to pay anyone..

It's up to us to support people like you when we need various services and products when you do get to set up in your own business. We don't have to go the route of the mega reaching chains, it's here helping each other first.

[Coyote_Bandit]

18. I have no intention of

starting a business that will require me to have even a single full-time employee - though I am not averse to eventually having a couple of part-time (10 hour a week or less) workers. Nor do I have any desire to grow a small start-up into something larger.

I really think that I can do better working for myself than I have ever done working for someone else. And while I have no objection to providing employment opportunities for others I will not assume the responsibility of providing someone else's livlihood. If I do start this business it will be to provide my own livlihood not to build a business empire. And I will continue to live the same frugal lifestyle I have been forced to adopt during my extended unemployment.

One of my greatest disappointments in the Obama administration stimulus package was that greater funding was not made available for small businesses. It was a lost opportunity IMHO - but not surprising given the President's decided corporate loyalties.

I am well acquainted with several small business owners (and the long hours they keep) and I make a conscious effort to avoid the big box stores and national chains. I encourage everyone I know to do likewise.

[snappyturtle]

10. Do you have a hobby that could be used to create a job; maybe an

online job? It would take take but at least interesting.

[kickysnana]

11. When in trouble or in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout - O Nash

No I am not making fun. It is something I tell myself when the world gets to me down. It takes the edge off.

I am not sure about the size or location of your community but here there are job search groups sponsored by churches and other non-profits that give moral support and more leads. The worthwhile ones to not make you join the organization.

What can you see yourself doing? Locate those jobs in your area and contact those places personally with your best face on and sell yourself, your experience, reliability and work ethic.

It does not sound like you are motivated enough to be self employed at this point and there are no jobs in your home so you need to get out and interact with people for the most of the time you would be working, not just filling out applications. The rest of the time finding places where you can talk to people, my d-i-l found a neighborhood coffee shop that people meet to discuss neighborhood problems and issues that affect them. Try researching local businesses at the library to find your fit and even a little volunteering at something very local that makes you feel good and looks good in job interviews.

Good luck. These bad times will too pass eventually.

[yy4me]

17. I chuckled a little when I read your comment about being

self-employed. Although we closed our business years ago, my late husband and I had our own retail store for 25 years. The cost of doing business was so great, the cost of individual health insurance and rent had risen so beyond our means, we closed the business. We closed in the early 1990's during the economic slump. It was successful and we had a great time working together, were able to live and educate our children with our earnings.

We were then of an age when we were willing to take the chance. That is no longer an option. Believe me, I am plenty motivated, but what I am is also 67 years old and have very dated skills.

I hope readers of this post don't think I'm feeling sorry for myself and looking for sympathy. I am just simply quite tired of it all and wondered if others are in the same boat.

[kickysnana]

22. Tired is probably an understatement. All of this did not need to happen.

And I didn't mean to imply that you were incapable it just is that self-employment does take more time, energy and rewards are slower and risks are much greater especially at our age when health problems start popping up.

The seniors in our building, Reps, Dems and Inds all think that that the stimulus money would be more effective and quicker if given directly to the people. They think that our politicians have been taken over the corporations and do not see any movement in election reform, lobbiest reform, and limiting corporate personhood and money as free speech.

[lunatica]

12. This is the perfect letter to send to your newspapers and your Rep and the White House

You can send it as is. At the very least it will add to the pile of shame our representatives should be feeling. Many of us are right behind you, awaiting our turn to lose it all.

I hope you have family you can fall back on.

[Akoto]

20. I don't know if it will help you, but ...

I would suggest registering at the workplacelikehome.com forums. They list at-home job opportunities, and the community very carefully polices them for legitimacy.

At 23, I found my first job through said website, doing customer service for a company called Alpine Access. It was very simple stuff. Update callers' contact info, reset their passwords, field complaints, etc. I know you've said that your skills are dated, but they provided training via phone conferences prior to starting out. Most of the people I worked with were older women, some of them in the senior category.

I had to give up the job after my disability made it too painful for me to sit. However, up until that point, I was making $9/hr starting salary and reliably got 20-30hrs a week (more if I actively pursued it).

Hope this leads you to something!

[Danascot]

21. A big hurdle is that

in the current environment there is less than one job opening for every five job seekers. (as of April)

http://www.epi.org/publications/entry/jolts_20090609/

I understand that this is very discouraging news but I raise this point to convey the message that you are not the problem, that the externals are a much bigger factor than your qualifications or your job-seeking efforts.

"There were 13.7 million unemployed workers in April, which means there were 5.4 unemployed workers for every available job. At the start of the recession, an unemployed worker had a much better chance of finding a job, with only 1.7 job seekers per job opening, but the line of applicants waiting for each job is now three times longer."

We need to bombard our elected representatives with a sustained message that not enough is being done to create more jobs in this economy. The great divide in this country is becoming that between the employed and the unemployed. Those with jobs seem not to understand what a huge problem this is for those who don't have one. We have done enough for the banks. Now we need a huge push to get our people back to work so that everyone who wants a job can get one and be self sufficient.

Here are a couple of other links you might find interesting:

AARP Webinar: Navigating Your Way Through Job Loss

http://www.aarp.org/money/work/articles/webinar_navigating_job_loss.html

Trying to find a job is not a job. Keeping the unemployed busy is an exercise in denial -- and social control.
By Barbara Ehrenreich

http://articles.latimes.com/2009/may/03/opinion/oe-ehrenreich3

[A-Long-Little-Doggie]

23. I am also 50+ and have been unemployed since October.

But, I have decided to change careers (from IT) to medical office management. I am also in Massachusetts and I am taking classes at a satellite college campus that is pretty much focused on career-changers. One of the programs that they have is Medical Billing and Coding, which is not just a hot job but also something you can do at home and on your own schedule. The program is approved for Section 30 funding, so I am also still receiving my EU benefits while I am in school full time.

PM me if you want more info, and good luck!

:hug:

[demodonkey]

28. Time for medical billing and coding (pushing paper for the insurance industry) to be ON ITS WAY OUT.

A simpler system (especially single-payer) will not need so many "billers and coders".

I am sorry, but those positions are part of the paper-pushing that has our healthcare in such a mess -- the very mess that has caused a great portion of our economic problems and one of the big reasons so many can't find jobs. Our employers here can't compete globally with other countries that DO provide all citizens with simple, cost-effective single payer healthcare.

Why not train for actual hands-on patient care? There are many unfilled positions there, and with decent healthcare for all more will be needed. And hands-on care actually helps the patient, versus pushing paper for the insurance CEOs.

I personally would stick hot coals in my eyeballs before I would do "billing and coding" to feed the health insurance industry.

Remember the old saying -- IF YOU ARE NOT PART OF THE SOLUTION YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM.

[A-Long-Little-Doggie]

29. LOL!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Oh, wait... You weren't kidding? Well then, thanks for the SCREAMING sermon!

BTW, the manual we use for coding, the ICD-9 OR International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, is used worldwide to keep track of all of that medical data we all see. And also all of those medical studies that help create new treatments for all those pesky diseases and conditions. The billing codes are used to determine what treatments were used for a particular condition or disease and, with the ICD-9 codes, can help quantify which treatments are effective and which are not.

But, yeah, I am now going to drop those classes because taking them would MAKE ME PART OF THE PROBLEM.

:eyes:

jeebus

[demodonkey]

33. Go ahead. LOL your greedy ass off and go work for THESE guys... you are made for each other.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x327003

So by doing medical coding and billing YOU'll somehow be creating new treatments and ridding the world of "pesky diseases and conditions?" Ha ha ha, that's a good one.

YOU will be another paper pushing lackey wannabe helping to suck the life out of his or her fellow citizens to feed the greed of our for-profit insurance system. That's all. Nothing more.

If you are doing medical coding and BILLING you will be part of the system that is killing 20,000 Americans every year, ruining lives, and leading to 60% of the bankruptcies in this nation. Hope you get a nice cushy job as part of the "death by spreadsheet" insurance clan and enjoy the money you make off of other people's suffering.

Take the money if that's your thing, but shut the F*** up with the crap about how you and the insurance pigs are changing the world by doing research and development or whatever. I'm not interested in YOUR damn screaming bullshit sermon any more than I am interested in the ongoing barrage of bullshit from the greed-driven industry you want to work for.

Again, enjoy your money.

[PVnRT]

41. So, what is it that YOU do that is changing the world for the better?

Hmmmm?

[zagging]

42. Buy a vowel

You are absolutely clueless, and wrong.

[PVnRT]

39. LOL - you think a single-payer system won't have paperwork?

A single-payer system run by the government, no less? There will be mountains of paperwork involved, especially since any such system in this country is going to have to comply with massive accountability regulations. Your naivete is laughable.

[david13]

25. Dude, welcome to the club. There has got to be millions of us.

[CrispyQ]

26. You don't say what kind of work you are looking for, but have you tried a temp agency?

The ones in my area also offer temp-to-hire positions. It gives you a chance to see if you like the company & if you don't & give proper notice to the agency so they can replace you, they will place you somewhere else. I've had good luck finding permanent work using an agency.

[northernlights]

31. 7 months is nothing

Trying being out most of the last 7 YEARS. With one crappy, 17 month job in the middle of it.

And being down to the last couple months of what was *supposed* to have been the retirement fund.

Forget monster, craigslist, or anything to do with a career.

Forget the old career, whatever the eff it was. Go back to school and learn something new. Or plan to work at Walmarts to tide you over until you can retire. I'm close (fingers crossed) to an $8/hour job at a gas station convenience store. But it's just 3 miles away and will hopefully tide me over until I'm able to sell my home.

Every so often I get worried being 55 and halfway through Med Lab Tech school and forced to take on student debt now. But then I run into people *older* than I am doing the same thing. My dentist's sister was a lawyer and went back to school for health care -- she's in her early 60s!

When I was laid off back in 2/02, I sent out *hundreds* of resumes and contacted everybody I could track down that I'd worked with for the prior 15+ years.

That netted me nothing,, zip, nada. Although one of my old colleagues did call me with a "project" a couple years ago. Turns out he was part of an id theft ring, had my SS # via a laptop stolen from our pension fund manager (where his wife is a VP, and from whom the laptop was stolen). He confirmed my current address and phone, and stopped returning calls and emails. And yes, my id was stolen, complete with my work history from the resume he had me send him :rofl:

[Canuckistanian]

32. Sorry to hear of your predicament, but you've only sent out ONE resume?

I've been out of work more or less for three years. I've managed to get in a few months or so on short-term contracts since then.

I've probably sent over 300 resumes in that period. The usual ratio is, 100 resumes to 5 interviews to ONE job offer. And I ALWAYS accept that job offer, because I can't afford to be picky.

And that ratio ain't getting better.

Not like I'm a total beginner, either. I have 20 years experience at what I do - Electronics Test & Measurement. Back in 2000, I was courted and spoiled by companies crying out for my services. Today? Not so much. I'm lucky if I receive a phone call or a response from one of my MANY emails or phone calls.

My response? I'm going back to school at 50 years old. I've researched it thoroughly and it's my only option at this point. I'm taking advantage of a gov't re-training program and heading back to the classroom. It's a good deal.

To tell you the truth, I sort of feel liberated. No more begging an employer to take me on. I've always HATED the whole interview process, the waiting on pins and needles for the response that sometimes never comes.

I want a job where I'm the one to be courted and not the other way around.

[northernlights]

38. it was one resume...in the past WEEK

Sounds like after 7 months of rejections and running out of search activities, this person is feeling a little discouraged.

Been there, done that. The job search gets more sporadic after you get ignored and ignored and ignored and ignored and ignored...

[Canuckistanian]

45. Yeah, I hear that

I find myself checking the job sites only every other day. It doesn't seem to change much.

Tomorrow, I'm marching into my local government offices and signing up for job retraining.

My current profession is dead.

[Badgerman]

35. help create a 3rd political party! I'm serious. It would pay the bills! lobbyists galore n/t

[jxnmsdemguy65]

36. You're not gonna find anything on monster or craigslist

Thousands of ppl are applying for what's on monster and most c-list postings are scams. Your best bet is to call all of the temporary employment agencies in the phone book, hopefully you will find somebody at one of them who is genuinely interested in you and will help you find a job. That's what's worked for me.

[northernlights]

40. good idea

I would think down in Mass that the temp agencies might have something.

Where I am, they proved to be no help. But I'm in rural nowhereland...

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

43. I know this won't

result in any money, but you might want to consider volunteering as a way to take your mind off that and network. What do you have to lose?