anyone else unemployed?

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Oh man, getting a rejection email 10 seconds after submitting the online application is hilarious.

By hilarious, I mean bullshit.

I fucking hate this. This happened to me a little while ago when I was applying for a graphic design job. I sent in my resume and a link to my website portfolio and all that, and then like a minute later get a rejection email saying basically that they wanted more experience. This was despite the fact that I had a higher degree than what they wanted, and this was only a part time job! So they didn't look through my work at all and rejected me right off the bat because I didn't have X years of experience.
 
Well, two weeks to go before I go back to being unemployed. The worst part is not really knowing where I can go after my current job, especially because it was kind of a strange position to be in and I don't know where it falls on the "hierarchy" ladder of the industry and what the next stepping stone is (if any).

I keep thinking after every job that I'll finally have the experience needed to get the job I really want, but thus far, that's never been the case. What's worse is I'm always torn between trying to hone my current skills to find a job in a market that's very competitive (with not many openings), or try to develop new skills from the ground up (but without much real-world job experience) to go after jobs that are in more demand and plentiful.

Oh well, on the plus side I've had some time to prepare for this, as opposed to the previous time when I was let go without any warning. Having HR and my managers go over my resume for me is a big plus and hopefully I can snag some contacts out of them.
 
If anyone is in New York City take the Correction Officer Exam. Making $106,000 after completing five years isn't such a bad deal.
 
Started a Job type course yesterday. Gonna help me with my resume, job search and interview skills. 7 out of 12 people have a chance to get work experience after the course ends and everyone gets $150 for training wise. If someone wants to get a First aid and food safe course, then they can. Work place hazard ticket? They can get it.

Hopefully this course will be helpful for me as I'm 18 and have no work experience whatsoever living in a town which has one of the highest unemployement rate in canada.

Plus getting paid for 30 hours a week is awesome.
 
Started a Job type course yesterday. Gonna help me with my resume, job search and interview skills. 7 out of 12 people have a chance to get work experience after the course ends and everyone gets $150 for training wise. If someone wants to get a First aid and food safe course, then they can. Work place hazard ticket? They can get it.

Hopefully this course will be helpful for me as I'm 18 and have no work experience whatsoever living in a town which has one of the highest unemployement rate in canada.

Plus getting paid for 30 hours a week is awesome.

I'm almost considering something like this, and I'm 27 with a degree and postgraduate piece of garbage diploma to my name.

lol
 
For nearly 5 years, I worked at a Walgreens. I fucking hated it, but it helped me with money during school. I moved out to northern Chicago since my parents were bat shit crazy and the house was going to get foreclosed on. When I moved, I transferred to another Walgreens. and boy what a nightmare.

The place was open 24/7, the customers were rude as shit, and we had to work every holiday but one of our choosing. I felt depressed and apathetic every time I came into work, and after a while, I just stopped coming in. There was just no way I could imagine myself working on Christmas with all these assholes. So, I got out.
 
I woke to my first unsolicited call for anything in practically a whole month, and it's for a volunteer 3-day position as a stand-in for a show. Oh, and apparently there'll be "plenty of free coffee and snacks!"

Fuckin HOO-RAY.

A year ago I'd have been excited. After a whole year of volunteering and 'interning' (the new industry term for unpaid work), I can't bring myself to keep doing it.
 
I posted here before. I was let go last year in June and took a security job right away to pay for rent.

Fast Forward to now. I got in the Navy with an IT job. I'm just now getting fit until my ship date.

so guys just hang it there and don't give up
 
Graduated in May; had a few interviews here and there, but nothing great. I got completely screwed over by a few places in August/Sept/October. I was pissed; but kept on putting in applications wherever I could.

December hit, and I knew nobody was going to hire me during the holidays, so I decided to just say "screw it" and be appreciative I can enjoy Christmas with my family. But now it's late January, and I'm finally, for the first time, actually getting genuinely discouraged. I feel like my options have just vanished; and at this point, nobody is going to hire me at all :-(


I worked 40hrs a week since I was 15. I paid my way through college, and worked three jobs from 18-22. But because I had to pay bills and scrape by to pay for classes, I never got the chance to do any internships or get "real" experience. I was busting my ass; but that doesn't count for anything when the only work experience I have to put on my resume' is Burger King, retail, dining hall. Luckily I was a teaching assistant and have a kick-ass capstone project that I can put on there; but it's still pretty lacking... And as each month passes, my resume' looks even more pathetic, as I haven't worked since last May.

I just don't know what to do. I was putting in applications to everywhere in the country. But now, ~8 months later, I've burned through all my savings and maxed out my credit cards. That means I couldn't afford to move if I wanted to or got hired somewhere. So now I have to limit my search to shit that's like within 45 minutes of my house.

Ugh.

Sorry, I don't have much of a point to this post. I'm just ranting. I worked 40hrs a week in school, and managed a 3.4 GPA, I had a 4.4 in HS working the same amount, I was constantly awarded at all my jobs for great work, I'm very sociable, I'm decent looking, and I'm a great interview. I just want something ... *something*... that's decent work with decent pay. Something in my field that is at least a stepping stone in the right direction. Heck, I'd probably just settle for a position that requires a degree - something I know I couldn't have gotten 4 years ago and for $80,000 less.

I'm a journalism major from the University of Missouri - with an emphasis in strategic communication (PR, marketing, advertising). I *really* want to work in the marketing dept of a games publisher; but I realize most all those positions are on the coasts. So at this point I'd settle working in the marketing department/ advertising department of any company. I just don't want one of those bullshit "make money at home/part-time work/sales calls/telemarketing/etc, etc" that litter the "marketing" positions on Indeed, Career Builder, and whatnot.

Hopefully I can find something soon. It's gotten pretty depressing these last couple months.

/rant
 
Anyone with a law degree or a great amount of Foreclosure/Mortgage experience having no luck let me know. Got some jobs here in Denver, its contract and not sure how long this project will last, but decent pay.

If you are not from Denver, we pay for your travel, stay and meals. Also every two weeks we're sending you home for the weekend.

Might be a long shot, but you never know...
 
Graduated in May; had a few interviews here and there, but nothing great. I got completely screwed over by a few places in August/Sept/October. I was pissed; but kept on putting in applications wherever I could.

December hit, and I knew nobody was going to hire me during the holidays, so I decided to just say "screw it" and be appreciative I can enjoy Christmas with my family. But now it's late January, and I'm finally, for the first time, actually getting genuinely discouraged. I feel like my options have just vanished; and at this point, nobody is going to hire me at all :-(


I worked 40hrs a week since I was 15. I paid my way through college, and worked three jobs from 18-22. But because I had to pay bills and scrape by to pay for classes, I never got the chance to do any internships or get "real" experience. I was busting my ass; but that doesn't count for anything when the only work experience I have to put on my resume' is Burger King, retail, dining hall. Luckily I was a teaching assistant and have a kick-ass capstone project that I can put on there; but it's still pretty lacking... And as each month passes, my resume' looks even more pathetic, as I haven't worked since last May.

I just don't know what to do. I was putting in applications to everywhere in the country. But now, ~8 months later, I've burned through all my savings and maxed out my credit cards. That means I couldn't afford to move if I wanted to or got hired somewhere. So now I have to limit my search to shit that's like within 45 minutes of my house.

Ugh.

Sorry, I don't have much of a point to this post. I'm just ranting. I worked 40hrs a week in school, and managed a 3.4 GPA, I had a 4.4 in HS working the same amount, I was constantly awarded at all my jobs for great work, I'm very sociable, I'm decent looking, and I'm a great interview. I just want something ... *something*... that's decent work with decent pay. Something in my field that is at least a stepping stone in the right direction. Heck, I'd probably just settle for a position that requires a degree - something I know I couldn't have gotten 4 years ago and for $80,000 less.

I'm a journalism major from the University of Missouri - with an emphasis in strategic communication (PR, marketing, advertising). I *really* want to work in the marketing dept of a games publisher; but I realize most all those positions are on the coasts. So at this point I'd settle working in the marketing department/ advertising department of any company. I just don't want one of those bullshit "make money at home/part-time work/sales calls/telemarketing/etc, etc" that litter the "marketing" positions on Indeed, Career Builder, and whatnot.

Hopefully I can find something soon. It's gotten pretty depressing these last couple months.

/rant


/Internet Bro(Sis?) Hug

Feel your pain. WE'RE GONNA MAKE IT.
 
While I'm NOT unemployed, I have a lot of sympathy for those finishing school and trying to transition. I graduated from my university Jan '07. I did a little retail for a few months, then moved back in with my mom...was unemployed for about 9 months. Ended up getting a job with a bank. Still there...almost 4 yrs in now.

I was pretty lucky in landing the job, but the issue I face now is wanting to leave it for something better. The employment landscape doesn't look to good. The job I have now is pretty safe...I could easily work here for a bit longer, but it doesn't fit my wants and needs. But I need to pay my bills...and I don't want to find myself a new job only to be unemployed due to layoff a few months later.

This has certainly been alluded too a lot in the topic... in many instances your networks and the people you know are the best sources for jobs. Something like 90% of postings are not advertised. That means a less competition for said job if you can become aware of it and apply...especially if you're recommended by a current employee.
 

Yeah you graduated from a school that has a great journalism program but the problem is the field is really only worth pursuing if you have the work/portfolio experience to back it up. I know someone who graduated from Mizzou with similar majors (Journalism & Advertising) and they were fine out of school but had two internships through college. You might just want to do free work and whatnot to build your portfolio, because it might be a tough situation for a more months to come.
 
I know I have said this before, but to anyone who is depressed about not finding a job: do something. Anything. Start a garden...grow your own food. I know that sounds stupid, but I know people who have found it fulfilling, a conversation starter, and a way to gain some experience that a lot of us don't have, anymore.

Also, I would say this: don't necessarily apply to jobs in your preferred field. I know so, so, so many people who went to school for, say, IT and ended up as journalists or something similar just because their skills happened to match with what a particular employer was looking for. There is something to be said about having an employee you can essentially mold from the ground up, given that they have a strength somewhere else that is valuable.
 
I have a pretty urgent question for you guys. I had an interview yesterday and it went really well I believe.

I talked to 2 of the 3 managers (the hosts told me if you get to the 3rd one you are basically in). Then the top waiter showed me around the restaurant while I waited for the GM. The GM didn't show up, but they said they would call me for the final interview.

The interview was yesterday. Should I go in today? Or should I wait another day. I could really use the advice, this is my first great opportunity.
 
I have a pretty urgent question for you guys. I had an interview yesterday and it went really well I believe.

I talked to 2 of the 3 managers (the hosts told me if you get to the 3rd one you are basically in). Then the top waiter showed me around the restaurant while I waited for the GM. The GM didn't show up, but they said they would call me for the final interview.

The interview was yesterday. Should I go in today? Or should I wait another day. I could really use the advice, this is my first great opportunity.

The GM doesn't sound like hiring you is his top priority... but that doesn't mean you're not wanted. Pursue face-time with him if he won't come to you. As a restaurant worker I know that managers can get sidetracked very easily. Go in soon. It will help a lot if you time your visit perfectly. Show up when the restaurant is prepping for either dinner or lunch... not during dinner or lunch.

__________________________________________


And as a restaurant worker I'm trying to get out. I was in the final stages of an interview for a Fortune 500 company but they decided to go with someone else. It was in sales and paid bottom of the ladder. I wanted it just so I could begin a corporate job and begin having my resume become professional. While I would make significantly more at the restaurant (double, in fact) and even working one less day I feel the need to put my degree to use and begin the corporate climb... probably to fulfill people's expectations... to look like I'm on a path to success.

I e-mailed the person I met with asking for feedback on the interview and a brief reasoning of why I wasn't picked and she said I was a solid option but other people had a better skill set for the job. When a college graduate can't land an entry 12.50 hour job... idk it just doesn't seem right. I don't feel I'm entitled to anything, but I'd like to know that my degree is worth more than 12.50 hour.
 
So finally after a year and one month of being unemployed since my layoff, I am officially going to be employed again this coming Monday in Manhattan!

The commute is gonna kill me though, gotta start thinking of moving closer to the city eventually.
 
The GM doesn't sound like hiring you is his top priority... but that doesn't mean you're not wanted. Pursue face-time with him if he won't come to you. As a restaurant worker I know that managers can get sidetracked very easily. Go in soon. It will help a lot if you time your visit perfectly. Show up when the restaurant is prepping for either dinner or lunch... not during dinner or lunch.

__________________________________________


And as a restaurant worker I'm trying to get out. I was in the final stages of an interview for a Fortune 500 company but they decided to go with someone else. It was in sales and paid bottom of the ladder. I wanted it just so I could begin a corporate job and begin having my resume become professional. While I would make significantly more at the restaurant (double, in fact) and even working one less day I feel the need to put my degree to use and begin the corporate climb... probably to fulfill people's expectations... to look like I'm on a path to success.

I e-mailed the person I met with asking for feedback on the interview and a brief reasoning of why I wasn't picked and she said I was a solid option but other people had a better skill set for the job. When a college graduate can't land an entry 12.50 hour job... idk it just doesn't seem right. I don't feel I'm entitled to anything, but I'd like to know that my degree is worth more than 12.50 hour.

I hear you man. I graduated college last year, finally got a job in October, and promptly got laid off by mid-January. I really, really don't want to go back to retail.
 
So I've been unemployed since June and started collecting since the end of August. Looking for a job is a pain of the ass and really has been a downer for the few months. But at least my bills are getting paid, thank god. But anyhoot, I live in NJ and actually want to go back to school again for Medical Billing & Coding. Something way different than what I did at my old job, being a receiver at a supermarket. And out of all the jobs/career I've seen, I find that this is something suitable I can handle and not worry about finding a job around here. So I want to know if there is anyway that unemployment or the state can help me pay for me to go to a tech school in order to better myself and get a new career? I'm new to everything on what to do or who to ask and what not since I'm 26 and been working since I was in high school. And I'm pretty much in the end of my road thinking on what to do with myself. If I can't go to a tech school or what not, I might really have to join the military which has been a last option of mine for sometime now.

:/
 
Finally starting a steady full time job on Monday, after almost 2 years of no work and many random side jobs. Can't wait. Only 30 minutes away, and cool work environment.
 
So I was let go from my job today and im trying to figure out what to do. I already started the sending out my resume process but most of my experience is in retail. I really don't wanna work in retail again. I was actually planning on leaving in the fall once I had enough money saved up. Any advice on what to expect at this early stage of unemployment?
 
anyone have any suggestions for fields to look into if i don't have a college degree?

my last job i started out in data entry and then moved up to clinical data analyst but then our department folded.

i never seen any open job positions for that same role so i was thinking of trying something else

i dont want to start over again in data entry
 
Quick question: I had a phone interview at the beginning of last week, and that Friday I received and email from the HR person saying they were reviewing my application and would get back to me later this week.

It's now Friday afternoon and I haven't heard anything. Should I send an email inquiring? If so, what should I say?

Thanks!
 
Damn, I haven't seen this thread in a while.

My Update:

Landed a new job back in Dec. I started on Dec 12th, and I've been here nearly 2mos. I'm an Electrical Engineer and was working at an engineering consulting firm before, now I work for a company that does Smart Home technology. So....a much more fun side of my industry. :)


My advice to all you job hunters is, obviously, not to give up. I looked for slightly over a year until I found a job that was better than my old one. (I had been offered other jobs, but they weren't the step forward I wanted) Oh and I found my new job from a Craiglist posting. Not saying that Career Builder/Monster/DICE/Indeed are useless, just that my new job came from Craiglist. So definitely search there if you're not already.

GOOD LUCK!
 
I'm hoping it doesn't happen but I could be joining the unemployment group soon! :(

My company is not doing very well financially - lots of clients aren't paying even though they have contractual agreements with them and my boss is too soft to fight for the money (plus his wife has cancer so his mind is elsewhere sometimes)!

They are not even implementing LIFO so everyone is in contention to be let off!

Hope things work out but the architecture industry in South Africa is really struggling at the moment so it's quite difficult to find another job! I believe that I am an asset but don't want to be complacent!
 
After 4 months of waiting, I finally hear from the government about the immigration services officer job. I passed the tests and background checks so now they want me to send in my resume and a couple other documents that verifies I am who I say I am then its off to Dallas for academy training.

O_O LA MIGRA!

Congrats and good luck!
 
It turned out that I ended up getting a slight reprieve with my contract being extended for another few months. The downside of course is that this is absolutely it as far as it can be extended. The upside is I get a huge window of advanced warning to improve my work and look for a new gig. I better make the most of it, because that foresight really is a luxury this day and age.
 
O_O LA MIGRA!

Congrats and good luck!

Hahaha, this made me laugh :)

On topic, I landed a nicely paid job back in December after more than a year and half of unemployment and just now I got this mail claiming that Apple (yes, APPLE) has accepted my CV and wants to interview me...
 
Hahaha, this made me laugh :)

On topic, I landed a nicely paid job back in December after more than a year and half of unemployment and just now I got this mail claiming that Apple (yes, APPLE) has accepted my CV and wants to interview me...

it's Apple, dude. if they even want to see you then you must be fairly hot shit i could imagine. what kind of work?
 
I mention this here every so often when jobs or lack of are mentioned but if youre into blue collar work, then:

Working for the railroad is a great job. it's not as hard to get in as most people think. You dont need any experience for most of the jobs. We hire pretty often. As people retire, they need replaced. You dont "need to know anyone" to get in. I didnt. Huge variety of jobs. Its not all just driving trains. There are a lot of different jobs. Inspectors. Track crews. Management. Mechanics. Electricians. Clerical. Construction. Logisitics. General Labor. Yard crews that help put the trains together before departure or take them apart upon arrival. Etc.

I dont know of a railroad job that starts at less then $45,000. I made over 60 last year and my job is very easy. Usually great benefits, great retirement plans, you dont pay into Social Security which is nice if you worry about it crashing like people have been talking about forever. Just...I really cant say too much negative about it. So...at least give it a look if youre looking for a good job. Cant hurt to try.

Eastern US/Midwest from northern US border to southern:

CSX
www.csx.com

Norfolk Southern
http://www.nscorp.com/nscportal/nscorp/

From Chicago/New Orleans all the way west -

Union Pacific
http://www.up.com/

BNSF
http://www.bnsf.com/

OH, CANADA

Canadian Pacific
http://www.cpr.ca/en/Pages/Default.aspx

Canadian National
http://www.cn.ca/

Oh and despite our economy, the railroads for the most part are ever growing and showing record profits.
Definitely worth checking out. Good luck to anyone interested. If you have any specific questions, you can inbox me.
 
Same thing hapened to me a few months ago. To add insult to injury, they actually told me they had just hired a recent graduate from the same college I graduated from. Fuckers.

But at the positive side at least you're not left wondering, right? I think it would be worse if they left you hanging for a long while only in the end saying LOL sorry NO.
 
So I've decided to finally join this thread. I was made redundant in August 2011 as a result of a company takeover and closure. Since then I have lived off my redundancy money rather than run to the job centre as they are quite depressing places. It took over a year for the takeover to go through with the hint of jobs for all, but that ended when they closed the company. That alone was stressful, but to follow that with nearly 7 months now without another job, I am finding it very difficult to stay positive.

During those months I have trained, and trained reading books on all sorts of subjects, subscribed to Safari books online and Lynda.com following different courses. I even purchased an Adobe CS5 suite of software so that I could keep up to date. I'm now thinking about voluntary work just to get me out of the house. I have no GF/Wife, no children, a home of my own, oh and I don't drive. At 32 years of age it feels like time is just slipping away.

Last month I had an interview that I felt went really well (just got that vibe) and the confidence boost getting the interview put me in such a fantastic mood, I could have floated home in my suit and tie. Nothing came of that interview.

Now I'm filling up damn it... I wouldn't wish this upon anyone.

For all those in this thread still looking for work, I wish you all the best and let us hope our fortunes change soon.
 
So I just had an amazing job fall into my lap yesterday and it's also a massive pay raise over the one I was let go from in January. I don't think I've felt this happy in months. I feel like such a lucky bastard.
 
This is one of those ultra-depressing weeks; coming out of recovery from surgery at the start of the month and trying to climb my way back into a healthy job-hunting 'headspace'. That's rough enough on its own, but I've just heard about FIVE friends and colleagues all getting new jobs this week, including one who got a job in my target industry, but who doesn't even want to be in that industry. Alas.

I mean, the bright side is, the better my friends and colleagues do, the more doors open for me by way of opportunities from their employment. They hear things and can put in good words for me should I go for ops at their companies. So I mean, it's a good thing and I'm happy for all of them, but I can't help but feel marginally resentful. Most of them had these jobs just land in their laps and some of them weren't even actively looking for jobs. It's frustrating.

I'm giving up for the night and am going to tackle this all head-on tomorrow with a serious blitzkrieg of applications, cold calls/emails and other various networking strategies. I'm going to bite the bullet and allow myself to return to retail and other various bitch jobs just to get some cash rolling in again. I swore, after ten years of doing work like that while in school, I'd never return to that work again after a degree and a postgrad diploma, but I mean, any job is better than none, and I know I can get those jobs again. I'm starting to lose respect for myself by not bringing in any money at all, so I may as well do something while I keep looking for ways to put my actual education to use.

We'll all make it. Chins up! (I'm saying this more for myself than anyone...but man, we gotta stay positive and optimistic. It's too easy to drown in depression).
 
I've just gotten my first job. Its a coop job at Citizen Immigration Canada as a Junior E-Learning Technician (aka programmer). Hooray!

Congrats. When I got my coop job with the gov, about thirteen years ago, I also had a shot at a position with nortel. I was sad that I did not get the job with nortel. My government job was my second pick. Things have a funny way of working out.

Again, congrats and good luck.
 
Well here's my story.

While attending my last semester in college, I had an internship with a company I really liked. They liked me too along with the work I did. Eventually, they realized the need for a full-time role doing exactly what I was doing as an intern. So with my help, my two managers started creating a salaried position. This was looking good for me since I was graduating at the time the new position would be posted. I set up framework, resources, and responsibilities for the new position, and my managers loved me, so I felt really good about getting hired full-time.

I graduated in December and interviewed for the position shortly after. After a long two weeks (and me inquiring via email) I decided to call one of my managers to ask what the status was. It turns out they decided to hire someone else for the position, someone with more experience than me. I was crushed. It was exactly the type of job I wanted, and I thought it was a sure thing due to my success in the internship.

My manager said they would still like for me to work for the company in some way, and to keep my eyes out for openings. Now I feel like that's the last place I want to work.

That's that I suppose, and on-goes the job hunt.
 
My manager said they would still like for me to work for the company in some way, and to keep my eyes out for openings. Now I feel like that's the last place I want to work.

I know you're feeling down so this might not have enough of an impact on you... but don't take it to heart doing so just enforces their decision to go with the other applicant. If you want to work for the company just apply at other positions. Don't forget you have connections there which is a huge leg up. You have nothing to lose either way.
 
I know you're feeling down so this might not have enough of an impact on you... but don't take it to heart doing so just enforces their decision to go with the other applicant. If you want to work for the company just apply at other positions. Don't forget you have connections there which is a huge leg up. You have nothing to lose either way.

Yeah, I just felt a strong 'bond' between me and that position given my prior involvement. I felt real shitty to get rejected for it. But your right, I made a lot of great connections there which will surely be advantageous.
 
Yeah, I just felt a strong 'bond' between me and that position given my prior involvement. I felt real shitty to get rejected for it. But your right, I made a lot of great connections there which will surely be advantageous.

Having connections is better than none at all, if there is a entry level position that will open up you can be sure that they will at least consider you.

The trouble is now that even though you've been there and are familiar with the working of the company they were probably able to score someone who had several years of experience and possibly underpay for him due to the crappy job market.

Stay strong and don't lose hope, something else will pop up you just need to work for it.
 
How do unmepoyment benefit years work?

I filed a claim in Feburary 2011 that was denied and another one in January 2012 that was approved.

I was apparently approved in the benefit year that just ended rather than getting a new one.

What would have happened if I waited until later in February 2012 to file the new one?

The guy said I wasn't eligible for an extension and then he apparently found an old claim from 2009-2010 with some benefit left over in it or something. I don't see the difference between getting what's left over in that one than getting what's left over in the one that just ended. ..If that's even what he did.. Maybe it has to do with that old claim being in a tier 4 extension something.
 
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