How long have you been looking for a job / unemployed?

[blendermassacre]

I've been under-employed for going on 7 Months now. Stuck in a go-no-where-part-time B S job. I've been avidly applying for more work since February, and haven't heard squat back. I've changed / updated / gone over my resume, etc and it's just been nothing but crickets. Any TB-ers in the same boat?

[DUC1098]

Been unemployed for just over 23 months. I have been applying to anything and everything that I am even remotely qualified for. In all that time I have only had 4 interviews. Apparently I am qualified to assemble high precision optics for laser cutting and etching equipment (which no one is hiring for), but can't move boxes in a warehouse (which they are hiring for).

Over 90% of the jobs I see listed I am either not qualified at all for, mostly sales/customer service, or very overqualified for and get the "you are over qualified for this position" reply.

Best part, when my job was sent to China I was given the "resign or we can fire you if you prefer" options, I picked resign. So no benefits. My stepfather offered to let me move back in, while I get my life back together. Looks like I will end up taking the offer. Looks like my "best choice" is going back to school and getting my Bachelor's degree, Associate's degrees are pretty much worthless now.

[blendermassacre]

Both my current job and a job I've applied for have gone the "two part time employees are cheaper than one full time employee with benefits" route.

[uethanian]

20 years

...i'm 20 years old. not a good time to be my age and entering the job market.

[bobba66]

I was layed off in April of '09. 8 weeks later I took a job that paid a little more than half of my previous income. 8 months in that mess and I found a job that paid a lot better. I'm 50 years old and it's not the first bad job market I've seen. I'm still looking.....

[Stumbo]

Originally Posted by DUC1098

Looks like my "best choice" is going back to school and getting my Bachelor's degree, Associate's degrees are pretty much worthless now.

I suggest you visit local community colleges and use their resource center to find out what careers/jobs are hiring now and projected into the future a year or two.

Whether or not you get a B.A. or return to community college for an associate's degree, it needs to in some field that's hiring.

[IconBasser]

4 months. I've only gotten one response out of all the places I've applied, and I didn't get the gig.

[DUC1098]

Originally Posted by Stumbo

I suggest you visit local community colleges and use their resource center to find out what careers/jobs are hiring now and projected into the future a year or two.

Whether or not you get a B.A. or return to community college for an associate's degree, it needs to in some field that's hiring.

I did that when I first got my 2 Associate's degrees, one in Electrical Engineering technology and the other in Optical Engineering technology. Unfortunately US businesses would rather pay 20 Chinese $1hr than pay one US worker $20hr. I occasionally see Electrical tech jobs, but since most of my experience is in Optical, I don't match their required experience. So technically I have a skill that employers are looking for but lack the required experience. With the job market the way it is now, they will not hire me, with 1 years Electrical Engineering tech experience, when they can find a full Electrical Engineer that will take the tech level job because he is desperate. Even if he might quit 4 months later when a full engineering level job becomes available.

I still want to get my Bachelor's degree but I am looking at taking a completely different career path. Thinking about the "teach english in other countries" path. I am single so that wouldn't be an issue, also found out about an "international health certificate" so my dog can travel with me. Not going to leave her behind. I am also looking at changing my major to possibly education, which I may be able to do online. So I can work on my Bachelor's degree while working in other countries, assuming required internet access. Ideally I would like to go to Japan, but the lack of a Bachelor's degree would be the largest hurdle. Who knows, maybe I will find a cute Japanese national that would like to get married, problem solved

Being unemployed has made me pretty cynical. Now have the "if this country doesn't want my knowledge, skills and abilities, I will find a country that does" attitude.

I am 43 and this isn't the first time I have seen the job market get bad, though this is the first time I have seen it get this bad. I think most of the issue is where I live, second worst unemployment rate in the country.

[farbeyondwillie]

Im twenty and I've been unemployed for almost over a year. Most places just don't want me apparently.

[CapnSev]

Originally Posted by blendermassacre

I've been under-employed for going on 7 Months now. Stuck in a go-no-where-part-time B S job. I've been avidly applying for more work since February, and haven't heard squat back. I've changed / updated / gone over my resume, etc and it's just been nothing but crickets. Any TB-ers in the same boat?

I hear you man. I graduated in December and got employed part-time by the state as a probation officer. They opened a full-time position at the beginning of the year, which I interviewed for and was sure to get, only to have my wonderful state legislature freeze the budget. The position was cancelled, and I haven't received squat from putting my resume out there.

[Linas]

Graduated in December, been looking for a job since, so 5 months. Nearing the point of having to move back in with my folks, which is shameful IMHO to say the least.

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by Linas

Graduated in December, been looking for a job since, so 5 months. Nearing the point of having to move back in with my folks, which is shameful IMHO to say the least.

Nothing shameful about going through hard times while trying to find employment during difficult economic times. At least you won't be dining on crisco butter bread 5 nights a week.

[iamlowsound]

I applied for the job on Wednesday, got called for the interview on Friday, had the interview on Tuesday and got hired on Friday. I am not trying to brag, but I have never had a problem finding a job so I can't relate.

lowsound

[WorkinOnIt]

When you are fairly fresh out of college, you might find it easy to job hop. I remember this time myself. New grad goes to work, and then job hops a couple times to boost the salary. It was common and somewhat expected. However, there comes a time when you are not in that young professional demographic anymore and it might get a bit harder to hop. IMHO, YMMV, etc...

[Hawaii Islander]

May 15th will make it 3 years. I sold nearly all my belongings to pay for a job search on the mainland. I got to the New England area the first week of October 2008 coordinating application/interview efforts with Kelly Scientific. The economy collapsed near the end of October. I ended up back in Hawaii with no money, no car, and a handful of personal possessions. I submitted close to two hundred applications. Out of the handful of interviews for mainland positions, all hired locally.

I'll be applying to teach at the local community college for the fall semester.

[jonathan_matos5]

a little over a year. if it weren't for playing gigs and the occasional odd job id be homeless now. i did manage to find an on call job as a stage hand at the community college, but im lucky to get 20 hours a month.

[Rune Bivrin]

Not a single day in all my life. For the past 25 years I've lined up an employment before I was ever out of a job. You might call it job hopping; I've had 6 jobs in those 25 years. Always asked to join new job before I handed in resignation.

I was lucky to get into IT before that was a very formalized skill, and I've been riding the wave ever since.

[Fat.Mike]

Been dang near 5 months for me. Couldn't handle my emotionally unstable pot head former boss, had to quit and look for something better. It's hard to work for someone who is stoned all the time and forgets what they tell you. When his weed would wear off, he would get all pissy, verbally abusive, and act like an angry child (throwing things, yelling; 60 year old man mind you.). Constrution field.

Have a bachelors degree in marketing/management from an accredited university and that has provided absolutely nothing for me as of yet (graduated May '07). Got out of school and the "great recession" started, hence why I am in the constructive arts. I get by through the occasional handy work and random gigs.

I have applied for many jobs with little luck, due to a "lack of business experience". That begs the question "how do I get experience if you won't hire me!?!"

When I run into people from college it's always interesting to hear what they are doing. I have a friend with an MBA that is a bank teller. Alot of people I run into are waiters/waitresses, bartenders, name undesirable job here. Only twice have I ran into someone who actually landed a job in their desired field. Go class of 2007!

[sandmangeck]

Go into Health Care. I can't say it enough. There is no recession in Health Care. Look into Major Hospitals. All kinds of different opportunities