My family is eating stir fried dandelions out of yards to keep from starving. I am college educated and cannot pay rent. I have not had a penny income so far this year. We were turned down for food stamps. We are natural born US citizens.
M.C., via comments
I am 39 now and lost my job back in September of 2008. I didn’t do anything to get fired I was laid-off due to not enough assets to justify the amount of employees on staff. The company treated me extremely well and in return I gave back the best work I could do.
When I think about what happened and why me, I blame no one but myself. I became too comfortable with my last job. I wasn’t thinking about what if’s and I wasn’t afraid of loosing my job. I was thinking I was going to work here for a long time. That was my mistake. In the end a company is going to do what it needs to do in order to keep the business running. They weren’t going to hold my hand and help me pay my bills. I should have motivated myself to read more, educate myself more and look out for number 1 (which is me).
The advice I will give my kids (14 and 10 years old) is to do what you love to do. You don’t have to make a lot of money to be happy. Educate yourself and continue to educate yourself. Don’t stop and get comfortable. Position yourself to where company’s are begging to have you work for them and not you begging to work for their company. There is way too much competition for us to be waiting in line for an interview. I know it’s hard to self motivate so ask a friend, family or even join a group/club that will challenge you to always keep you ahead.
The hardest thing for me when all the money started to run out was not knowing how I was going to feed my kids. I was embarrassed to tell them I had no money (they knew I wasn’t working) and I didn’t want to worry them. I didn’t know when my next job was going to be. To be extremely honest I thought of taking the easy way out, which probably many people have. I read an internet article a couple of weeks ago about some 22-year-old ending her life because she had no job and too many bills that she couldn’t handle. Of course I didn’t do that, because I consider myself a strong person and I have a lot to live for.
I didn’t know what hiring managers were thinking when they met with me. I never got any feed back. I tried to keep my resume current though. I was in contact with my previous employer and they helped by giving me work and allowing me to put down on my resume that I did contract work for them on an as needed basis, which they did. There is a lot of competition for IT work. What was once a job for 5 techs has dwindled down to one “do everything” tech. So I applied to stores trying to pass out food samples for minimum wage and I couldn’t even get that job, because I think they were worried I would leave if I found something else. I understand that, but I tried to convince them I researched your company and said I can make a career working here in maybe 5 years time. No such luck.
I did actually find work for a company I applied for 6 months ago and thankfully I was given a conditional job offer (pass/fail job offer). This is a great opportunity for me especially after being out of work for close to 3 years now. It’s about $16 shy of what I was making an hour before and it is more laborious, but I am committed to kicking butt at this job, continuing my education (making myself more valuable) and earning my way up the ladder.
Lastly, unemployment benefits was a lifesaver for me. I received the maximum amount and was able to support myself and my kids for the 99 weeks, but the benefits did run out. You asked the question “How should we go about making it easier for the long-term unemployed to find work?” I don’t think that is the right question to ask. Waiting around with your hand out only enables us to be lazy and believe that we are owed something. Making us angry when we don’t get it. We need to prepare ourselves to start over. It does suck, but you can make it. I have been humbled by loosing my job almost 3 years ago. Having ZERO dollars in my bank account and very little cash in my wallet. Without the support of my family and the love of my life, to help me get by, I would not have made it this far. I do thank God for all his good graces he has bestowed upon me, which I know I don’t deserve. So whoever is reading this DO NOT sit around waiting for something to happen, make it happen.
Scott V., via email
I worked as a certified Project Manager, PMP with a bachelor’s degree in communication for 12 years for AT&T. October 2009 my division was hit with a 40 percent cut in work force. I really couldn’t believe they let me go because of my experience and certifications. Turns out, they let all the PMP’s go and the only ones left doing the project management work were under-paid high school graduates. No college degrees, when I applied for the job a college degree was required.
I tried to utilize my great resume, excellent work experience and business connections to land another job right away, but with so many people looking and so few companies hiring, it was difficult. I managed to land a few interviews, but most of the jobs I applied for never even responded. It was very disheartening and I know I fell into a depression that prevented me from being as productive as possible. My wake up call came about 56 weeks later when I received my last unemployment check. At that point, the grocery budget was being impacted and with 3 kids at home, it was a big deal. For the first year, my husband was able to support us by paying all the bills and the unemployment kept us fed, clothed and the car maintained. We had to downsize our home and amenities, moving to a smaller house, closer to the school so the kids could walk and reduce our services of cable, internet and cell phone to the bare minimum. By the time the unemployment benefits ran out, we didn’t think we would be able to keep our heads above water. But somehow, week after week, our kids stayed fed and relatively happy. They all understood that they couldn’t have everything they asked for, but birthdays and Christmas were still celebrated no one was too disappointed.
Today I work 3 part time jobs and bring in just as much per week as I was with the unemployment benefits, the only difference is I have to shell out $75 per week for child care. That is still less than half of what I was making with one full time job. I am not at all close to the professional position I held. Everything I do is labor intensive and not the least bit fulfilling on any level. I still hold out hope that in the next year or so I can land another professional full time job and the family has big plans about what we will do when we have money again. Since the lay off, we haven’t had a family vacation, we haven’t been able to go out to eat or even shop for fun. We haven’t seen a movie in the theaters, been to a concert or any type of fair or amusement park. We used to take those kind of things for granted, and even complained sometimes about having to do them to keep the kids happy. I would do anything now to be able to “suffer through” a family outing like that again. When I hear my working friends complain about having to take the kids places on the weekends, it just breaks my heart.
The one thing that has come out of this experience that I am thankful for and hope I won’t ever forget, is the closeness we feel as a family. We can sit down to a checker tournament and play for hours. We can pull out the paper and crayons and create artwork we never had time to do before. There’s no more running around nonstop all week long. Most days feel like Saturday when school’s out. We entertain ourselves and each other on very little, and I think we have made some memories that are priceless.
Stephanie B., via email
At one point in my life I was racking in money doing factory work for many years. This is what helped my girlfriend, daughter, and I purchase our first house. I have come so far in life, but am now feeling the wrath of losing about everything I worked hard to get! This factory life was paying good, but I was a hurting unit and my passion for something like that was not there. So my girlfriend and I decided I take up college online and find a part time job.
Everything was affordable just barely with me pulling in 20 hour a week paychecks at minimum wage, until the company I worked for went bankrupt and shut down. I managed to complete my Bachelors degree in 3 years by going all year round, graduating July 2010 while out of work for 5 months.
An entire year has gone by now. I have a college degree, but unable to find anything in my field of study without relocating 1,000’s of miles from my home. The reality of it all is about to hit me hard with my college loans coming up by the end of the month. I still have no source of income coming in. My girlfriend and I fight about money constantly and are on the verge of losing our house.
Every day I browse the internet searching for any kind of job … even the ones that don’t pertain to my degree. Over the course of a year I have applied to over 150 places online by sending them my resume and cover letter. Out of those places, I’ve only gotten a response from about 10 and only 4 interviews were conducted. Another struggling week goes by with high hopes of nailing any kind of job, then I get a phone call or letter stating someone else was more qualified for the job!
I was on unemployment for less than 3 months, but was eventually denied services due to me not reporting to a job session class. With no car at the time and my girlfriend working 2 jobs just to get some form of food in the house, the instructed class session did not fit our schedule. Unemployment has not helped me since that day.
The hardest thing about being unemployed for so long is sitting at home all day and night while your loved one works around the clock to support you. This almost always leads to an arguement when we do have time together and hurts our relationship of 11 years. There is a part of her that says she wants to have the bank take our house and move to an affordable apartment closer to her work while leaving me on the side of the curb. The fingers always get pointed in my direction. I am the reason we have no food. I am the reason we will lose the house.
Am I really the cause of all this trouble in our family? I start to think so. Because she could be thriving on her own in an apartment; whereas I will be hit with a huge college loan payment and no income coming in to pay it or live on my own. Let alone my junker car is on the verge of kicking the bucket soon and will have no means of transportation by winters end.
It starts to eat at you. This whole job thing. I am left with tons of questions as to why nothing is happening even though I am applying myself. Once you start feeling the effects of it all you lose motivation and self confidence. I hide my emotions, but deep down I feel I am dying off. I smile less. Friends don’t call me anymore to do things because I can’t afford to. I feel like a hermit living under a rock. I feel worthless. I feel like I’m pulling my girlfriend and daughter into a hole with me. Our once loving relationship has turned bitter and sour.
These are the thoughts from the unemployed Jeremy from Wisconsin. Take it how you want. I will keep fighting this battle until there is nothing left in my life, even though I would rather not start over again. This has been the hardest problem I have dealt with in my life and the effects of it all is devastating to my family, my inner feelings, my personal relationships, and my self worth. I know there are others out there trying their hardest to survive. I just want to someday say that we made it through … but that day never comes.
Jeremy L., via email
I knew I wouldn’t be eligible for unemployment benefits because I left my supervisory job voluntarily. Even though it was a “quit or be fired in a few months” situation, my HR friend had told me that our company automatically fights any unemployment claim over $7,000 which mine would definitely have been. I was witness to 2 unemployment hearings so I know that they would fight hard for it so I didn’t even try.
At this point we were out of options financially. Even if I did get an interview, I wouldn’t have had the gas in my car to get there and my due date was approaching. Luckily my husband had found a house for us to rent that the owners are our friends and have been very understanding about us paying what we can. I was still trying to find a way to pay our credit cards—I should have seen what was coming but I saw my parents go through bankruptcy when I was 15 and swore I’d never do that. I was so stressed out about money and our lack of it—I didn’t know if we’d find the money to be able to feed our family. I didn’t have health insurance and thought that if I couldn’t pay the medical bills my OB would refuse to see me.
With my stomach in knots and being raised to think poorly of people on “welfare,” I finally applied for and received WIC and a few months later, Medicaid and food stamps. I cannot begin to explain the shame I felt even asking for this kind of help in the first place and then using it at the grocery store. I wanted to find a way to let people know “this isn’t me!” and “I’m better than this!” and “I used to make a lot of money!” Needing government assistance made me feel like less of a person. Like I was a bad mother for not being able to provide for my children.
Every time I pulled out that card with the distinctive flag I cringed when I had to mumble “EBT” to the cashier like it was screaming “I’m poor!” When I had to use my WIC checks, I would keep my eye out for empty registers but inevitably as soon as I pulled up my cart there would be a long line behind me. Of course the cashiers were great about it and all of my worries were internal but they were still there. I learned that the WIC checks make checking out take three times as long because each one has to be done individually, then you have to sign each one, and then the cashier would always have trouble with at least one and need a manager to put in a key and fix something.
I now use most of my checks in one shopping trip so I only have to go through it once a month and I let anyone in line behind me cut in front (I want to avoid the eye-rolling people in line give when it takes so long). A few times I offered to let someone cut because “this is going to take a while” but they say, “No, it’s okay. I’m on WIC too so I understand.”
Judy J., via email
I was managing a specialty retail store and the owners believed selling the property the shop was on was more lucrative in the recession than keeping the store open. The new owner closed the store immediately.
Going from believing I had worth and value in the retail industry to feeling like a complete loser was the hardest part of being out of work. Either I was too qualified, or unqualified, but primarily I could feel the eyes on me because of my age and soon felt as if I was no longer able to have worth in a youth oriented society. It became extremely depressing, especially when continually turned down for jobs that paid minimum wage, etc.
Have potential employers been wary? Very much so. As if it were my fault I was unemployed regardless of the fact that I had put out hundreds of resumes and applications. What I can’t understand the most is that I’m willing to work for low wages and give them my 20 plus years of retail experience in return. Instead, they seem to prefer hiring people who are young and inexperienced for the same amount of money.
Jobless benefits were very helpful, but eventually I exhausted them. I can’t qualify for any state services other than a little help with food, so I’ve had to borrow money from relatives to stay afloat. It’s extremely humiliating.
I can’t recall a time I couldn’t walk into a store, show them my resume and be hired almost immediately. Now, I walk in and there’s multiple retail managers applying rather than the one or two before. I’ve noticed a great deal of inequality now. Age is major barrier, but being female and over 50 is worse than being male and over 50. It’s as if being a 50 plus woman puts you in the automatic ‘reject’ category.
I selected three companies I really wanted to work for, applied and kept going back and going back until they either told me to leave me alone or hired me. Two told me to leave them alone, the third hired me. I obtained a part-time job (5 or so hours a week) and am still looking for a full-time position. This job is extremely hard on my body, as I am disabled, but I’m not about to quit and can’t apply for disability while working, so I just suck it up and come home and cry after work. They are giving me more hours at other stores, but it by no means is enough to live on. I’ve taken to making jewelry and will see this weekend whether I can sell it and earn enough to pay rent and utilities.
To solve unemployment, we must stop the age descrimination, firstly. Teach hiring managers to understand that we older people are offering them vast knowledge in our field for the small amount of money they’re now willing to pay. When there is a job fair, please don’t waste our time by having a bunch of businesses show up to do nothing but promote their business, as many are clearly not there to hire, and stop the colleges from using up the space businesses who are hiring could be sitting in. Monitor the job boards for companies only there to collect applications with no intent of hiring. Offer free courses through public libraries or job centers for some of the older folks to upgrade their skills in technology, etc. (I’m fortunate to be a geek and progressive, lol.) Post sites that do offer free education such as Allison to upgrade skills and become certified in more modern software programs, etc. Mostly, re-educate hiring managers to adapt to this new age of unemployment. We are not unemployed through choice, but by limitations placed by them.
Susan W., via email
I have been unemployed for a year now. I am 25 years old, and I have almost 9 years of retail sales experience under my belt. I have applied at numerous places, more than once and I don’t even get so much as a phone call. I have called the places I have applied, but I always get the same response: “We’ll call you if we’re interested, please don’t call anymore.” I am married, and I have a 20 month old son, so money is stretched a bit thin with just my wife working 40 hours a week. We always make sure that he has food and milk, while most of the time, we go to bed hungry. Yes, I have applied for food stamps, but the process is long, tedious and pretty much a waste. According to a lot of places that help with food and such, my wife makes enough money for our household. The thing is, they don’t take into account other bills, like food, cell phones, gas for the vehicle and especially baby stuff.
I can say that the longer I have been unemployed, they less hopeful I am of ever finding work. Most places see the big gap in my employment history, and they automatically assume that I have no work ethic. Unless I decide to start my own business, with the no money I have, then I am screwed, and so is my family.
David W., via email
