Down But Not Out

‘I am a firm believer keeping health insurance if at all possible, and paid the extremely high premium per month as long as I could just for my own piece of mind’

I worked in a car dealership for 12 plus years and in 2008 decided to make a career change to selling indemnity insurance with a great company who has a great product and great opportunity for financial growth.

At the same time I met the love of my life that lived in another state and I ended up relocating not thinking it would be so difficult to find another job (I could have stayed in the insurance business when moving but at that time realized the economy was not allowing people to purchase any extra health insurance so the timing in my career change was off). I realize now I should have done some homework before moving however, I was in love and never had a problem with finding work in the past and felt I was marketable in many other fields.

Trying to stay motivated and reminding myself that I am smart, hard working and have tons of potential was the hardest part of being out of work. Each week it became harder and harder to stay motivated. I would go on an interview thinking I would finally have a job, only to be let down by no call back or no real understanding why I wasn’t hired. I applied for jobs that fit my work history and even jobs that I was willing to start at the bottom in hopes to work my way up.

In all the applications and interviews I went on know one actually said it out loud but I did notice over time that when filling out applications the questions being asked became geared towards them trying to find out how long I was unemployed.

I did have COBRA health insurance with its astronomical pricing and did exhaust the time frame allowed to carry it. I am a firm believer keeping health insurance if at all possible, and paid the extremely high premium per month as long as I could just for my own piece of mind. I was trying to obtain individual health insurance before my COBRA ran out but the insurance company I was applying with, repeatedly kept asking for more information (letters, blood test, ect.) and I eventually gave up because more blood tests were asked for after the my COBRA expired and couldn’t afford to pay out of pocket for more tests to obtain it.

When you are looking for employment it’s really is hard to tell what the problem is when applying for a position. If I had to guess it would be a couple of factors. More competition and employers being overwhelmed with the amount of applicants. There is no standard way to apply for job it depends on the company. Some employers will say “You need to submit an application online from our website and it will go through HR” and when looking online some employers will say “Please see the store manager in your location for open positions.” If you are lucky you will actually get a human being to see who you are and possibly have a conversation with them.

On several occasions I had 2 or 3 interviews with 2 or 3 different people at the same company only to find out that they decided to go in another candidate. That is very frustrating especially when you haven’t got a clue as to what happened. How do you go on 2 or 3 interviews and not get the job? No explanation given!

My other favorite is the company that tells you are overqualified. Can someone please explain what this term means when you are looking for employment? Especially, with this economy and job market. Sure I may be overqualified, but wouldn’t that be my call? These employers don’t have a clue what my financial status is so how could they judge that way?

After search for almost a year I did finally find employment. But after being in my new position for over a year now, I am on the search once again. I have found that employers are using the current employment crisis to there advantage. I unfortunately found a company who is lining there pockets with no care for who works for them.

Initially when I started looking I was looking in the newspaper, looking online, or just walking into businesses and asking. After the first several months of doing this, I found out that most businesses in my area like to use employment agencies. This came from looking on careerbuilders.com by accident. I have been very fortunate over the years with my employment so this was weird to me and didn’t quite get it at first.

I found a company and position that I was interested in and applied. The employment agency called me. I come to find out that when applying for quite a few positions online the employment agency offering the position is the one posting the job(s). So here is what happens. You are browsing around online at administrative/clerical jobs; you find something you are interested in. You click to read more about the job and get excited because it fits what you are looking for. The name of the company is XYZ and you apply. The next thing you know you get an email or call for an employment agency about a position you applied for. At that time you are little perplexed and explain that you didn’t apply with an agency you applied to XYZ. Who ever you are on the phone with explains that this position was posted by them and they would like to set up an interview with you.

So you go to XYZ Employment Agency were you are interviewed about the position(s) you are looking for and tested before you are even considered for a position this company or any company that goes through them. At first this seems like a great thing. Someone else helping you look. The problem with this is the people working at the employment agencies are just as overwhelmed with people looking for work that it’s impossible to expect them to actually be any help or have your best interest at heart.

 So, the agency calls you and says we have a position that came in for EFG Company and gives you the job description and asks if you would be interested. You say yes, so the agency submits your resume to EFG Company. Now you sit at wait just like you would if you applied yourself the difference is, if EFG Company is interested they call the agency who in turn calls you to set up the interview. You go on the interview and give your best and now you wait for the agency to call you to see if you have been hired. Plus, once you do get a position with a company using the employment agency you have to work a certain amount of hours under the agency (equivalent to about 90 days or 3 months) before you can actually be considered to be hired full time/part time permanently with the company you are actually working for.

Then if you are actually hired by the company you have been working for, for the past 3 months you have to wait another 90 days before any benefits are available (the catch—the company you are actually working for doesn’t actually have to hire you if they don’t like you or feel you are qualified). My tip is this; don’t give up, if you are a hard working, dedicated person you will succeed if you just keep trying. Use everyone you can to help you find a job no matter how weird it may be. Times have changed so we have to try and change with it.

Annette F., via email

‘I’m not stupid but I sure have been made to feel that way.’

My story won’t be any different from the article and stories I read on your website but it is good to know I am not alone. Everything people wrote about feeling horrible about themselves and not sleeping, not going out, not having money for food is true of me! I have a BS in Education and taught in the public school systems in Texas and Florida for over 15 years. I was on an annual contract in ‘08 in Florida when I was told my position was eliminated. I did apply for unemployment but thought that the proper thing to do was get another job immediately. I found a temp job and lost my unemployment. I also lost that job after working one month. Of course, I was no longer eligible for unemployment.

I found other odd jobs but was forced to sale my house on a short-sale. I attempted suicide when I had no money, no gas for my car, no job, no food, and my electric and water had been shut off. Only by some fluke of nature or whatever you want to call it did I survive. But survive is all I have been doing ever since. Odd jobs and graciousness from my mom keep me going but I have no quality of life. I live in hell on earth each and everyday.

I’m not stupid but I sure have been made to feel that way. I have filled out 100s of online applications and sent my resume as well and haven’t even received so much as an email from any of the places I have applied. It now seems like filling out online applications is someone’s idea of a cruel joke. They seem pointless. If I physically go into a place to inquire about jobs, the management always tells me to fill out the online application and then I never hear back.

At this point, I live with my boyfriend because it is a roof over my head. My mother sends me money each month that helps me pay bills and have food. I have no car, no other means of money coming in, no TV, and basically no life. I have no self-esteem and no motivation. Everything seems pointless to me. I go nowhere because I have no transportation and no money. I have been to other parts of the world during better parts of my life, South Korea, Germany, Italy, Barbados, and people in those countries seem to have a better life than I do. Sometimes it seems unreal that I am an American!

At 46, I never dreamed my life would ever be like this.

Linda L., via email

‘Painfully obvious they were looking for the younger shake-‘n-bake folks at substantially less money’

I assume we would begin at the end. “Terminated” suddenly on a Friday afternoon by the new owner of an auto repair business I had successfully run for over 7 years, Sept. 10, 2010.
 Prior to that enjoyed a career as a retail sales and facility manager for the Winston Tire Co. from Jan. of 1988 thru Dec. 2002 after 23 plus years as a supermarket manager back in my home state of Michigan. WOW! Jobless after over 47 years of continuous employment which of course included paying into unemployment funds, social security, etc … Two functions required my immediate attention, filing early for social security AND unemployment.

As to job search, certainly I “made the rounds” of all my contacts and aquaintences within our industry locally. Lots of good talk and ideas exchanged, but, painfully obvious they were looking for the younger “shake ‘n bake” folks at substantially less money. Ah! Age discrimination alive and well. Don’t blame or condem them, far too many years in their shoes.

Over the past 9 plus months have filled out well over a hundred online employment applications as well as attending what can only be termed as the occasional “cattle call” where a company drags in numerous applicants for physco babble type interviews aka “tell me why you are the best candidate here today”. Gone with the wind are the days of an actual job opening being interviewed for by honest and ethical folks with a respectful personnel department representative.

Loyalty? Dependability? Integrity? Work ethic? Forget it! Those are qualities considered old-fashioned and out-dated by today’s movers and shakers. 
But alas … all is not lost. And we’ll keep searching as long as the good Lord strengthens me to do so. God has blessed wife and I for well over 43 years now, we know He’ll continue to care for us until it is time to go home.
 B of A is threatening to take our house of 22 years, having denied a home loan modification application back in March (just like they have to millions across our once great land). We’ll see how that shakes out before Christmas, I’m quite sure.

Thomas, via comments

‘You fill out an application, even attach a resume, but what happens when I hit the send button?’

I lost my job when the economy went in the tank. I was a steel building detailer with just over 14 years of experience when it all went downhill. When the economy imploded in 2009 nobody was building anything. With no work my employer was forced to layoff everyone. They called us back periodically when work we had out for approval came back. But by mid to late May all that was done.

Luckily I was able to draw unemployment from the State of Indiana. I was eligible for the highest possible payout of $290 per week, plus there was an added $25 per week but  I cannot remember what this was for. This helped but was well short of the $720 a week I was making before being laid off. Needless to say I had to be very frugal with any money I had. My parents were able to help some too, but the entire situation sucked. I was out of a job because of the reckless actions of a few people. Yet those people have yet to feel any pain for their actions, how pathetic.

The hardest part about being laid off was that I had to do a lot of job hunting. Its easier now with so many websites dedicated to job searching, but this is also a draw back. I filled out so many online job applications. Just about all companies want you to fill out something online, even McDonald’s is doing this now. The biggest problem was lack of communication. You fill out an application, even attach a resume, but what happens when I hit the send button? Does some one actually see it? Can I get some form of a response saying they got it? I realize companies were bombarded with applications for any position, but throw a guy a bone. Let the applicant know what is going on, please. The other thing I hated was getting called for an interview with hardly any information. Companies would put an add out there looking for people with not much more information than that. They would do a lot of short interviews to see what they got. I am sorry, a 5 minute 2 question interview doesn’t mean much of anything to anyone. Plus, I would get a job offer that paid less than I was getting from unemployment. What kind of company would pay someone $8 an hour for a full time job? What a joke.

Luckily one of my former bosses called me to come to work for him after being laid off for 10 months. The partners that I worked for split, so I now work for one of them and have since the middle of April last year. But I was really getting frustrated with job hunting. People looking at me like I had cancer or something. It was really frustrating because I knew companies were going with younger people that they didn’t have to pay as well as me with all my experience. Its really sad how companies want cheaper workers instead of better workers. It was also frustrating getting a few offers from companies that were really low, and done on purpose trying to save money. You want the best people then you have to pay them what they are worth. But very few companies want to do that now unless you are some corporate big shot, then you are grossly overpaid and given way too many perks. But, I am working again, but it still sucked having to go through it.

How can you help people find work? I think corporate America needs a wake up call. They are making people work way to many hours for way too little money, and on a salaried basis. They love it because they can get 50 hours of work or more out of their employees but only pay them for a 40 hour week. But these people get burned out and frustrated because they just can’t get ahead. This becomes a problem in the workplace. Also, stop looking at someone who has been laid off for an extended period of time as if they are bad people. This means nothing, and they should know better. There are laws against discrimination, this is just a different form that nobody wants to talk about or deal with. Companies that do this should be ashamed of themselves and be forced to deal with legal action. Bottom line, corporate America needs a big fat pay cut and to give up a lot of the “perks” they just do not deserve. This will free up a lot of money to bring in more people that are ready to work.

Tom W., via email

‘I am almost embarrassed when I go through the lists of jobs that I am NOT qualified for’

Although I will admit I have battled the “I’ll-never-find-a-freaking-job” blues, I am still looking. And still hopeful. I first became unemployed in December of 2008 as the economy, housing, and the State of California all started their final tailspins. I sold cars. However, in order to sell cars, people need to buy cars. In Sacramento, cars were the LAST things people were buying. I forget exactly when Sirius, then Chrysler’s sole owner, pulled the plug on some 700+ dealerships and mandated the remaining franchises either peddle all three brands (Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep) or hang up their horns. 16 other people were let go the same day as me. Upsetting as that was, I was somewhat relieved. Even after discontinuing my health benefits, my last 17-day paycheck was a mere $500, compared to a year prior at $1,850. On a side note, 3 months after my lay-off the owner of the car dealership I worked for over the previous four years committed suicide. Yep, 75 other folks bread & butter gone. Not to mention the bread & butter for both of his High School age sons & widow. My heart aches for the many dedicated people that worked all their lives, 43years in some cases, to keep that place going. 

So began my journey. I applied for UI benefits online. I began receiving $1,100 a month. Thankful that I had some money saved, and using my resources as a salesperson, I was able to retain the $900 apartment that was home to my 17 year old daughter and myself for the 10 months it took me to find work. The ONLY reason I even got a job was because I had taken the Sheet Metal Workers Union Pre-Apprentice Exam in the November before I was laid-off. It STILL took 10 months of soliciting the union contractors, union shops, and schmoozing the admin people at the Union Hall to even get an interview. 

Luck was a Lady for me the day I interviewed with Justin @ ACCO Engineered Systems Fabrication Shop. Because his wife had been in the Trade for 14 years, he had no qualms about hiring a girl. I beat out 3 other candidates for the job; and went at it with all I had. Tough, tough occupation. Even the journeymen at the shop complained regularly about how hard the work was. Well, I made it about 8 months before I was called into Justin’s office to receive my last paycheck & a referral to EDD. The large job at the airport was nearly complete, and there was not enough work for everybody. This was a Reduction In Force (RIF). The economy strikes again.

This time I was worried. Savings Account depleted, no prospects for work, & if I was going to be job-hunting for another 10 months, I was doomed! I scoured all the usual spots: craigslist, calijobs.gov, and the rest. During the first couple of months, what played out in my life was like an unseen force that understood what needed to happen. My daughter, now almost 19, informed me she was moving out to get a place with her BFF. Wow. That was a huge weight off my shoulders. Next, a friend of mine said, “I have an extra room in the City. $300 rent & some help with my business.” 

So, in July of 2010, I packed up whatever I couldn’t live without, gave away the rest, & moved to the City by the Bay; Energized, excited, & hopeful. After almost a year, as a last resort, I went back to work selling cars. The economy is better in San Fran than in Sacramento, but folks are not throwing their money around without a fight. The “Seasoned Crew” at the dealership proved to be too much competition for me and I was cut from the team after 2 & ½ months. Back to the Drawing Board…and on May 1^st, 2011, back to the Unemployment Line. 

I am almost embarrassed when I go through the lists of jobs that I am NOT qualified for. Because I have no Degree, no Program Certificates, & no Skilled Trade, I still have no job. Couple that with my recent work history, and see how fast my phone DOESN’T ring. Clearly, I need some type of re-education. But how? I am looking at a maximum of 5 months before my UI claim is exhausted. I can barely make rent (which is now $600), let alone pay for school. 

Between auctioning items I find at Thrift Stores, a day here and there as a movie extra, and the bi-weekly checks from UI, I am making it for now. I’m as tough as nails and very resourceful. I intend on keeping myself above water, and I will find work.

E.A., via email

‘Am I really the cause of all this trouble in our family?’

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