Down But Not Out

‘I have a job now, but I’m a contractor’

I’m 38. Have a 3 year-old-son. I have a Masters and Bachelors in social science (my first mistake) and I wonder why I ever got an education.

I was working as a project specialist in Jacksonville, Florida as a full-time employee for about a year when I bought a house (my second mistake) Suddenly I was laid off. They (the same bank) brought me back on as a contractor, long enough for me to save some money, and I was laid off again.

From April of 2009 until October of 2009, I applied for unemployment and in the state of Florida, at the time it was $275/week. Obama passed a bill and gave us an extra $25 dollars a week. Thanks for that. It was money, but I was slowly losing the battle.

I left Jacksonville, Florida moved back to St. Louis, Missouri, in hopes of finding a job and rented out the house in Jacksonville for less/a month than what I owed. Because I didn’t and still don’t want to foreclose. However at this point I’m not sure I have a choice. Taxes went up in Florida and I don’t get the home exemption anymore since I don’t live there. (You can Google the home exemption)

I have a job now, but I’m a contractor, and was told it was ending Aug. 5. Then I was shifted to a project I’m on now, but it runs out (supposedly) at end of year. Who knows. I’m sure they ran “out of funding.” I’ve been told that before too.

My employer is notorious for letting go contractors though, so I’ve been sending out resumes left and right.

So far I’ve been lucky bouncing from one temp job to the next—but I hope my luck doesn’t run out. It’s just frustrating. It shouldn’t be this hard to find full-time work!

I’m looking at admin jobs, coordinator, anything. I leave off my Masters as well most times, because I don’t want the employer to think they have to pay for a person with a Masters. You never know.

I have played by the rules, I did everything right. I went to school, I made great grades, I did it all. And now I’m wondering what was it all for??

I’m not down and out but it’s close. I can see the wave coming and I’m trying to steer clear, and it’s really hard. I wish I could move to another country and make money, but as an American, I can’t really immigrate anywhere else. I see all these people wanting to come here to better their lives for the supposed American dream? And I think, “for what?” There is no dream. It’s just a nightmare covered in sugar.

Hope W., via email

‘I’ve been told I’m not a good candidate because they feel someone with my experience will bolt at the first opportunity’

I’m sure like many respondents, I’m probably not being counted as unemployed any longer because my unemployment benefits ended long ago. I lost my job in November of 2007. I was working for Citifiancial Auto as a dealer development rep when the cuts came along. At first I wasn’t too worried, as I’ve never had trouble getting a job, and have a bachelor’s degree in business administration, with a major in finance. After a few months it became apparent to me that jobs were disappearing at an alarming rate.  

In my case, having been working in financial services, and having my career tied to the credit markets was especially impactful. The bank I was working for, as well as other financial institutions which contributed heavily to the bursting bubble and deep recession we are (in my opinion) still experiencing, regardless of what the economic data says, have held it against me that I’ve had such a long job gap.  Which is something you don’t read about, and nobody is talking about. 

You have people working in sectors that really haven’t been affected, and are pretty clueless about what has really been going on. Understandable, but it’s like hearing about an event in another country … “Oh man, that’s too bad.”  

I’m still unemployed, and seeing new college grads get most of those few new jobs popping up, as opposed to experienced workers.  I think primarily because a lot of the jobs starting to come back are lower level and entry level jobs. And believe me, I’ve tried to get a job in other industries, but there I’ve been told I’m not a good candidate because they feel someone with my experience will bolt at the first opportunity.  And all the times I’ve been told “you’re over qualified.”  So sick of hearing that. This is the first story I’ve seen that even comes close to discussing the deeper issues of unemployment I’ve mentioned.   

I went bankrupt, lost my home, and had to move in with my parents like I’m a kid again. Really demoralizing, and difficult to keep that fighting attitude that things will get better. NEVER EVER thought I’d be in this position.

I even tried returning to my alma mater to earn a second major in information systems.  But that’s a no go, because the university has a policy that someone can’t earn a second major under the same degree (in this case BS in Business Admin) consecutively. I could return and take classes as a non degree seeking, but not being in a degree program means I don’t qualify for financial aid (not even a student loan).  Really a catch-22.

The university screams because they had $50 million cut from their budget, but have a silly policy, which won’t allow an alumni to come back and learn a new skill, in order to re-enter the job market.  Interestingly, if I had earned my BS in Business Admin from a different university, they would allow me to pursue a different major under the same degree program. So, in reality they punish their alumni.   

Where I’m at now. Well, basically I’ve lost everything, and I’m unattractive to potential employers in my field because of my extended gap in employment created by the recession, which has a compounding effect month after month. I’m hoping to get a job driving trucks after I get my commercial drivers license.   

You can bet there’s plenty of people like me out there, viewed like stale bread nobody wants, who have fallen though the cracks, and aren’t even being counted anymore.  I used to think the United States was the greatest country in the world, but no longer.  I hope to drive trucks for a few years, put a lot of money in the bank, and be able to get out of the U.S.
Patrick C., via email

‘I interned for free just so I can put something on my resume’

In 2008 I graduated with my MBA and was extremely excited about getting back into the workforce. However God had different plans for me. God wanted me to struggle. For the past 3 years I have looked into the mirror and see disappointment. I am down and out. I cannot get a job that I desire.

The only job that I was offered paid $10/hr. The job was way below my qualifications, but I had to take it so I can pay the bills. I guess I am lucky. In addition to this job, I interned for free just so I can put something on my resume. I guess I am lucky. I have been officially unemployed for 6 months, and I think it will continue. I do not see any hope. I do not see how I can improve my work experience in order to get the job that I so desire.

So what do I do? Go back to school? Take another job in retail, hotels, etc. … I cannot do this for the third time. (2001-dot-com bust—work in retail) (2008-financial crises—work in hotels). Work for free? The one and only thing I learned from being unemployed is to stay positive. My problems are my problems, and no one cares.

Pranav D., via email

‘I miss working; I WANT to work, but no one is willing to give me the opportunity to prove myself’

I got laid off from a Toyota dealership. Sales at the store started to fall drastically and my department was one of the first to get cut back (Customer Relations Dept). I got laid off in November of 2009.

Constantly worrying about how I’m going to pay my bills is definitely the hardest thing. And it’s easy to get discouraged fast because you spend hours every day fixing up your resume, writing cover letters, looking for open positions, etc., and you never hear back from 99 percent of the employers. It seems like you’re just wasting your time.

Unemployment compensation is definitely not enough to live off of. I don’t know how I’ve made it so long. I’ve been living off unemployment and the bi-yearly checks I get from my school for my leftover financial aid. I have exhausted all of my regular  unemployment benefits. I applied for the emergency unemployment about 2-3 weeks ago, but have heard nothing back. It is frustrating dealing with the unemployment office. Every time you try to call and ask them to clarify things, the phone lines are  always busy and it just automatically disconnects your call. I have been unable to reach anyone to ask where my money is and why it’s taking so long.

There is definitely much more competition for work, especially for the  administrative/clerical field. Employers are offering much less pay and are asking for much more experience because they know they’ll be able to find someone desperate enough. Most all of the receptionist/office jobs I have come across require you to be bilingual and are asking for accounting skills as well and only offering $8-9 an hour.

I still have not found any work. Giving up is not an option. I still have bills to pay and need money to live. The only reason I have been able to survive for this long is due to great money management skills and pure luck. It’s frustrating because I miss working; I WANT to work, but no one is willing to give me the opportunity to prove myself.

It seems as though the only way to get a job is if it’s an area that you are extremely experienced in and are willing to take a drastic pay cut. As I said before, for those of us in the secretarial/administrative field, it’s extremely hard to find anything at all.
Employers would rather have an accountant that can also double as a receptionist, instead of a professional front desk clerk. Employers are looking to have as few employees as possible to save money, so you must be skilled in many areas to even be considered. I would recommend going to the library and taking their free educational courses on various computer software (Word, Excel, HTML, Photoshop, etc.) to sharpen your skills and volunteering somewhere where you can learn skills that will benefit your job hunting.

I think the long-term unemployed would make incredible employees. Being out of work for so long has shown me that I took my old job for granted. We are so desperate for work that if I was to get hired, I would work twice as hard as I used to. Being poor, hungry, and desperate drives you to never want to be that way again; it gives you determination and drive. Hiring a long-term unemployed person could be a great asset to a company. We would be loyal and grateful, and would work hard to prove ourselves so we won’t have to be in this situation ever again. All we need is a chance—an employer willing to give us a fair salary and the opportunity to prove our value.

Alicia B., via email

‘The future for the educated is not as bright as it was promised to be’

In two days I will have been jobless for 2 years. This is a milestone I am not proud of. I am 27, received my undergrad degree and currently working on my master’s degree. I worked for a non-profit organization that got into some trouble. Top management assured us we would keep our jobs—only for them to get sacked right after that.
Interim management then felt a need to re-interview the entire staff, asked them what they did on a daily basis and let go those they deemed useless to the organiation. If you assisted anybody whether in finance, research or clerical and were not paid from a grant from the university your luck was out—which is what happened to me.
The hardest thing about being unemployed is knowing how good of an employee you are and no employers seem to notice it. No matter how many times I re-do my resume, coverletter, have mock-interviews, nothing works out.
My unemployment money has run out and contrary to the belief of Republicans, I did not sit on my butt all day everyday basking in receiving money I did not work for. I applied for several jobs daily, walked in stores asking if they were hiring … I was not a lazy unemployed person. With me being out of work for two years I fear becoming undesirable—even in my young age. I even feel the need to “dumb down” my education in order to not be over-qualified.
I have managed to volunteer since being unemployed to gain experience in the field I studied in undergrad since I have not been able to obtain a paying job that will do the same for me. This has helped fill in the employment gap for me I guess. I cannot say if employers have been wary … they might be since I’am still unemployed.
There is definetely more competition. Not only are the unemployed seeking jobs but people who are employed are seeking better jobs. We also have to deal with the people “who know people”. It seems that if you don’t know anyone you wo’t get the job either.How can you make it easier for the unemployed to find work? I don’t think that is possible—not right now anyway. I have become discouraged yet I still search for jobs, maybe not as hardcore as I once did. I don’t know what else to do. The future for the educated is not as bright as it was promised to be.
Rosalyn B., via email

‘I received a voice mail via my cell phone that informed me they were actually letting me go’

I had been working for Huntington Learning Center from April 2007 to May 2009 when they had finally decided to let me go due to the economic downturn. Once the Great Recession hit in 2007, more and more people had been forgoing tutoring for the children. Some parents even trying to do it themselves at home. I never saw being let go coming. I simply showed up less and less on the work schedule. Then, after 2 weeks of not appearing at all, I received a voice mail via my cell phone that informed me they were actually letting me go. (Whatever happened to telling someone to their face?) Since I drove the longest (17 miles, a half hour) to work, they decided to spare me the continued drive of little to no work. (I thought their decision to let me go was weird because they, at the same time, brought 2 new people aboard.)
 
After they let me go, I went on unemployment. My UI benefits ran out a year ago (June 2010).
 
I’ve tried shifting gears by taking some ECE (early childhood education) courses at my local CC (community college) and joining NAEYC (National Association For The Education of Young Children). However, I found daycare/childcare to be a lot like tutoring. Once the Great Recession hit, parents began sending their kids part-time instead of full-time and parents who sent their kids part-time took them out altogether only to do it themselves or ask a friend or family member to do it.  
 
I then switched over to using my past lab experience  from the biology and chemistry prep labs at the CC when I worked for Sharon. Despite the fact the fact it was well in my past, I felt I could still capitalize on it and get hired doing something simple like cleaning glassware or processing specimens, but I’m finding out that’s not really the case. Tried approaching several staffing agencies and have had zero luck. Many of them told me, “Oh yeah, we see these kinda of jobs come across our desk all the time.” Guess I’m hitting them up at the wrong time because they’re sure not coming across their desks now, when I MOST need a job.
 
Being out of work like this for so long has consequences. I have bills to pay like everyone else: monthly car payment, car insurance, credit card consolidation, cell phone. I’ve actually had to have my mom help support me and pay my bills for me, which has been extremely hard on her, as she has her own bills to pay. Juggling my bills and her bills isn’t easy yet we do it so I don’t go into financial ruin, which would then make it absolutely impossible for me to find a job.
 
I think being out of work for long periods of time is definitely detrimental. I have been asked by employers what I was doing “in that period of time.” They then follow that with “Anything, anything at all?” It’s like some people just can’t or won’t comprehend the extreme scope of things. They want to act like everything is alright for some odd reason.
 
UI benefits were extremely helpful in keeping me afloat. Unfortunately, after a year, I exhausted them. Since then, I was able to find work at a daycare/childcare center, but after a month, for reasons unknown, she let  me go. Fast forward a few months. I picked up a specimen processing job at a local diagnostics company and they too, after about a month let me go (apparently I wasn’t fast enough for the guy and he was expecting 30,000+ specimens in the weeks ahead and couldn’t have someone around who processed a card at a minute or two a card.) I’ve tried to get back on UI benefits, but every time I fill the online application out and hit submit, it tells me I exhausted my benefits. Been off a year now, let go twice, and I can’t reply. Not fair. Not right.
 
Competition is definitely up. I couldn’t even get hired at Wal-Mart if I wanted to. Word has it they average 10 applications for every position that comes open. So they can afford to be picky. I’ve noticed the same thing in daycare/childcare too. There must be an average of 10-13 people applying for every job that comes open. Normally, it’s quite easy to get into daycare/childcare. Ten, 15 years ago, I never would’ve had the difficulty I’m having now even for simple lab positions. Much easier to fill back in the day. Doesn’t matter if it’s minimum wage or low paying, people want to work just to work and pay their bills.
 
As I said, been employed on and off since my UI benefits were exhausted. There are times I really do want to just up and give up altogether. All the rejection and what not, it’s disheartening. And after being let go twice, I feel like I’m not meant to do anything.
 
People need to understand that hiring an unemployed person isn’t a bad thing. It doesn’t mean they’re any less capable of doing the job and many people, like myself, are unemployed not because they chose to be unemployed. We do get jobs with the intent of keeping them, but for whatever reason(s) employers let us go. It’s totally out of our hands and control.
 
One thing that can help is if the Federal Government, my mom’s employer, were to start filling Civil Service jobs with more and more civilians now that they’re axing the contractors and going back to Civil Service workers. They hire mostly vets and spouses and many of the jobs (GS-3, GS-4, GS-5, and GS-6 level jobs) vets and spouses get never even come open to the general public. They simply fill them with vets and spouses because they’re a vet or spouse. In many cases, they don’t even have to prove KSA (knowledge, skills, and abilities) in order to get the job yet someone like myself does. Where’s the fairness to that? If the Federal Government began hiring more civilians, they really could help get things back on track employment wise for EVERYONE, not just vets. Why be so greedy? I agree with my mom, share the wealth.
 
I can see vets getting hired, as Civil Service was initially created for them, but military spouses? I realize it’s hard for them to find work because they move around a lot, but at the same time they chose that lifestyle and knew what they were potentially getting into. So, in many ways, I don’t feel sorry for them. What really ticks me off when it comes to spouse preference is the fact officer spouses sometime work, when, in retrospect, they don’t have to because their spouse makes more than enough money being an officer. My mom once worked with a guy who’s wife was an officer. He didn’t care about the job at all, was lazy. Had a bad work ethic. He didn’t care to work because he knew his wife brought home more than enough money so he didn’t have to work yet he was taking up a good job I or someone else, who desperately needed work, could’ve had. People like him really piss me off.

Elizabeth M., via comments

‘A simple mechanical failure of a major home appliance sends me over the edge’

I have been unemployed and underemployed since August 2008. I am a certified teacher with a Master’s degree in ESL. You would think with the high population of English Language learners in our country that I could get a job easily. That is not the case. Because I have a Master’s degree, I am in a higher pay bracket. I have offered to sign a waiver stating I will work for Bachelor’s level pay but none of the school systems I have spoken with will allow me (or any candidate) to work for a pay rate below their degree. (Thanks to the AEA, NEA, and all the other money-grubbing teacher unions.)

The hardest thing about being unemployed or underemployed is that I cannot pay my bills and a simple mechanical failure of a major home appliance sends me over the edge. My air conditioner unit went out last summer. I did not have the money to get it repaired. I had to suffer through the hottest part of the summer with no A/C. My church family bought a small window unit for me. That was a life-saver. I am very grateful to my church family for the love and financial support they have given me. I have also gone to other charitable organizations  for help with my power bill. I do not qualify for unemployment because I have worked in education as a substitute teacher. Unemployment taxes were taken out of my checks but I am ineligible to draw unemployment. 

I am actively seeking employment. There is far more competition for the few jobs that are available. Recently, I requested an interview at a school were I had been a long-term sub and was told they had 200 applications submitted for one position. I am applying for any job I can perform within the education system as well as jobs in other fields. I am also attending a church-based career assistance ministry. I get weekly job leads and other helpful information. I am very frustrated and want to give up but I cannot stop looking for work. 

Nicki R., via email

‘One assignment overseas, and the career of a military spouse is dead’

I’m really glad you asked, because yesterday I was just wondering how I could convey a situation that affects a small segment of society, more now than ever—and that is the life of an educated military spouse.  I have moved three times in the past seven years with my husband, and have managed to find work in each location (eventually) until now.  

I was forced to quit my job in Seattle last summer, due to his re-location to Germany. Many may think it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to live in Europe for several years, and to a degree this is true.  However, one assignment overseas, and the career of a military spouse is dead.  It’s not as though this is a select point in time where I won’t be working, and I will go back to the states and miraculously get a job again. A three year resume gap is career suicide for decades to come—if my resume ever recovers.

The antiquated way the military works, where service members (specifically officers) re-locate every two to three years used to work when America was a single income family society. But in contemporary times, when both spouses have separate career fields and educational backgrounds, the one that takes the hit often never regains the original career momentum or progression.  

I have spent over a year applying to the few jobs that exist in this remote region of Germany—all U.S. government positions, and have been denied each time for one reason or another.  It is a brutal landscape for people in my position, and I can’t speak for all, but speaking for myself—I’ve lost hope. I’m currently working on an M.A. in International Relations, but am worried that I’m spending money toward a degree that I won’t be able to use (regardless of what field it’s in). But at least I feel I’m doing something.  

S.W., via email

‘I find myself getting angry fast, crying’

I am 36 year old and the mother of a 1 year old daughter.  I have been out of steady work since October 2008. I have had jobs in between, but they have all been contract work and they ended. It is very hard to function on a daily basis anymore. There are a lot of emotions that come from being unemployed. I am depressed all the time, I find myself getting angry fast, crying, etc. It is very heartbreaking being that I have an undergraduate degree in Broadcasting with a minor in Marketing and I have a Masters in Public Administration.  Since I have been unemployed, I have moved back home with my mother and become a recipient of WIC, Medicare and Food Stamps.  I constantly have bill collectors calling me about bills that I owe because I cannot afford to pay them.

In order to make ends meet, I started an employment consulting business in which I do workshops and individual sessions on resume writing, cover letters, interviewing skills, mock interviews, Dress for Success, etc. Unfortunately, no one is calling for my services.

I have tried to obtain jobs everywhere. I am constantly sending off resumes and applications. Some places I receive letters back telling me that I am not qualified while others send nothing. I have written to my senator, Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres, Networks and expressed my story about being unemployed but I have not heard anything from them.  I even put a plea out on YouTube about me not working and have spoken to local officials here in Louisiana who say they will try and help but I never hear anything back from them as well. What really makes me mad is when I ask some officials and person that I know about jobs, they will say that they will check around and then I never hear back from them or they will know about open positions but won’t tell me. Sometimes I feel like I am blackballed.

So, I constantly pray and hope that tomorrow will be the day that I finally get a job.  I just think that if I don’t get anything soon, I may just breakdown.

LaToya B., via email

‘I still apply to roughly fifteen jobs per week’

I listen patiently as I hear others talk about what they used to do for a living, who they used to be.  The sad truth is that I never got to be anything.  I didn’t lose a job.  I came out of a Master’s program in May of 2010.  I graduated on time and with a 4.0 GPA.  The world should have been mine for the taking.

The hardest part of this experience has been having to come home, tail tucked, as a failure.  Out of necessity, I am now living with my parents again in a rural, Arkansas town.  For financial reasons, I had to leave the thriving job market of Austin, Texas to come back to a place where there are no jobs at all.

I have tailored my resume and cover letter for each job to which I’ve applied.  I have experience working for non-profits, in customer service and have held positions in both retail and office management.  I have not heard back from anyone.  I have not been called for any interviews.

As a recent graduate, I was never entitled to any unemployment benefits.

I still apply to roughly fifteen jobs per week, here and elsewhere, making it clear that I am willing to relocate, but still have not found employment.

I hope that my story and the stories of others are put to good use in the interest of rectifying this issue.

Jill B., via email