Islandgurl

Got laid off jan, hired Feb...newspapers,ads,online,outplacement services didn't do squat...word of mouth,knowing someone and a short skirt helped lots

Bob

Scary thing is, an hours commute wouldn't be considered all that bad around here, I knew a few people that were doing 2.5hour one way commutes, and that's before the shit hit the fan.

I was considering a place that wouldn't relocate, so would have been a 10 hour commute, admittedly I'd have just done a B&B during the week or something as that's a tad crazy, but hardly ideal with a new wee nipper...as it was, corporate hiring freeze so it never became an issue

Bob

now there's an idea...it might not help me get a job, but at least I could then sue on discrimination and then not have a need to work

Islandgurl

yannow...this is america..that's a thought...

SpoogleDrummer

I'm considering having a look around. Had my boss say I worked cheap a week ago, then I found out that the guy who had my job before me, who was totally incompetent and whose work I have to totally re-write, was on 12k more than me so I'm not best pleased.

ellimere

Yeah - I'm the position where I work part time (I want full time), get paid the least and have the pleasure of my boss having told me "You're not quite up to the knowledge level I would expect at this stage" - Of course I have no motivation to know as much as the other tellers who work full time. I don't get any benefits, when they have to work a saturday they have an afternoon off in the week.. me I work 2-6 all week and then the saturday as well and am on my own for the last hour at the bank. Better than some I guess but I still feel very demotivated and it makes me miss the UK more where at least I had friends. :/

indigoblue

It's your true calling Ray - I really think you need to go back and ask them to reconsider.

anotherlimey

And take a nice bottle of wine and some roast pork with you, just to sweeten things a bit.

N1cky

I spent 6 months job hunting, I applied for loads of things, tried temp agencies, who all told me I was too experienced/qualified to work as a temp, WTF??

I must have applied for over 200 jobs, in the end got 2 interviews within 2 weeks of each other and was offered both jobs. Not exactly my dream job, but in this climate a job is a job and I'm greatful to have it.

Don't give up, it is depressing but I'm sure someone will give you a chance at some point.

artisanvip

surely there are some industries doing well out of the crisis though?

after graduating i worked for my parents [i wasn't sure what direction i wanted to go in and didn't have the cash or inclination to move out], when they left the UK i did some temp work and landed on my feet with an ok job with a company who carry out credit checks and referencing for people looking to rent property. in the current climate everyone is renting and they are very busy...

indigoblue

That should clinche the deal I think , (don't forget the cracklin)

ironporer

After mailing out resumes for the last 2-3 weeks, I got a call from a major metal casting company to interview this Wednesday. Keeping my fingers crossed, both for a job and to leave B'ham AL.

I had made a list of prospects in tates I would would like to go to and have been mailing out appx 10-20 resumes per day. Mailed another 20 today. Obama needs to come out with a 10-20 cent "Resume Stamp"...between postage and fine resume paper/envelopes I am going broke!!!

That being said, his 65% company match (offset by a tax credit supposedly) on COBRA insurance continuation is HUGE- and will save over $700/month starting next month if I am not employed by then.

OK Libs...see, I just gave him a compliment!

naomi

Although I am gainfully employed right now (knock on wood), I do have experience with being unemployed (lost my dream job during the last downturn in 2001). One of the best things I did back then was to attend a week of workshops that helped with resume writing, interview techniques, networking techniques etc. Although my former employer paid for it, I bet there are community courses out there, definitely take advantage of them. I have to say I now work in the health care industry (I'm a Web editor/producer), and my group just hired a bunch of new people. For folks with a background in communications, writing, Web etc. don't dismiss some of the more traditional companies/industries out there.

Good luck.
Naomi.

Bob

Good luck!

I just applied to a job that I'd had an interview for last year but the place didn't secure the contract and had a hiring freeze so I contacted the person who interviewed me, turns out art and code are hiring, but production was being squeezed and he got made redundant recently himself so I have to start all over there.

Had word from a potential in Montreal, but I'm not keen on leaving the US...I'd jump at the chance if I had gotten citizenship but keep putting that off on dwindling finances...anyway, maybe they'll be open to remote work.

scrubbedexpat091

surely there are some industries doing well out of the crisis though?

Health care is if you have the right training.

In my area there are several hundred positions for various medical related jobs, nurses, doctors, lab techs, etc.

But the health care programs can take 1-2 years to get into, most are only offered once or twice a year and the class size of each is typically under 30, so it makes it hard to fill the positions when people can't get into the programs to get the training.

I am unemployed and looking and would be willing to go to school right now, but