ian-mstm

It's not illegal to "dumb down" your resume to get a job... and it seems easier to find a better job when money is coming in.

Ian

Marocco

I know people from eastern Europe who found jobs as cleaners and waiters and had the equivalent of a UK master's degree. The main difference is, they don't feel entitled to a welfare cheque at taxpayer's expense.

As long as illegal immigrants with no skills and no English knowledge can get employed (and they can, otherwise they wouldn't be coming) there are not many excuses for educated English-speakers who claim they can't find a job anywhere.

Michael

You can't make 8 million jobs (the number lost during the recession) when they are not there.

Also unemployment benefits in the US is not welfare.

anuny

It is more like denial. I know gobs of people who lost 200K+ jobs who were in denial for a year or so, only to bootstrap with 50-80K+ jobs. I admit our financial vertical spoilt the salary metric from the mailroom guys up.

It begins as soon as you get approved for your first Credit Card i.e Freshman in College.

Couldnt have said it better

Giantaxe

To put it mildly. None of the people I know who are getting unemployment pay can even remotely exist off it. All it's doing is slowing down the rate they eat through their savings (including retirement savings). And as soon as the COBRA subsidies end, you're going to see a boat load of people added to the 45m without any health insurance.

Brit3964

You obviously don't live in a high unemployment black spot. Try it sometime and see how far you get.

In my case, I'm still employed but have no money coming in at the moment because of loosing my FAA medical. Without going into all the details, but to say it wasn't my fault I lost it. I'm living off my 401k while the appeal process is slowly going through the motions. Statistically there's a good chance of getting it back but it can take up to 6 months. I certainly don't feel entitled to taxpayers money however as others have said, unemployment here isn't welfare in any case. I could have cut loose from my employer and gone on unemployment but in my industry that's not a good thing right now as there are no jobs out there. It's a catch 22 situation.

Hopefully you are in an industry which is doing well at the moment.

.

It's quite possible to live on $50k a year. Somewhat harder on $15k per year.

Leslie

What a stupid, stupid, stupid thing to say. Illegals are getting jobs for cash under the table at (quite often) below minimum wage. No taxes paid by employer and employee. Even if Americans wanted these jobs and were willing to work at slave wages - no employer would dare hire them for fear of being caught. When the employer hires on the illegal it is a situation of mutual blackmail in that they are both complicit in the crime and one cannot risk exposing the other.

Leslie

Could you have said it any stupider?

Bob

Aye, but you can't change your age either.

All those mental shelf stacking jobs, they don't go to people out of school and don't give benefits. Down my way, your not full time till you work 35 hours a week and part timers don't have to get benefits.

Bob

You trying paying child care costs on minimum wage.

Brit3964

Nor can you hide or easily disguise the past 10yrs of work history. It would a big gap to leave it out.

Bluegrass Lass

Or student loans, or a mortgage.

Giantaxe

Or health insurance.

Mummy in the foothills

We've been living on under $50,000 for years, it's doable for a family of 5 and we got one kid though Uni at the same time. I make those pennies squeak.

Brit3964

How much under? $49,999? True it can be done but try it again on $15k and with health insurance added. I bet it ain't comfortable.