I was laid off from my job 6 months ago and haven't found another one.

[milestogo]

That means my last unemployment check comes next week. As I am applying for jobs I see that some of them get 100 applicants within a few hours.

I don't know how high the unemployment rate is, but I'm sure TSF is covering it up. Under normal circumstances there would be an extension of unemployment benefits but that is not going to happen now. The administration has been cutting thousands of jobs since day one. AI is eliminating jobs. But is our government doing ANYTHING about it? Fuck no.

[Nittersing]

1. Fuck

I'm so sorry miles

[leftstreet]

2. Sorry

really sucks

[OLDMDDEM]

3. Trump is an extremely cruel person. I know of no match to his shenanigans. People are suffering and

he doesn't care. His only thoughts pertain to his pocket and how many more million he can add to what he already grifted.

[KPN]

17. And that goes for his kids, wife, snd most if not all of his

handlers/big money supporters, and appointees/mobsters too.

[OLDMDDEM]

37. Yes, you are right.

[usonian]

4. I see this a lot on Hacker News.

People are using AI to try to get past AI hiring bots.




It's more broken than ever (it always was). I advise people to really exercise their networks. As individualist as I am, I got interviews, and sometimes even jobs this way.

Good Luck!!!

[milestogo]

8. I have used the bots to fill out forms

but when it comes to tailoring my resume it feels like a bunch of bullshit.

Yes, you can make sure your resume always has every key word they are looking for, making yourself a perfect fit on paper. But then will you be able to answer questions in the interview and actually do the job?

It seems like HR is pretty much out of the picture now. Resumes are scanned and rejection emails are spit out. The resumes that match the keywords get the interviews. But does that mean they can do the job or that they are good at playing the game?

Humans are being removed from the world of hiring and its not a good thing for an honest person.

[Give Peace A Chance]

36. If you are able to get called in for a interview, try to remember...

YOU are interviewing them. Ask a lot of questions.
I was offered every job I interviewed for. I didn't accept every one because I was picky.

[GoCubsGo]

5. I'm so sorry. I went through the same thing

just before the Bush crash. I got so sick of applying for jobs that I got to the point where I couldn't do it any more. Which didn't matter, because it was at the point where there none to which I could apply, anyway. I never recovered from it. I hope things go better for you.

[OhioBack2Blue]

27. Right there with you...and OP

Plenty of degrees, knowledge & skills, hundreds of resumes & vita sent - no suitable paid work for over 6 years now. ATS systems are a complete fraud.

Then, douchie Doge wacked wife's grant position working with vets with disabilities acquire skills & find employment.

American nightmare

[some_of_us_are_sane]

6. Trump

is a NARCISSISTIC SADIST and he revels in making other's suffer.

(I can only imagine the hardship you are going through. milestogo.)

[Jacson6]

7. As AI and robots expand this will be happening to millions of people.

I'm Sorry to hear about your problem.

[pecosbob]

9. Got laid off in March...and I'm sixty-six.

[ms.pamela]

33. sixty-six

Hang in there until 67 at least you will receive social security, well until asshole does away with it. If I can offer a word of advice, if you are good at fixing things become a handyman. So many elderly folks (example my husband) just cannot do things around the house anymore that required climbing ladders etc. I can empathize with you, I lost my job in June after working 21 years for a federal union and I am 70, thankfully, I draw half of my husband social security and have a federal annuity from my former husband. I just didn't want to start drawing out of my IRA until 73. I feel terribly sad for those who are unemployed and who don't have anything to fall back on. Good Luck to you and the gentleman who also lost his job.

[dickthegrouch]

10. Sadly I never quit from a job, they all laid me off!

At one point I was out of work for three years. That meant I had to work until I was 68 to recover, but thankfully I did, and was able to replete(?) my depleted savings. I am now happily retired.
However, it was my networks that finally got me re-employed after that three year gap. Don't be shy (I was) and ask all your friiends and acquaintances for assistance.
Tell us (in the broadest terms possible) what you're into, and where you live. If we can assist, we will.

[popsdenver]

11. The worst part is..............

this is the tip of the iceberg............Employees across the nation ain't seen nothing yet...........everything will start cascading, and the domino effect is soon to follow........

[DFW]

12. I hate hearing about this so often, because I hear it a lot from the USA

I don't personally know anyone who has been laid off recently, but I'm 73 and live in the EU, so it's normal that my circle wouldn't include a lot of people that have this dilemma. One of my nephews was "sorta" laid off except that the British arm of his employer picked him up without skipping a beat. The US arm vanished due to DOGE making it disappear. My New York-based daughter, now 42, seems to be solid in her job, and her husband does, too. He is in NYC but works for a Canadian outfit.

My employer in Dallas is continually looking for new people. We have gone from 500 people to over 1000 in the last seven years, and have very little turnover, but the qualifications are brutally hard to fulfill (extremely specific). A German colleague I have known since 1979 once told me that retirement in our line of work comes when the last nail is put in the coffin.

[PufPuf23]

13. The POTUS and GOP lie and the MSM is compromised.

Sure you are correct that the administration lies and refuses to improve the situation.

The administration is fostering problems rather than caring for people.

[Shipwack]

14. It took a little bit longer than 6 months to find my current job.

I know that’s not any consolation, just making sure you know it isn’t you, it’s the economy.

Ya gotta hang in there because there is no other choice.

Again, I know that’s not helpful, but it’s the best I’ve got. 😞

[hamsterjill]

15. I am so sorry. There is so much stress over job insecurity.

First of all, I think you are completely correct in that the figures are much worse than anyone is letting on and that fact certainly IS being covered up.

Second of all, I have been through a job situation and it was very, very stressful and something I wouldn't wish on anyone. Are you getting any responses from your applications? I wasn't, and I had an outdated resume. Fixing that helped me, and in fact, a DU'er helped me do that. Everything is (of course) automated now and you have to get past the initial AI weeding out process. So, if that's something that might be helpful (i.e., the resume, etc.) then I highly recommend it.

Third, I hope you will be cognizant and careful and literally make time to take care of yourself. I know that's a helluva lot easier said than done, but it is paramount to your mental health and future success.

I wish you all the very best. I send you a hug and a prayer (as is my practice), and I hope you'll keep us updated on your searches and call backs, etc.

[TheProle]

16. I went through this the first 6 months of 2024

I am really sorry and wish you all the best in your job search. Hang in there.

[Liberty Belle]

18. What line of work are you in?

You may have to find something in a different field even if lower paid short-term, which sucks but it beats starving.
There may be part time positions out there

[erronis]

19. Also - be careful about job sites, companies harvesting personal information from resumes

I'm sure everything that we send out in a resume gets fed into the AI hopper to be queried and used/abused. Apparently the NORKs are big into fake job adverts. Used to be they sent fake resumes to US companies but now they are positioning themselves on both ends of the pipeline. I'm sure every other country/entity is doing the same.

Good luck! Depending on the types of job you are looking for, perhaps volunteering in local organizations to get your name and capabilities out there might be a good idea.

[mountain grammy]

20. I'm sorry to see this

Hoping for the best and a good shot of luck

[jmbar2]

21. The worst part of unemployment today is that you never get a day off

I scan the Reddit boards a lot and it's a bloodbath out there. The poverty boards are exploding with people trying to help others.

I went through repeated layoffs starting in 2009 and never recovered financially. I hope the best for you.

[Joinfortmill]

22. I am very sorry to hear this..

And, I agree, it's probably a lot worse than we realize. I prayed for you. It can't hurt. Keep us informed

[TexasBushwhacker]

23. Laid off May 2023

I'll be 69 in January. I've worked 7 months since then. 3 jobs. I had to go ahead and take my Social Security. I wanted to wait until I was 70, but I haven't been able to find anything that has LASTED. I'm almost out of savings and my credit cards are maxed out.

[Skittles]

41. hey

you didn't take SS at 62 so you built up a much bigger SS payout - you did the best you could, don't beat yourself up

WE THE PEOPLE are doing our best, it's our government that sucks

[LoisB]

24. I am so sorry to hear this. I really hope you find something soon. If the true unemployment

rate were published, there would be an extension of benefits.

[MerryBlooms]

25. Wahy higher unemployment than reported

Plus ya'll dealing with jobs listed you're applying to that don't even exist. Many companies aren't updating their sites. I know several people running into this bs.
There are also shadow sites listing jobs that don't exist. They take your information for selling
So sorry you're going through this
You are not alone! I know that doesn't make it any better, but I don't know what else to say

[Walleye]

26. My personal economic indicator, the dollar store was packed this morning

I’m so sorry and I really sympathize. They want to punish us for their mistakes.

[moniss]

28. I remember 1985 and applying for almost anything

was a hopeless endeavor. I went on for months and months with tons of resumes going out every week and going all over to put in applications. Finally after many months I found, thankfully, a local job hall where I could go and sit in the morning and when 8:00 a.m. came the phone might ring and somebody might need me for minimum wage work. I used to get assigned a lot of times because I had a car, such as it was, and could take guys with me and bring them back. The job hall would kick me an extra $5.00 for gas for hauling them around. Got a check at the end of each day. At least I could eat something hot that night. Still couldn't keep up with my $145.00 per month rent but I could cover the electric bill, phone, postage for resumes etc. and gas for my Pontiac Grand Safari station wagon that a guy sold me cheap just so I could have wheels. Big 455 motor sucked gas terribly.

That scenario lasted a long time for me and unfortunately we could be sliding back more and more to that reality for many people.

[ms.pamela]

29. Unemployed

Please check with your state unemployment department to see if they offer retraining of any sort. I know in Washington State as you are coming to the end of your benefits they will send to school or a training program and continue paying for benefits while you are in that training if you ask for it. A friend of mine who had a master's degree lost her job working for Oracle and she went to a school for truck drivers and no she didn't become a truck driver, but her unemployment was extend while she was training to be one.

[IronLionZion]

30. The job market is AI vs AI now, it's pure hell

People use LLMs to format their resumes to tailor to job descriptions. Employers use LLMs to screen applications. There are fewer humans involved in the process. Plenty of opportunities for complete lies and inserting buzz words to try to slip through the filters.

One route you might look into is to connect with as many recruiters as you can. They tend to work with small companies who don't have the resources for in-house recruiting. There you would at least talk to humans.

Good luck. I've lost a lot of my coworkers this past year to layoffs.

[aggiesal]

31. I don't know your skills or profession. I work in the tech industry. In my esperience ...

I suggest to look for head hunters
Don't just use 1, use as many as you can.
Also, look for head hunters that knows the hiring manager, not just know about the job opening.
You can tell, when you ask "Do you know the hiring manager?"
The one's that know, will tell you, mostly only their 1st name. Others will find a reason not to tell you who the hiring manager is.

Also, on your resume, removed all instances of age.
Don't list graduation dates and if jobs are over 10 years ago, don't list those dates.

One last thing, my sister is in the same boat. She hired some sort of head hunter that goes through all your social media posts, and cleans them up. She started getting call backs.

Good Luck.

[milestogo]

39. I'm in tech.

I don't use social media and I try to age proof my resume. I did 3 projects in a row that are the same kind in the last 4 years. I would not mind doing another one, but it just isn't happening and suddenly I'm not being considered for other roles.

I have been working remotely since Covid and I want a remote job... so maybe that's a problem now. What's funny is when they tell you that the job is fully remote but you must live in a certain state. Or you must come onsite to pick up your laptop and its 2000 miles away.

[SheltieLover]

32. Good vibes for you, Miles

[barbtries]

34. I'm so sorry you're going through this.

I don't know what state you're in but some, I believe, allow an extension of benefits for people who have not found a new job within the time frame.

Either way, hope your circumstances get better from here!!

[John Coktosten]

35. I sympathize

Been in your situation myself. It's incredibly hard but hang in there and keep searching for a job.
It took a twist of fate for me to find my way to getting full employment. I'm thankful everyday.
Best wishes and best of luck to you.

[BigmanPigman]

38. During the 1992 economic disaster in the US

I was told I'd be fired every few months. It was chaos. I knew I had to change careers as a realistic situation for gaining health insurance. Clinton was elected, thank Dog, and I was able to get 1 year of unemployment which allowed me to retrain and become a teacher (which I hated) all for health insurance!!!

I had one a 25% teaching position which paid me $2,300 a month, and since it was below 50% I couldn't get health insur through the school district. So basically my monthly income was $500 short of paying insur before the ACA. I was paying OUT for health insur than I was taking in as income.

What makes my story worse is that I worked in a moldy classroom, which had to be torn down and I have permanent damage to my respiratory system and my immunity sucks...little kids are sick all the time and they bring germs to school.

[JI7]

40. If you want remote with that well limit your options greatly

My advice is take what you can get and keep looking.

[Kaleva]

42. Despite being on 100% disability, I had to go back to work part tine

I didn’t get enough on disability, and now regular SS as I’m over 66 1/2 years of age, to make ends meet.

I’m in a great deal of pain some days but fortunately my schedule is usually very flexible and I can set my own hours except when there’s an emergency.

I’ll be working part time till the day I drop dead but the job is an interesting challenge with much to learn and it’s so much nicer not staying up at night trying to figure out how to manage the bills.

[moonrise november]

43. Create your own job.

Hire yourself.

[Clouds Passing]

44. Much good luck to you, milestogo 🍀🍀🍀

[electric_blue68]

45. I am so sorry to hear this, and other DU'rs in similar situations.

Hoping Good Luck comes your way very soon!