I can't take it anymore.............

sorry you have to go through it as well..

I was in your situation summer 2012. Everything turned around after I got a job. It can happen for you too.

it just ain't going to happen. I wish you were right. Try this on for size with employers. I was the last of 3 final candidates for a job. Was told I would be notified either way on a Monday. Monday passed, Tuesday I emailed my interviewer, Wednesday got a reply, that a person was hired and "acepted" the position. This was with a Labor Union. No lie on the misspelled word.

They had not notified you until the person had accepted the offer because if the person had not accepted, they were going to offer the job to you.

That's my read of the situation. Please keep up the faith. That person may not work out and they may offer the job to you later. You need only one break like that for your life to turn around.

Being jobless and being unable to find any work is a kind of mental torture. I hope things turn around for you quickly.

The asshole repukes in Congress are so busy with their damned tantrums and shutdowns that they don't even want to deal with doing anything to help Americans get work.

As of the end of October, I'll be unemployed for five years. It's been hell feeling so useless and unwanted, sending hundreds of resumes out into the Void from which nothing returns.

I'm fortunate that my husband has a job, I'm used to living frugally, and I'm several months from signing up for early Social Security. But it sounds like you don't have a safety net. Do you think that there is any way that Wishadoo, the web site run by DUer One Grass Root, could help you?

It was seven years for me between being unemployed and early retired.
I learned that the seven year grieving period also applies to a career.

I've been feeling much better since deciding to give up the job search earlier this year. It's not going to happen unless something gets the economy moving again. It's much more important that younger people, single people, people with young kids and veterans get jobs, than it is for me to get one at this point.

My younger daughter (26) just came home from her part time waitress job at a mall restaurant, upset about how little she made in tips. They've been cutting everyone's hours and hiring lots of new part-timers, while at the same time business is down because of the furloughs. We're about 15 miles from Washington DC; lot of federal workers forced to stay home.

Too many younger people are discouraged, and I don't have any suggestions.

I was able to raise $75 I had requested $784......so been there done that.

If you go to your local office of Jobs and Family Service (or whatever similar agency is in your area) they will tell you what jobs they are offering training (and sometimes placement) for.

Before I got sick I went there and told the lady that I was desperate and needed a job. I told her that I have sent out several resumes, had a ton of interviews, and nothing was working. She took me in her office and showed me a brochure with several professional jobs on it. Nursing, trucking, etc. She gave me a series of tests and told me which ones I qualified for. All I had to do was pick one and they would pay for the training. I chose trucking because the training was only 4 weeks and I could go to work immediately when I was done. Sometimes the people in those offices will bend over backwards to help you.

I wish you the best!

I have a Master's degree & I just about got laughed out of a job search program run by a non-profit. I check the state run job site (for unemployed) ain't nothing there either. Minimum requirements High School or Bachelor's degree, I'm not even getting looked at. Also I'm 57 in 2 days, so that sucks too.

I've given up and am officially retired.

Maybe someone here can help.

got a resume for each. 10 years experience as a Police Officer and Investigator. 5 years experience as a High School Social Studies Teacher. 6 years in Social Services, working with mentally ill and MR individuals. Union experience (founding member of Union), community organizing experience. Have sat on the boards of 3 non-profits. Local government personnel administrator.

I think that's it. Bachelor's in History and Master's in Teaching. Teaching I don't want to go back to. That I know.

Or home childcare? I know they aren't ideal, but they are usually in demand.

I've tried to get jobs with tutoring centers, but they just seem to want math & science teachers. As for childcare, I'm a bit limited in my physical activity ability (it doesn't show, when you meet me), but due to badly repaired broken hip and spinal stenosis, I've been limited.

What I've trying to get are varied labor union positions and other administrative positions, supervisory positions in security firms, Investigation analysts and education consultants. I've got the experience in each of these areas, but I can't get a freaking interview. The year of my degree doesn't harm me, it's only 8 years old, so when reading my resume it appears I'm in my 30's, but my experience shows I'm not.

I'm willing to move. So I've applied in many states, excluding Hawaii and Alaska.

I read that more & more people, particularly those over 50, are doing that because they can't find work.

Good luck. That sounds so cliche & shallow, but I just don't know what to say. America has become a mean-spirited country.

good luck and keep going

It seems the dream has changed, for the poor at any rate. No longer do the poor dream of getting ahead. Today the poor feel fortunate if they can simply remain where they.

As for advice I have nothing good to offer. Only...

Look up truck driving companies. It used to be some of the larger ones would train you to get your CDL if you would drive for them for a while. Right now there is some demand for people with CDLs. Beyond that I don't know what to say other than good luck.

there will be a need for thousands of truck drivers. I wouldn't be able to pass the CDL physical exam, due to medications I'm on.

If I can make it through this winter I think I will be okay. It's going to be close.

and I send good vibes your way too. I know how winters can be.

I did that for 3-4 years and finally got hired last month at a real job. Yay, me!

The work is low paying, entry level shit, but it's work. I'm 60, with a background in electronics, including engineering. Nothing out there. So I kind of know what you're going through.

I type about 50 words a minute (thanks to Sister Margaret), basic office skills, etc. but I just don't get placed. I'm not sure what it's all about. I'm pleasant enough, interview skills are good, I make a decent appearance, but I think it's my age. I don't look 5y, people place me in my early to mid 40's. So I'm not just getting it.

.... have you gone that avenue?

I applied for a position thru a company's website 2 months ago - my resume was an exact fit to the job description.
I got crickets. Not even an acknowledgement email.
2 weeks later I had a random message via LinkedIn from a staffing agency recruiter who had been searching Monster.com for candidates & thought I was a 'match', and within 3 days I had an interview with that same company.

So many companies have outsourced their HR to either search engines with ridiculous parameters (the CEO's resume probably wouldn't even make it thru) and low-skilled "HR generalists" who don't know what to look for on a resume. Recruiters and staffing companies work directly with hiring managers and know what to look for on a resume/interview and can get you in front of someone 10x faster.

There are recruiters/agencies for all kinds of industries, do a net search in your area to see who might be able to work with you on finding placement.


Good luck!!

For a $10/hr job, leave out any education beyond high school. Downplay your accomplishments. At that rate, they're looking for disposable grunts, so pretend to be one. Once inside you can prove yourself and advance. If you're reliable and do the job professionally, you'll see dozens of fellow workers come and go. Management will take note of this.

Every cover letter and every resume you send out should be modified to attract attention based on the advertised position. Most of them are scanned (or easier, by e-mail) and sorted by a computer based on keywords. If it says "reliable", don't worry about the sentences you use it in, just USE it, repeditively. I, on the other hand, read every word of every application - with my eyes, not a computer.

have you thought about adult education? I am retired but do it part time 20-30 weeks per year. There are a large number of people in your position and schools to help them. I don't have a teaching certificate or teaching degree.

She told me she is actually semi-retired. Another friend offers administrative type services to seniors. She types letters, does shopping, that type of stuff. Her business started slow, but she's doing really well, now. A new "retired living" home opened & she was there with her flyers & a smile.

PM me, if you'd rather.