For my 6000th post, Please allow me to say that job hunting and unemployment really SUCK!

[GoCubsGo]

33. Welcome to my nightmare.

I lost my job of 20 years nearly 5 years ago, and have been having to make do with entry-level seasonal work. That has dried up. Your story sounds just like mine, only mine has been going only way longer. In one of the last jobs for which I interviewed, I made it to the third interview. They even flew me up there for 5 days. I knew by the third day that it was all a huge waste of time and money, even though they let me hope that wasn't the case. I guess I should have noticed all the red flags when they were surprised when I said that, no, having to exist on seasonal work wasn't idyllic. They asked about it multiple times, too. I guess it was a bullet dodged, but I still have no fucking paycheck. A second position made got me to the second interview. I thought I stood a great chance of getting that one, especially since the HR person contacted me and asked me to apply for it. No such luck.

I have a Masters degree, too. I have also watched former co-workers who had no degrees walk into well-paying jobs at places to which I applied numerous times, but was told there were no jobs. I even once had my application stuck in a pile of goddamn internships, despite the fact that I was applying for a senior position for which I was well-qualified. Such are the joys of nepotism. Now, I get e-mails from the federal government telling me that, while I am well-qualified for the position for which I applied, they're not even going to look at my application because at least one veteran who only meets the basic qualifications has applied. I can go on and on with the horror stories, but I don't care to re-live them.

What really galls me is when, after destroying my hopes, they tell me, "Have a nice day, and good luck with your job search." Well, you just ruined any chance of my having a nice day, you goddamn moron. And, if good wishes got anyone a job, I'd be working in a position that pays $10,000 K/month. I have another interview next week. The job is okay, the pay is fair, but it's in the middle of nowhere. I am not hopeful. Every time I think I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, it turns out to be a freight train. I don't have the choice of giving up, either.