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Okay, so I apologize if this offends anybody on this site, and I do understand it may be offensive to some. I am only writing this our of curiosity.
I read on here, and also hear of people not being able to find work. I understand being out of work for a little while, like a month, two months tops. I just don't understand how people can sit on unemployment insurance for 6 months, claiming they cannot find a job. Okay I understand, times are tough, but I feel like if you are willing to work, there is a job out there for you. People should be spending as much time looking for a job in a day, as they would working a full time job.
So my question is for the bees who have experienced this first hand or through a SO, are times really that tough, or do you think sometimes lack of motivation, and fear of failure is a reason why people can go unemployed for such a long period of time?
Well, I think a lot of it comes from the type of work people feel willing to do. I think for many, yes you can find a minimum wage job at a retail establishment, but there's quite a few reasons that could be really unappealing.
I know from my personal experience, the job I currenty have is my third after graduating about a year ago...I say that because though I was lucky to get two jobs after graduation (the second allowing me to leave the first), by the time I left my second, I was focused on finding a job I really wanted to do, not just any job. (I was lucky that that happened within a compartively short period of time). Though, I know when I was in that position, I wasn't planning on settling for any job, as the first two times I did that, it didn't feel good.
And as far as making looking for work your full time job--I think this is an easier idea in theory than in practice. I think I was able to get a job because I did dedicate a good amount of time to looking. Though there were plently of days when that was such an overwhelming task, and I really had to force myself to be dilligent and do it (even tougher after interviewing and being rejected multiple times, or not hearing back at all). I don't think everyone has that same ability to really push beyond the discomfort, and I think that can bring about chalenges as well.
And there's also location. I'm lucky to be in an area with lots of everything, though I can only imagine...living in a small or more rural area, jobs aren't so plentiful. My fiance is from a small town in Maine, and I know that quite often, many of his friends are unemployed--education does play a role in that, though I think a bigger part is lack of job availiability.
So, that's just some of my thoughts on the matter.
Ummmmm, i am sure you might have a point but i'm not sure it really belongs in this forum?
I think times really are that tough unless you're looking for a crappy minimum-wage job. Like mine! Every time I step foot into that place now I crave a nice hollowpoint..
I've applied and applied to other places and.. nothing. I'm glad I'm moving in a few months because I don't know what I would do if I had to have this job for an indefinite period of time. But point is, I've worked hard to get a different job and I haven't gotten anything. I can't imagine how hard it would be to work this hard to get a job and not have ANY income!
This country has not seen an economic crisis this bad since the great depression. It is alot harder than you think! I'm sorry but your post is offensive.
I am an interior designer in the hotel design industry. I have a bachelor of fine arts from an expensive art school. I had 5 years of experience working for the biggest, award winning design firms in the world. All of our projects went on hold. No work.. nothing. My entire project team was laid off.
I was unemployed for over a year. I took jobs wherever I could and had a few consulting jobs that were a few months each but officially I was out of consisent work for a whole year. It took that long to find a company willing to give me consistent work and benefits again. I'm not some lazy person. I am highly educated and skilled in my field. Nearly every one I know in the industry was either laid off or had their hours and benefits severely cut.
I tried to get other jobs but I have a very specific education and experience. I was never hired for those other jobs. I couldn't even get a retail job and I have lots of retail experience from college!
Another important thing to point out is when you get laid off - you are stuck with whatever lifestyle you were living before losing your job. The rent/ mortgage, the car payment, the school tuition.. all of that! You can cut back on other things like cable, shopping, going out etc.. but the main bills are the same. You can't just sell your house or get a new apartment with no job! I was lucky that I had been living below my means before I got laid off. If I had a car payment, I'd be screwed.
So please - educate yourself a little on the subject and stop judging people for not being able to find work. It's not that easy.
Sometimes the unemployment payments are more than what you would make in a minimum wage job. Some people are trying to hold out to get something in their field so that they aren't being detrimental to their work history. And in some locations in the country, there really aren't jobs (read: Detroit, rural parts of the south etc). It doesn't take a PhD to make the leaps i've made here.
I do live in a small down, 1 1/2 hours from a big town where the "real" jobs are. I have been looking for a job since I was let go from mine on March 1. Unemployment was JUST approved a week ago finally.
I can not make a 1 1/2 hour drive each way for work, so I will be returning to school to learn something other than travel, and hopefully be able to get a "real" job.
@Cash000: My FI feels the same way.. He was unemployed for 2.5 months when we 1st moved 2 years ago for me to go to grad school 10 hours away, but we were also in a super small town where there weren't many options unless you wanted to commute an hour north or south to the 2 closest major cities. His car has over 200k miles on it, so commuting wasn't really an option. He applied to everywhere in town he could, and just kept getting rejection letters back from the university for jobs they had posted, despite being qualified for them. He finally got a job working in the pharmacy at CVS, which was a crappy hourly wage, but it paid the bills with him being full time & it got us through those 2 years.
Working in the pharmacy, he encountered many people on Medicaid etc who were unemployed but were perfectly physically able to work a job. They would get really mad at HIM when their copay went from free to $2, despite it being their insurance & not CVS that made it go up. Most of the people never showed any sort of respect for anyone who worked there, all they did was complain.
My FI has VERY strong feelings about this, & feels like there ARE jobs out there.. sure they may not pay well, you may be overqualified (ie bagging groceries, working at a burger place), but they're still a paying job. He'd work at McDonalds flipping burgers if he had to, even with a college degree, if he was unemployed & we couldn't survive off 1 income & he didn't have any other options besides take unemployment. I don't think he'd ever take unemployment money because he's too proud & has seen too many people take advantage of the system. I have a few other friends in healthcare who feel very strongly about this, too.
I haven't had a job since the end of March/beginning of April when I left Australia. I probably wont have a job until August when the school year starts (I'm a teacher). I am in a weird transition period right now where I'm moving to the city/getting married/going on a honeymoon in a month so I would have to basically take off from any job from June 15-July 4th which would never fly with a new job. When July 4th comes around, I might as well wait it out until August when school starts because, who would hire me for 1.5 months? I, however, am on no type of unemployment. Kingy makes enough money for us to live comfortably on one income and we just don't live to excess (mostly because we're buying a house and planning a wedding). I tutor a second grade girl for $50 a week, so that's how I get my spending money for things Kingy doesn't like to buy me (nice make up, going to see movies with my friends, etc.) I apply for a few to several teaching jobs a day so that when the time comes, I'll (hopefully) have one.
So anyways, thats my story.
ETA: People who haven't had a hard time finding work, don't realize how incredibly frustrating and depressing it can be to keep applying. Sometimes, I have to take time away from applying for jobs because I just want to cry. I've filled out over 100 applications and gotten 3 interviews, had a lot of people screw me around, ignore me completely, and waste my time. I will spend an hour or so on an application, call, e-mail, show up, basically stalk the person, only for them to tell me that they have enough people interviewing, when I ask for feedback 'everything was good, but we are already interviewing enough people'.. its a really slap in the face, so I take a day off and start again the next day. Its damn near impossible to make applying for jobs a full time job for over a month and not have it depress you. I didn't understand that until I was in that position.
I have a degree in chemistry. I was unemployed in 2006 for a while. I tried my hardest to get any job - they wouldn't hire me. Target said I was too smart and would get bored quickly (probably true). I tried getting a job as a clerk at several hotels and none of them would take me either. I have no experience in retail or typical customer service jobs. I also live in a college town with a bajillion 20-somethings in school who do have experience in retail. Those were the people getting jobs, not me.
Please don't judge. Everyone's situation is different.
@JoJo Bananas: I went to college in Santa Cruz, so I definitely understand the struggles of finding work there. I can only imagine how much it's changed in the time I've been there (graduated in 2006), and it was a LOT of competition to get any work there, even though I had a retail/office background. In fact, the first non school job I got there was at a chain ice cream shop, and that was only because I applied when they were opened. And I got fired from there.
But, yeah even in a city like Santa Cruz, which is no small town, there is a lot of competition, and a lot of people who do have the background in minimum wage work, which can make it harder for people with more education/no background to get those jobs.
I've been unemployed since January, when I left school. I realize that it was not your intention to offend, but I'm slightly offended. It's been almost 6 months and I am still jobless. This is not by choice. I have applied to literally over 50 jobs and even moved to a different town in hopes of finding a job. I've had interviews everywhere but no job. I'm not on unemployment insurance though. My first town had over 50,000 students, getting an entry-level job anywhere was impossible.
I'm not picky either. I applied and had an interview at Mcdonalds. They didn't give me a job because they wanted someone who could commit to full-time for at least a year, and I'm going back to school in September so I couldn't give them that commitment. Let me reiterate that. MCDONALDS WOULDN'T HIRE ME.
So yeah. Don't judge. You don't know everyone's situation.
I got laid off when the company I worked for closed last Oct. I've noticed jobs in my field are starting at significantly less then when I was looking for work years ago. With the high cost of daycare and gas it makes more sense for me to stay home with my daughter. I never even looked for a job after being laid off. I do watch a friend's child Mon-Fri in my home for extra money. FI makes decent money and I enjoy staying home with my daughter so this was the best choice for us. I'm sure I will go back part-time when she starts preschool unless we have another child.
I work for the ministry of defence, and due to all the cuts to the RAF.....(thank you David Brown) , i find out on Wednesday just how safe my job is. if i get made redundant, then what chance do i have of being re-employed at the age of 50? its hard enough for the younger people, but employers can afford to pick and choose now, and with an average of 100 people applying for each job nowadays.......the chances are pretty low of them wanting me. i can only hope that wednesday brings good news for me, but i know for a fact that 96 people from my workplace will be leaving.
@Gingersnap: Yeah, we're basically in the same situation.
I have applied to TONS of jobs - I even let go of my pride and applied to BABYSIT with my Bachelor's Degree, I've applied to Lowe's, Ross, all kinds of things that I could have had in high school. Guess what. I'm overqualified so they didn't even consider me. Which isn't my fault.
It makes me a bit angry because no, I wouldn't be "satisfied" by the job but I would do it and am not even given the chance because I'm overqualified. I had a better job IN HIGH SCHOOL and am honestly feeling a bit bitter about spending all the time and money on a degree to be jobless. It's really not cool. To be honest, this post is just kind of... I don't know. Rude?
ETA: I don't think lack of motivation is something that can be applied to a lot of people that are unemployed. It really IS that bad. Of course there are some people that take advantage of the system and ya da ya da - but people do that in all kinds of aspects. Food stamps? It doesn't reflect on everyone as a whole.
As a teenager, my dad was unemployed for a period of time. He worked for a large international company and had 20+ years of experience in his field of work. When you're making 80-100K per year and start applying to minimum wage jobs (which he did), the companies will not hire you! They know that as soon as you find a better fitting job, you'll leave. Also, his unemployment was significantly more than a minimum wage job would pay. He wanted to work - anywhere he could find a job - but, there will still bills to pay.
He applied to work at a smaller company that was a lot closer to our house (15 minute commute instead of 1+ hour each way commute) and was very open about being willing to accept a large paycut to get the job. He was told that they believed he would leave when he found something better, so they were only interested in new grads who would naturally have a lower salary (due to less experience).
And don't get me started on the difficulties people who are homeless have finding jobs. When was the last time you went for an interview and they did not ask for a permanent address? How are you going to get appropriate clothes for the interview? What phone number will they call you at to set up an appointment time? Etc. Etc.
There are a lot of reasons by people are jobless. Please don't be judgemental.
I was out of work for a year when we moved to AL. For the first 6 months, I concentrated on my degree but then in the start of 2010, I started looking for work. Most places wouldn't touch me because I had a bachelor's degree, a year and a half experience, and was half done with my Master's degree.
1. We're in a recession.
2. We're in a recession.
3. Be glad you aren't looking for a job because it's downright bleak out there.
I know plenty of people with degrees, numerous degrees who are working jobs they are way over qualified for just to have a job, even if it isn't helping to make ends meet completely.
I really suggest not asking this question to people in person because truthfully, most everyone knows someone out of work and they aren't gonna be all "Yeah, I don't get it." but be more "Dude, we're in a recession, do you understand how the economy IS right now?"
Thanks everyone for the replies. Like I said this question is out of pure curiosity. I did add my thoughts, and concerns, just to get replies back in response to my ignorance. I in no way was trying to criticize anyone, or judge them for their situation.
I understand we are in a recession, and jobs are lost. I appreciate all the input that has helped me to understand everything a bit better. I am thankful that this recession hasn't hit home hard to my family, yet. It has in some ways such as bonuses, lifestyle, moving etc. But not in such a way that it has effected others in such a grand scale. I am sorry for offending people, I was just wondering some of the situations that occur to make people unemployed, and unable to find a job.
I do understand the frustrations of looking for a job, and I do realize that it can be very emotional, and rocky, and hope only the best for the ones who are out of work at this moment.
@AmeliaBedelia: This. Every word.
I'll have my degree in Web Design and Interactive Media in just two weeks and career services at my school told me in so many words that finding a job with my very specific skill set is not going to happen.
I didn't spend all that money, time, and hard work in college to be unemployed or to go back to a job I could have had with no higher education...OP, for you to come here and say that you think it's unreasonable that people are unemployed for so long while they're looking for a job they'll ENJOY and is actually in their field and that they should just go out and get whatever job they can...well. You clearly don't know what it's like to be in this position, and yes, I'm offended.
My SO gets laid off yearly. Typically every November through March or April. He will finally be returning to work This coming week. His late return is specifically due to the recession. He doesn't know necessarily when he will go back to work so he cannot commit to a regular type of extra job. He does coach wrestling while he is laid off but that does not pay more than the unemployment so he has them hold his funds until after he returns to work. He will do extra work on and off but can only really do that for cash.
This is something that happens with 99% of the construction/concrete workers. Unless he was to move up to a foreman in the company he will always get laid off over the winter. It isn't about abusing the system. It is about working when the work is available and wanting to keep your job after you get in. He cannot hop from employer to employer every year. In order to keep his spot on the list and move up he needs to stay so he cannot take on another job over the winter.
I find this post very offensive. times are tough and i have experienced it first-hand through a few family members who were unemployed and couldn't find jobs. Yeah maybe you can find a job if you want to work at a McDonald's. But if you are 50 years old with a college degree and have been working in your professional field for 30 years should you really be expected to go work at McDonald's just so you can have a job? I've seen these people apply to jobs in their field all over the country, even though they have only lived in one state their whole life and would prefer to stay there. They still can't get jobs despite applying all over the country.
There are no jobs right now. And I don't think you should say people aren't trying enough because they've been on unemployment for 6 months. Imagine how detrimental it would be for someone with a PhD to go work at McDonald's for 6 months. They'll never be taken seriously again in their field. Some people have to stay in their field, and even if they've applied all over the country or world for jobs in their field they still just might be unlucky.
I apologized for being offensive. I am sorry. However, I much dislike the way my words are being misread, and misinterpreted. I am asking a question to get an answer, I am not calling people lazy, or saying they are not trying. My ignorance led me to this question, and I really do not appreciate being ridiculed for having an honest question in regards to this probelm that so many people face.
Would you prefer me to sit back and believe one thing, without wanting to even know the truth? I'm sorry, but wanting to know certain answers does not make what I say wrong, or hurtful, it is just a question.
I think it's easy to sit back and judge those who are on extended unemployment when you don't really know what it's like. I've thankfully never been unemployed but I know people who were/are and it's rough. Sure, they could more than likely get a job in retail or food service but unemployment probably pays more. I really feel for the people who are trying to find a job. I can't imagine how stressful it must be to be in that position. Even though my job sucks some days, I still get a paycheck every week and for that I'm grateful.
With that said, I do know people who have taken advantage of the unemployment system and that really pisses me off. If you're doing the absolute bare minimum to find a job or even worse, working under the table and still collecting, there's a problem there.
I say I'm unemployed but I'm supply (substitute) teaching. I do this because teaching isn't the career for me but substitute teaching pays a good day wage so it means I don't have to claim an allowance/benefit (unsure of the correct terms in the US) while I'm looking for something else. I kick myself everyday even more than once a day that I left a perfectly good job to teach, but at least I found out it wasn't for me now rather than later.
I was just like you up until about 2 months ago when I needed job. I thought, how hard can it be to get a job? I am a student and normally don't work during the year. I have been going back to the same part time summer job but they changed ownership so I won't be going back there. I have put in numerous applications (some even fast food/minimum wage retail) thinking, they would be lucky to have me. I am educated, reliable, clean, and responsible but not one call. People just aren't hiring or managers are hiring their friends (who have lost their jobs) instead. Its nasty out there. Unless you have gone through it or known someone close, you don't understand.
The fact that you don't understand this means you should thank whoever you believe in that you were able to find a job. Don't judge what you haven't experienced, please. If you don't understand unemployment, do some research online and read about it, don't write insulting posts when there are so many bees who have experienced this.
A lot has already been said on this topic, but I'll just add - I've heard quite a few times that the rule of thumb in America is that it takes (on average) 1 month per 10K in salary to find a job - so if you expect to be making 60K, in a "normal" economy it should take you 6 months to find a job that fits your salary requirements. I don't know if there's research to back that up or not, but I have heard it from several unrelated sources, and it makes sense in my experience - and that's in a normal economy.
My personal experience has also been that it requires a lot more than just a good resume to get a job. Maybe this is the effect of living in major metropolitan areas all of my adult life, but getting a job is 75% connection, 25% ability - so it's even tougher to get a job in a new field, a new city, etc. if you don't have a professional network there.
It took me 7 months to find my current job; I spent 5.5 of those doing temp work, but I would tell people I was unemployed because it didn't really register as a "real job" to me. I currently live in one of the most "employable" cities in the US, and there were at least 25 people who interviewed for my current (entry level) position, let alone how many applied. 2 of us got second interviews, and ultimately it was a connection to the organization and the team that got me the job - I'm actually underqualified for my position! (i.e. they wanted an MA and I don't have one.)
My SO has been out of a job since last August. Yeah. He techically is working, but it's only half a day, once a week. He's applied to over 250 places in the past year. Had I think 2 interviews? And a majority of these places were places such as Burger King! Our city is small, so he is very limited right now as to where he can apply. Thankfully both of us are going back to school in September for a lucrative career. I work a minimum wage job right now and I'm a college graduate with over 5 years experience. It's brutal out there.
@Cash000: Sometimes it is that hard. Just because McDonalds is always hiring doesn't mean you take it. You have to weigh your options. Is $7.15/hr worth it? Will it even help? Will you be working just to put gas in your car to get back and forth? Mr. Tattoo has been out of work for a year, but thank goodnes for freelance projects he can pick up. He has a degree in Programming and Web Design. He spends 8 hours a day sometimes sending out resumes, but the truth is, employers would rather hire someone right out of college that they can pay $10/hr to instead of him when they would have to pay him $25/hr.
I work for a COBRA adm. I know how tough it is. We have hundreds of clients and all of those clients have had major layoffs. I listen to people cry on the phone at the end of 18 months because they are going to lose their insurance and still haven't been able to find a job.
I don't think just because there are min. wage jobs out there, people should just take them. They probably think, "At the end of the day...will it be worth it? After the insurance, taxes, gas, ect are factored in...is it worth it?" Nope.
Mr. Tattoo took a full time job as an assistant manager at a retail shop at the mall about 30 miles away. Sure he was working, but it wasn't worth it for the extra miles on the car, the extra oil changes, the increase in gas, and after all of that was factored in, he was basically bringing in an extra $150 a month. I would have rather had him at home looking full time or picking up another project and not putting 60 miles a day on my car because I only work 5 miles away from my house.
I hope you never find yourself unemployed. I'm tossing my hat in with those that find this to be offensive. I understand it wasn't your intent to offend, OP...but I found this to be very judgemental.
My dad is 62 years old and was laid off from his job 2 years ago. It has been incredibly difficult for him to find a job since then. He applied to many, many positions that were 'far below him' and couldn't even get hired for those. The area they live in has been hit really hard by the recession and it took him over a year and a half to even get a job offer working at a gas station. Imagine how demeaning that would be. He has an excellent resume and is an extremely hard worker. Being out of work for that long was most definitely NOT due to laziness or to lack of wanting a job. He would have taken anything just for something to do.
Seriously. Super insulting post.
@Miss Tattoo: employers would rather hire someone right out of college that they can pay $10/hr to instead of him when they would have to pay him $25/hr.
So true!
@Cash000: I, for one, am not offended by your question, although I could see how it could be offensive to others who have been there. I personally have never been unemployed, and neither has DH. We have, however, had family and friends who have and I have seen how difficult it is for them, emotionally and financially.
But to answer your question, yes I do think it's possible to have an extremely difficult time getting a job in a field with a comparable wage/benefits/career level when you lose yours or have just graduated. Jobs are tough to find, and it's even harder when you're 'overqualified', have 'no experience', or are in a more specific field.
With that said, I think it's very possible to find jobs for most people, but it really is tough out there and it's NOT going to happen overnight at all. It's just not. And I think it's diffiult to put a specific timeline between 'looking' and 'lazy' because every career field is different.
I get frustrated when people abuse government assistance programs of any kind because I know it happens. But, since I don't know people's individual situations, I don't assume anything people on unemployment or welfare because you just never know. I prefer to help those I know however I can.
I have to agree-it is total and complete bullshit that "if you are willing to work, there is a job out there for you". As PP have said, if you have a degree and held a professional job, no one at Target or Wal-Mart is going to hire you. They spend a lot of time and money training new employees and they aren't going to waste their time and money on a person who is way overqualified and will bail at a moment's notice. And yes, they know you will be completely miserable and bored.
Argh! My post got cut off! OP, read this Onion article: http://www.theonion.com/articles/rich-guy-feeling-left-out-of-recession,17181/
@PutABirdOnIt: Wow that is hilarious! Boohoo for the millionare!
I get that you didn't mean to be offensive but it's a VERY sensitive subject, something that many of us in the world are going through and something that is a HUGE stress!
I've been unemployed for a year....well I've held part time jobs but nothing full time. I'm a teacher and it's incredibly hard to get a job anytime...let alone in the middle of the year. So right now I'm subbing part time and will hopefully get a full time job in the fall. It's tough because I'm just now hearing interviews will be coming along shortly, because teachers are usually only hired 1x a year (unless you get lucky). Plus, as other posters have said, lots of places are hiring or my Master's degree would make me overqualified. Plus, I wanted to stay in teaching with substituting, so I can only work on nights and weekends, which isn't something many places want to hire.
@PutABirdOnIt: He needs to go sit down somewhere and thank God he doesn't have to experience losing a job and trying to find one and trying to support his family at the same time.
I actually find it incredible that you even had to ASK the question in the first place. where have you been hiding for the past 2 years...? under a rock? dont you read the papers or listen to the news.....unemployment worldwide is at an all-time high.
how mindless do you have to be to do that?
Of course because you have a job you sound quite unconcerned about others, and ignorant of facts......ironically your name is cash000?
Where the others on here belive you when you said you wasnt purposely being offensive, i for one think that thats exactly what you was trying to do.
You have a job, and seem not to know whats going on around you, or care either.
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