BITOG unemployment thread

[L_Sludger]

This thread is for those who are not presently gainfully employed. If you don't want to participate, you're not obligated to.
So go lean your hobo sack-on-a-stick on the boxcar and warm yourself up by the campfire, let's commiserate together, brothers!
Please don't get this thread locked before its time by disobeying the plainly stated forum rules. We're all adults here.


So, anybody know if things are getting any better? Heck, at my last place of employment, in the service/retail industry, over two thousand people applied for a $11.50/hr position. People who had made over $40,000 previously, with eons of experience were fighting tooth and nail to get their foot in the door. I was downsized, of course, and look forward to tomorrow, but hope that I won't have to go hungry. How about you fellows?

 

[Johnny]

Well, I was forced in to early retirement (thank you Shell) and worked a few odd part time jobs for a while, but know the job market where I'm at is dried up. Been looking for part time work for over a year now. What small jobs there are, are going to mostly college students or folks a lot younger than me. Between social security, small pension, HIGH insurance, and a BUNCH of major medical bills, we have learned how to turn a penny in to a nickel.

Other than that, life is good.

 

[Nick R]

I was seasonal for target. Last day of work was the 6th. I applied to a bunch more places. I even applied to the 2010 Census so we'll see how everythign pans out.

 

[CourierDriver]

All I have for retirement is social security because of poor planning, so I'm a courier driver. Some months I do really well and some not. U can't play catch up in savings when ur in ur 60's because ur out of time for the interest to work in ur favor, but I'm working and have a place to stay when I need one. I get free medical because I was in the Vietnam war zone so that part is good. I have been laid off, but that was before all this financial mess started. I usually live payday to payday overall and hope my health stays good for many more years anyway....

 

[Patman]

I was unemployed for 6 months last year and it was really tough to find a new job. I ended up getting a job at a great company and I really enjoy working there but I did have to take a huge pay cut, and because they do school photography there are a few months a year where I'm laid off temporarily (I've been off since Dec 18th and probably will be called back in a couple of weeks, and then will probably be laid off for July and August)

So I've had to learn how to be a lot more careful with my money! (I wish I had done that years ago, perhaps my house would be paid off and then our finances wouldn't be so tight) That's probably the best thing that came out of being unemployed last year, it taught me how to be a lot better with my money so that in the long run I'm going to be able to control our finances much better. I also admit I really enjoy the freedom that comes with not going into work every day, especially when the weather is warm. It's nice to be able to have a nap every afternoon.

 

[demarpaint]

I'm self employed and haven't worked in quite a while now. No unemployment benefits for me me, unless I disolve the business totally. A very difficult thing to do because the insurance companies won't take you back with a lapse in coverage, and the red tape is sickening. Things are starting to pick up a little now.

Biggest problem is all the people who are unemployed are doing what ever they can for $$$ driving prices lower and lower and turning out garbage in terms of job quality. I thank God everyday for my established business and good planning on my part so I can weather the storm. Problem is retirement dreams are slowly disappearing.

 

[Cup of Joe]

Originally Posted By: Patman
I also admit I really enjoy the freedom that comes with not going into work every day, especially when the weather is warm. It's nice to be able to have a nap every afternoon.


I'm jealous.

My story is a bit different. I have been trying to get an assistant of any type for quite some time. I have been pushing really hard for the last year plus now. It's always the same story there's no money to hire anyone even though I lay out a brilliant course of action. Do to recent global events I have been working over time in support of the US effort. All of a sudden (as if it was news) everyone wants to know why I am the only one that can do this and that in support of their effort. I have already spent enough in the last week to pay a modest salary for 1 year.

Hopefully I will get some assitance at last and someone will have a job.

 

[tig1]

I retired three years ago the very month I turned 62. I was a 35 year welder working in a IAM machine. There is a nation wide shortage of welders as everyone wants to be a techy these days. Can't blame anyone for not welding, but I did make a very good living with good pension. Our per week income actually went up after retirement. I count that a blessing.

As for work I don't need to, but my old company does call me in occasionally for certain jobs as the union will let me work 39 hours a month in my trade, per my pension agreement. I also have my own equiptment(mig, tig, stick,) and work here at my place for odd jobs.

 

[Cup of Joe]

If you know where a person can get a good welding job please let me know.

My BIL is a welder and may or has already been laid off from his current job in Colorado, I'm not completely sure. He previously worked for Trane in Tennessee. After 9/11 he was laid off from Trane and been bumping around since then.

 

[tig1]

I do want to say that welding is not an easy job, but my nephew who is in the Air Force(18 years) is going to a two year welding program now and plans to work as a welder when he retires. Welding can be hard work, and is not for the lazy of heart and body, but there is a shortage of welders and someone with ambition and not afraid to work for a living can find a career in that trade.

 

[tig1]

Originally Posted By: TaterandNoodles
If you know where a person can get a good welding job please let me know.

My BIL is a welder and may or has already been laid off from his current job in Colorado, I'm not completely sure. He previously worked for Trane in Tennessee. After 9/11 he was laid off from Trane and been bumping around since then.


In the St. Louis area there are welding jobs listed on Craigs List fairly often. Also there is a lot of construction going on and if your BIL could get in with the Carpenters Local as a mill wright, they make very good money. $30.00+ per hour. When you look for a job you have to make a job out of looking.

 

[tom slick]

I graduated with a B.S. in a technical field last month (12/09) but no reasonable job offers. I'm trying to stay in my area since I own a house here. It's a relatively small area and with the economy in the tank, the jobs I'm interested in are few. I think I'm going to have to move to find a "good" job. I'll probably go to an aerospace/defense company.

I get sporadic work from a friend that is a general contractor and certified structural welder. Right now I'm welding a pipe and cable fence when it isn't raining.

Luckily my wife has a good job that we can live comfortably on for awhile longer.

Looking at the job listings, there are a lot of health care positions open. That would be a great field for someone who thinks they'd enjoy that work.

 

[Drew99GT]

I'll be out of work come the end of April. I've applied to several positions and have only had 1 call back.

So I've lost my mind and applied to Sage truck driving school in Denver! I'll hopefully start in at the end of April for 1 month. I've researched the trucking industry a lot and May trucking hires a lot of Sage grads. Amongst the carriers who train green horns, they're supposed to be a cut above the big crummy companies. It's all new to me, but I plan to stick it out for at least a year and put up with the bull [censored] as best I can before I can move onto bigger and better things.

 

[Mr Nice]

Quote:
There is a nation wide shortage of welders as everyone wants to be a techy these days

Many young folks these days want to sit behind a computer in an office than get their hands dirty working a blue collar job. I've mentioned this yesterday.... there are some laid off white collar workers going to vocational school to learn a trade such as welding.

 

[Drew99GT]

Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
Quote:
There is a nation wide shortage of welders as everyone wants to be a techy these days

Many young folks these days want to sit behind a computer in an office than get their hands dirty working a blue collar job. I've mentioned this yesterday.... there are some laid off white collar workers going to vocational school to learn a trade such as welding.



I'm one of them. I love physical work. Eventually if this trucking thing works out and I can keep my driving record squeaky clean, I'd love to get a job as a P&D driver for one of the LTL companies - preferably Fed Ex National or Freight.

I'm to the point where I just want to fins something where I can bust my [censored] 5 or even 6 days a week, make an honest living, and not be forced to put up with the all the daily bull I have to put up with working in an office. I know it will be 180 degrees opposite dealing with bull in any job, but I REALLY need a change.

 

[andyd]

My heart goes out to anyone seeking employment. I am on career #3. Looking for work is the worst job there is. I dont really like what I'm doing , but I love getting paid on a regular basis.
After I got the chop in'04, I odd jobbed for nearly 3 yrs before I found my present job.

 

[Gary Allan]

Quote:
So I've had to learn how to be a lot more careful with my money! (I wish I had done that years ago, perhaps my house would be paid off and then our finances wouldn't be so tight) That's probably the best thing that came out of being unemployed last year, it taught me how to be a lot better with my money so that in the long run I'm going to be able to control our finances much better.


That realization is what I call the epiphany of the squirrel cage. You spun it up pretty fast ..and enjoyed the fruits of the effort, but you now realize that you really didn't get anywhere, you merely made "standing still" more comfortable.

I'll never assume that things will ever get "better". That's not to say that brighter times are not in our future, it's just that I will never be seduced by the mere appearance of good times and exploit them "for the day". I often wondered why my mother hung on to every trinket ..every pot and pan (I still have most of her cast iron stuff hanging around somewhere)..why she bought clothes "when needed" ..not as a matter of course.

It was simply due to her being very young during the Great Depression and living through the rationing of WWII. Sacrifice and frugality were not just choices, they were mandates to survive for another day. It was also surely responsible for her dedication to going to work every day possible. Arthritis? Aches and pains? That was what aspirin was for.

This is sorta in direct opposition to my wife who grew up in the burbs where she learned that love came out of a wallet and that everything was disposable and needed constant refreshing. All that work just cast aside for something "new" and for nothing productive but the thrill of "new". Now she's finally seeing the wisdom of NOT living that way.

I'm at the point where I'm "going native". I seek no more than I need. I still "want" ..but realize that there will always be more that I cannot have than I can, so I don't feel any lacking for not. I've got the love of my family and the rest I'll just roll with the punches.

 

[wavinwayne]

I'm currently employed as a Mechanical Designer in a city where a guy can make a decent living doing that. We're between contracts at work right now, and not sure what the future holds. I've been laid off 3 times in the last 3 years, and it stinks. I'm hoping I don't get laid off from this (very good) job, but if a new project doesn't come in soon,...

If I get laid off again, I'm seriously considering going to school to become a Registered Nurse. Sure, folks might make fun of a guy wanting to do that, but I'm good with (most) people, and RNs make very good money. My wife's Aunt is an RN, and she's knocking down over $70k/year.

 

[CivicFan]

Male RN-s are quickly promoted to management so no one will make fun of you.

 

[Mr Nice]

Quote:
If I get laid off again, I'm seriously considering going to school to become a Registered Nurse.

I worked in health care for 12 years and I've never seen any layoffs, just idiots getting fired for being lazy or dishonest. Lots of men in the nursing field, my older brother has been an RN for the VA for over 20 years. Many nurses work full-time at one hospital then make extra money working Per Diem at another hospital.