Community Chat

[LeoGrl]

Is anyone having luck in your neck of the woods? Hoping to hearing some positive stories that either yourself or family member experienced to give me some hope. I'm now back out there looking again for a job since the store I was working in closed it's doors at the end of 2013 due to rent issues. I was underemployed for the past 3 years working in retail (all my previous work experience was office-related) and I stayed with this job hoping to ride out the ecomony thinking the market would improve. I also got a little too comfortable in this job since I really liked the job and the people (which is so important to me) but I always knew in the back of my mind that I should still be looking for full-time work. Now I'm feeling regret that I stayed so long in retail and wondering if I will be able to transition back into an office environment. I contacted several agencies for possible temp work and haven't heard anything. The one woman in particular who was so helpful and empathetic said things were really slow. When I asked how she thought if jobs were improving economy-wise, she hesitated and said, Um, not really. Sorry to be a Debbie-Downer but thanks for listening...just needed to vent.

[terrier3]

Do you have a skill? Do you make crafts? Bake?

Are you good at finding items other people might like for re-sale (picking?)

Are you receiving unemployment insurance?

If so, you should check and see if you can still collect if you do something on your own to make money. In NY, you cannot collect even if you are in the process of starting a business.

But if it is OK, it will give you something to do, a way to stay in touch with people and you can list "LeoGirls Cake Co." on your resume. People tend to hire people who are currently employed.

[LilacTree]

My youngest daughter is also severely "underemployed" after she lost a job she had had for 16 years when the corporation shut down the department. She had to collect unemployment for the first time in her life. At the job she has now, she is making one-half the salary she had been making, and the benefits are laughable. She still has her resume out there and in almost a year has only been interviewed once for another job. She did not get the job because of salary requirements. She asked for halfway between the salary she was making prior, and the salary she is making now. Of course those weren't the reasons given, but she knows it was the real reason she didn't get the job.

She will continue to look, of course, but is very depressed that this is probably the best she is going to get. She is on an hourly wage, no sick pay, no "snow" days either, so she had to go to work in very dangerous weather. It's disgusting what employers are getting away with now.

I also have a granddaughter who graduated college last year and was only able to find a job doing computer input, again, at a very low salary with minimal benefits. She is so very downhearted and feels she is wasting her education.

Will it change for the better? I doubt it. My heart goes out to all of you.

[pinkskates4]

I like Terrier's suggestions.

Can you substitute teach - generally you don't have to be certified to do this.

Have you checked Craig's list for temp jobs - particularly the one event type?

Can you give lessons - in computers or other areas?

I know these aren't full time or what you really want, but they might give you a boost - and/or contacts.

Praying that you will find the job that is perfect for you - soon!!!

[Writertoo]

I am in the same exact position. I've been underemployed now for over 5 years, also working in retail. This is after being a writer/editor for many years and having a successful career in publishing. I desperately need and want a full-time job with benefits, but I can't decide what I want to do. Do I want to go back into publishing (it's been so many years that my contacts have dried up along with my skills)? Or do I want to try something new? I'm leaning toward the something new, but I have no idea what it is, or what I would need to do to get the necessary skills. Add to this the fact that I'm over 50, and you get a very depressing situation. There was a thread on job-searching for those over 50 recently in Viewpoints. It seems there are a lot of women in our situation. I certainly don't have any answers or even any positivity to help you. Good luck to all of us!!

[terrier3]

On 1/25/2014 Writertoo said:

I am in the same exact position. I've been underemployed now for over 5 years, also working in retail. This is after being a writer/editor for many years and having a successful career in publishing. I desperately need and want a full-time job with benefits, but I can't decide what I want to do. Do I want to go back into publishing (it's been so many years that my contacts have dried up along with my skills)? Or do I want to try something new? I'm leaning toward the something new, but I have no idea what it is, or what I would need to do to get the necessary skills. Add to this the fact that I'm over 50, and you get a very depressing situation. There was a thread on job-searching for those over 50 recently in Viewpoints. It seems there are a lot of women in our situation. I certainly don't have any answers or even any positivity to help you. Good luck to all of us!!

Have you ever done any free-lance writing?

Maybe even writing about the retail products you sell....to trade journals maybe?

My cousin was an editor at a local paper and now writes book reviews (for money!)

Could you freelance writing resumes?

Just some ideas...

[LeoGrl]

I just got back on here so I'm reading all of your suggestions and replies and thanx!

[LeoGrl]

Thanks Writertoo for sharing your story. I know what you are going through and I hope you can figure it out too. The times we are in just adds to the difficulty.

I, too, need the full time with bennies which is like winning the lottery these days. At least it seems that way, doesn't it? I'm not a kid anymore either (wish I was, LOL!) but I feel that way sometimes since my mom has been helping me. I am so blessed to have her help but at the same time, I feel so bad. Since I don't have the retail job now, I'm going through that grieving stage and the anxiety. Actually, the anxiety was so bad, I had to take some medication for it recently but I'm trying to stick with natural remedies like chamomile tea and lemon balm for calming at night.

[Marienkaefer2]

If you have a part-time job that you can afford to live on for now, what about volunteering...as a way to network and find job opportunities, while learning something and doing something good in the community?

I moved to a new community and didn't know anyone. Within a couple months of volunteering, I had already found out about a part-time position in the exact program that I want to work in. I applied and got it.

I would rather have full time or near full time job. I'm hoping that through my connections, I can make this happen within the year.

I think today it's all about who you know, and who can point you in the right direction. I realize that this may not be easy for all careers, but volunteering does put you in contact with a lot of people from all backgrounds and you never know where that connection can take you.

Just a thought.

[Kachina624]

I worked in the employment field for 32 years before I retired. If I was looking for work here's what I would do....I'd contact my local job search center and register for a job search workshop. The techniques used by successful job hunters today are remarkably different from what they were 20 years ago. They will teach you how to find the jobs, create a good resume, and successfully interview. Do not waste your time and money sending out resumes but do prepare a good one to give to potential employers. If the job market in your area is extremely depressed or you have barriers to employment like age, strongly consider relocation. It won't kill you to start a new life in another city or state. Do you know there is a free nation-wide computer job bank called America's Job Bank that you can use to find jobs in other areas? If you were recently laid off, file for Unemployment Insurance. Good luck!