What the hell now...?

[brothermartin]

Q: IF YOU FOUND YOURSELF UNEMPLOYED, WITH LITTLE SKILLS, UNABLE TO GET A JOB IN THIS CURRENT MARKET, AND ALMOST 40 YEARS OLD, WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Thats where I am right now. Sitting at home with no job and no real prospects for a new job, and running out of money! My girlfriend just started a new job after being unemployed for almost 5 months! We live together, but now I'm afraid that I won't be able to pull my own weight because I don't know what to do! HELP!!!

[josie54]

Q: IF YOU FOUND YOURSELF UNEMPLOYED, WITH LITTLE SKILLS, UNABLE TO GET A JOB IN THIS CURRENT MARKET, AND ALMOST 40 YEARS OLD, WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

 

You imply that you had a job before, which means that you have SOME skills. You may want to supply more details. WWithout knowing what you did before, however, this is what I would do:

 

First, not to be simplistic, but I would get a job. By that, I mean ANY job. No one is unable to get a job except in the worst Depression-like markets. Somewhere, someone is hiring. It just might not be your dream job in your chosen field. If you like books, apply to be a clerk at Borders. If you like clothes, find a job at a mall clothing store. Like people? Be a waiter or apply at McDonalds. I would look for a lower-paying job in an area I was interested in (at a bookstore if you like to read, at somewhere like The Container Store if you like to organize, at a sporting goods store if you like sports), you could actually find an opportunity to learn more and network with customers. Like kids? Apply at a daycare. I'd know that a part-time job that pays $10/hr or $8/hr or even $6/hr for 20-30 hours a week could help me keep head above water and pay my bare-minimum expenses (like rent or the mortgage). It's better than no money coming in at all.

 

Second, I would cut all unnecessary expenses. I'd get rid of the cable/satellite TV, any newspaper subscriptions. I'd get rid of my land line and use only the cell phone--if it came to it, I'd get rid of the cell phone too. No more eating out, Starbucks coffee, etc. If I thought this situation could continue, I'd also look into more drastic measures--moving to a cheaper apartment if I rented, or renting out a room if I owned. (I'd say "sell the house" but this is probably NOT the time to try to sell, given the real estate market.) If I had car payments, I'd sell my car and go for a cheaper used model that would not require payments and would reduce the cost of my insurance. If I lived in an area with a good transportation system, with bus and metro, I'd get rid of the car altogether to save on those expenses.

 

Third, I'd use my remaining hours of the week that I was not at "any job" to look for a job in my field or a related field. I'd leave one day a week open for interviews.

 

Fourth, I'd send my updated resume to headhunters, post it to online job sites, and join online business networks like LinkedIn to let everyone know I was available to be hired.

 

Fifth, if my resume was weak, I'd look into getting some kind of training. A computer skills course at the community college costs money, but not much, and it would lead to more lucrative jobs down the road.

 

Finally, I'd see this as an opportunity--to look into other fields or pursue other interests. If you ever wanted to work for yourself, now's the time to explore that option. Again, at 40 years old, you must have SOME skills.

 

Losing your job is definitely not all good, but neither is it all bad. You can get through it and even make it work for you. This could be a stepping stone into a much better situation for you, if you take immediate action.

[lino]

You imply that you had a job before, which means that you have SOME skills. You may want to supply more details. WWithout knowing what you did before, however, this is what I would do:

 

First, not to be simplistic, but I would get a job. By that, I mean ANY job. No one is unable to get a job except in the worst Depression-like markets. Somewhere, someone is hiring. It just might not be your dream job in your chosen field. If you like books, apply to be a clerk at Borders. If you like clothes, find a job at a mall clothing store. Like people? Be a waiter or apply at McDonalds. I would look for a lower-paying job in an area I was interested in (at a bookstore if you like to read, at somewhere like The Container Store if you like to organize, at a sporting goods store if you like sports), you could actually find an opportunity to learn more and network with customers. Like kids? Apply at a daycare. I'd know that a part-time job that pays $10/hr or $8/hr or even $6/hr for 20-30 hours a week could help me keep head above water and pay my bare-minimum expenses (like rent or the mortgage). It's better than no money coming in at all.

 

Second, I would cut all unnecessary expenses. I'd get rid of the cable/satellite TV, any newspaper subscriptions. I'd get rid of my land line and use only the cell phone--if it came to it, I'd get rid of the cell phone too. No more eating out, Starbucks coffee, etc. If I thought this situation could continue, I'd also look into more drastic measures--moving to a cheaper apartment if I rented, or renting out a room if I owned. (I'd say "sell the house" but this is probably NOT the time to try to sell, given the real estate market.) If I had car payments, I'd sell my car and go for a cheaper used model that would not require payments and would reduce the cost of my insurance. If I lived in an area with a good transportation system, with bus and metro, I'd get rid of the car altogether to save on those expenses.

 

Third, I'd use my remaining hours of the week that I was not at "any job" to look for a job in my field or a related field. I'd leave one day a week open for interviews.

 

Fourth, I'd send my updated resume to headhunters, post it to online job sites, and join online business networks like LinkedIn to let everyone know I was available to be hired.

 

Fifth, if my resume was weak, I'd look into getting some kind of training. A computer skills course at the community college costs money, but not much, and it would lead to more lucrative jobs down the road.

 

Finally, I'd see this as an opportunity--to look into other fields or pursue other interests. If you ever wanted to work for yourself, now's the time to explore that option. Again, at 40 years old, you must have SOME skills.

 

Losing your job is definitely not all good, but neither is it all bad. You can get through it and even make it work for you. This could be a stepping stone into a much better situation for you, if you take immediate action.

 

Great advice

I'd try some of that if I was you OP and I agree with josie that at 40 you must have some sort of skills or valuable experience that can help to get you a job.

Good luck

[blind_otter]

If it were me, I would go back to school. There are plenty of loans and grants out there.

 

My oldest sister is getting ready to re-enter the workforce after being employed only sporadically for the past 7 years or so. She's had part-time work, teaching gifted kids (but that was less than 10 hours a week) and doing some daycare work, but nothing steady or anything like that.

 

She already has a bachelor's in education, so she's going back to get her master's in this specialized field involving teaching children who are visually impaired. She has twins that were born 3 months premature, and one of them is going blind due to her premature birth, so my sister would be studying all this stuff anyway, to help her daughter. She figured she might as well get a degree in it while she's at it.

 

She got a grant to go to school. They are so desperate for teachers to help visually impaired kids that they give out these grants and even if you drop out, you don't have to pay anything back.

 

Anyways, it's just a thought. You could take a class or two at a community college. They are not that expensive and there is always financial aid available.

[brothermartin]

Thanks for all the advice. One of my biggest problems is the area I live in. The job market here is very bad, and the jobs I have applied for either won't give me a chance or don't pay enough to actually live on. Going back to school seems to be my best bet at this time.

[brothermartin]

I think my real hangup isn't so much about finding another job, but more about what I'm going to do now with the rest of my life. I didn't plan on being happy with someone so soon after my last break-up, and now I feel like I'm failing AGAIN in this new relationship. I don't want to let her down. I'm just confused about what direction to take now that I have the option to do so. She said she would support me in any career choice I make, as long as it makes me happy. I don't know what I could do that would pay the bills AND make me happy. It's always been one or the other in my life. Having the chance to have BOTH is very intimidating.

[georgejungle]

if i were you, i'd go back to school and take a part time

job to help out. An easy job, something in a warehouse or

Starbucks or Home Depot, a good reputible company that offers

benefits and then take some night classes or day classes.

 

If I could, i'd go back to school too. I didn't graduate college.

I wish I had. I could have gotten a better job with a degree.

Sometimes it doesn't even matter if the degree is in the same

field as the job you're applying for. Some employers just like

to see that degree.

[brothermartin]

if i were you, i'd go back to school and take a part time

job to help out. An easy job, something in a warehouse or

Starbucks or Home Depot, a good reputible company that offers

benefits and then take some night classes or day classes.

 

If I could, i'd go back to school too. I didn't graduate college.

I wish I had. I could have gotten a better job with a degree.

Sometimes it doesn't even matter if the degree is in the same

field as the job you're applying for. Some employers just like

to see that degree.

Yeah, I know. I've never had great experiences with higher education so I'm a little reluctant to do that. But I want some stability in my so-called professional life bad enough to do it. Right now I'm living off unemployment and my girlfriend (thank god). Its all just very depressing and frustrating.

[whichwayisup]

but more about what I'm going to do now with the rest of my life.

 

Worry more about the NOW rather than the future. People change careers more often than you think and life is funny at times...Opportunities come knocking when you least expect it.

[Kristine]

I'm in the same situation only I'm 34. I have some skills but not enough to land me a job, even a temp company won't take me now. I'm living on disability because I cracked from the stress, lost my kids because I couldn't support myself. I'm returning to school in the fall and very aprehensive about it. A) I'm older. B) The money. C) Will I get a job when I'm done anyway?

 

I like the idea about community classes and a part-time job. Good luck to you. I know the market sucks for some of us greatly.

 

BTW I applied at Subway and didn't even get an interview. My friend says they saw my resume and rejected me based on that, well I need a job and would have taken that because they offered a free sandwich with your shift (yes I was that lowly).

[brothermartin]

I'm in the same situation only I'm 34. I have some skills but not enough to land me a job, even a temp company won't take me now. I'm living on disability because I cracked from the stress, lost my kids because I couldn't support myself. I'm returning to school in the fall and very aprehensive about it. A) I'm older. B) The money. C) Will I get a job when I'm done anyway?

 

I like the idea about community classes and a part-time job. Good luck to you. I know the market sucks for some of us greatly.

 

BTW I applied at Subway and didn't even get an interview. My friend says they saw my resume and rejected me based on that, well I need a job and would have taken that because they offered a free sandwich with your shift (yes I was that lowly).

I know exactly how you feel Kristine. It's hard for me to see past the anger and feeling like my chance for a better life was stolen from me, and whats worse is I'm not sure who to blame other than myself for not doing more to insure my future sooner. Hang in there:o

[brothermartin]

Thanks WHICHWAY. But all I do now is worry about the NOW. Looking into a better possible future is the only thing that keeps me from totally giving up on the NOW. Don't get me wrong though, I'm grateful for the opportunity to start over and for the woman I now love. If not for her....

She's kept me from going over the edge, just as I did for her.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Worry more about the NOW rather than the future. People change careers more often than you think and life is funny at times...Opportunities come knocking when you least expect it.

[whichwayisup]

Get the book The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle.

 

You're welcome.

 

Things will work out, so try your best to not think negatively and maybe look at this as a positive. You now have time to figure out what you want. You can enjoy life abit and help out around the house while your gf is at work. Cook dinner, do the laundry, shopping etc and make her feel wonderful when she walks in the door after work. Instead of this time being an awful thing, use it as an experience. Something WILL come your way.

 

You and your gf love eachother and if the situation was reversed, you'd support her, right?

[Crazy.S]

Network, Network, Network

[Kristine]

As for networking. My dad was the vice president of a major company and never got me a job. He should have too. He's dead now. I burned some bridges in my youth thinking I'd be a sahm and not need a job ever again (I quit with less than two weeks notice). Schools the best answer for me it'll open doors to new companies. At least I have good references, but it still hasn't helped me get a job in this economy.

 

You could try temp work but they rarely hire permanent and I find it to be stressful, always getting laid off.

[brothermartin]

You and your gf love eachother and if the situation was reversed, you'd support her, right?

 

Yes. She said the same thing to me to. Thanks for the advice.

[whichwayisup]

You're welcome. So, just take things one day at a time and don't beat up on yourself. Take this time to enjoy life abit, de-stress and maybe once you feel better, something job wise will come your way.

 

Eat in more, don't go out and spend alot of money. Go through the newspaper and see what deals are going on at your local grocery store, but stuff on special and lowered prices..