OK….What gives?
Let’s just say that reflecting on things…sitting or lying down trying to assess my current situation… has become quite the nightmare of a task.
Basic summary:
I am unemployed.
I have been looking for work for about a year and have literally come up dry. I won’t say that I have been out on the streets banging on doors every day, but I have sent my resume to thousands of people and still….nothing.
I know that the economy and the current job market suck right now…and that huge numbers of people are out of work…which just makes it that much harder.
There seem to be many reasons that I am not finding work:
Over-qualified
No experience
Felony record
Now, over the past 25 years, I have done the following for work; Restaurant (dishwasher, server, bar back, assistant manager), Construction (roofer, grunt for wood framing contractor), Mental Health (worker and then manager for 2 different group homes for mentally handicapped adults), Public Relations (in-house for House of Blues, then started a PR firm which I ran for 8 years), Internet/Magazines (co-founded 2 successful online magazines and acted as Executive Editor for another), Professional (General administration and then promoted to Operations Manager for an LA based financial consulting firm.)
When I apply to PR/marketing companies…I usually get, “too qualified” or “we found someone who better matches our needs.”
When I apply to offices for Admin jobs…I did not work in that field long enough or I am over qualified (what the fuck does that mean?...both over and under????)
When I apply at McDonalds and grocery stores (which I have) I get turned away upon them seeing a felony record.
When I apply for general labor jobs, I do not have current experience…15 years ago does not seem to count.
…WHATEVER… The point is, I CAN”T FIND A FUCKING GOOD JOB!
(**if you know of anything…feel free to let me know)
Am I going to have to move to freakin Greece and become a fisherman? Try out for Deadliest Catch, leverage everything I can and give it a shot as a professional poker player?
What?...you ask what my dream job is? I would start as a crew member and then an owner of a sportfishing charter…fishing the big boys off southern Baja. Shit…I’d take cleaning the docks in Marina Del Rey.
AND THEN…..My (pending) divorce…
This case has been going on for more than 3.5 years. She has a (well she is on her 5th) lawyer and I (since the start) can’t afford one and did not think that there was enough to argue about to really need one. MY BAD! So, I am still not, technically, divorced (although the judge granted the dissolution more than a year ago.) All I want is to have fair / standard time with my boys. I suppose that if I got a job, I could hire an attorney and get this whole thing over with…but scroll back to the top.
With 6 kids – it is hard not to feel like a total fucking loser. The situation is absolutely Maddening!
Well…..enough of this pity / venting shit and back to actually feeling like shit.
We’re not going anywhere.
4 days ago
8 Comments:
I don't know if either of these facts will make you feel any better, but ...
I'm a former journalist now working in PR. My colleagues in both fields are seriously dropping like flies.
I spent about an hour commiserating with one today in the same sort of predicament: A serious lack of potential positions in her field paired with an odd mix of over- and under- qualification for other positions.
And there are a lot more of us just barely holding on by our fingertips.
It's fucking barren out there, man.
I know "it sucks all over" doesn't really fix your problem. But, maybe it will make you feel just a teensy bit better to remember that it's not YOU ... it's them?
On the divorce front: I have a friend who IS a lawyer. And her asshat of an ex has been dragging her through court and draining her finances and her will to live for more than 3 years because of custody issues.
So, I think you can cut yourself some slack on the "maybe if I had a lawyer" front.
*Fingers crossed* for the fishing boat.
The Deadliest Catch would be freaking awesome. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. Sorry I can't be of more help.
Um if you go on deadliest catch can I come? PLEASE!
We'll ship the kids to your ex, she'll love that! She'd be all what kind of freaking' monkeys are these kids climbing trees and jumping off of shit.
Keep trying. Don't give up, we can't eat beans and rice forever.
What about a paper route? I know that sounds like I'm making fun, but I'm not, I have TWO SIL's who do that very thing... they have to work every morning but then have the rest of the day... both work other jobs also. Anyway... just throwing it out there!
You're not a loser... that's just how the world is right now... not enough jobs for everyone who needs one!
That's just a big bowl of suck.
I can't imagine what you are going through. I am nervous everyday that I am going to lose my job due to budget cuts. I have never felt so on the edge about a job. I just can't find another one and can't afford to not have one. It fucking sucks.
I know it sounds trite - but you have no where to go but up.
and you and Manic are such lovely people ..things will out.
I have been sending out resumes for the last couple of months. Decided to put off law school for a bit. Something about the $30,000/yr. for 3 years has me a little edgy right now. Soooo, I thought I would just go find a job. Yeah.
Keep plugging away. It seems there are SLIGHT signs of recovery up ahead. In the meantime, you are NOT a loser. Times are so damn tough. You are a good guy. You WILL get a job.
Oh, and you will eventually lose that "almost legally-ex."
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