129 weeks!

[PeshakJang]

I've been out (officially) for almost three years now. HUNDREDS of resumes out to all fields (things I'm perfectly qualified for, underqualified for, overqualified for, etc). From highly technical to fast food. I've had one interview from all that. If you can find a person I've worked for or with who calls me lazy, I'll buy you a keg of whatever you're drinking.

Employment has very little to do with the ability of the worker.

Oh, and fyi, I'm not receiving unemployment.

You must live in the most terrible part of the country, because I can drive down the road and find a place that's hiring right now. I can go on craigslist and find hundreds of wanted ads for any type of work you can imagine. And I live in Indiana...

Being out of work for 3 years points to some other issue, I'm sorry. It seems to me that if I were really looking for work, after about 6 months of no luck I'd be looking to relocate somewhere else where I could find something.

Good for you though, for not taking unemployment. Not trying to come down on you, since I have never met you, but things are not *that* bad that in 3 years you couldn't find a McDonalds or WalMart that was hiring.

 

[PrinceofWands]

You must live in the most terrible part of the country, because I can drive down the road and find a place that's hiring right now. I can go on craigslist and find hundreds of wanted ads for any type of work you can imagine. And I live in Indiana...

Being out of work for 3 years points to some other issue, I'm sorry. It seems to me that if I were really looking for work, after about 6 months of no luck I'd be looking to relocate somewhere else where I could find something.

Good for you though, for not taking unemployment. Not trying to come down on you, since I have never met you, but things are not *that* bad that in 3 years you couldn't find a McDonalds or WalMart that was hiring.

It's bad here. Hit nearly 25% unemployment, still hovering in the mid to high teens. Unfortunately I can't leave the area, so *shrug*.

I've found hundreds of places that were hiring...just not hiring me. There are a number of reasons, some I have control over, some I don't. But the end result is the same. It's not about wanting to work, or being able to work. It's about ALL the factors aligning, or you not getting hired regardless.

Fortunately I live so cheaply I make it from just odd jobs. For those that can't, I'm glad they have a safety net. I'd rather pay into that net than pay to incarcerate them when they steal to eat.

 

[StageLeft]

Have you looked into some kind of schooling or training option? I presume so.

25% unemployment is a different beast than 10%, which is what most of are dealing with.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

You must live in the most terrible part of the country, because I can drive down the road and find a place that's hiring right now. I can go on craigslist and find hundreds of wanted ads for any type of work you can imagine. And I live in Indiana...

:thumbsup:

I'm in Indiana as well and have noticed lots of IT job postings lately. I have a friend who worked on the help desk at a local school corp, got fed up, and quickly got several interviews with companies around Indy and will likely have landed 2, if not 3, job offers.

 

[Argo]

our unemployment benefits have NO limit at all in time, how about that? It's kind of strange that unemployment in Belgium is lower then the USA even with these indefinite benefits...

Different size countries. What is Belgium's population? Also, it's amazing how much extra cash you have when you don't have to worry about military because your friends from UK/USA will defend you if something happens.

 

[BoberFett]

In that scenario and assuming the continuation of a Capitalist/Free Market based Economy, Government Intervention becomes Increasingly Important, not less.

Fail

 

[soccerballtux]

What are you going to do as a nurse when 1/2 nurses are paid from govt and gov't can't spend no more? I suggest 11b.

Incidentally nurses lay off all the time. My wife is currently a lecturer teaching nursing (can't get full time due to hiring freeze) and was laid off before that.

None of you understand all support services are dependent on production.

Zebo you're so close, but you've really got to realize simply moving production back doesn't work either. That simply raises the prices of goods produced here, so then a company sets up financial headquarters AND production (not just production) abroad and we lose even those secretary and financial jobs that we previously had.

After all, the real problem is not "production" but the fact that we want things other countries make, but they really don't care about anything we make. Or if they care, they don't want to buy (not when it [movies] can be had for free).

Moving production back only works/sticks if we tax imports.
This is the only politically feasible solution. The only other alternative [and it would actually work much, much better long term, but short term it would hurt so politician will touch it], is to seriously downsize government, which is never going to happen.

 

[PrinceofWands]

Have you looked into some kind of schooling or training option? I presume so.

25% unemployment is a different beast than 10%, which is what most of are dealing with.

I have one full degree, am a semester off another, and two semesters off two more (not counting the two associates). Have a couple dozen certifications in various fields (IT, security, & fitness mostly).

I GUARANTEE you it has nothing to do with training, skills, intelligence, ability, certification, experience, etc. It has to do with a weird work history (appears spotty, even though there are reasons, and embraces multiple fields), a controversial public history (unpopular political stands, etc), a somewhat non-standard attitude (won't suck up, play games, be politically correct, etc), and the fact that the job market is so sucky that an opening at Burger King brings in 300+ applicants.

I have no delusions about my situation; it's largely of my own making. If I could look in other areas, if I'd play the games...if I'd be someone other than myself basically. Regrettably I'm not programmed that way.

I was only pointing out that there are reasons other than ability-centric ones why someone would be having trouble getting a job.

 

[StageLeft]

I have one full degree, am a semester off another, and two semesters off two more (not counting the two associates). Have a couple dozen certifications in various fields (IT, security, & fitness mostly).

I GUARANTEE you it has nothing to do with training, skills, intelligence, ability, certification, experience, etc. It has to do with a weird work history (appears spotty, even though there are reasons, and embraces multiple fields), a controversial public history (unpopular political stands, etc), a somewhat non-standard attitude (won't suck up, play games, be politically correct, etc), and the fact that the job market is so sucky that an opening at Burger King brings in 300+ applicants.

I have no delusions about my situation; it's largely of my own making. If I could look in other areas, if I'd play the games...if I'd be someone other than myself basically. Regrettably I'm not programmed that way.

I was only pointing out that there are reasons other than ability-centric ones why someone would be having trouble getting a job.

Well, good luck with it. You're probably set out to own your own business, but I imagine you've thought about that.

 

[PrinceofWands]

Well, good luck with it. You're probably set out to own your own business, but I imagine you've thought about that.

No chance. I have no motivation and refuse to abide most of the legal bs surrounding them.

Only 'businesses' I'd ever consider are sex provider, or subsistence farmer.

I'll live on odd jobs until something comes up, same as I have always done. No matter how long the winter, eventually spring always comes.