What would you do if you were unemployed AND unemployable?

[madoka]

When I used to work with homeless people, my supervisor was a guy who was obsessed with what he would do if he lost his job. He lived like he was one paycheck from losing everything all the time, including driving around in an ancient and ratty Datsun 510.

As a mental exercise, I started thinking what would I do if I suddenly became unemployed AND unemployable. What would you guys do in that situation?

 

[dave_the_nerd]

If you're truly unemployable, you'd presumably qualify for disability.

Since my job mostly involves thinking, being unable to do that would entail pretty massive cognitive impairment. In which case I'm probably in drinking-soup-with-a-straw, Sesame-Street-watching, wheelchair-bound territory.

So it wouldn't really be my problem anymore. Dad gets power of attorney. I watch cartoons and shit myself while some small fragment of my former self prays for death.

If I lost my job and wasn't brain damaged, I'd presumably get another one, eventually. Maybe the pay wouldn't be as good, but any gig in the same field would be sufficient for my current lifestyle, with minor adjustments to savings and retirement goals.

If I lost my job, wasn't injured, but were incapable of working in IT for some reason (say, a court order prohibiting me from using a computer), I'd probably look into vocational training for trades. But would have to live like a monk off of savings and student loans until I finished a cert program and got a job.

 

[Svnla]

That's why you have saving and emergency accounts. If I don't have a dime to come in, I am still good for a few years with my money.

It also helps if you have another way to earn money besides your regular salary, ie multiple revenue streams.

 

[madoka]

If you're truly unemployable, you'd presumably qualify for disability.

Not necessarily. I once met a guy who used to take photos using some sort of specialized camera. Did that job for over 20 years, then the popularity of digital cameras made his position obsolete. Older guy with no other skills, so he became unemployable, but was not disabled.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I would not like to do it, but I'd either A: sell the house and try to find somewhere cheaper like a trailer or super cheap rental apartment so I can live off the profit till I can find a job or other source of income, or B: if I can't find a cheaper place to live or I exhaust all of the profit then I'd have to move back in with my parents. I would not like that one bit, but do what you have to do. Either way, I'd be spending my days off trying to find a way of making money so I can get back on my feet. Probably try to start a small business. With being unemployed it means there is no conflict of interest agreement or anything of that sort to worry about so it would make it that much easier to start a business - well in most cases anyway. Some companies actually have agreements that extend to even after you don't work for them anymore but don't think mine does. They do for retirees though. I find those types of agreement are BS but what can you do, lot of companies have them now.

So yeah in my current situation, let's say I got laid off that's probably what I'd do. Now if I was truly unemployable in the sense that I have mental or physical issues that stop me from working then I guess that really depends on the specific circumstances. As mentioned, I'd probably qualify for disability in that case, so I'd just do that. What sucks about any kind of government help though is they will take away any money you do manage to make yourself, so there is zero incentive to try to get back on your feet.

 

[Sonikku]

What would you do if you were unemployed AND unemployable?

https://forums.anandtech.com/threads/sonikku-finally-committed-by-blizzard-no-less.2507426/

 

[pcgeek11]

Not necessarily. I once met a guy who used to take photos using some sort of specialized camera. Did that job for over 20 years, then the popularity of digital cameras made his position obsolete. Older guy with no other skills, so he became unemployable, but was not disabled.

That doesn't make him unemployable. There are lots of other jobs besides using a camera.

 

[RockinZ28]

Smoke weed all day and let the government take care of me.

 

[Red Squirrel]

That doesn't make him unemployable. There are lots of other jobs besides using a camera.

Most job require to be qualified though, and if you have bills to pay, it's kind of hard to go back to school. I hear of people who do that, but no idea how they even afford it. Not the schooling itself that's expensive, it's having to continue paying all the bills while having zero income.

 

[pcgeek11]

There are plenty of jobs that doesn't require specialized skills training.

 

[madoka]

The funny thing about my life is that I never have any idea what I'm going to be doing 10 days from any given moment. Typically I'm able to book an appointment by then, but if I don't, then I have no work and thus no income. Being self-employed as a freelancer means that I have no job security like that. It forces me to constantly hustle.

If I ever became unemployed and unemployable, I'd exploit my slick-dealing abilities and find bargains to turn over for profit. I'm a borderline professional shopper as it is. It's what I do almost every day; just buy stuff for myself. I'd end up using those skills to find good deals and flip them on ebay/CL/flea markets/beach, etc.

If it ever got down to it, I even studied the best panhandlers to see what made them so good at it in case I had to do it. One of my favorites is a guy who would look right at you and then silently mouth "please help me" with the most pathetic sad dog face/expression possible. I'd practice that move in the mirror till I got it down like that guy. I'd estimate he made $100-200 per day doing that.

 

[madoka]

There are plenty of jobs that doesn't require specialized skills training.

In talking to that guy, there's really no market for an older guy with obsolete skill sets. Employers can always higher younger, healthier, more docile people than him.

 

[kolab]

When I used to work with homeless people, my supervisor was a guy who was obsessed with what he would do if he lost his job. He lived like he was one paycheck from losing everything all the time, including driving around in an ancient and ratty Datsun 510.

As a mental exercise, I started thinking what would I do if I suddenly became unemployed AND unemployable. What would you guys do in that situation?

I would live the way I am and start my own small business. Unemployed will make you struggle to survive, but it also sounds so difficult to cope with the problem.

 

[Grooveriding]

Male escort specializing in helicopter spins.

 

[Skyclad1uhm1]

There are plenty of jobs that doesn't require specialized skills training.

Indeed. Start a website with blatant right-wing lies and you'll be a member of the US government in no time.

 

[[DHT]Osiris]

When I used to work with homeless people, my supervisor was a guy who was obsessed with what he would do if he lost his job. He lived like he was one paycheck from losing everything all the time, including driving around in an ancient and ratty Datsun 510.

As a mental exercise, I started thinking what would I do if I suddenly became unemployed AND unemployable. What would you guys do in that situation?

I wouldn't be in a position to be unemployable. I've spent 10 years doing almost everything there is to do in IT short of programming and HPC stuff. I don't see that going anywhere, but even if it does, I've done construction work, I've got two feet and two hands (which opens up about 50% of all jobs, roughly 50% of those require no prior training). If it came down to it, I'd just dig ditches or babysit or something like that until I gained a new marketable skill.

I could also just take out a large loan and build a shitload of bitcoin miners or something, live off that like some tech-inclined third world hobo, or something.

 

[sandorski]

If you're truly unemployable, you'd presumably qualify for disability.

Since my job mostly involves thinking, being unable to do that would entail pretty massive cognitive impairment. In which case I'm probably in drinking-soup-with-a-straw, Sesame-Street-watching, wheelchair-bound territory.

So it wouldn't really be my problem anymore. Dad gets power of attorney. I watch cartoons and shit myself while some small fragment of my former self prays for death.

If I lost my job and wasn't brain damaged, I'd presumably get another one, eventually. Maybe the pay wouldn't be as good, but any gig in the same field would be sufficient for my current lifestyle, with minor adjustments to savings and retirement goals.

If I lost my job, wasn't injured, but were incapable of working in IT for some reason (say, a court order prohibiting me from using a computer), I'd probably look into vocational training for trades. But would have to live like a monk off of savings and student loans until I finished a cert program and got a job.

One could lose their cognitive edge without Brain Damage. If you developed a persistent condition that caused a lot of Pain, the pain itself or the drugs needed to address it could easily impair your ability to perform cognitive based jobs. There are other ways you could be prevented from being able to do such jobs, many not even having to impair your cognitive abilities.

 

[Yakk]

Start a small business.

 

[shortylickens]

I moved back in with mom.
It doesnt help. I'm still unemployable.
I have skills, but since I've been out of work so long, no one wants to hire me. Oh, and a degree from George Mason does NOT make me look any better. Also, I got an arrest and its findable on the internet, so until I get my record expunged I doubt I'll be getting any calls back.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

In talking to that guy, there's really no market for an older guy with obsolete skill sets. Employers can always higher younger, healthier, more docile people than him.

So how has a guy who spent 20 years taking photos of stuff not tried making a go of it as a freelance photographer?

 

[Dr. Zaus]

I would get more education: anyone who can do quick books can create a living wage for themselves by hanging a shingle and offering to be a book keeper (not tax).

If that didn't work I would move to a place I was employable. Either because I had family support to enable me, or mental support to help me get past my anger/social issues, or the economic climate needed for someone of my skill level.

SL: you can get a job at the good will, no question.

 

[Will Thatcher]

It is all up to you, everybody is employable if they really want to, if they accept whatever they can to earn a living. I have had dozens of jobs, some I took from scratch, busted my ass learning and worked my way up, step by step. If I can do it, anyone can do it. I saw a few days ago a mentally challenged person, I believe he was around 40 years old, selling newspapers on the street, so if he can do it, anyone can!

 

[interchange]

I would cash in on my disability policy.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Start taking selfies of myself being unemployed and pretend I was a millennial.

 

[madoka]

So how has a guy who spent 20 years taking photos of stuff not tried making a go of it as a freelance photographer?

He worked for a large law firm where he would take photos for exhibits using this special camera. His job sounded super specialized and wouldn't translate well to other forms of photography.