Denver Post profiles wretched, broken-down, unemployed computer programmer

[DavidDvorkin]

Me:

http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36%257E28388%257E1617564,00.html

We were hoping they'd include our Web site (http://www.dvorkin.com) so that any prospective employers could read my online resume and other readers could read about my books and Leonore's book(let) about her breast cancer experience. But at least, as the old joke goes, they spelled my name right. Which is not insignificant, given my name.

[travisleit01]

1. Hang in there David...

Good to see you in the Post though.

Your fellow Denverite,
Travis

[mhr]

2. I Feel Your Pain

I have been unemployed for a long time and see no light at the end of the tunnel.

I have sent 1,426 resumes and have my resume posted at 105 job boards.

So far, not one call from a headhunter in 18 months.

Keep the faith but make plans for something else.

[DavidDvorkin]

3. mhr, ouch, you're way ahead of me

in time laid off and numbers of resumes sent out.

Which must mean you're that much closer than I am to your next job!

(I'm trying to learn to look on the bright side.)

They do say that there are hints that the employment situation in Denver is beginning to look up a bit. Of course, those who say that are economists with high salaried jobs.

[shrike]

4. Been there, done that

I feel for both you guys. I remember trying to outwit the phone co. so they wouldn't shut off my long distance and scrounging through my vehicle and apartment for change so I could go buy a bag of rice for dinner. (I discovered Hot & Now about then. Terrible food, but you could get a meal for under $2.) Can either of you sell your skills independently? I've been an independent contractor for eight years and it's changed my life completely.

Hang in there.

[DavidDvorkin]

5. Locally, independent contractors aren't.

I did that for a few years, but that was quite a few years ago. Nowadays in Denver, with rare exceptions, companies get their contractors through contracting companies.

I've sent my resume to those places, too. Got a couple of nibbles but no follow up.

Right now, contractors face the same problem in Denver as would-be permanent employees. There are so many techies out of work that employers are being very demanding. They want you to have exactly the experience they need for a current project, and many years of it. If you have almost that technical experience, that's not good enough. They're not interested in training you on the job.

Actually, that's always been a problem for contractors. In the good old days (i.e., the Golden Clinton Years), employers were willing, to various degrees, to train permanent employees on the job, but even then they didn't want to do that for contractors.

[shrike]

6. Wow, that really sucks

You might as well spend your energies looking for a job, then. Wish I could help.

[DavidDvorkin]

7. I got two job-related phone calls as a result of the article

One was from an HR type at a local high-tech company. She asked me to send her my resume, which I did right away. I checked the company's Web site, and I don't qualify for any of their current openings, but at least my resume is now in their system (as it is in so many other systems around town).

The second was from an auto repossession company, asking if I was interested in being one of their drivers. You know, the guys who go out and actually take back the cars, trucks, etc. I suppose that's one business that's doing well right now. Sigh.

[hippywife]

8. I can empathize with the second offer

While I was unemployed last year, I got an offer from a temp agency to work for a collection agent. Even in good times I wouldn't consider this a job I would want let alone when I was unemployed. I asked the girl who offered it to me why she thought I would want to do that to people who are in the same dire circumstances that I was finding myself in. Talk about bottom-feeding. :eyes:

I did finally fight for and get a job working with the elderly. It's the most rewarding job I've ever had even tho it pays roughly half of what I used to make during the Clinton boom years but it does pay way better than unemployment. The thing I learned from my own experience is that really helps the soul to find a need within your community while you are unable to find work in your chosen field and fill it even if the bucks aren't there.

Good luck to you!

[DavidDvorkin]

10. Socially good work at lower pay

vs. socially neutral or even negative work at high pay. Aargh. What an unpleasant choice to have to make!

Well, we're learning how to get by on drastically lower income right now, so I may yet give up on the tech stuff and try to find something morally and personally satisfying instead.

[buczak]

9. Denver really tough right now.

Thanks for posting this. I live in Denver too, and I
know it's really tough. Luckily, i still have my job in the
tech field, but my wife has been looking for something permanent but haven't gotten anything. She's been even going around to all of the
temp agencies for stuff and she hasn't gotten any offers or
anything in the past year.

I've been hearing lots of stories lately such as the computer position
at the denver school system that got 500 applicants including some
ex-CIO's and MIS. And the story of the executive at a company
who now works for $10/hour at a help desk in the tech center.

I hope something shows up.

BTW, i'm impressed with your outside writings.

Tvb

[DavidDvorkin]

11. Thanks, buczak.

I'd be doing nothing but that writing if I could make a living at it. That's always been my dream.

I tried it once, twenty years ago. I lasted for one year before giving up and getting a regular job. Financially, that year of full-time writing was not a wise choice. Personally, emotionally, it was wonderful.