self perpetuating unemployment

[CarrieLynne]

This morning, I woke to an email from one of the employment agencies I am signed up with, there's an incredible opportunity for a job, I EASILY qualify for. The duties and requirements could have been cut and pasted right off my resume! I was so excited! 5 years ago...I'd land this job if I slept thru the interview! 50k a year, this was THE one right? Wrong. Once she submitted my resume, the company didnt even want to interview me.....why? Because I'm a 99'er...

I've been out of work for nearly 3 years. My last employer went thru a "merger" (more like a buy out) to a large corporation that was buying out similar businesses in the western united states. (My boss scored himself a seat on the Board of Directors) Once I'd learned of the coming layoff(only because someone leaked the info) I decided to get my real estate license (you know what they say about hindsight) I worked incredibly hard and invested tons of money into building my business, to no avail...by late 2008 I had to cut my losses and quit. I've been looking for work ever since....I'm signed up with every agency who services my area, I send out 10 or more resumes a day...craigslist, career builder, monster, local papers etc....I put hours a day into this...for 3 YEARS! I get an interview about once every other month....but it always ends the same....

3 years later, I've lost my marriage and my house, (which he kept since I cant pay the mortgage), my 401k, my savings, my credit rating, my health/dental insurance, most of my valuable stuff (sold it).

I've also lost 30 pounds since im not eating out anymore but thats a very small silver lining lol

I dont have kids or I'd be on welfare, I live in what amounts to a large master bedroom that I rent from a very kind family, I'm extremely fortunate that I have a boyfriend who has a job, who moved in with me just as my unemployment ran out, even tho we werent really "there" yet (guess were there now lol). My teeth are falling out(thank goodness im the only one who can tell for now)

I'm reminded of back when I first started working in 1985 and the vicious cycle of "you have no experience" but I cant GET experience if I dont get a job! (my mother finally hired me at her job just to GET me a job) Now its the same but different...I cant GET a job, because I dont HAVE a job...what the hell kinda sense does that make?

I have 15 years experience in my field, I have an impeccable attendance record, stable work history, never any disciplinary actions, several commendations, excellent references...but I am worth nothing in this job market..no one will hire me because no one will hire me....

Do I have it bad? hell yes...but millions have it much worse, so I am grateful....But I fear that at my age, the american dream is lost to me....everything I spent my life building up is gone, 25 years of building MY dream up, is gone...as the years tick by, theres less and less a chance that I'll be able to regain even half of what I had accomplished before this recession hit.

the goal is no longer the "Dream" but survival.

Tomorrow and every tomorrow....I'll send out more resumes, but I'm seriously considering making up a fake job to add to it....

[orpupilofnature57]

1. (1%)Their goal knowingly or not is not our survival ,by definition they are..

our enemy .Clinton say's theres a trillion dollars dormant ,why.

[femrap]

2. If in doubt, lie....

I'd make up some kind of 'job' and ask a friend to be your boss. Make it a small business or maybe a start-up business that you have been working at.

I'm in the same boat.

[angstlessk]

5. Vandolay Industries...Vandolay Industries!....Hey, George knew how to do it up right!

Just ask Seinfeld!

[CarrieLynne]

11. LOL I remember that episode!

[dixiegrrrrl]

6. I would do exactly the same thing in today's market.

The rules have changed, the crooks are in charge, and the "nice people" are being starved to death.
New era, time for new rules.
When it comes to survival, you do what you gotta do.

[Speck Tater]

3. It seems to me there is a great opportunity here for someone

to set up a company that "hires" people who have been out of work for a long time, putting them on the books somehow to break the chain. I have no idea how to make something like that work, but it seems like a lot of people could benefit from having a recent or current job reference on their resume, and there should be some way to make that happen for people.

[CarrieLynne]

4. oh hmm....ever see the movie "accepted" ?

[femrap]

7. No....what's it about???? nt

[CarrieLynne]

9. a bunch of kids who couldnt get into any colleges, make their own college :) nt

[AnneD]

14. I always though here in Texas we could have .....

the Sam Houston Institute of Technology....better known as SHIT. We could have all kinds of degree programs etc. Maybe I just had too many beers in the student union building but I always thought it was a good idea.

[jtuck004]

13. That's a very good idea.

We talked about something like this at the local employment service, but they weren't interested. Schools give credit for life experience - I don't see a big difference. Would have to be somewhat creative so you don't wind up with a known reputation, and it needs to be funded from somewhere other than an unemployed workers pocket, so whoever runs it needs to be funded from elsewhere.

I wonder if a union could help? Or maybe the local grange or a senior citizen group? They could have someone around the office to field the verification calls. Create a few dozen company names, maybe send people off to do research reports in the library or have them take food to a shut-in.

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[CarrieLynne]

10. did someone order spam and eggs?

[Celebration]

12. you need to be self employed and do contract work

Just get one customer, even though it is tiny and pays next to nothing. Instant resume!

[AnneD]

15. Good Idea....

self employment, last legitimate tax dodge.