56 days in. Still unemployed.

[rose_in_shadow]

I really thought I would have an interview by now for at least one of the dozen jobs I've applied to. Huh. I mean, I wasn't crazy about any of the jobs I applied for anyway, but I still thought that I would get a call.

Well, guess I've reached the point where it's time to start thinking about alternate plans.

1) Graduate school
Pros: Won't need

Comments

[izhilzha]

Advice from someone recently unemployed for well over 2 years (feel totally free to ignore *g*):

1. Don't get a higher degree unless you desperately want to do something specific with it. That debt is too high, and a lot of the time it won't help you get a job anyway. (Skill training on the other hand can be useful.)

2. It often takes many, many applications to get just one interview. Don't be discouraged; keep pushing.

3. If you've used a recruiting agency and got a decent job through them before, I'd say try them again. I've never done that, but if you can? Might be a good side option at least.

Praying for you. Unemployment is seriously un-fun. *hugs*

[rose_in_shadow]

I'm happily taking advice; most people seem to offer just platitudes, nothing actually useful so I appreciate it. :D

1) That's my thought as well. I don't want the debt at all. Skill training I think would be useful, but the money to spend is still a little iffy. And, to be honest, I'm not sure where to find that sort of thing that doesn't involve another degree. But still, if I can find skill training classes, that would probably be better than nothing.

3) Well, I didn't get the job I had through the recruiting agency. Before then, I interviewed at my old company and then didn't hear back for two months. During that time five years ago I was on unemployment and had just started things with the recruiter when I got a call back (finally!) from the company I used to work for.

Thanks again for the pep talk. Maybe I should just be patient more? I just hate feeling useless.

[izhilzha]

I just hate feeling useless.

That's the worst. I know exactly what you mean.

And patience basically ends up being what you do... whether you enjoy it or not. :) I think I used up a 10 year supply that 2 1/2 years.

[thirteenthchime]

Oh man, that last bit had me burst out in laughter.

Definitely don't jump into graduate school if you don't have a specific career path in mind, that a specific degree is necessary to have. I'm looking into an MLS right now, and I hear varying things about the job market from library students - it's very competitive though, is the one thing I keep hearing, and everyone says that the jobs are in the specialized libraries (law, medicine, tech, etc.) It also seems like a lot of the students work either parttime or fulltime through the degree, and that by and far the biggest factor in getting a job after graduation is where you worked and the professional experience you get while in school.

[rose_in_shadow]

I've heard that about librarian jobs as well... maybe I'll hold off on the school thing awhile longer. I never intended to go to graduate school, so maybe it'll just be my last resort. :/

[scarvenartist]

I was unemployed for a number of months last year, so I'd echo what's already been said...it takes more time than you'd think to get leads, and many, many applications. At the end of my own stint, I had a sudden rush of about six different options all at once, for jobs I'd applied for so long ago I hardly even remembered them. I know it's easy to get discouraged though...the frustration of searching, and applying for jobs you don't really want just because it would be a job...it gets old fast

[rose_in_shadow]

applying for jobs you don't really want just because it would be a job

Exactly. The other bit too is that Ohio unemployment compensation laws are finicky. Apparently, if you get a job offer and don't have a reasonable excuse not to take it (i.e. low pay, very long commute) you have to take the job. Just today I applied for a job I actually want and now I'm freaking out that I'll get offered a job from all the people I didn't want a job with and I'll have to say "yes" even when I want to say "no." lol. Oh the things I can worry about.

[arysani]

A temp agency like AppleOne can help you get your foot in the door with places that you might want to work - they mostly do offices, but you might be able to make the connections that get you a job. It was how I got a job when I got laid off when I lived in San Diego.

It may not be a permanent solution, but it might be a temp fix until you decide what you want to do?

[rose_in_shadow]

I'm doing some contract work now (see today's entry! I think you must have replied to this one just as I posted my new entry :D). But I'm not ruling out a temp agency if I run out of things to do with my contract work.