10 resumes a day, no takers

The joke is if you want to make descent money, not have horrible hours, and not be miserable at work. The reality is if you don’t have a specialized degree (nursing/computer science) or specialized skills (machine operation) there are not as many jobs as people want us to believe. I have a degree in Sports Management (basically Business Management) as well as management experience but it’s not really good enough. I really don’t know why we need a college degree almost every job I apply for says “high school graduate/GED”. Anyone not looking for that wants special skills, special degree, or 5 years experience in their exact field. If I had that kind of experience in that field why am I looking for a job in it? Shouldn’ I already have one in that field?

I have a BS from Sacramento State in Criminal Justice and a MS from Cal State Long Beach in Emergency Services Administration and I have had a helluva time finding a job in the last two years since graduation. I’ve sent out more applications than I can’t count and have only had a few interviews where my lack of experience showed. My wife and I currently make good money serving tables, but we have no room for errors in our budget. I’m at a loss what to do. I thought I was doing everything right, but somehow I missed the college class that teaches you about reality. I’m currently getting in the best shape of my life to either attend the Army or Marine Corps OCS.

I have over 30 years experience as a Construction Project Superintendent. I was laid off in January, 2007. I’ve not worked since then. I estimate I’ve sent out well over 1,500 resume’s and have gotten virtually no repsonses. One of the pitfalls that has always gone along with the construction industry is that all too often, employment is short term. You can spend 18 months to 2 years on a project and as soon as it’s completed, you are laid off because there are no more projects to be had with that company. With it being an employers marked, moving around like that is seen as being “unstable”. Never mind that each move was either lateral or upward or that one was in the same industry. Add to that my age and it becomes increasingly difficult to find gainful, stable employment. I would like to get training in another field or complete my degree, but until i can find some way to put food on the table, I’m not able to afford, nor concentrate on anything else. So far, the federal government has pretty much ignored the plight of the hundreds of thousands of people that lost their jobs to the housing/mortgage melt down. I’m just another one of them…

After reading these comments, I feel extremely blessed. I was laid off in October 2007 after 12 years of employment. I was very fortunate to find my new management position in November 2007. Everyday I have individuals contacting me looking for a job. But all employers I come in contact with are being very careful on streamlining their overhead and hiring only when absolutely necessary. Due to current unemployment numbers companies no longer have to pay top dollar to get the best. Yes, this economy is scaring all of us.

Dear Folks,
Yes! I share your pain and misery when you are without means to pay for your daily bread.
America is “kaput” as it is living on borrowed money – from the Europeans, the Asians, almost anyone that buys US T -bills. However, there is a segment of Americans that are having it good – in fact, they thrive on your misery – the covert Bankers of Wall Street, they are The Bankers of all Bankers.
Read “The Money Changers”- do a Google search on this article.
US Corporations have hollowed out many jobs, thanks to their CEOs, Chairman, CFOs, COOs whom were interested only in their year end bonuses. They pretend to justify why their grand strategies will create more jobs, but actually, they are shifting away – they call this structural changes in employment.
Management drive hard to squeeze a 7% productivity from labor/wages; make a strategic mistake, blows away $Billons in value, CEO, CFO, COO walks – with $millions in their pockets.Worst, they fudge the financials to get their bonuses paid.
What are your labor unions doing? No Government in the world really cares about your jobless plight, not even in China, a Communist bastion. The best opportunity to change the employment paradigm is NOW! Unions must agressively confront management about clawing back from past CEOs’ bogus awards and rewrite the labor contract with the company.
No longer, should workers allow and be denied by CEOs, that they should sacrifice for the company so that the CEOs make it big for their payouts come yearend closing.

Brian, I hope you really don’t believe there is no employment crisis now. If you do, I have a bridge I want to sell you.

I was laid off this past December after ten years working for a real estate title company. I have had only one interview. I have a Juris Doctor and over 13 years experience. So many others in my field have lost their jobs as well.

I feel for a lot of people looking for jobs but I also see in my position a lot of resumes from people who don’t have the skill sets required for the job or are delusional about keeping their previous pay while transferring to a new field.

Like some in here have mentioned, some of the tough job markets are industry-specific. Sure it’s tough on financials right now but how many people moved to this business because of the boom? It’s temporary too.

Anyway, I wanted to offer a counter point. I’m actually leaving my chemical company this spring (worked 8 yrs after getting my Ph.D there) to work as patent attorney once I’m done with the bar exam this June (4 year evening class studies to get there).

I’ve got 2 kids (3 counting husband) and a full time job but had no trouble whatsoever finding this new job. I had 7 interviews within two weeks and could have gotten more through extra networking. I won’t even have to relocate and will take a 60% pay raise. But I leveraged the management skills I obtained in my current job, fluent bilingual skills (being an immigrant), technical skills I had from Ph.D and work experience, and legal skills I had just studied for to get where I wanted to. In fact, I had interviews for 3 very different types of jobs instead of focusing on a single direction.

Bottom line is the job markets are constantly changing and the rules of 5-yrs ago aren’t the same as now. People should expect career changes and anticipate them. Build skill sets that they can transfer to other industries and so on. Instead a lot just sit on their laurels, spend like there’s no tomorrow during the booms, and wait for government handouts when the crisis hits. A lot of this crisis is just overdue financial/real estate correction but also a lot of self-inflicted pain coming to roost.

It surprises me that so few (if any) people say they have applied for government jobs, which are usually stable and fairly well-paying. I suggest any job seeker check out the USAJOBS.GOV web site. There are thousands of real jobs; in general, the government doesn’t put out fake job announcements to gather resumes. In this uncertain economy, a federal job may be a good bet for now.

I have been in the mortgage industry for 25 years, the last 7 in operations. This is the 3rd downturn I’ve been through, but by far this is the worse one. The early 90’s brought on foreclosure but more so due to other industry layoffs, not bad loans.
I was laid off in July 07 and am still out of work. Fortunately my wife makes a good wage and with savings and our line of credit, we’re surviving, but if I don’t find something soon, we’ll start selling assets. Same story, send out 100s of resumes, have had a few interviews, but nothing yet. At 53, you start wondering if hiring managers are just putting you through the motions; they know they’re not going to hire you, but your resume doesn’t state your age.

One last thought… there ARE processing jobs out there, but you HAVE to speak spanish!!!

My situation is unusual and is 100% my own doing. I left an investment management firm in June 2007 because I did not agree with the way the firm sold its product. I thought leaving and focusing on finding a company and position that intrigued me was the best situation for me. I figured that I wouldn’t be unemployed for more than 3-4 months. Then the subprime/credit meltdown. I’ve had countless interviews but have found that most companies I interviewed with were not that serious about hiring and often delayed the hiring process.

My name is Ruben Rodriguez and I live in Orange County, CA. My family has been here since before the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo(1846). I say this because I am not an immigrant to this country, I am Native. Of course, I have English, Spanish, and other types of lineage in me somewhere, as we all do, here in the US. However I am as native as anyone can be(my family changed its name in order to combat the stigma attached to being a native in the 20th century). I have a BA in Communications (the bane of my dad, an engineer) and I served as a Lieutenant in the United States Army. I have been employed at over seven different jobs since 2004 (since I left the Army). Apparently being an Infantry Officer is not a stepping stone to any sort of career. Illegal immigration is such a huge dealbreaker that my name alone makes people reject my resume. So, I had to move from San Bernadino to Orange County because people in SB could not accept a man that was college educated, does not speak spanish, as normal(at least the ones that interviewed me). I have two kids, already sold the home, one car left, and no job. I would do anything at this point. I am not bilingual. So what? Wasn’t the constitution of this country written in English? I realize that my name is extremely common among Mexican immigrants. What can I say? My dad’s name is Ruben. I have felt most of the experiences that others have posted here, and then some. I was told by one employer that he would have to verify my nationality before I could begin work because he was fined in the past for hiring illegals. He never glanced past my name on my application. Others tell me that since I am not bilingual that it would be hard to justify hiring me. WTF? So I have seriously heard it all: overqualified, underexperience, just not the fit we were looking for, etc. as well as all the unspoken looks of rejection I get. Keep your head up? Keep on trying? I can’t even feed my family flipping burgers, life is far too expensive for that. Work multiple jobs? Great idea and then I get to die early from all that stress. I can’t even life of the land without permission from Big Brother and I am not accepted by any of the tribal governments because I can not currently prove my descent. How long can this continue for me?

The handwriting is on the wall for me too. I work for a small general contractor (in business for over fifty years) that builds affordable houses (not specs, but for people that already have their lot or land). I’m already cut down to part time, our last house is in the works & I’ve got maybe four months until the doors close permanently. I am the main bread-winner & it takes both our incomes just to survive. In my area the unemployment rate is almost double the national average & jobs are next to none. I scour the ads of anything remotely within driving distance & send out resumes. I hope to move to a better area this summer IF I can find someone to buy my house. I worry about losing my car because I don’t live near any public transportation, & even worse, what I’ll do without my health insurance or meds, because while I can get on my spouse’s insurance ifI lose my job, the premiums are too high for us to afford it.

I guess I should be encouraged by the fact that there are so many others of you who are like me (“misery loves company”?). But in reality, if so many educated, willing-to-work people are not employed in this country in a supposedly “good” economy, something’s wrong.

I wish there was a way to more accurately calculate how many people are really unemployed. I know far too many people who have run out of employment benefits and are still looking after more than a year (including me).

After 35 years in the computer industry, I was one of over 3,500 laid off from my company in 2006, and have not been able to find anything even halfway comparable since. I have taken a few commission-only sales jobs in different industries, but there’s no security or health insurance.

Both my wife and I are cancer survivors, and I dread the day that we won’t have access to any coverage and need it . . .

I, too, believe we’re headed for a Japanese-like “lost decade” – none of the candidates will be able to turn things around fast enough to make much of a difference, in spite of their promises.

In the meantime, I keep sending out resumes, “network” with colleagues, and have my fingers in a couple of home-based businesses. And try to keep my spirits up . . .

I too used to work as a mortgage underwriter. I was laid off last September when the bank I worked at for the past nine years dissolved our wholesale mortgage division. I have been searching for a new job in vain for about eight months. I have had five or six interviews and have sent out hundreds of resumes and filled out lots of long applications that ask for my social security number and date of birth, race, sex, etc, and I receive no respsonse. When all is said and done, I will probably have had my identity stolen. A few years ago, I busted my hump to finish my bachelor’s of business administration while working full time, and apparently now a degree doesn’t get you anywhere – I was beat out for a job at my old employer by an ex coworker with less work experience and no degree. I am completely disgusted at my situation. My unemployment runs out in June and I am starting to think the only place I may be able to get a job is at a fast food restaurant. I’m 30 years old, and my husband and I have dreams of buying a bigger home and starting a family, and that’s not going to happen on $7/hour.

I entered the tool and die industry in 1963 with the desire to learn a great trade and I had the state of mind that the USA would never not need skilled trades professionals in manufacturing.
But I had no idea that the greed of business would run to ASIA with all of manufacturing for only bigger profits.
There are many jobs available today but if you can drive to the work location and pay your expenses on $7 or $8.00 per hour please advise me on how to do this.
As one of are former presidents stated the only thing wrong with capitalism is the GREED of the capitalist!!

It isn’t just the arts. Even PhD’s in “sure-employment” fields like engineering have been hit. Most of the public schools have hiring freezes, and a good number of the private ones aren’t hiring ether. For some, even though they’ve advertised for applicants, they haven’t taken any interviews. Instead, I’m seeing postings for untenured lecturer positions with salaries that are just enough to starve on, much less pay off any student loans. Post-doc postings are similarly scarce and scantily paying.

Industry hasn’t been much better either. Every single interview I’ve scheduled has been arranged through a personal contact, and there’s only so many of those one can have. No job yet though…

I was laid off in November from a utility company (the legal department) in Albuquerque, NM; I relocated to NJ, reuniting with my former fiance; HE was laid off from an ad agency in NYC, also in November; and we are BOTH still unemployed! I have been in the legal field 30 years and never had a problem finding a job, but I sure am now. It is becoming a serious struggle trying to be creative in making ends meet. It MUST get better and soon! Good luck to everyone!

Over and over this has happened to me as well. I have literally spent hundreds of hours applying online (Why cant they make this easier? They parse your resume only to have you re-enter everything. It’s huge waste of time, not efficient at all like electronic submission is supposed to achieve.) and sent in hundreds of resumes/applications.

Several employment firms are supposedly working with me, but I havent seen anything materialize. Im not ‘old’ as you would think, but I have nearly 15 years in IT at every level and the education to back it up and I cannot get hired for anything I apply for. I honestly don’t get it. Some employers will ask for 5-7 years, I give them over that and additional edication and training that they did not even ask for, and yet I am lucky to get 1 interview and told I’m “in the running,” only not to hear anything else and dont even know why. The interviews go well. It’s really frustrating and I understand everyone’s experience with the problem here. Even finding part time jobs requires 4 interviews – only for it not to materialize.

I know the companies are hiring, but it’s like if you do not have a strong inside conection, all the websites in the world and ‘career counseling’ services are not going to do any good. Experience and education have fallen off the companies list of qualifications only to be replaced with the buddy system. It’s not fair for those that have worked hard in school/ specialized training and in obtaining their degrees. And please do not say we are not trying hard enough, b/c, Mr hiring manager, I dont think you are trying hard enough to properly fill positions. You get a phone call from a big dog and you need to look good, so you call a ‘candidate’ and hire them b/c you want to look good. There you go. You just looked good at the expense of getting a qualified employee and actually taken another step to sink your own ship. We that person leaves, your are in a crunch when they find something else and YOU lose everything-the time/expense you invested in trainng them. Give yourself a pat on the back for sheer incompetent leadership and actually knowing what is good for your team and company’s needs. That may be a little blunt and not your usual ‘mangerish’ diplomatic language you are so enamered with, but it’s the truth that needs to be told straight up. Hiring managers, get with it, stand up for what’s right and give people a chance. Afterall, some one gave you one.

You are only stopping the cycle and natural progression of advancement. When you company grows, your people grow with it. When you stiffle advancement, you stiffle growth. It doesnt do you any good. So get with it quit relying on the so called employment agencies to screen your employees and take care of this your self. You are supposed to know what you need – not the firm that is going to pander you.

I’m afraid it’s as bad as what people think. I worked for a homebuilder that went under last August. I had survived 3 lay-off rounds prior, but was glad that I held on to the end, and still got some severance. I had been laid off before with a telecom company that went thru a merger. I found a job in 3 months, which I thought was normal turnaround. This time it took 7 months. 7 months!! It was terrible! Our savings ran out, and I cashed in my 401k for about 13 grand. The job that I found is great, but it pays $15,000 less than my previous job and no OT is allowed. They are pretty strict with that. I had only prayers and tears at the end, but something finally opened up. I thought we were going to lose everything. I feel so badly for those still out there. I just hope my new company (a small business) will stay afloat. The only good thing I can say is that our bank did work with us to keep us in our home. But I think that was because they had foreclosed on so many other homes that it had finally become better for them to help keep their customers in their homes instead of taking anymore. What about the other people who lost out before us? My heart goes out to them.

In my own recent job hunting, one thing I’ve noticed is that few potential employers actually bother to acknowledge receipt of applications or resumes. Nor do they respond to follow-ups or requests to be notified if positions have been filled. This was not the case when I was job hunting several years ago, when nearly all contacts responded with at least a courtesy note saying they received my app. Perhaps companies should consider that a disregarded applicant may someday become a potential business relation or customer, and that they may tell their colleagues, managers, friends, etc. about the lousy treatment they got and to not do business with that company.

Though I currently have a pretty nice job in Computer Programming, I will likely be moving and starting over, so hearing that other people are having trouble finding jobs is somewhat disturbing. When I was in law school, I sent out dozens of resumes and cover letters a week to law firms (which are far fewer than most industries) and rarely received interviews, even when I financed all my travel, etc. Ultimately I took my programming job because of my undergrad degree, student loans (50k), and need for some stability. I hope that I can transition to another job with less trouble, but it sounds like the market isn’t pretty anywhere, not just finance.

Lost my job on Jan 2nd. I’ve had one interview since, and 2 with headhunters. I questioned that one interviewer and found that he had 300 applications for the job, they picked 5 of the best and living closest to the business for this $15 an hour job. I’ve put out over 75 resumes, the resume is the one that I’ve used for years and has always gotten me a job, I have good work experience and references. I’m a single parent, and at times feel like I’m going to be sucked into this crisis of homeowners losing their homes. Our country is in a mess and I can’t help but blame our infamious Bush. The climate is the worst I’ve seen in my life.

Five years ago, I was a popular radio personality at a small-market station in the Midwest. When they let me go, I actively pursued the “next big gig”, but got nary a nibble.

Two years ago, I relocated to Southern California because “that’s where the jobs are”. I kept looking, and looking, and looking, not only in media positions, but in other fields as well. I conservatively estimate that I have left a total of 1000 e-mails/resumes/applications/letters of interest, receiving only seven requests for an interview. Of all the other potential employers whom I contacted, less than 15% even bothered to reply in the first place! It has become so frustrating, that I am on the verge of giving up!

I am a college-educated veteran in my 40s, with knowledge in braodcasting, computers, and a variety of other skills. Despite that, the only job I have been able to keep is as a pizza delivery driver, and I have to commute 38 miles each way to do it! At $3.50 per gallon, gasoline comprises up to 20% of my monthly budget; only my rent costs me more.

There has to be something better than this!

In August 2007 the mortgage company I worked for was shut down completely. I had been there for over 8 years and really loved my job. I have a background in IT and Finance and I too, have also been sending out multiple resumes, have had a few interviews, but it seems the market is flooded with many well qualified people. Some of those in our group have since found jobs, but sad to say, they are not happy in their new positions.

On the other hand, this gave me an opportunity to go to a State funded career center as a “displaced worker” and enter a grant funded Bio-Pharmaceutical Manufacturing training program. It’s a 13 week course that is really 2 semesters squeezed into the 13 weeks. Going back to school is a big change but I’m hoping that the career change to this growing industry will be what I need to find another job. Only time will tell…

I am a marine biologist and have been doing seasonal whale research work and marine education for the past 10 years. I am now trying to transition into the year-round marine biology field and have had no such luck. I have applied for positions that I am way over qualified for, applied for positions that I am very qualified for, and applied for positions that I could do but don’t have the paper background. I am lucky enough to have a job through a temp agency that is completely not within my line of work. Unfortunately the job won’t last long and I have major anxiety about what will happen once my temp job comes to an end. I feel like I have such talent and am competent on so many levels, how do I get the people to hire to call me for an interview? I have re-vamped my resume, I have re-written my cover letters, I customize everything and still nothing.
Very frustrating!!!

I definitely understand Josh and am in a similar situation as it has been tough for me finding a job these last few months. I graduated from CU last May with a great resume working for tremendous companies while I was in school as well as being very active and involved on campus. Plus, I have always been great at networking and in the past it worked. But since, I haven’t been able to land a long-term job and all the networking in the world has allowed me to meet great people but no one is looking for help right now. It is especially a drag considering I worked my way through school and payed for it myself and yet friends who never went to college are laughing at me seeing it as a waste considering they are doing pretty good and had a hell of a lot more fun. I am just hoping to land something and put my skills into use.

A steady flow of whoa is me people.
Funny to read.
Wonder if any of them ever take any responsibility for their own situation.
None that I have seen.

The opposite can be said for the situation in Australia at the moment, our mining industry is keeping Australia busy with very low unemployment and plenty of people overworked. The focus where I live is solely on supplying resources to the World and in particular China. Mainly Engineering and labour to support Mining / Oil and Gas is in short supply.
Our mortgage industry is only starting its decline I believe, and the finance / IT sectors are supporting the Commodities sector here.
Though if the US is suffering in many areas the flow on will be other parts of the globe – time will tell.

It’s been a pain trying to find a job since I graduated back in December with a BS in Finance. I’m lucky in the fact that I’m already employed full time, but it’s only a small entry level position paying about $28k a year, most of which being through commission, and that’s ranking within the top 10 of the company for the last year.

Not only have I consistently ranked top within every sales position I have had in the last 3 years, but I have an outstanding computer background with knowledge of ASP.NET, SQL, ADO.NET, VB.NET, AJAX, and a ton of other web development languages and computer expertise. With those skills along with my financial background and bachelor’s degree in finance I still haven’t been able to get a job, and have only been to a handful of interviews.

I’ve put out well over 200 resumes since I started looking back in November and had no luck. I’ve been told I had limited experience, or that they had too many over qualified applications to choose from. Keep in mind everyone of these jobs was listed as entry level with zero to two years experience. When I applied for Progressive they told me specifically on the phone that while they found nothing wrong with me, and I was qualified they wouldn’t be able to continue the interview process due to an abnormality with too many highly qualified applications with years of management experience.

I question those who say young people are taking all of the jobs, when it’s so hard to find a job with no experience, despite all of the raw talent available. I’m not even looking for anything over 35k a year. All I want is just a meager little job to get my foot in the door which is next to impossible. To top things off I’m in Southern Louisiana in an area where the economy is highly supplemented by the oil industry.

When I actually got to a phone interview with Progressive, I was told that while I was qualified, they were shocked with the amount of people applying with manager experience due to the bad market. I do have my final interview with the highly recognized company Edward Jones which isn’t tainted by shareholders and executives only concerned about dividends and P/E ratios. If I do land this position it will of more than made up for the long search.

My husband was laid off from CocaCola 5 months ago after 12yrs of service. They hired someone new in his position making 1/2 his salary.How crappy is that! We have mortgage, 2 kids, and I work but was not the “bread winner”. We will probably loose our home as we are struggling to pay our bills. He has also submitted hundreds of resumes for “account manager” and only few responses making $10 hour…he is still looking..I dont care what anyone says, if one of the biggest companies in the world is “axing” their employees like that, than YES our economy is in a severe crisis

Thanks, Columbus, OH

My impression is that this story and this comment thread have something in common: people are experiencing a reduction in prosperity for the first time, and struggling to view the long term or the bigger picture. There are always people in need in this country, not just now or all of a sudden, it’s all of the time. But now its a news story because its suddenly happening to people in the upper-middle class? Its suddenly happening to people who have complained all their lives about government handouts to the disadvantaged, and I guarantee you none of their hands will be
closed when the economic stimulus checks come in. People had it bad during the depression. This is nothing.

I feel fortunate to have a job but I worry fr my sister. She was born prematur weighing an ounce shy of 2lbs. It left her with some developmental disabilities but she was able to complete college. She graduated back in ‘06 and has not found a decent job. I had a contact that was a manager at a restuarant that hired her as a favor but the jobs pays little and no ssteady hours. She is so depressed that I fear she may harm herself. Everyday she sends out resumes, she gets intervew offers but when people meet her they don’t know what to make of her timid voice and structure. All though she is 26 she looks and sounds like a 14 year old. I hope someone will give her a chance she would make an ideal employee.

I swear he has just told my story. I don’t even know where to begin or how to get a foot in the door anywhere. I signed up with 6 employment agencies which have never called me back. The websites such a HotJobs, Careerbuilder, etc. are useless- they list thousands of jobs, however I could apply to anything from Telemarketer to Executive and still not get so much as an automated reply saying they received my resume. I have a BA in Marketing with 6 years experience, but recenlty took a job as an Administrative Assistant that I hoped would be temporary- it’s now looking like this is my career. I guess I should be grateful just to have a job at all.

The only industry booming right now is the Job Placement Arena. For the two MBA’s under my belt along with the 10-plus years of experience, finding a job in the past was like fishing in a barrel. Now, after nearly 5 months of unemployment, I am just grateful to make my mortgage with the Temp Job I have now. Where is the Bottom To This Job Loss Boom?

Being in the financial sector for over 15 years I have been very fortunate that I still have my job. I have seen employees leave and go make large 6 digit figure incomes with mortgage companies and not save one penny. Now those same individuals are coming back to me and want the same 6 digit salary. It’s not going to happen. Where I work I have the ability to hire individuals. I have to consider if I employ a person that is solely looking for income then I might not have that individual for a long time. I have to consider that this person will leave once I do the training because he or she is just looking for the same pay. This is a problem that I believe many hiring managers are facing.

After getting laid off in November, I have been looking for a job, any job, since. I have looked both in my field and not in my field with no luck. My unemployment is scheduled to run out in May and I am getting worried. But, I think it also has to do with the state I live in.

I’ve been looking for a full time job for more than a year while working part time just to keep food on the table. I have more than 15 years of experience and have been told point blank by a head hunter that if I even want a CHANCE at an interviewer that I need to shave at least seven years from my resume and even that hardly works.

Out of at least 50 resume submissions I have only had 2 interviews and I know for a fact that my age was taken as a drawback in one of those interviews.

I have a Bachelor’s in Marketing and will have an MBA in August ‘08. I have been seeking a full-time job for three years. I have sent out hundreds of resumes and been on countless dozens of interviews and I hear the same thing…experience. I’m over-qualified to work in a factory or bank, and under-qualified to work entry level sales, management, etc. What are you suppose to do? I have college debt to pay off, a car that I fear will blow up any day, work two part-time jobs to pay for my insurance and bills, and attend grad school. I don’t even have a place of my own; I live with my parents because I cannot afford to even split rent on an apartment with a roommate. There are days when the stress completely overwhelms me, but I always pick myself back up and keem moving forward. I’ve come too far in life, and have too far to go, to get bogged down now. But this recession scares me…I couldn’t get a job when the economy was good, what will I do now?

I work in technical support and see so many former IT folks come through my door. It is true that there is no such thing as job security, (only thing sure is death and tazes), so what I have been doing is like one poster here: getting my management and marketing skills sharpened. There are so many people coming out of technical school right now and the market is flooded with once over-paid former IT folks that we have to turn many away. It stinks, but this is not the first time in my life this has happened. If I get laid off, I will survive, even it means wearing a paper hat and holding a spatula.

My legal administrative position was eliminated last July/2007. The initial unraveling threads of the mortgage meltdown was beginning to show when the ax fell on my neck.

Immediately after being downsized, I went home in a numbed daze and applied on line to file an unemployment claim for California. I had never been laid off before and so after my twenty plus years of working, to say I was numb and dazed is an understatement.

I am now looking at April/2008 and still unemployed after plastering my resume on internet job databases, company databases, forwarded to law firms, private business, and many facets of the business world in general. I moved from the west coast to the east coast during this time in hoping that the opportunities would be better, however, they are not.

I have had numerous telephone job interviews, face-to-face interviews, call-back interviews, read several “How to Find a Job in a RECESSION” books cover to cover with the words almost worn from study and have, thus far, been trying to keep my attitude a positive one.

There are hundreds of thousands of people just like me in the jobless line all with the same credentials, willingness to take a pay cut and work longer hours. There are not enough jobs for the average worker to go around.

I will remain focused and upbeat. Something will break for me sooner or later. It is interesting how you discover things about yourself when push comes to shove. I have cut back all expenses to the thin brittle bone that now marrow is seeping threw.

I have learned the ways of many job agency scams, temp agency false hopes and empty promises while dealing with having no health insurance and staving off the notion of having to be forced to dip in to my retirement savings and 401K.

It is a bit frustrating when I hear the phrase “THE ‘R’ WORD.”

Yes Virginia, We ARE in a RECESSION.

Those with degrees, be thankful you have your $10 temp jobs, because the ones like me who would have been working those jobs are now NOT. Ive been working 60 hrs a week looking a job…ANYTHING…from temp, to fast food, from big box stores to serving at a restaurant. Im not even in a devistated city, like many in the country, and find nothing. Ive applied for over 450 jobs in 4 months and hundreds of dollars in resumes sent out. nothing.

It is not a tough market. What we have is a spoiled population. We are so used to living in prosperity, we have forgotten what hard work is.
In 1936, the unemployment rate was 17%. Today the unemployment rate is 4.89%. In 1981, interest rates were 14%. Today they are around 3.5%.
It’s true that gas prices are higher than they have been at $3.25/gal, but that is equivalent to $.20/cup. What else costs $.20/cup in society? Not coffee! Not pop corn! Not a hot dog!
Gas costs $7/gal in Canada and over $9/gal in Europe. So economically, things are very cheap in the US!

Our country has become very spoiled and we expect things to be given to us. Free college education-notice the whinners regarding debt. Free health care etc. Now free homes. What’s next-free entertainment? Free money? Eden itself?

A small amount of pain and we cry like babies. It’s a shame. America used to be home of the brave. Now we home of the cowards & weak.

To the person who posted that there is no employment crisis you are only partially right. Maybe hte overall % is still reasonable but if you look at “long term eunemployment” (over 6 months) the increase is NOT good. A huge jump over 2006 and 3% increase in January alone. It’s one of the biggest indicators that there is NO job growth out there.

The job market is terrible. I have an MBA and a JD. In the past year and a half I have applied to approximately 500-600 positions and have had only had two phone interviews that did not go anywhere. I think the low unemployment numbers represent the desperation of highly educated people taking jobs that they are way over qualified for in order to make ends meet.

This story hits too close to home. I’ve been successfully employed for 23 years and most recently was a research professional at a pharma company. I loved my job and was well respected, got promoted etc. Last year they shut down the site. I’ve expanded my search to all kinds of research and across the U.S. with no luck. In this economy I don’t think out of state candidates make the cut and if you’ve got too much experience no one is willing to believe you’ll start at entry level- which I will!

It’s been the most depressing and challenging year of my life and I don’t have much hope it will get better. Unemployment ended and my savings will only last so long. I’m trying to stay upbeat but I can’t even watch the news anymore….

The employment outlook is very bleak for educated, experienced men & women 50 and older. I’ve been unemployed since Jan 1, 2008 and the search has been frustrating and depressing. It is very difficult to get past an initial interview and then IF an offer has been made it is well below what I have earned in the past. I live in the Fairfield County CT area and the area is expensive to live in.
I feel the pain of the young people being unable to find a good job but the pain of those of us in our 40’s & 50’s is excruciating. SOMETHING has to change in this country. It’s time for a big change.
Good luck to all who are looking for work.

People should not be fooled by unemployment statistics, as they don’t show folks who’ve maxed out their benefit but are still unemployed. Nor should they be fooled by an glowing Bush claims of jobs creation — you need to look at what kinds of jobs. Where I live, the tech meltdown decimated the local economy. We turned from a good place for family-wage jobs to lots of $10 a hour service jobs. I was out of work for two solid years at one point, and am clinging on for dear life at my current job, as my department has experienced 60 percent cut over the past 18 months. I am a single parent, with a kid about to go off to college. The US job market stinks, the rich are getting richer, there are more people on the edge of poverty, and the middle class is under seige. I have no parents or relatives to move in with, plus I am unable to get health insurance privately, so the prospect of a recession and maybe being out of work again scares the daylights out of me.

It’s kind of nice to hear I’m not alone on this issue. My situation is complicated because I’m a full time student (Secondary Ed) with less than 1 year left! I’m 28 and I have a mortgage, car payment,and utilities to pay on a part-time income. Michigan is losing jobs so fast that I can’t even name a field (mortgage, IT, etc.) that hasn’t been effected. I have 12 years of experience and I’ve applied to over 100 jobs in 2 weeks, yet only managed one interview!

It’s on Monday… wish me luck! Let’s hope they’ll work around this MANDATORY internship!

Thank God I’m teaching. I could not get a job doing anything, even with two bachelor’s degrees. I was lucky to have someone believe in me and offer me, though temporary, a great position as an adjunct college professor. I’d been out of work since last MAY!

I feel your pain. Between 1980 and 1990, I was laid off 5 times. I changed careers to IT in 1991. I worked as a contractor from 1991 to 1996 (could not find full time work). I got laid off in 2001 and was out of work for year, got laid off in 2004 and was out of work for 6 months. Got laid off in 2006 and was unemployed for 7 months. Almost lost everything with that one. They say there is a shortage of qualified technical people. They say unemployment is low and there is really not a job shortage. 60% of those employed are dissatisfied with there jobs and looking for work. Many hold 2 or more jobs because it now takes 3 incomes to survive instead of one. The issue is much bigger than the mortgage crisis and I have not seen any candidate who has the vision to understand that.

For the hardhat workers (carpenters, etc.), you should investigate whether you can go to Alberta, Canada and work at the tar sands area. There is a huge demand for skilled mechanical and construction workers. Basically, they cannot get enough of you (but housing is murderously expensive, which is why you’re needed).

If anyone reading this is hiring, I totally still need a job. I am a Virginia Tech grad and have found that even jobs to just get my rent paid is hard to come by. Since 19 year olds are managers at burger kings, I can’t land that job cause no one wants a 25 year old College Grad. Yes every Generation had “you need experience to get experience” but now with the internet, you can’t know what jobs are actually open, and worse there are people applying online for jobs, while at their jobs. The process has been made too easy to apply and to hard to get hired.

Like so many others, I feel for you all. I have two bachelors; one in music and the other in music education. I’ve taught orchestra for four years and was laid off from my second job almost two years ago.
Yes, in times of hardship and constant teacher layoffs, the arts – especially music – are the first programs to go. But even those teachers in my former district who were “lucky” enough not to get laid off had to cover for those of use who were – now, there are 4 teachers in 23 schools when there used to be 7 teachers. I’ve had a couple of interviews but again, no offers. The rare district in my state that is looking for a teacher in my specialty is looking to save money, and they can do that by hiring someone straight out of college instead of paying someone who has 4 contracted years’ experience. And once the summer is over, I have to wait a whole school year to try and find a contracted position – unless there’s a midyear retirement or a longterm absence. We’ve been making ends meet by me subbing 3 or 4 days a week and working in a local grocery store deli during breaks. But did I really spend 6 years and $60K to clean a chicken fryer?

I hope and wish all the best for everyone else out there in what seems to be a horrifyingly worsening situation.

To Brian in IL: that unemployment rate that the government cooks up is about as accurate as the inflation rate (which excludes fuel and food) and the percentage of voters rate (which only counts out of registered voters, not the entire voter eligible population). The 4.3% unemployment does not include those who want to work but have become discouraged from actively looking, those who are self employed but aren’t getting contracts or would like to work full time, does not include contractors or consultants not getting work, does not include those who retired earlier but still would like to work, does not include part-time workers who would rather have a full time job, does not include those on disability pensions who can’t find work they are healthy enough to perform, does not include those working retail just to get by before they can go back to work, does not include stay-at-home moms who would prefer to work, and does not include full-time students. Those looking for jobs right now know the market’s in a bad place for most employees. Though I can’t help but be sad that I work full time, go to school part time, and my full time paycheck is less than the guy in this article’s unemployment was! And I probably live in a similar cost of living environment to where he is renting (though not as bad as NYC).

It is definitely a tough job market out there. I’m a recently admitted attorney and it took me five months of active job-seeking (resumes, cover letters, networking, interviews) to find a position. In the meantime, I worked as an office temp for $10 just to barely make rent and stave off the student loan companies. The other temp in my office has a PhD – it just goes to show that education alone just isn’t enough anymore. No matter how educated and how many internships you do, you still have hustle just like anyone else…

This year it is mortgage folks – in 2001 (pre-9/11) it was IT people. I was out a full year.

what got me back in – think out of the box. IT was in a slump.. so IT jobs were going to be scarce. I focused on my Proj Mgmt skills and marketing skills… and yes even took a hit on salary. BUT i eventually prevailed and looking back, it was the best thing to happen to me.

go to support groups – dont pay people to help you… to many scams… and stay focused nad upbeat. i even wrote a blog about this for helping others:

jobstuff.blogdrive.com it was my small way of giving back to all that helped me.. in 2001.

My heart goes out to all those in search of a job these days. I have a son born with cerebral palsy. It just affects the way he walks. He has great diction, a super personality and a bachelor’s degree from Ball State University. He graduated in July, 2006. He has not been able to get a job since. He is not good enough for the job market and he is too good for any government assistance. What happens to him when something happens to me? He was planning on getting married in August, 2009, but I know that he an his fiance didn’t foresee this in their future.

I just want to say, don’t ever think you are worthless because you have an education but can’t find a job. I have been laid off, out of work and desperately search many times in my life (MA in History) and will be again in a few months. But hang in there. You are all trying. Yes you have enormous student debt and that is scary but I applaud you for your effort. Maybe it helps to be able to vent in a site like this. Good luck to us all!

For years the IT industry has been this way. Matter of fact as a Network Admin I’ve been laid off more times then I can count on my hands. The job market is very tight and has been tight for a very long time. I have a great job now but notice I said for now! All I can do is keep trying and if it doesn’t work then switch careers. The only thing that really needs to change in this country is how much power and money we pay our CEO’s have. It’s ironic that when an employee fails they are fired and get their last paycheck. When a CEO fails, they don’t get fired. Instead, they can walk away with millions in payoffs and move on to the next company.

I’ve got a BS in Mechanical Engineering (graduated in 2005) and currently work in defense. Never had problems finding a job and we’re still actively seeking more at the company I work at.

It may be too late for the majority, but consider a career in engineering. I’ve had trouble finding jobs before, but there is always something out there for those who really want a job. 10 resumes a day does not quite fall into the category of “really wanting a job”, but it is a start. Try to be geographically open, and learn some foreign languages.

I was laid off in October from a job at which I was excelling. I have a B.A. and was working in the nonprofit community (where the pay was already only a pittance) and have experience in grantwriting, volunteer coordination and program management. Even with a diversified skill set I am unable to land a full-time job in my field. After 4 months of unemployment, I recently accepted a part time position with a nonprofit, but it includes minimal pay and no benefits. The nonprofit community is especially vulnerable during times such as these because they rely on donations, and lets face it, not many people or companies are increasing their giving along with the increased need for nonprofit services. All in all, I have hope for the future, but I am saddend by the present state of affairs.

I’m not in the mortage industry but I can tell you that it is VERY difficult to find a job these days for EVERYONE.

I’m a highly-skilled executive assistant with many years of experience who has been working as a temporary since last October. I have no savings, no health insurance, and I send out resumes nearly every day. All I get are calls from more temp agencies. Occasionally I get an interview and while all seem to agree that I have the skills, experience, maturity and personality for the job, I keep getting edged out because there are more applicants than there are jobs. I’m in my 50s with a mortgage, bills, etc. Temp work barely pays the bills. What are we supposed to do?

I’m finding that employers are now offering $7-10 an hour for front desk, clerical, and admin positions that prviously would be paying no less than 10.00 an hour. With every follow-up call I made, I was told that hundreds of people applied for the same job. Add to that the fact that many people in my town, including myself, are holding 2 jobs, which kind of divides in half the number of available jobs. And don’t even get me started on the high cost of health care. So many people I know, again including myself, are going without health care and a recent front page article in our paper said many are unnecessarily dying because they don’t seek health care. The government really needs to address these issues before our country becomes seriously at financial risk.

I am a 35 year old carpenter and live in a bustling economy here in Boulder Colorado. I have been looking for a job now for over three months and nothing is panning out. I know it must be very difficult for the rest of the country if a guy like me can’t find work. But, I will keep trying and I WILL get out of this slump. One thing we can all count on is Americans being Americans. We will not let slow times defeat us. I think we need this turn of events to make us stronger and re-evaluate how we live. Let’s face it, debt is stupid. Poor people pay interest and rich people charge it. If you want to ever be out of the poorhouse, you have to quit paying interest which really means we have to learn to live with what we HAVE. Our national and consumer debt is obnoxious. Let’s get back to the basics and quit pretending we live in the land of milk and honey. Hard work and perseverance built our nation and can restore it to it’s glory. Sometimes survival has to be enough.

I’m a recent law graduate. Sent out 10 resumes or so a day since August and have only had 15 interviews and no offers. This markets bites.

Mortgage is not the only field hit. I have been out of work now for 3 months and I have sent out over 1,000 resumes. I have also watched companies cut wages and offerings primarily because they can. This is 1989 all over again.

I think it is important to point out that unemployment rates are still fairly low at 4.8%. Adult white men have one of the lowest rates at 4.3%. Some industries are hit harder than others, but according to the statistics there really is no employment crisis right now.

I have been there…and very recently. I work for a large, national bank in the homebuilder construction lending department. I was laid off last month and given an end-date in April. I immediately began blitzing the financial institutions, and everywhere else I could think of, with my resume. I applied for over 40 jobs in about 30 days. Looking for a job was my job (in addition to still fulfilling my ‘real’ work duties.) I got called for a handful of phone screenings and then just three face-to-face interviews. I was extremely fortunate to get an offer last week wiht another bank and have accepted it. I’ll be making a little less than I was making before, but I am fine with this. In this tough market, and as a finance professional, I realized my husband and I may have to tighten our household belt so to speak. I know that it’s tough and it’s so very frustrating, but I believe that hard work and persistence can really help you find a position that’s right for you.

I just graduated from college in Dec. with a BA in English. I have a TON of student debt about to come due and absolutely NO interest from any companies. I’m panicked to realize that all my work and time, and really I, myself, are worthless. Actually, worse than worthless- we’re in the red.

I’m a lawyer, about to turn 50, licensed in 2 states with lots of experience, primarily inhouse management in the insurance and healthcare industries. I’ve been through 2 major downsizings in 5 years and each time I’ve been out of work for well over a year. Getting worse now that I’m older. Fortunately I have savings but it’s amazed me that there are no real takers for someone with who is results oriented with good experience.

Yes, I lost my job because of the finacial meltdown. I work in the home building industry. One day my boss came in and told me that I was a model worker but had to let me go. The next day he was demoted to fill my position. Time are tough for me at this moment, but I feel it’s a blessing not a course because it is forcing me to follow my dreams which is to start my own building a developement company. I view life like a football player. No mater what happens, allways keep pushing forwards and keep the eyes on the pize…while eating bean tacos.

I graduated from the University of Iowa with a PHD in 2006. Unfortunately, in this day and age, my degree is in music. Growing up, they always said “chase your dreams”… they failed to mention that in times of war and economic hardship, the first thing to go is the arts, even at the universities. I have been applying for jobs at universities for the past two years (somewhere around 75 to 100 applications), but to no avail. Current professors are holding on to their jobs as long as they can, while many art programs are being cut across the country. With these profs losing their jobs, they tend to be the first ones hired because of their experience (understandably), but it’s really hurting the influx of new blood. Some might say “Well, teach at a community college or high school,” which, in theory is a good idea. However, every professor I have spoken with has said that getting one of these jobs will hamper my chances at ever teaching at a university.

Like many composers, I currently have a day job, putting in my 40-50 hours a week and hopefully moving up soon… I then return home and work on my own music for another 6-8 hours a night. This is not to complain about that mind you, I am quite happy, and composers throughout history have worked this way.

I really feel for these people that you are showing that are losing great jobs… but, to be honest, they should have been saving and preparing with the money that they were making. I currently owe about $135,000 in student loans, and make about $25,000 a year at current job, and I get by fairly well. I have budgeted well, and once I have to start paying my student loans back, I will be out of all other debt (credit cards, car, etc), so it should not hurt too badly. Someone making what these people were making should have planned better.

Thankfully, I am currently employed but have been looking for a job elsewhere that offers more pay and more responsibility. I’ve been searching since August 2007 and have only been called in for two interviews. This article really hit home.

Belive me,the mortgage industry is not the only field that has been hit hard on the lack job openings! Trying to keep once’s outlook postive and upbeat is a challenge when one is working three jobs and hoping for an interview in one’s field. I feel the positive motivational e mails while job hunting are written by individuals that have never really experienced this challenge. Am I frustrated? You betcha’! Try working three jobs and job hunting hoping for an interview in your field sometime.

Just love the outlook you are giving to people in our country..I worked in blue collar industry for 14 years,worked as a trash hauler for 5,building inspector for 5 year…
I just think that our country will have to get back on its feet with hard work and humility..Too many people think that a degree is an entitlement.
I remember my college professor trying to make his collegues important.
When I was asked about why I did not show my approval. I said”Yeah sure they have lots of years of expertise in cultural history, can they change a
flat tire if they had to?”

When I graduated with a finance background from a top 10 undergraduate business institution in 1998, the hottest majors were accounting. Due to the tech bubble, in less than 3 years, the most populous major was Finance.

This decade, the market has been overflooded with finance majors. Believe me, I feel your pain. I recently graduated from a Top 25 MBA program last May 2007, with a worldwide brand name, and it took me over six months to find a job in banking.

I am very lucky to working as a assistant to Lending for a Top 5 Fortune Superregional bank that has strong management, strong asset quality, and no subprime exposure.

The days of big bonuses and MBA=BMWs are over. The housing market will probably take 3 years to recover, and that is if the liberal politicans don’t interfer and disrupt the natural patterns of free markets. If the government starts handing out bailouts, or banks are slow to writeoff bad debt, we are indeed looking at a Japanese “lost decade” (and counting for our eastern friends). Due to outsourcing, threats of government regulation, and lost net wealth, it may be awhile before things get back to normal.

I do feel your pain. Trust me. My bills grew exponentially those six months I didn’t have a job. It’s tough out there. I’m living at my parent’s home, scratching and clawing to pay off my enormous student loans, debt bills, etc..

Unfortunately, people will have to find something else to do other than finance.

Although I am not in the finance field, not 30 minutes ago I had another interview. I was sitting here looking at CNN as I do everyday many times a day and had just said out loud to myself, “how is it I sent out 63 resumes two days ago and only one response”. At that same time there was your article about 10 resumes a day. I have just recently relocated to the Charlotte, NC area with my husband due to his job transfer and I still have yet to find a job. I am in the administrative field, type 100wpm and even I am having a tough time at finding a job. All we can do is keep trying!.

Just as he found, the job market is very flat. I work in the IT field which was gutted years ago when both H1B Visas and overseas outsourcing became the norm instead of the exception. If I had just sat around waiting for someone to answer my resumes, I would STILL be sitting around, nearly 10 years later. Instead I re-invented myself into a consultant and analyst and took on any job that would cross my path. It has been a VERY rough path, and there was even a time when all of a sudden I lost every single client I had. Now things are slowing turning around for the better for me for the long run, but it has taken being a self-starter with everything to reach this goal. I still have friends that have never gotten a new job since losing their old ones 4 and more years ago. If he has a nibble on a new job this quickly, more power to him. At the height of my heyday, I was sending out nearly 100 resumes a day in the hopes of landing a new job. Nearly every one of those places received between 10,000 and 20,000 applications to fill ONE job. One of my friends recently told me that one place he applied to had received OVER 100,000 applications for ONE job. The odds of landing a job in the market today has odds that are literally the equivalent of winning the lottery.