Frank, perhaps you think I'm some sort of snob about what kind of work I do. My husband and I have worked clerical jobs, retail jobs, temp jobs, landscaping, anything to make ends meet when we've had to. And I can tell you that those jobs are no longer available as they once were.

The biggest problem is the way that you have to apply for jobs today. It used to be that you could go door-to-door in shopping centers to try and land a retail job. Today, they won't even talk to you. They tell you to go home and apply on the website. Guess what? The companies are so overwhelmed with applicants they don't even bother reading them after the first fifty or sixty.

I registered with my temp agency right after the new year. They love me, tell me I'm extremely professional and are thrilled with my performance. You know how many assignments I've gotten? Two, and they've both been short term. The jobs are simply not there. The woman at the temp agency told me that their clients just aren't bothering.

However, you're so ridiculously intransigent, so blinded to any opinion but your own, that I'm sure I just wasted whatever time it took me to type this response.

To add to SB's points, I heard several times that more and more employers don't want to hire people who have been unemployed for a long time. They'll go for those who are "new" to the job search for some reason. And too, in this job market, if you're over 50 that works against you too.

You're right tho SB, some people have their minds made up, so why bother.

TIS

Before real estate, I worked for the local economic development agency. One of our directors went to work for a client of ours. After being there about 10 years, the company went under. She has been out of work for 15 months. She even went back to school under the Workforce Investment Act and became a certified phlebotomist, figuring that healthcare was a better field than business right now. She still hasn't been able to find a job.

Let me chime in here. Since the only info we have is that which was supplied by LN, we can't be sure if he is arduously pursuing employment or not. But, his stating that he is spending what I guess is part of his unemployment benefits on a firearm when he apparently has never had one before and has not stated his need for one does concern me. His post lends itself to a sense of casualness about his job search.

Haha. You have no fucking clue what you're talking about.

It's amazing what you can do when you save up money for a year. You might even be able to spend $300! I can't remember the last time I ate out for a meal or went to a movie or just went out in general. We save at least $20 each week using coupons, that number sounds low to me though, sometimes it's $50 in 1 trip.

I've been a stay at home dad this entire time taking care of the house, the yard, and the garden, oh and my daughter while my wife works full time as a Registered Nurse.

I've sent out at least 3 applications a week since November and I've gotten maybe 10-15 responses, a lot of times that's a "we've hired someone else."

I don't think you have any idea what the current job market is like right now.



When you factor in things like having a small child, having 1 car and a spouse that works full time, a job needs to pay a certain amount of money in order to just break even.


So yeah, a 16 year old with no bills or responsibility has an easier time taking any job that is available because they don't have to get another car, which raises their car insurance costs and gas, and pay for a babysitter, and they don't need health insurance because their parents give it to them.


It seems just about every job wants you to have a lot of experience and more and more companies are phasing out full time jobs so they don't have to offer benefits the retail stores you mentioned are a great example of this. Employers can afford to be extremely picky, and they know it.


Everything is slowed down as far as hiring (and the amount of work) everywhere. I didn't graduate college, and I don't have any experience in doing skilled jobs. I applied for a plumbing apprenticeship which involves picking up an application in the 3 hour window one day a month they give them out, filling that out, scheduling work keys tests, taking the tests for about 3 hours in a different city, and then waiting for those results to come in the mail, then you take them to the union hall and set up your interview, do the interview and then wait... I got the 25th best out of about 300. They took 2 people in for the program.

It is really rough out there right now. I read that there were something like 4-5 people for each job opening. Companies can and are being very picky. Many companies are avoiding full time hiring. They don't need to do that because there's not the demand and they can squeeze so much out of current workers.

I think this particular newspaper might have had a wee bit of bias...

Scottish men are the manliest

Scots men have been named the manliest in the world in a survey, with our English neighbours trailing badly in third place....

I can't believe there's not more discussion of this, but is anyone following the Lybia story?

Richard Engle (who's a great/brave "on the scene" reporter) is saying that the Rebels are now on the Gaddafi compound and that there WAS a lot of shots fired from inside. He says now however, there is no fire coming from inside the compound and thinks maybe the Rebels might be in the process of getting control.

They say Gadhafi has been in power for what? 42 years? Holy crap!(btw, how many different ways are there to spell Gadhafi? I've seen it Khadafi as well.

TIS

LN, there's no need to explain yourself to anyone, especially to people who will not listen, so why bother?? Unless you are in those shoes, nobody understands.

My daughter applied for a job as a part-time receptionist with a local arborist. Not only was the job part-time, but it was seasonal. Being a student, she figured this way she wouldn't have to work when classes were in session. The ad in the Sunday paper said to fax in her resume. When she called on Monday morning to confirm that her resume had been received, she was told that they had already received almost 200 resumes.

LN

Hang in there. Things are really really tough right now. For those who have jobs, I guess it's hard to imagine what it is like to be without one in this hard economic time. Sounds like you're doing all the right things though. I hope something breaks for you soon.

TIS

I'm on top of it TIS. Hopefully, democracy continues onthe march. I just wish NATO could figure out a strategic way to aid the people in Syria. But since Syria is landlocked and more urbanized than Libya, there are few if any overflight options and targets available to NATO.

These middle eastern uprisings being so close together seem like a CIA op to spread democracy and (more importantly) allies to a hostile region. Like Sadaam but without all the bombs. And you thought Whisper was the rapper...

Oli,

Richard Engle himself is now inside the compound. That guy is so brave. There is looting within, with the rebels taking guns/weapons, distroying statues and what not. There is no looting on the streets.

I hear Gadafi made an announcement of some kind saying that he would either be the victor or a martyr or something to that effect. Evidently he's not in the compound.

TIS

The arthritis in my back hurts 96 days out of 100. My knees are frequent too. My left wrist is on and off but it sure seems constant. Right now it's bad again, and in yet another google search for answers I wonder if maybe it's wrist tendonitis. It's like it never fully heals before the next flare up. I wonder about all these problems in my joints and how they might be connected but tests have shown nothing so far.

Last gasp by Ghadaffi. Why can't these dictators get it through their heads that the times they are achanging?

Well they Gotta Serve Somebody and they think they'll be Forever Young and that they are Masters of War. They don't realize the change Blowin in the Wind and that A Hard Rain's A Gonna Fall like a Hurricane. Don't Think Twice It's Alright, they'll be no Changing of the Guards. They'd be all Tangled Up In Blue if they thought they were headed to Desolation Row.

Least Active Cities in America:

Lexington, KY
Indianapolis, IN
Jackson, MS
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For those following, the Lybians rebel (Per MSNBC) claim they have Gaddafy surrounded in his apartment. Geez, I can imagine the temptation to blow his head off, but if would be nice if they could capture him and put him on trial.

Anyway I still can't get over 40 some years of the SAME leader. Holy crap! Definitely time for change.


TIS

Hi all, I just got back in town and am sorry to say that I feel a need to respond to a few posts I have just read....












With these types of posts and these types of attitudes no wonder there are less and less people posting here!

Seems like the only opinions that matter are ones own opinions I guess. What happen to everyone having a right to say or express what they feel. Without being chewed up if it differed from each other?

As always, feel free to repond but lets NOT keep this negative attitude towards one another going. If your opinion differs they just use facts, not put downs to make your point or feeling known.

Nobody is saying you (or anybody) doesn't have a right to his/her opinions. The fact of the matter is, you can't make assumptions just because someone has not worked for a year. Each case is different. It IS tough out there.

You can give your opinion but others can't respond?????


TIS

FS, We did give facts to support our views, which were ignored (62,000 job openings receiving over 1 million applications, for example). Therefore, I decided that some people prefer not to listen to reason. Secondly, don't quote out of context and ignore every other word in those posts. Third, if there's any reason there are less and less posts, it's because people like you can't ever post unless you're putting down other members.

Sounds llike your family is doing a great job trying to save on things. I know it can't be easy with things going up each and every day.




Of course we all know what the the current job market is, we are in it! Why is it that people who are out of work think that no one else knows any thing about the work place? or that we can't understand what it is like not to have a job? Or that we don't know how hard it is to find a job? Only three a week?, send out as many as there are job openings if you must. Read on ....




Welcome to the new world market. Jobs are fewer and fewer as things go overseas. Pay scare is going down and benifits are being cut right and left. Some companies started doing this years ago, others are just staring to do it , but one thing is for sure, it isn't going to change any time soon. As we have so few jobs around. And yes those jobs will go to people who are the best in their field. So were does it leave others? At the bottom of the pile...LOOKING!

Your right, it sure can be tuff to go thru all that without getting something. When you factor in the people who are leaving their fields because the job market sucks, and are jumping into a new or other job markets to find work makes it even more crowded, then it becomes even harder.


But you can give every excuse in the world why you are sitting home and collecting a check. In fact that is what the check is for. PEOPLE who are not working. AND belive me, I am not knocking you for not having a job. Not that I like the guy who makes ever excuse why he doesn't have a job when we all know he just doesn't want to work. Lets face it....we all know these types, right?

But let's be trueful here. I for one think that you may have come across as one who made a poor choice in some way. You are getting a check for the system, while you wife is working hard to bring the money you need to live. Saving all you can ....and you think it was a wize thing to go out and buy a gun so you have something to shot pop cans with?

You spent a long time talking about this new toy....when maybe you should have saved that money in case something comes up, like an auto repair or an unseen bill that may happen at the worst time. Fixing the car that helps you get to work would be way more important if it happen to break then having a new play thing.

Even if the funds went to buy something like extra food or a movie rental would make more sense then that. Something to pamper the working lady would have been more special to her? How in the world did the wife not bitch?

Well I have to go do some work, If I get the chance I will post some ideas that may help you land a job.....

OUCH...I guess you don't like my posts...
and you call me the one that puts people down...
It is a shame you feel that way....

Maybe all three of the posters where wrong in their feeling towards the gun purchase.....and maybe some are afraid of you to now comment further....
Not me so I will just keep posting, without attacks to a person in general....


By the way it wan't the facts, just the put downs that I quoted.

Pot calling the kettle black? is an old expression that comes to mind after reading your latest post....

Enjoy your afternoon.....

You're a negative person who enjoys popping in here now and then to post nasty things. It must be very sad to see life that way.

Since your chosen profession was to work in a recession-proof industry in a family business that was already established for you, I'm sure we all eagerly await the career advice that you intimated in your earlier post was forthcoming.

This is so interesting. Ever since I was a kid, people on welfare have been targets for scorn. However, it's only been within the last year or two that people receiving unemployment benefits, as a class, have been under attack. I think it's because many Americans are under the impression that things are just "supposed" to be okay, that things are just "supposed" to go right. Now that they are not okay and not going right, many Americans look for someone, some group, some class, some organization to blame, to make the target of their scorn. By the way FS, among the many things I've learned as a Board participant is that I will have some of that scorn directed at me from time to time and be "chewed up." Such is part of the nature of the Board.

There's something of value in FS's posts on this subject. As I posted above, I do have a concern that LN used some of his scarce funds to buy an optional item - a gun. Unless there is some urgent need which has not so far been stated, I think it should have been the last thing on his purchase list. Maybe it was.

By the way, I just tuned in Fox's Megyn Kelly and she is asking a panel of citizens "who do you blame for the economy?"

We have tons of food, shelter, water, electricity, and everything else we need, so what need did I sacrifice? What Great Important Thing? I saved up a lot of money bit by bit to buy something that should last a very very long time while not losing value.




I'm not sure if that was supposed to be towards me or if SB recently bought a gun, but that sounds pretty silly either way.





That's an awful lot of words to use to say nothing.

You don't just get unemployment for any reason, you have to have been laid off or fired through no fault of your own to qualify.

On a slightly different note, why isn't being a stay at home parent considered working?

Because apparently sexism is alive and kicking, LN. You're the MAN! You are experiencing something that few parents get to enjoy, so love every second of your time with Molly. These are very precious moments, and this baby stage is all too brief. Treasure every second.

Believe me, I enjoy every second with her. She's talking more and more each day and finding new ways to be amazing and surprise me. She loves to help me "fix it" and has her own tools and she likes to unload the dishwasher with me and she knows where the stuff goes!

Someone did a study on the value of a "stay at home mom" who is a housekeeper, a cook, a chauffer, a personal assistant, a child care specialist, a laundry person, a courier....to name a few....and I believe the economic value was around 75K a year.

Sounds wonderful. I remember those days well. I loved actually being able to converse with my girls and listen to them express their thoughts.