Visited tonight with a good friend who has been out of work for a few months. It's really starting to wear on him. Also, there are quite a few here (in the Orchard) that are out of work that I'm just finding out about.

I lost my job on April 28th. Funny thing is, I don't consider myself to be "unemployed". The start date for my new business was May 1st and I've been so busy with everything that I haven't let it get to me yet. Still waiting on that first "payday" though (this new boss is a tough one).

So let us know how the search is going here! What kind of work did you do? What are you looking for? Keep us posted on that big interview. Even if they get cancelled (sorry Sko). Most of us have been in this position and maybe we can all get some uplift and good vibes from each other. Make sure you let us know when you're back working too so we can share in the excitement!

The line forms HERE! (but hopefully not for long!)

I was fired for freaking out on the job in late January. It was a crappy job. Let us never speak of it again.

It is now May. I need to find a job *soon* before my student financial aid runs out. Ideally, I'd like to work for a day camp through the summer and hope that I get the on-campus tutoring position I've applied for when it starts in September, but it's rather difficult to get a minimum-wage-or-better day camp position unless one has grown up with said camp. I've also applied to become an entertainer for children's parties, but I doubt it would pay enough. Past that, I don't know.

The things I know I am not good at include retail, food service, customer service in general, and anything which requires constant speed. Physically, I cannot depend on my ability to perform repetitive motions involving my fingers or wrists. Linguistically, my French sucks and it will be months before I can take any sort of French course. My social skills with adults are weak. I know I need a job with a stable schedule. This is not something which would be nice to have. This is something I have learned I need if I'd like to minimize the risk of me going crazy.

Um. Right. So, should the day camp thing not work out, does anybody have other suggestions?

Well, if you like kids, I say go through a nanny agency or check out craiglist.com under education/childcare . . .I really recommend going through an agency. You shouldn't have to pay a fee, just fill out a huge application and have some good references/background. Going through the agency means that you could either get temporary nanny jobs here and there, whenever you wanted for a set amount per hour/kid or you could get something more permanent. Mainly though, I think you get more money if you're affiliated with an agency.

It's what I do . . .and it's the easiest, best paying (much more then I could get on a teacher's salary with just my bachelor's right now), and rewarding. You can also barter for what you want . . I'm a live out nanny, get health insurance , mileage reimbursement, 4 weeks PAID vacation (although this year it turned out to be 8), a raise every 6 months . . .and much, much more


Also, since you're looking for something just for the summer, I've seen a lot on Craig's list. Really . .that site is good for more then just the personals . . .lol

Anyway, you can ask if you have any questions. . . .Good Luck!!!!

I've been in the Computer Industry since 1989. I've been either an Oracle DBA or a Project Manager for the past 10 years. My Oracle skills are little dated since I've been on the PM side of the house for a while. I've also got about 1.5 year of SQL Server experience as I implemented Microsoft Project Server (Project on steroids) and inherited the administration duties of the whole project. In the past year, I was implementing Oracle's Warehouse Builder (OWB) as well as Oracle Application Server (OAS) on Red Hat Linux. Before the health system job, I was a UNIX System Admin. In the computer industry, it is difficult to keep current on more than one emphasis as things change so rapidly. Here in Springfield, Misery, there are just a few Oracle shops. Most business’ here consider Oracle too expensive. People don't change jobs often so when the health system decided do consolidate and centralize in St. Louis, literally hundreds of jobs have been lost. I don't travel well as I've slept on a free flow water bed purchased 1978 for 28 years now. When I sleep on most hotel beds, I feel like I'm sleeping on a slab of stone. I also have a mild irrational fear of flying. It's mostly a control thing; it's like entrusting your life to someone that you don't know... And then you add to it that I'm not a thin person, I'm very uncomfortable flying as I feel like I make the people sitting next to me less comfortable. I haven't flown since before 911. I've driven to Chicago multiple times and Nashville a couple of times instead of flying. Both are over 7 hour drives. I justify it by not having to rent a vehicle or spend hours waiting in airports. However, I'm now faced with having to travel to keep my home unless I get a job very soon, like in the next couple of weeks. I really have more of a DBA attitude as I get really tired of dealing with the politics of being a PM. Besides, DBAs usually get paid more...

If you've read my blog, you know that my wife has worked for the same University for 20 years now. They are rewarding her by helping her to get her doctorate in Higher Educational Leadership. My daughter gets to attend the school tuition free. If we were to move away from the city we've called home for 44 years now, we would lose both of these benefits. That's a lot of money since it's a private liberal arts college. There's no way we could ever recoup those benefits. Oh and 95% of our extended family live here in Misery. I can't even begin to imagine losing our home that we've worked for during 23 years of marriage or moving away from our friends and family. Which pretty much leaves me as going on the road soon…

Sorry if this is TMI. I've had a pretty good attitude through the whole thing, but as things get closer to a real crisis, I vary between wanting to cry and the next minute rail at God (like it's God's fault... that's cynicism for those of you keeping score at home). I know it's not God's fault it's mine for making decisions like thinking I could work for one company the rest of my life. Even 10 years in this day and time is a long time especially in the computer industry. For those of you out there getting started, start a retirement fund and become religious about building up those funds. There are no guarantees about your future employment so plan ahead. I've been way to materialistic in my lifetime. I had plenty of money so I lived well. Hopefully, I'll be able to amend my ways before I lose all that I've worked very hard for all these years.

I do appreciate the prayers more than you can imagine. Some days are very difficult. Distracting myself on the OTR message board certainly helps especially with all the great people out here that care for others.

Skoegahom...

This thread seems to be working out nicely. Thanks for sharing all of that. Taking some comfort in the fact that we're all in this together...
J

It's tough when you haven't done a job search in ten or twenty years. Things have changed radically since the '70s.

I was riffed in late 1999 after 21 tears, er, years (love those typos) and part of the severance package was a month with a professional placement firm. They helped me put together a decent resume and we did practice interviews. I got an offer from the second place I interviewed with and accepted a position with the third.

One thing they stressed was to ~always~ accept any local interviews offered, even if the position doesn't seem like it's all that great. It's a totally free practice interview with a stranger in a low-stress environment - you know you're not going to take the job, so it doesn't matter how well you do. (The position I took was one of these - the actual job requirements were not cast in stone and we compromised.) If you have a friend who has some experience interviewing, maybe the two of you could sit across a table and practice.

Resumes can be tricky. You want to mention enough to open doors, but don't give so much detail that the doors close again. Leave each point sort of "open for discussion" but if the discussion will very likely lead somewhere you don't want to go, don't include that point in your resume. Don't make claims on paper that seem to "deflate" under questioning - "I managed a development team." "Oh, how many were on the team?" "Uh, just me and one other person..."

The other thing they brought up was to google yourself and see what you find. Potential employers will. Be prepared to explain any weirdness that comes up ("It wasn't me! It was the one-armed man! Honest!" - The Mask).

Here are a few. Some might not work for you, some might.

- Editor or proof reader.
………………… Pros: … you can probably do it online, just send files back and forth
………………………………… you're probably already pretty good at it
………………………………… little need to deal with people, esp. face to face
………………………………… may pay better that minimum wage
………………………………… no commute, saves gas and time
………………………………… no heavy lifting or grime under your fingernails
………………… Cons: … pressure of deadlines that may be critical for the other person
………………………………… the stuff you have to read may be dreadfully boring

- Park Maintenance Technician, (aka Kylie Jo wannabe)
………………… Pros: … brush and weeds don't talk back
………………………………… if a park-goer ~really~ needs a good killing, body disposal is a snap
………………………………… outdoors in the fresh air
………………… Cons: … commute, although in Canada it's pretty much all forrest, eh?
………………………………… heavy lifting and dirt under your fingernails
………………………………… must be punctual (govt jobs are weird that way)
………………………………… snakes (a sna-a-a-ake!, a sna-a-a-ake!)

- Garden Center or Plant Nursery
………………… Pros: … don't have to deal with customers if you can get a "back lot" job
………………………………… maybe get assigned to a delivery/planting crew
………………………………… outdoors in the fresh air
………………… Cons: … commute
………………………………… more heavy lifting and potting soil under your fingernails

- Driving the Beer Cart at the local golf course
………………… Pros: … tips
………………………………… beer
………………… Cons: … maybe too much beer
………………………………… dealing with drunken jerks who are mad at their golf clubs

- Stuffing Envelopes and other "Make Millions While Working From Home" jobs.
………………… Cons: … you have to pay for the envelopes (or whatever) up front
………………………………… every one I have ever heard about has been a rip-off

Since leading blanks get eaten in the displayed text, we'll have to go with some Ben Franklin wisdom here: "An ellipsis in time saves nine" (that was the old math - don't ask).

[observation]

This thread just keeps getting better and better....

[/observation]

I'm unemployed and have thought about editing/proof reading; in fact, I would love a job like that. Where does one look for these jobs? Hopefully this can be found online? Suggestions needed desperately - I used to teach high school English and French, but never again!

Paula

Idaho.
But my niece might.
Alaska.

Unfortunately, in my experience, these jobs can be difficult to get unless you already have some experience in the field. The fact that you've been a teacher will help if you want to get into educational publishing, but you'll probably have to sell your soul to a temp agency in order to gain enough experience to get anyone's attention.

It might behoove you to look for design/graphic production businesses in your area; a lot of businesses with one of those terms in the company name also double as compositors for major publishing houses, and you might be able to find some entry-level work at one of them. Good luck!

Quick update on this whole thing. The new venture is going well, so I guess I'm officially not unemployed. Truth is, I was lucky. I never felt that way this time. But, again, I was very fortunate... everything went exactly how I needed it to go (so far). I still have days (like tomorrow) where I have no work, but it's cool. I think I might drive around and visit people I know in the business and let them know I no longer work for my previous company and try and drum up some more work.

Hope you all are making progress in your searches!
J

Ah saw my niece yestahday.
Ah-asked-ah.

She said she had success just "cold calling" publishers by sending them her resume. It's the publishers who hire editors.

She worked as a consultant for a company that creates standardized tests, editing the instructions in the tests and also the instructions for the test monitors.

Since you have an education background, McGraw Hill would possibly be interested in you for editing textbooks. The publishers prefer editors with some experience in the subject matter so that they can spot obvious typos that an outsider might not recognize as being wrong.

She also said that McGraw Hill has had several job openings posted recently online.

Good luck!