Just Got Some Great News(sarcasm)

[The Boy Who Cried Worf]

I have been mostly unemployed for almost two years. The only thing that has been keeping me going was my girlfriend and the fact that the Federal government has been extending unemployment benefits. Today I learned that because I worked for two moths earlier in the year I am no longer eligible for the federal extension and have a new claim. The upshot is the amount of money I receive has been reduced by 2/3. In other words not remotely enough to live.

Things were supposed to be looking up. I just started a six month program training to be a pharmacy technician. It wasn't a dream come true, but I thought finally I'd have a skill in life so I wouldn't be at the mercy of the economy. I was hoping one more extension would be enough to get me through than I would be in a better position to look for work. Now I don't know what the future holds.

I know deep down it is just my negative thinking, but it always seems like my life works out this way. Nothing ever goes terribly wrong, but just always enough to make life more difficult than it needs to be. Every time I think I am in a good place something comes out of left-field. I don't like the world we live in. I am not suited for it, never have, and I am always afraid I never will be. Things will probably work out, they always do, but I just get so tired some times.

 

[All Seeing Eye]

Thought about getting a factory job? retail job? car wash job? anything that could fetch more money in?

In the current economic climate you shouldn't be setting your sights too high, any job in todays climate is a golden one.

 

[The Boy Who Cried Worf]

Thought about getting a factory job? retail job? car wash job? anything that could fetch more money in?

In the current economic climate you shouldn't be setting your sights too high, any job in todays climate is a golden one.

I am not even getting call backs form McDonalds and Taco Bell.

 

[Capn Flukie]

Boy, do I know the feeling!

Wal*Fart wouldn't hire me because I was 'over-qualified'. ???

 

[All Seeing Eye]

Boy, do I know the feeling!

Wal*Fart wouldn't hire me because I was 'over-qualified'. ???

Well apply to another WalMart and neglect to mention your qualifications.

 

[Joshua Howard]

Unemployed or underfunded, you're not the only person in the unemployment/fiscal trials boat! That is important to remember, especially in times like these.

The bottom line is that right now we are living in a nigh unto perfect world. The economy might be messed up, but most of us are still able - one way or another - to afford a few luxuries, heat and light, and food to eat. It's a grand new century. Sometimes when the spreadsheets take a dive though, it doesn't feel that way.

Everybody's financial situation is a complicated mosaic of unique circumstances; I know that mine is. When you look at other people's life and work, you always imagine that it is simpler. In reality, money is never simple. There's always the Credit card debt, or the disability, or the family liability, or something else that makes life just that much harder than it should be.

In the last 2 years, I have watched as my personal income has decreased by over 25%. I'm not exactly in deep water, but I surely do understand what it feels like being willing and desiring to labor, yet feeling as if the financial war for independence and prosperity is always battle short of being successful.

After losing one job via layoffs this spring, I am coming to terms with the fact that I need to find work to boost income, and so that I can feel productive. Right now I've got applications posted with a number of different retailers. Thusfar I still haven't gotten any calls. Actually, as I write this, I just finished applying for another 30 local positions online.

It is resilience and determination. Sometimes it is important to stop and be thankful for life's many blessings, to reflect on the fact that a victory not yet won does not mean a war lost to defeat. No matter how gloomy things seem, there is always money - capital - somewhere with your name on it; so Cheerio, ye weary laborer. It's still America!

Good luck, and don't loose hope.

 

[Locutus of Bored]

Boy, do I know the feeling!

Wal*Fart wouldn't hire me because I was 'over-qualified'. ???

Well apply to another WalMart and neglect to mention your qualifications.

It's an empty comment meant to dismiss your application in what employers consider (wrongly) to be a non-insulting way; "Oh, you're too good to work here." It would be better to just say "Sorry, we're not hiring at the moment" instead of making up some BS excuse that no one buys.

 

[jamestyler]

Boy, do I know the feeling!

Wal*Fart wouldn't hire me because I was 'over-qualified'. ???

I've been getting a lot of that as I've been looking for some secure work - any secure work. But as said, it's just a supposedly polite way of saying "No."

 

[RJDiogenes]

Sorry to hear that, Dark Journey. That's a pretty big hit in income. I know how you feel, since I'm only making about half of what I was making a couple of years ago. Good luck. I hope you find something soon.

 

[Kestra]

Things were supposed to be looking up. I just started a six month program training to be a pharmacy technician. It wasn't a dream come true, but I thought finally I'd have a skill in life so I wouldn't be at the mercy of the economy. I was hoping one more extension would be enough to get me through than I would be in a better position to look for work. Now I don't know what the future holds.

Are you still able to complete the program, or does that have to be put off now?

I wish I had something useful to offer you, but I only have sympathy. Keep going dude; you'll get a break eventually. And we're here if you need to talk in the meantime.

 

[ShamelessMcBundy]

I know what you're going through dude. I was unemployed for over a year until i finally got something this week. Good thing too since my unemployment was about to expire. So basically things will improve, you just gotta have hope.

 

[OmahaStar]

Boy, do I know the feeling!

Wal*Fart wouldn't hire me because I was 'over-qualified'. ???

Well, sure. You can speak English. That pretty much rules you out right there.

 

[The Boy Who Cried Worf]

Things were supposed to be looking up. I just started a six month program training to be a pharmacy technician. It wasn't a dream come true, but I thought finally I'd have a skill in life so I wouldn't be at the mercy of the economy. I was hoping one more extension would be enough to get me through than I would be in a better position to look for work. Now I don't know what the future holds.

Are you still able to complete the program, or does that have to be put off now?

I wish I had something useful to offer you, but I only have sympathy. Keep going dude; you'll get a break eventually. And we're here if you need to talk in the meantime.

Yes, that shouldn't be a problem. I got financial aid to pay for it and the class only meets on Saturday so I am still free to look for a job all week. I am just really anxious about how I am going to get by the next few months. I guess I have to go apply for food stamps again which I absolutely hate. And I am dreading having to tell my girlfriend. It's so hard on her already.

 

[nevermore]

Get a job as a busboy, waiter, bartender, barback or barista. Cash in pocket, flexible hours, high turnover. Shitty work and irregular moneu, but relatively easy to come by.

 

[Luminus]

Boy, do I know the feeling!

Wal*Fart wouldn't hire me because I was 'over-qualified'. ???

Well apply to another WalMart and neglect to mention your qualifications.

It's an empty comment meant to dismiss your application in what employers consider (wrongly) to be a non-insulting way; "Oh, you're too good to work here." It would be better to just say "Sorry, we're not hiring at the moment" instead of making up some BS excuse that no one buys.

That's not what 'over-qualified' means. The term is used for people deemed a skip-risk. Someone coming from a $50k background is more likely to leave a $20k job hanging the moment something more fitting to their skills comes around, than someone who's had a recent history of making $20-$25k already. That person isn't going to get a $50k offer, unless their training for that field—a situation the employer wouldn't be aware of.

I've been sending my resume out to places I really don't want to now, because I've been out of work since June. I've also made my availability for any time schedule and there's still nothing. It's frustrating when the jobs you qualify for aren't calling back, but it's even more frustrating when more simpler jobs leave you hanging as well. My resume is 2 pages long and that's without the publishing and writing credentials. There's no way a place like Wal-Mart is going to hire someone like me (a presentation specialist/legal word processor), knowing that I have a certain lifestyle to maintain. Therein lies the problem.

These people know desperation, when they see it.

 

[SeerSGB]

I feel your pain dude, and best of look on trying to get to go back to school.

I was out hunting some graveyard jobs recently, and I'm not getting a bite on even the crappiest of jobs. Throwing out the freelance 'net further and most of my contacts in and out of the state and out of the country are out of work themselves, or the business has shifted "business model and eliminated the freelance openings in favor of in house talent". The wife's employer is taking her store on a sales-period by sales-period basis at the moment-- they have to get through Xmas with a 4% increase on the retail side and a 10% on the pharmacy side or it's bye bye store.

 

[Locutus of Bored]

Well apply to another WalMart and neglect to mention your qualifications.

It's an empty comment meant to dismiss your application in what employers consider (wrongly) to be a non-insulting way; "Oh, you're too good to work here." It would be better to just say "Sorry, we're not hiring at the moment" instead of making up some BS excuse that no one buys.

That's not what 'over-qualified' means. The term is used for people deemed a skip-risk. Someone coming from a $50k background is more likely to leave a $20k job hanging the moment something more fitting to their skills comes around, than someone who's had a recent history of making $20-$25k already. That person isn't going to get a $50k offer, unless their training for that field—a situation the employer wouldn't be aware of.

I don't disagree, I just think they need to come up with a better excuse.

 

[Luminus]

It's an empty comment meant to dismiss your application in what employers consider (wrongly) to be a non-insulting way; "Oh, you're too good to work here." It would be better to just say "Sorry, we're not hiring at the moment" instead of making up some BS excuse that no one buys.

That's not what 'over-qualified' means. The term is used for people deemed a skip-risk. Someone coming from a $50k background is more likely to leave a $20k job hanging the moment something more fitting to their skills comes around, than someone who's had a recent history of making $20-$25k already. That person isn't going to get a $50k offer, unless their training for that field—a situation the employer wouldn't be aware of.

I don't disagree, I just think they need to come up with a better excuse.

I guess they could say, "Your resume dictates a lack of interest in this field."

 

[TGTheodore]

The exact same thing happened to me, Dark. As much as I hate being on unemployment, it has kept a roof over my head the last two years. I am, unfortunately, now qualified to write "Unemployment for Dummies" ... but someone already did.

And if I hear the word "over-qualified" one more time when I apply for a job ...

Because I can (and have) done so many diversified things, I have 15 versions of my resume, tailored to what kind of job I'm applying for. It feels stupid to have to "dumb down" a resume, but sometimes it's necessary.

It's good to get encouragement from others, but when you're basically scraping to barely pay for the minimal necessities (not luxuries or "nice to haves"), it's more than just the financial worries that plague you.

This is the longest I've ever been out of work in the 36 years I've been in the work force.

No. Not fun at all.

--Ted

 

[Saul]

Boy, do I know the feeling!

Wal*Fart wouldn't hire me because I was 'over-qualified'. ???

Well apply to another WalMart and neglect to mention your qualifications.

Put in some spelling mistakes too.