OS Unemployment Club

[mdmgrand]

Re: OS Unemployment Club

I'm glad this topic is here, I probably need it right now.... I graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Geographic Information Systems in May of 2011 filled with hope. During this time I was also a shift manager at GameStop, outperforming both my assistant managers without a promotion because they knew I would leave at any chance I could.

Even with my degree and six years of experience, with three as a supervisor, I can't find anything worthwhile. I relocated and have been unemployed for eight months and it's been a roller coaster. I cannot feel happy for anyone who have success and I do not wish this upon anyone.

To make things worse, I graduated with a lot more debt than the national average, which puts a damper on any job that isn't 40k+...

I just wish everyone the best here who has to deal with this.

[khaled]

Re: OS Unemployment Club

I'm glad this topic is here, I probably need it right now.... I graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Geographic Information Systems in May of 2011 filled with hope. During this time I was also a shift manager at GameStop, outperforming both my assistant managers without a promotion because they knew I would leave at any chance I could.

Even with my degree and six years of experience, with three as a supervisor, I can't find anything worthwhile. I relocated and have been unemployed for eight months and it's been a roller coaster. I cannot feel happy for anyone who have success and I do not wish this upon anyone.

To make things worse, I graduated with a lot more debt than the national average, which puts a damper on any job that isn't 40k+...

I just wish everyone the best here who has to deal with this.

I thought GIS had some good job prospects, at least that's what I was told by my Geography professor.

It's really tough out there and I wish you luck. Stay positive and keep trying.

[ImTellinTim]

Re: OS Unemployment Club

I'm glad this topic is here, I probably need it right now.... I graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Geographic Information Systems in May of 2011 filled with hope. During this time I was also a shift manager at GameStop, outperforming both my assistant managers without a promotion because they knew I would leave at any chance I could.

Even with my degree and six years of experience, with three as a supervisor, I can't find anything worthwhile. I relocated and have been unemployed for eight months and it's been a roller coaster. I cannot feel happy for anyone who have success and I do not wish this upon anyone.

To make things worse, I graduated with a lot more debt than the national average, which puts a damper on any job that isn't 40k+...

I just wish everyone the best here who has to deal with this.

Check your PM.

[GoToledo]

Re: OS Unemployment Club

I have joined the club as well. I was laid off in early October, but I am fortunate enough to have a good severance that will keep me afloat for now. I just accepted an offer for my house, since I know I will have to move to continue working in my field (there is only one pharmaceutical company here).

I have had 2 in person interviews in the last month - hoping one of them pans out.

[Husker_OS]

Re: OS Unemployment Club

I had a weird situation over the summer.

Back story: My full-time job was being a producer for a radio station cluster while I lived in Tuscaloosa from July of 2011 until this past August. The majority of my hours with the cluster came from producing a daily sports talk show. I got the job after the current producer moved to Charlotte. My goal was to have my own show eventually and do some broadcasting on the side.

This past April, I met the owner of another radio station about an hour from where I worked at the time. I met with him a few times and he offered me the job as producer for his station's daily sports talk show that would debut that fall. Also, he offered me a play-by-play job with the local college doing their soccer and baseball games plus a local high school's football games. All would air on his station. I was pumped. I planned on finishing the summer with my current job then moving to that city and starting the new job.

The host of the show back in Tuscaloosa was a great guy. Married and had a kid in high school. Very religious and made it apparent on the show every night. I figured I could tell him my plans and he'd be fine with it and let me finish out the summer. The guy I replaced did the same thing.

A few weeks after talking to him about it, I get a message from the co-host of the show. Says he wants to talk tonight. He calls me that night around 11 PM, on a Sunday. Tells me the show is going in another direction and I've been relieved of my duties as producer for the show. 80% of my hours gone just like that. They claimed it was due to my performance, but it was obvious the co-host didn't like the fact that I was getting a better job. He cited a reason that I would show up to produce the show and have a plate of dinner food with me. That never happened during the 10 months I produced the show.

From May until the end of August, I got roughly 6 hours of work per week at $8 per hour. Lived at home with the parents and job hunted all summer long. Never got a single call back from any of the 497 jobs(yes, I kept a tally) I sent my resume in for. Luckily, a friend of mine gave me a lead and I got the job I have now.

I think the worst part was waking up every day and not having anything meaningful to do other than search Monster and Indeed for jobs. I felt like such a lazy *** compared to my girlfriend, who is in her 3rd year of medical school. She says she never once judged me for it since my performance didn't cause my unemployment my advancement did.

My laptop is dying, so I'll expand on this tomorrow.

[Jr.]

Re: OS Unemployment Club

I know that feeling exactly, Husker, and I think all of us here would agree. When you wake up and don't really have anything to do for the day, you feel a bit worthless. And as that continues, day after day, it takes a lot of strength and drive to keep going without any light at the end of the tunnel

[khaled]

Re: OS Unemployment Club

Husker: What about the one you were offered?

[Caveman24]

Re: OS Unemployment Club

Any of you guys think of calling any temp agencies?While it may not be a permit job and don't know everyone field of work.I started at a temp agency for my first job(I'm only 19).

And to be honest a lot of them have hired me for full-time.Doing various jobs such as construction,cleaning,etc.And it was damn good pay ranging from $14-$19/hour.

I know its tuff out there guys but look into a temp agency.And if all else fails always check Craigslist.I got paid great money from there doing side jobs(ie:Moving jobs,Yard work). Hope my info helped any of you guys

[bigbob]

Re: OS Unemployment Club

The temp agencies around here don't find you decent paying jobs. It's minimum wage because they take at least $2 off of whatever the job is offering you hourly.

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: OS Unemployment Club

Yeah not all temp agencies are the same and pay the same. It all depends on where you live. I know when I lived in Indiana they charged you a fee and every job they handed out was a minimum wage job.

But when I lived in Chicago they paid pretty well however at the time most of the jobs they sent you to were far out in the suburbs. If you had no car, you were screwed.

Out in Vermont, it is minimum wage jobs and all they have is factory jobs subbing in for vacation people. But then again this is Vermont, you not going to find office type jobs out here, not in the southern half of the state anyway.

[JBH3]

More information would do wonders. I'm 6 years in and I'm coming up on reenlistment next year (ETS Nov 2014) -- not sure if I want to stay in or not right now. I'm an E-5 about to go for my 6. I'm a medic (one deployment under my belt and it looks like my 2nd will happen next year) with a lot of experience. If you guys could just give me tips on what they are looking for on the outside I'd greatly appreciate it. I'll start working on it now to meet that criteria.

Thanks for any assistance you can provide.

I don't know how your particular trade will translate into the civilian world. Like for instance, would your civie counterpart be a RN or something?

Either way, the intangibles are what will push you ahead of a college grad.

You come w/ a plethora of experience, and so long as you earn an honorable discharge this proves that your a reliable/dependable individual. Since you're an E-5 this also means you've been in a leadership position which is yet another bonus over a college grad applying for the same job in your field.

The intangibles and experience are what seperate you the most, do not take them for granted and milk every ounce of them.

You'll be fine.

[Husker_OS]

Re: OS Unemployment Club

Husker: What about the one you were offered?

That's the crappiest part, the job fell through. The station lost one of its biggest advertising clients and due to that, could not afford to pay me to produce the talk show or do the high school football. So I never even got started down there.

The positive out of all the BS from the summer is I landed a great job. The sky is the limit with my current company if I perform to a certain standard.

I really feel for people who have families that lose their jobs over downsizing or office politics. The helplessness I would imagine is something that would overwhelm most people.

As much as I hated feeling like I was lazy and lethargic this summer, I wasn't in a position where I had to make ends meet and couldn't so I was lucky somewhat.

I know this doesn't really deal with unemployment, but the starting RB for Hueytown High School, a 6A school in Birmingham, was interviewed on a scoreboard show one night. He had a huge night running for 200+ yards and couple scores. The host of the show asked him, "So what schools are you looking at for college?" and he replied "I'm just waiting on a school to offer me". I don't know why but that stuck with me.

[slickdtc]

I know that feeling exactly, Husker, and I think all of us here would agree. When you wake up and don't really have anything to do for the day, you feel a bit worthless. And as that continues, day after day, it takes a lot of strength and drive to keep going without any light at the end of the tunnel

I was without a job for a month and it was hell. My job lined up fell through and I was scrambling trying to stay afloat. Got behind on insurances, rent, and it stressed myself and those around me.

It's the waiting game with hearing back from jobs that eats away at you. You wanna be proactive, but the ball is in their court. And you have the constant weight of knowing your bills are piling up every day. I could not imagine having a mortgage or children to worry about. That weight would be near unbearable.

[Dirty Turtles]

Re: OS Unemployment Club

I was without a job for a month and it was hell. My job lined up fell through and I was scrambling trying to stay afloat. Got behind on insurances, rent, and it stressed myself and those around me.

It's the waiting game with hearing back from jobs that eats away at you. You wanna be proactive, but the ball is in their court. And you have the constant weight of knowing your bills are piling up every day. I could not imagine having a mortgage or children to worry about. That weight would be near unbearable.

It's difficult having both a mortgage and children. I often have felt down because I can't give my children everything I would like to, or that my girlfriend busts her behind 40+ hours a week as a manager at McDonalds to make ends meet. The problem is the jobs in this area are all low paying due to the low cost of living.

I bought a house and got settled into my financial plans/needs when the economy was better. I grew up an only child in a family that didn't make a lot of money, so I learned to budget my money and live in a house that most people would call "freezing" during the winter. I constantly weigh the pros and cons of purchases.

Recently our financial well being has been further strained because my girlfriend decided she wanted to go to school to become a Medical Assistant. Since we both have school during the day, we have to take our children to a babysitter 2 days a week. We can't really afford to do it, but we have to make cuts eleswhere. My girlfriend goes to school full-time and works full-time during the evenings. We make too much money to be eligible for wellfare and that angers me a lot. If we both decided to be bums we could get it, but when we go to school to try to improve our lives and work to make ends meet we're denied.

[bigbob]

Re: OS Unemployment Club

Start a new job on Monday, woo!

A little less then I could have gotten from other places, but I'd rather be happy and making $.50 less than being miserable and making $.50 more.