Comments on: Out of work 6 months. Now what?

By: Annie

Annie — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 22:08:59 +0000

Ha! OK, Johnny, THOSE apply to everyone… although staying positive is often easier said than done!

By: Johnny Denver, CO

Johnny Denver, CO — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 21:59:16 +0000

“No advice applies to everyone.”? Well, how about:

1. be happy
2. stay positive
3. don’t give up

etc…..

By: Annie

Annie — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 10:25:41 +0000

Billy, obviously that was not the situation of the person who sent the question I was answering. No advice applies to everyone.

By: billy, new albany IN

billy, new albany IN — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 00:30:16 +0000

you talk about taking a vacation after being laid off. How is it a vacation when you lose your home, part of your family, and any way to provide for them

By: Annie

Annie — Sat, 23 May 2009 11:02:31 +0000

David, you are so right!

By: David Hadick, Salinas, CA

David Hadick, Salinas, CA — Sat, 23 May 2009 00:55:28 +0000

OBVIOUSLY every situation is different for everybody – depending on life lessons, family, circumstances too numerous to mention, etc., etc. Yet as an unemployed executive with 30 years of experience in my field, I have come to my own “Rubicon” that is this: relax, smell the roses, seriously enjoy the God granted time with family, trust in your self and your own intuitions. Find your passion – find your talent – do not sell your self cheap to the “bottom fishers”; truthfully enjoy your network of Linked In friends (they probably are all in the same boat as you are – and raising waters raise all boats.) Truthfully – this wonderful country was built on the backs of earlier generations who had it MUCH worse then we. I am not a veteran – I escaped the dreadful Vietnam War – but if folks can survive seeing their buddy blown away, ask yourself way cannot you transition to a new career/new circumstance/new friends/new locale?

After all, we are all at the perfect age: Not Dead.

By: DHicks, Seal Beach, Ca

DHicks, Seal Beach, Ca — Mon, 18 May 2009 06:42:57 +0000

I am a 46 year old Electronics Engineer and have been out of work for 13 months. I enjoyed the first 6 months because I have a side business but now I am plain scared. I have been taking some classes to upgrade my skill set which makes me feel better, but I am really scared I am going to lose everything I worked for. I agree with some of the comments regarding enjoying your life now but most people don’t have enough savings to do that and that is why people are scared. Most people over 40 have lots of financial responsibility. Me included!

By: Ken K., Washington Crossing, PA

Ken K., Washington Crossing, PA — Wed, 13 May 2009 03:34:01 +0000

This article was fun reading, but….

I am an experienced IT Manager who has been out of work for 6 months. I’ve called and networked and sent out literally hundreds of resumes, and so far have had only 1 interview. I’ve yet to find the so-called “hidden” job market that so many articles talk about. The only thing “hidden” in most cases is the contact information for the hiring managers or recruiters, so when you send your resume, you have no way of following up to make sure they received it or to answer any questions. And, if you are lucky enough to find a name, they never answer their phone or return your calls.

For the past 6 months I have spent extra time with my family, which has been great. To keep sane and to get out of the house and with people I’ve been doing some volunteer work a couple of days a week. I’ve also just dusted off my real estate licenses and joined a local real estate firm. Even if I’m not making any money at it yet, it too gets me out of the house and doing something productive. I can still continue to look for work in my field, and who knows, maybe even start a new career in real estate and make some money. The real estate market for lower end homes and rentals is coming back, so maybe I’ll get lucky.

As to taking or not taking any job that is offered, I would definitely take any job offered in my field just to get back to work and to keep my skill level up. Unfortunately, I’ve tried temp jobs and consulting but was told that I was “over qualified” for lower end jobs, even though they were just temporary jobs.

It’s great to write articles and give advice, but the old conventional wisdom or ideas don’t seem to be working this time. I’ve tried them all and so many other people that I know have tried them also.

The only somewhat positive, if misery does indeed love company, there are a lot of other people out of work and sharing the misery.

I’m sure some day, if I find a full time job, I’ll long for some time off. For now, I long for the long hours back at the office.

By: Mike Wilson, Des Moines, Iowa

Mike Wilson, Des Moines, Iowa — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 16:33:44 +0000

Lately I have been getting a kick out of managers who are in the 40 and 50 age group who have been laid off, that are now whining about not being able to get a job! These are the same people who in the past would not hire anyone over 35 or even look at their resume. And they are the same people who only wanted young and pretty or wanted a H1B to fill the job. It did not matter how experienced a person was. Now the shoe is on the other foot and there crying foul! Well you people set the rules and the policies when you were working! Now you are finding that it was fine and dandy “WHEN IT DID NOT APPY TO YOU”! Now that is does you cry foul! So how does it feel? I bet you could just kick yourself now! Maybe if you get another job as a manager again, while you are reporting to your non-American H1B boss that you can’t find a qualified American worker for the position that is open, you will remember how it feels and what you went through, just to take this job at half pay!

By: Joe Madison Wi

Joe Madison Wi — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 23:50:42 +0000

These recruiters “look askance at you when you’ve been out of work for a while”. Ha. Now you see what it’s like for the rest of us!

By: H Merrill, LA, CA

H Merrill, LA, CA — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 05:29:37 +0000

I was laid off last June and made a conscious decision to take six months off. This time was spent traveling and with family members across the country. It is a time I would never trade. Little did I know what the economy had in store. But I started doing pro bono work for non-profits and this has led to paying consulting work. Now I am biding my time for the job I want, not need. Good luck to everyone in my same situation. It is humbling and at the same time a true learning experience. Be open to the lessons.

By: Elizabeth Pagano, Atlanta, GA

Elizabeth Pagano, Atlanta, GA — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 21:11:42 +0000

I really believe the issue is not whether you have a “gap” in your employment but WHAT YOU ARE DOING with that gap. If you make the break meaningful – a sabbatical that makes you a better leader or adds to your skills – then it’s a gap that should be highlighted on your resume instead of hidden. Include your sabbatical story on your resume and tell what you learned from the transition: http://tiny.cc/QEYBD.

By: Susan, Philadelphia, PA

Susan, Philadelphia, PA — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 06:34:38 +0000

Annie
This country should get its act together and fast and START HIRING PEOPLE again if we are going to survive as country of respect to the world and opportunity for all who come. It seems govt, justice system and even employers have all gone the wrong path.
Companies are to blame for the recession, because fear drives fear and eventual insanity. USA will soon become a welfare country at this rate. It seems that is finally high time for employers around the country to cut the bull* with time out of work, because conventional times have gone out the window. Alot of companies have done what they pleased at any time and gotten away with bailouts and (
(murder) with raising everything in sight even in hard times and getting f’in greedy , and in particular banks have played with consumers and workers alike. The RAT RACE truly earned its name and stinking reputation. Times change and so do people. We have lives and we stray from the norm every now and then. And boy do we make mistakes such as the last 10 years with boom and bust and trends. And the fuss over gaps in employment whether childcare or anything else is just not practical in judgement anymore by anyone!At the end of the day, we’re human not machines. So what if its 6mos or 2 yrs?

By: Annie

Annie — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 22:49:55 +0000

I hope something will work out SOON! Your perseverance is great, and in a just world (which this one can occasionally be…) would in itself be enough to get you hired.

By: Ralph, Chicago, Illinois

Ralph, Chicago, Illinois — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 20:52:04 +0000

Annie, I am also looking into contract work and interim management roles. I have talked to just about everyone in my network about short term project work, and have spoken with two companies that specialize in placing people in interim management positions. I’ve had a few possibilities surface, but nothing definite has developed yet.

By: Annie

Annie — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 19:46:23 +0000

Ralph, now I see where you’re coming from. My father ran into the same problem when he lost an executive job (after 30 years with the same company) in the steel industry in the early ’80s. The U.S. steel industry was in trouble then, and has since almost disappeared; and there was a recession going on too, although not as bad as this one. It is indeed a very tough set of circumstances. Have you thought about doing contract work (interim management) while you’re job hunting?

By: Annie

Annie — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 19:38:04 +0000

Matthew, have you figured out what you want to do? (What field you want to be in?) I take it sales, or sales management, is out?

By: Matthew Payne, Phoenix, AZ

Matthew Payne, Phoenix, AZ — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 18:52:22 +0000

Annie,

I’m 29 yrs. old & worked for the same employer since graduating college (marketing degree) in 2001. I was let go in August ‘08 (sales management) & have been unable to find a new career that is right for me. I was hoping to gain some insight as to what is working for other people like myself & their career search.

I was fortunate to have saved enough to survive for this period of time (along w/ a VERY understanding spouse), but am eager to begin a new career & build for our future. Any specific websites/recruiting agencies that you could recommend?

By: Ralph, Chicago, Illinois

Ralph, Chicago, Illinois — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 17:29:52 +0000

Annie, I have looked at the web sites you mention (and a lot of others) and have not seen much if anything that was useful. I was at a job level in my career where similar level jobs are not filled by being posted on the internet. I also spent my career with one company, in an industry that is now no longer growing. I have tried to focus on my functional skills and experiences that I believe are transferable to other related industries. However, I have found that in this economy companies want someone with the specific industry experience and connections, and are very reluctant to bring in a senior level person from another industry, particularly one who is over 50. And being out of work for two years now, it is also clear that I am being viewed a bit like a house that is on the market for two years – I can sense from questions that hiring managers wonder what must be wrong with this person if he could not find something in two years. I will keep trying and am trying to keep my spirits up, but it is very very tough out there.

By: Mark, Chicago Illinois

Mark, Chicago Illinois — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 16:38:17 +0000

Annie, great advice. I’m not at the 6 month mark yet and I hope I won’t be. I have 9 months of expenses saved, so for now I’m going to look for the right job. After 6 months, who knows. I read all the ranting from the other readers. I can understand their frustrations. They desperately want to work, but no one will hire them. I don’t really have any advice for these people. I try not get stressed out about things that are beyond my control. You can’t force a company to hire you so take it in stride. I know it’s not easy when you have a family to feed, but this will pass. In the meantime, lean on each other every day. As long as you are together, everything else is second. Kids are resilient. They can handle almost anything. You will find a way through this. Hang in there.