Job search

As I have said before, there are painfully few jobs available any more in the profession I was once in. In my volunteer positions, I have found "work" environments which are better suited to my disposition. I have also found that places like museums have very few actual open positions and rely heavily on volunteers.

I just seem to be unable to figure out what companies might offer positions which would suit me. Four years of looking at ads on the internet have not helped. The occupational outlook manual has not helped narrow things down. Briggs myer type of test have been considerably less than useful. They ask the wrong questions.

So, during your job search, are you looking at areas other than what you used to work in? How are you going about attempting to convince the employer to give you a shot?

First, what do you think about that double amputee in the games? He's a nice guy but there's got to be an unfair advantage there. I don't think he should of been allowed to run.

It must be terribly awful for people like yourself who's old profession is not producing many jobs any longer. Last night, there was a post on, "Employers who don't respond to applicants." The lady was a designer in California, hasn't worked in 3 long yrs. A field like that is history now. Her post was depressing to read.

I guess I'm a little blessed in the fact that I am in Sales and every company will always need salespeople. However, A LOT of these Sales positions really stink. The good ones people who have them are not giving them up because of the uncertainty of the economy. But my unemployment checks will run out in 8 weeks...Scary.

For me it's showtime now. I have to do what I have to do to get a decent job...any decent job now.

I do look outside of Sales. Last week I seriously thought about applying to be a Horse Groomer for 25 horses. It said will train the right person. I like horses and that Cowboy era. But, when I looked up salaries for Grooms I saw low salaries...20's and they want you to live rent free at their ranch. I'm fine where I live now.

Point is I try to look at jobs that will fulfilled me at least to some degree and will pay more than 3 bananas a day. Maybe I'm asking for too much.

Lastly you ask Big John, "How are you going about attempting to convince the employer to give you a shot?" The interview is the toughest thing for me (and for most). You have to really connect with these Bozos and give a performance of a lifetime. You know?

I can't believe it's been 15 months for me now. When I think about where will I be when I'm 75 it gets really scary so I try not to think about that. Or what could happen now if I needed medical attention with no insurance. I'm actual laughing cause I just downed 2 devil dogs.

Any training you can get??? Stupid question I know.

I often wonder what's my breaking point. Where I dye my hair red and...

I guess I just keep on pluggin away searching for now.

Joe Gagill in Monticello, New York said: Any training you can get??? Stupid question I know.

I often wonder what's my breaking point. Where I dye my hair red and...

I guess I just keep on pluggin away searching for now.

I was able to take some classes courtesy of the state. If I could find some direction, I would check into taking more classes (have no idea if that benefit is still available)

I have no idea what my breaking point is, thought I reached it years ago... unless I am having blackouts and doing things I don't remember......

John in Catonsville, Maryland said: As I have said before, there are painfully few jobs available any more in the profession I was once in. In my volunteer positions, I have found "work" environments which are better suited to my disposition. I have also found that places like museums have very few actual open positions and rely heavily on volunteers.

I just seem to be unable to figure out what companies might offer positions which would suit me. Four years of looking at ads on the internet have not helped. The occupational outlook manual has not helped narrow things down. Briggs myer type of test have been considerably less than useful. They ask the wrong questions.

Have a cousin who use to be the patron saint of every lost cause you can imagine. Even back in high school, she was working in soup kitchens, feeding the homeless, walking for this disease and that one, organizaing Earth Day and on and on.

A few years ago, she just stopped! I ask her why and she said "The problem with non-profits are that they are non-profits. If you want to solve the problem, you can't depend on fund raising and volunteering". People get tired of being asked for money. She must have had an epiphany so after 30 years, she quit.

So how much experience do you need to be a docent?

Don't know about being a docent.. I help in the "background" for the most part.... hidden away in the bowls of whichever museum I"m at.

John in Catonsville, Maryland said: Don't know about being a docent.. I help in the "background" for the most part.... hidden away in the bowls of whichever museum I"m at.

Where I live they have a "Volunteer Police" deparment, which consists of elderly people checking in on other elderly people.

If you need someone to "check up" on Mom, they will stop by "some time next week". That is an actual time frame in Texas.

If you're really worried, get on a plane and check on her yourself. Volunteer anything has some drawbacks.