The longer out of work the bleaker it gets

Back when the recession was causing hugh job losses each month, I was laid off. Within a month I had my first interview, and during the next month a had 2 others, I would see more ads from companies that I applied to and where either called or interviewed with in person. Now when we are adding jobs each month, I am seeing less jobs to apply to (don't even look at agency postings anymore) and have not had a single interview in almost 3 months. I receive several emails a week for "recruiters" who want me to be a Check Casher, Office Assistant or other forms of scam jobs. That is all that is calling me. I don't hear people getting work outside of a job that only lasted till Christmas. Is the goverment just posting better that it is stats because they want to nation to re elect someone who does not know how to control a budget? I dont' care what the unemployment rate is but there are more than double the number of people collecting regular benefits than there were in 2009. I will not even count the total collecting, as many people have exhausted the 99 weeks a year or more ago, and are still not working, add them back into the numbers and more people are out of work now than in 2009, How is that making the economy "Better" better for what? The stocks, yes they are better, but the jobs are a far cry from better!

I was out for two years, before I finally got a job recently as a merchandiser. The pay is lacking and the hours could be cut at any time, no health bennies. But it pays for rent, food, etc etc. So I'm taking it, until something else comes along.

These days, you MUST devote at least a little time every week to finding a better job. If you're out of work, it should be 4+ hours a day. If you have work, you should STILL look for better work. Don't stop looking for work, until you are happy doing what you're doing, and able to afford life.

Donna in Schaumburg, Illinois said: Back when the recession was causing hugh job losses each month, I was laid off. Within a month I had my first interview, and during the next month a had 2 others, I would see more ads from companies that I applied to and where either called or interviewed with in person. Now when we are adding jobs each month, I am seeing less jobs to apply to (don't even look at agency postings anymore) and have not had a single interview in almost 3 months. I receive several emails a week for "recruiters" who want me to be a Check Casher, Office Assistant or other forms of scam jobs. That is all that is calling me. I don't hear people getting work outside of a job that only lasted till Christmas. Is the goverment just posting better that it is stats because they want to nation to re elect someone who does not know how to control a budget? I dont' care what the unemployment rate is but there are more than double the number of people collecting regular benefits than there were in 2009. I will not even count the total collecting, as many people have exhausted the 99 weeks a year or more ago, and are still not working, add them back into the numbers and more people are out of work now than in 2009, How is that making the economy "Better" better for what? The stocks, yes they are better, but the jobs are a far cry from better!

No, no, no. The government thinks that once you have exhausted your 99 weeks that you found employment. Everything is fine and yes, this is an election year.

Job searching is not for the weak of heart.

It's not easy.

Well,

First of all, being officially unemployed isn't something you want to tell anyone. Just say you're on sabbatical, if anyone asks.
In the mean time, capture personal and professional enrichment. Sounds silly? Perhaps? But, this sort of stuff helps you make social connections with influential people who can get you into a job. Networking through the back door is how people get jobs today. Recruiters, head hunters, HR dept's are forced to sort through hundreds of thousands of similar white-faced cover letters/resumes that look practically the same. Just skip this old-fart method of job hunting. Ways to network?
Go back to school (networking goldmine).
Contact companies and/or organizations and offer freelance work to obtain connections and good future recommendations.
Make use of social media.
Market yourself. Why do you add-value? Skills that make you a better investment.

Speaking of our stupid economic policy 'leaders'? Don't get me started! You'd think they would try to not waste their human capital/tax revenue stream but we have mostly bilateral headbutting and lobbyist empowerment running our corrupt g'ment. You'd think that this desire for a highly skilled workforce would encourage job-retraining/higher education for all U.S. citizens. Nope! And, it's just kind of pricey to do business here vs. abroad. But bailouts for the top corporations (have fun, look up CEO salaries/bonuses)? Certainly. Hmm, those jobs they create? tend to be outsourced to cheaper locations abroad. Funny, there's plenty of MNC's that have done quite well despite the recession. This is the best business climate for employers seeking employees because of an over saturated labor market and downturn inspired lean towards business efficiency. It kind of sucks! Of course, what the economy could use is? Consumer spending power. But, creating unemployed persons vanishes discretionary purchases entirely. Thank you, elected dummies.

In networking meetings they tell you to let everyone you know that you are looking for a job. That is a way that you advertise yourself. You never know if the other person knows someone that can help you find a job. I have let everyone I know that I need a job, but it does not get leads. Problem is that I am looking along with millions of others, and the ones that are hiring are mostly looking for seasonal work such as Christmas help or summer help. Calling a company and asking if they are hiring does not work. Looking at the job boards is a joke, posting on Craigslist only generates scammers and agencies who never have enough resumes to decorate the office walls. When you do see a posting, you are already number 999 and counting. Sometimes you wonder if we are even creating jobs, or just making it look good for the benefit of the elelction, then next year we will go back into another recession because Greece has pulled the world down.

If you can get a workaholic upper middle class professional to mentor you in his/her spare time then you don't need waste to pay/borrow money to sit in classroom. Good luck finding that rare successful person who is willing to mentor. Most of them expect you to "go back to school" pay a lot of money to bask in their presence.

Take more than 4 hours a day to look for work? There are no real jobs out there anymore. Nothing but minimum wage jobs. After you apply to all the stores in the mall and fast food places, you have very stiff competition, and the interviews you do go on it is always, we are still in the early stages of this interview and we will be calling candidates for the next round next week, and that never happens. The only way to get a job is to work for some member of the family, who will put you first. Move in with the in laws and split the chores and bills. Will shovel snow for food!

There was a segment on TV a few months ago that 6000 people applied for jobs at a Chick-Fil-A restaurant that wasn't even finished being built in central FL. I guess they had an easy time hiring 60 people for that location.

well if you give up on the search then you'll never get anything. I applied to one retailer 11 times, before I finally got them to call me for an interview. Should be hearing from them soon.

I hope that they give you the job! Filing out the application 11 times shows your dedication. If they have any brains that should have some weight in getting the job. But sometimes when they ask if you have applied here before, and don't get hired something must be wrong. Yea, there are too many others going for one job! Good Luck!

Thanks! I got another job a week or so ago merchandising for a grocery contractor. $12/hr for about 32 a week. At least it will pay rent and such. In the meantime, keep applying to stuff. Don't stop applying, until you get the job you want.