Question about people unemployed for extended time

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

I proofread cover letters for a neighbor who was unemployed for more than 2.5 years. She used my internet, too, to make online applications, and keep up with Monster.com and such. She took her inability to find work in her field personally and became more and more depressed and a little irrational. I was frustrated with her because she would not apply for jobs that seemed beneath her, though she had already broken into her retirement savings. That refusal seemed like part of her irrationality. She was 60 and not nearly ready to retire, savings wise. Really I think she needed mental health intervention of some sort. Her lack of confidence became extreme to the point that I could not imagine her interviewing well.

Eventually she found a job in her field. But after a year, that job looks like it is on the chopping block, and I don't see how she would survive another blow mentally. She may be the next person you see begging food on the supermarket parking lot. It's that bad. Fragile people do not weather long term unemployment well.

[GREENBACK]

I run into that with patients frequently. They may work where they get paid under the table but they won't take official jobs because the minute they do, they lose so much as to make it not worth it. Something needs to change with that.

This is a very old problem. We keep electing people to fix this stuff but all they concern themselves with is getting re-elected.

[FrugalTexan75]

For all intents and purposes, I've been underemployed/unemployed since Feb, 2009. When I was laid off, I did have the minimum wage job at the local gym, which went from 4 hours a week to 30 hours a week. For months and months I sent out tons of resumes, and had a few interviews. Then I started doing tutoring in Jan 2010, which is what I'm still doing now. It is a very up and down business. Going into the summer this year is slightly better than in 2010, because I actually have one, possibly two students lined up.

I am 35, and now have a Master's Degree. I've been sending out applications by the fistful since January for school library positions - at least ten different states -- and only one interview (didn't get it), and a second possible interview coming up. In April I started getting desperate, and began putting resumes out to other places - like oil and gas companies. One interview (nope), and one possible interview (if the person ever gets back from vacation!!)

It's very frustrating.

[shanecurran]

Being unemployed can make a person feel unimportant and lower one's self esteem. I think this makes it harder for the person to find a job because they have a worsening attitude and a lower self esteem that rears it ugly head in an interview.

I finished grad school in 2009 (dual MS econ and finance). I returned to California to live with the parents while I looked for a job. California was in bad shape at that time so I expanded my search to other states. The problem is that companies are less willing to hire someone who will have moving expenses. In my field I was competing against professionals who were recently laid off and had a fancy degree and work experience. Actually getting an interview was tough. Getting an interview became somewhat of an accomplishment for me. I had one interview in particular where they flew me out, put me up, the whole nine. It was an 8 hour interview. About a week later I received an email stating that they lost funding for the position and therefore closed the position (not-"sorry it was a bad fit" or "we went another direction"). My frustration boiled over. Even when I found a job that I was a perfect fit for, the company lost funding.

At this point I moved to be close to my sister and work in a restaurant. I figured that at least I would be making some money and it really couldn't hurt my resume worse than being unemployed. The first few months were extremely humbling. After about a year of working in the industry, I found myself motivated again to take on the job search. I had regained some confidence, and had some perspective. I found a job about 3 months later after 1 phone interview, 6 in person interviews, one job offer that fell through, tweaking my resume several times, and sending out lots of emails and resumes. Eventually I found a job through a friend of a friend. Networking was the most important tool I had in my job hunt and resulted in all but one of my interviews.

The restaurant industry was not a long term plan. It was hard to work a job that was unrelated to my training. It was humbling to work a job that I was completely overqualified for, but in the end I was able to get on my feet, raise my self-esteem, and find the motivation I needed. The industry proved to be great for networking as well.

[zakity]

My friend's husband was unemployed for almost two years. He applied for jobs and had a few interviews, but no "bites". There were tons of people unemployed around here and the employers have their pick of the litter. Her husband is totally the "got to have a job/overly responsible" sort and I know he worked hard on getting a new job.

He has been working for a friend here and there for several years. When the friend has some extra work, he has my friend's DH do it. It has really varied on how many hours he worked for him. Sometimes, it is 10 hours in a week and, occasionally, it is a full week's work (that only happened like once or twice though). His friend started having him to the networking part of his business and has finally hired him on full time.

[couchrobt]

Sometimes it is just not the right timing for one. Or sometimes it is just the right time but not the right job you been expecting. However, at times like this, being picky about getting a job and be employed is just not a good thing to do. Take what you can and start from there.

[greenskeeper]

There are jobs out there for the long term unemployed, but they most likely do not want to work for the wages offered because they can collect more through unemployment.