The Quest for Employment
News Flash: Jobless Rate Hits 10.2%
The search for employment has become a task in futility, really, no joke. I have had the unfortunate experience of passing some of my competition after or before an interview. Young, fresh-faced, much more appealing visually than this middle-aged specter. You feel the demeanor of the interviewer change as soon as you are introduced and you know right from the get go, regardless of your years of experience that you are now out of the running for this one. I scrub up really well too!
The publication of the jobless rate is oh so encouraging and not entirely accurate. The reality of the jobless rate is much worse because it does not reflect the number of those individuals who are no longer receiving unemployment benefits, but are still unemployed. So the jobless rate is much higher than being reported and the competition for jobs even greater because you also have to factor in those new college grads.
I have reached out to everyone I know and they all mutter encouragement, say in low-voiced tones, “oh no”, no longer make eye contact, don’t call or just avoid me at all costs, all of which makes me feel worse than I already do.
Had conversations yesterday and this morning with two more employment agencies. Both have told me that they hope the market gets better by the new year, but don’t expect anything in your range now. They could offer me temp positions if they become available. The positions range from $10.00- $12.00/hour, which of course I said I would take knowing full well that I would have to find work in the evenings and weekends (as if that is at all possible) in order to supplement the low wage to continue to pay my rent, car insurance, put fuel in the old car, pay the utilities and feed the cat.
I have been applying for positions for the last 12 weeks and not one nibble. Most postings are the old bait and switch by agencies…”the posted position is not available, but please come in and register with us”. I do and so far I’m registered with 11 agencies, which you have to call daily to see if anything is available. I’ve gone to the corporation websites and applied for positions directly. Called corporations and made nice with the receptionist/switchboard person so that she/he would direct me to their in-house hiring agency in order to submit applications directly through them as well. Hey, I’ve got the job search procedure down to a science!
I think the most unscrupulous of the job board postings are the those that read like legitimate jobs. You know the ones, you apply to the post then you get a response which redirects you to some kind of MLM scam site, email blasting scheme, or better yet want you to pay a fee to use their job board or pay for a credit report as a stipulation of employment application.
I’ve tried all the “virtual” position sites and found I’m competing with providers overseas who bid for positions at hourly rates of USD $1.50, sometimes a little more, sometimes a little less. This means I would have to bid and win at least 30 or more of those jobs on a weekly basis to just make ends meet. Additionally, I would have to do this daily, because these positions are for a day’s work, maybe a week (if you are lucky a month of more), maybe a couple of hours. It costs me more in utilities than the actual payout on the jobs.
The fear comes in waves…You know, the good old panic attack, can’t breathe, can’t think straight, can’t sleep, crave salt, chocolate, a cocktail or two! It’s all I can think about, get a job, get a job, get a job….My digestive system has taken to making the most bizarre sounds, but hey this could be a great weight loss program.
So, I slog on in my quest for permanent gainful employment, not knowing when the current gig is going to end. Hopefully, I can squeeze at least 3 more months out of this position, at least until January when everyone “believes” things will get better.
No holidays this year, but hey there haven’t been any holidays in this humble abode for a very very long time!
