Unemployed, how many of you.........?

[Bodofish]

Please don't answer, it's none of my business, although I do care.

I guess the question is really more about the dots than the words that are there. After the midterm elections with a new sence of power the Republican party, in the House, has turned down any emergency unemployment to those that have exhausted their claims. Pretty cold going into the holiday season.

Just a little something to think about.

I wish everyone the best.

Bodo

[bionic_one]

Is it a new sense of power, or a sense of accountability? Remember, one of the main issues getting them back into "power", was fiscal responsibility (at least from a government spending standpoint).

I'm not going to condone it because it's cold and it would absolutely suck to be in that position, but at the same time, I cannot bring myself to condemn the action either. I've met too many guys at the river that literally told me, to my face, "I make more on unemployment than I would at any job I could get".

It's a tough situation, I can't blame those guys for doing that, I don't like it, but if I was in that situation I'd be hard pressed to do anything different, specially knowing my kids would be better provided for if I stayed on the benefits.

[flinginpooh]

Well Im on unemployment and actually just got my extension. I worked in cable for 12 years and found myself without a job. I made well over 50 thousand a year and felt things was good. I however can not find anything making anywhere near what I made then. And really making over 14 an hour avg is hard to do on any of the starting out jobs out there. SO I understand what they are saying cause Im in that same boat. I do make more on my unemployment then some people I know that work. I have worked and paid into these types of funds for about 22 years though. I am happy that there was something in place for a time like this.

[wolverine]

I'm retired but think that this stinks. If you read between the lines "Fiscal Responsibility" and smaller government really means putting more money in THEIR pockets. I also see a lot of unemployed folks out fishing. I was unemployed once in my careers and spent about 60 hours a week job hunting. I didn't have time to fish!

[Toni]

I'm retired but think that this stinks. If you read between the lines "Fiscal Responsibility" and smaller government really means putting more money in THEIR pockets. I also see a lot of unemployed folks out fishing. I was unemployed once in my careers and spent about 60 hours a week job hunting. I didn't have time to fish!

When you were unemployed did they have online only resume, cover letter, and applications? Now days many are online only and calling about it is just bugging people. It saves a lot of time but it is becoming a less personal world.

[wolverine]

Toni,
It was before online only. That said; the last 20 years that I worked I must have reviewed 15,000 job applications. Fill in aps, mail ins, and on line. To be honest nearly all of these were never considered for open positions. The people that put the effort out to find the department head that had the open position and personally sent a resume to their attention, contacted that person by phone or e-mail, did a phone interview and followed up with a thank you letter were the ones that got offered a position. If they weren't the ideal candidate their resumes would be kept open in case another position opened up. It wasn't hard to figure out the aps and calls received were from folks who were just going through the motions to fill out the contact requirements for their unemployment.

[scott080379]

I have a feeling I will be on unemployment come March. The Navy is down sizing and it looks like I am one of the unlucky ones that won't be able to reenlist. I have already started to apply for jobs and what not and had a few good possible jobs lined up working for the government but they are talking about a country wide hiring freeze for government jobs and some will be taking pay cuts as well. There are jobs out there just that there are so many people applying that they have a large pool to pull from now. I know I am getting a little of track of the original topic on thread but need to rant a little on this I guess.

[bionic_one]

Well Im on unemployment and actually just got my extension. I worked in cable for 12 years and found myself without a job. I made well over 50 thousand a year and felt things was good. I however can not find anything making anywhere near what I made then. And really making over 14 an hour avg is hard to do on any of the starting out jobs out there. SO I understand what they are saying cause Im in that same boat. I do make more on my unemployment then some people I know that work. I have worked and paid into these types of funds for about 22 years though. I am happy that there was something in place for a time like this.

See? How can anyone with any conscience fault someone in that situation? And with the rediculous cable rates it was just a matter of time before thar happened.

I personally think this whole problem is rooted in an entire country living above its means- or maybe the wealthy have stolen our means. At least I got some good rum.

[bionic_one]

Oh and everyone is broke but both emerald queen casinos have completely full parking lots. Back to my rum.

[The Quadfather]

Off-topic section.... best part of any forum!!

[sickbayer]

i was recently unemployed for 6 weeks this year after working as a pile driver for 8 years it was a shock to say the least. This one guy wanted me to test out in a perticular piece of equipment during an interview, i said sure, but before i got on that piece of equpiment he opened his mouth and said going rate is 13 to 18 bucks an hour. I said thanks for wasting my time. This interview is over. (i think you have the right to turn down jobs if the rate is less then 25% of last job not sure tho) Companies are jumping on a band wagon and saying they can only afford this kinda money well that maybe true but i aint going to be the douche to go and do it as i believe it lowers the pay for others doing the same job. That said if gas dropped to a 1.50 a gallon and houses were even cheaper and health care was free you can manage on 13 an hour. I dont know anyone with a family you can survive on 13,14 or 15 bucks and hour. To have any kinda of decent life with respectable health care in MHO you need to at least make 25 an hour, and i come up with this number as it allows some kinda of saving plan too.

Bionic one i concur living above our means. Take the explosion of technologies; where as the old TV tube lasted years and could be bought easily with cash most people got store cards or visa to get the latest 2000 dollar flat screen but wait they now have 3D tv's to boot too. IPOD's, genration 1 through whatever number there is all cost hundereds yeat people keep updating. Just look at the now humble PC so fast now it can run the enterprise without captian Kirk, hard drives where 500 dollars for a 1TB now you can get 2TB for 100bucks. My media center can run 16gigs of ram it dont need it but it can. The few are making un accountable $$$$ from the sheep that we are, part of me is ok with it. Personally i like working for the man but that man best be taking care of me, but really all a man wants is a roof over is head, food in his belly and a JOB that can pay for it... is that too much for a guy to ask for......?

[Marc Martyn]

We may be seeing a new normal in the employment field. Companies have been cutting back on employees and finding out that they can get by with less people. Also, they are finding that people will settle for less money and benefits. Wages and benefits may be going down.

I have two friends that were laid off last year. They found out later that the company hired on people after awhile and of course, they didn't have the same wages or health and sick leave benefits.

[Anonymous]

Yep that happend to me about 2 years ago. "Corporate Re-oganization" they layed me off and the next day they started a guy for 1/3 of my salary. Now if we were in GB for them to do that they would have had to give a years severance. As it was I was lucky to not have the door hit me on my way out. A fine way to thank someone that was on call 24-7 and believe me they never hesitated to call, any time. I can't even count the number of times I saved the exec's bacon or the business for that matter. Postponed and canceled fishing trips because some got a great idea. Calls on Sat or Sun that just couldn't wait, I came off the water or off the course like a good little 8!itch, most of the time for something really stupid. One that comes to mind was comming off the water and going to the office to help, only to find the copy machine/printer had been unplugged. Could they pick another machine? Hell yeah.
Nothing like being tossed aside like a half eaten sandwitch.

[Gringo Pescador]

Been at the same company for 20 years. Last spring they told us "no more layoffs this year". Then not more than 2 months later they outsourced our whole organization. We had the option of interviewing for our jobs with the outsource company. I interviewed, and was offered my job at about 1/3 less in pay/benefits. I turned em down and they were shocked. They were so sure that I would follow along that they never even questioned it and ended up without anyone to do my old job. I was lucky though, wife still working and supportive of me taking a chance, and my situation qualified me for the TRADE Act, which would have paid my UI and school for 2 years plus a weeks pay for each year of service as severance if I did go out the door. About a week before I went out the door I found another job in the company. So I was saved by the skin of my teeth I guess. Now, three months later, they still call me asking questions about my old job - funny how fast I can forget that stuff
All of my career, I have put the max allowable into my company 401K and had a small emergency fund on the side. Since then I have increased the emergency fund and added a little extra by buying CDs. I now have 12, one for each month and when they come due, they (+ the interest) automatically re-up for another year. I figure this way, if I do end up out of work, I still have a steady income for a year.

It has been so long - I can't even imagine what it takes to get a job. I (so far) have been very lucky, though I honestly don't think it will last until I retire, so I am just hanging on as long as I can.

[Gonefishing]

This is what I'm kind of going through right now. My hours have been greatly reduced and the company I'm with is about to fold up for multiple reasons. And because of this my salary has been reduced as well. So to even the keel at it is I've cut back where I can and taking the unemployment route to help compensate. I'm tired of living off the government and sponging off my dad and inlaws to make ends meet. But my saving accounts and retiremet accounts are getting smushed due to the no-real-job-issue issue.

I had an interview with another company and the interview was going pretty well until they asked what my salary expectations were. I tossed my base number out and the guy acted like he was going to have a heart attack. I thought my figures were very reasonable for the field.

The hiring manager repeats my number about 5 times offers some number in the middle or about of mine, and then said he can't budge from that number saying "thats the maximum I can go". I was thinking dude "I didn't drive all they way here to play number games and to be told you really like me and my resume besides...... my brother is a waiter at a restaurant in Seattle and he's making double what you just offered me. My friend cleans rat cages on a daily basis and makes more than that number you just dropped down... you are nuts." Mind you the number I tossed at you was still low in my opinion. The number was better than the amount I was making currently (it was a family owned business til a couple of years ago, and I didn't feel that it was right to walk away it prior to the sale) an individual we had employed at one time hired was now making almost double what I'm making, and I'm doing more tasks than that individual ever has done. Anyways the hiring manager tried to use guilt and pressured me to make a decission at that time. I said no I'd like some time to think it over... even though the answer was going to be no thanks.

Now you might be thinking, well if company was sold why weren't you retained. They didn't want the employees or the expenses they wanted the assets only. Problem is the new owner in it's current status is also cutting back payrolls and employees so I'm not alone in this trainwrecked economy thing.

I've done the foot pavement stomping thing, the contacting the owners' when possible thing, mass emailing thing, writing a letter thing, going in person approach and several months of 20 - 30 hours a week of doing that you get tired of the rejections because they keep saying "sorry no openings and until the markets change we won't have any...." I've thought that the problem was my resume so I re-did it and then had a professional do it... what a waste of $200.00 that was because my version has actually got some responses just not the one I want.

Do I enjoy taking unemployment: No. I've had a job or been steadily employed more or less since I was 12 with a paper route and not working at a steady job is driving me nuts. What I don't get is the politicians saying that we/I am taking advantage of the unemloyment check and would prefer to live off of the government. Sorry Mr. or Mrs. Politician person but that Unemployment check doesn't even pay my mortgage let alone a rent at the apartment complex I use to live at.

So here I am stuck between a rock and a mountain. I hate sponging off the goverment, I hate being unemployed, and I can't believe I just vented here... Oh well.

[dicinu]

I am still having issues with companies charging their normal high rates and paying the workers the least they will take! This all goes back to greed!

I have not been laid off I moved here because of a job which was my choice to move. I knew nothing about washington other then the fishing and hunting other then that I knew seattle was a city and I never had a desire to visit it on my own. but we changed to move here for a better life and Las vegas is doing way worse then Wasington is thats for sure. I just hope everything works out for those who were laid off. and on the bright side knowing how to fish can feed you.

[racfish]

I hire people when I can and when I'm in need of help. When I get a resume by email it goes in the recycle bin immediately. Maybe I'm old fashioned but if a person cant come to my shop in person then I wont hire them. E-Resumes are not personal.Its a lazy persons way to apply for a much needed job.I deal with a high end clientelle. If I cant see who I'm hiring then I just wont bother.As an employer I expect people to show up and fill out an application.When a person shows up it tells me they seriously want a job.JMO. E resumes might make it so you can collect unemployment payments but I doubt it will land you a job.

[flinginpooh]

Well rac if your hiring people from apps then your one of the few. Its not that I dont want to get up and go look for work its that it seems that is not todays trend. When I got my last few jobs I saw an ad in the paper. You drive to the location fill out an app. Wait for the interview and the personal meeting then you get hired. Well not how it is now. The ads have links to the company website or to an online app. You fill out the app and then nothing in return. My guess is that those apps are ran through software looking for keywords to be passed along. You dont have the right keywords or enough of them it prolly dosent get seen by real eyes. Now if you hire people all the time you say, or if any of you are hiring, and are in need of someone that has 12 years Telecommunications skills and 4 years of 12v electronics installation under his belt, my Im box is open.

[saltyseadog]

i couldnt of said it any better. Being in the lumber industry (forklift driver) and the housing market in the crapper im hanging on by a thin thred. we have went from 49 to 17 employees in 5 years. iv been laid off during the past 2 winters:-({|=

I hire people when I can and when I'm in need of help. When I get a resume by email it goes in the recycle bin immediately. Maybe I'm old fashioned but if a person cant come to my shop in person then I wont hire them. E-Resumes are not personal.Its a lazy persons way to apply for a much needed job.I deal with a high end clientelle. If I cant see who I'm hiring then I just wont bother.As an employer I expect people to show up and fill out an application.When a person shows up it tells me they seriously want a job.JMO. E resumes might make it so you can collect unemployment payments but I doubt it will land you a job.

[Bodofish]

I hire people when I can and when I'm in need of help. When I get a resume by email it goes in the recycle bin immediately. Maybe I'm old fashioned but if a person cant come to my shop in person then I wont hire them. E-Resumes are not personal.Its a lazy persons way to apply for a much needed job.I deal with a high end clientelle. If I cant see who I'm hiring then I just wont bother.As an employer I expect people to show up and fill out an application.When a person shows up it tells me they seriously want a job.JMO. E resumes might make it so you can collect unemployment payments but I doubt it will land you a job.

Well RAC I'm sorry to say you're a dying breed. I couldn't get a job in my field if I banged on a hundred doors. It's so much more effecient for employers to collect resumes electronicaly go through them, then decide who they are going to interview. There is always that all important visual face to face and interview, it's just in a different place in the process.

As far as unemployment is concerned, you can apply online all day long and it doesn't mean a thing. You must have three in person job contacts a week to qualify. It's not very much and if you aren't doing a lot more than that, you probably aren't going to get a job.

Now days if you want to find a suitable job it takes several hundred online and in person contacts a week to get to the people that are hiring. It's just the way it is. If you're not finding employment in a few months, it's time to go back to school and get more training. It's that simple. Experience in most fields is no longer an automatic in, eudcation, certification and experience. If you don't have the three, your resume probably won't get looked at. Now days if you want to get hired you have to really want to work. If you've been out of work for a while, you're going to have to take a pay cut. It's just the way it is. Once you are working a lot more doors will open up to you. many companies will not take a chance on someone who is not working. If you're already working you must be all right. I'm not saying it's right, it's just the way it is.