The job I lost
I was working at a computer supply warehouse as a sales rep. I went out on disability when I had to have knee replacement surgery on both knees and after rehabbing from the surgery I was told that my the company had down-sized and my job was gone. I have been unemployed since July of 2007.
What it's like being unemployed
It is terrible having to depend on handouts from friends and our church. We cannot plan ahead since we do not know what money will be coming or when it will arrive. Most of the time the money is spent before we even get it.
We have old cars which seem to know when to break down just when we think we will have some extra money. I hate having to tell my kids "no" all the time or "we cannot afford that". I have 2 college degrees and still cannot find full time work, so I am forced to doing part time work at fast food places since they are the only jobs to be had.
It is very demeaning. We get treated by other people as though it is our fault that the company had layoffs, as though we should have known that they would do this before I went to work there. Others we thought were friends act like we deserve to be broke all the time, like we must be stupid or lazy not to have another job by now. Even in the interviews I have had, I find that I have to downplay my college degrees to be considered for jobs which I am way over qualified for and still cannot get an offer.
Advice
- Take it one day at a time
- Just get out of bed and see what the day holds
- Try to stay positive
- Surround yourself with friends who can help you keep your spirits up
- There is no shame in doing a job which you are over-qualified for. Work of any kind is still work.
- Do not rely on public agencies for help. My experience with my state OVR agency has taught me that they are woefully un-aware of how companies hire these days and have no idea what skills are marketable in this economy.
- Don't waste your time posting your resume on the Internet. I have never heard of anyone ever getting work this way.
