Jobless Still - Any suggestions?

[Shari 6]

What do you do when frustration builds up and you just don't know what to do about it?

Keith is STILL looking for a job. He got his EAD the middle of January. He sits on the computer 6-8 hours a day, searches job search engines (he has lists of them he goes on daily), has many send him "job alerts" for which he fills out daily applications, has gone through 3 personnel/recruiting agencies that obviously only work for the companies paying them and has only gone on 2 job interviews via them, and has scanned the newspaper everyday sending off resumes that way.

Again, he was an engineer in England for 22+ years but without a BS degree, so that is his BIG problem here. He is not getting recruited for engineer jobs, but he realized this months ago and has been going for ANY job along his lines of experience. He has lots of supervisory experience and has been applying for Production Supervisor jobs, Mechanical Technician jobs, even Mechanical Assembling/Millwright jobs. He gets calls but then people say he is overqualified. They won't even let him try. He went on an interview for a mechanical assembler job making less than I do just to get his first in the door, and the man that interviewed him said he was really overqualified for the job and he needed to be in their engineering department, but there were no jobs opened then. I don't even know why they had him come in and interview if they knew they weren't going to offer him a job. But he gets this all the time.

He has had recruiters tell him to come in to their offices, fill out applications, and then he never hears from them. He has TRIED to get lower paying jobs. Some of the millwright type jobs require you to have your own tools. He doesn't, and we don't have the money to buy them. My mom and dad have helped us out as much as they can. I worry about finances and I worry about his state of mind with not getting calls, not having recruiters get back to him that say they will, and him being bored out of his mind, having a fried brain syndrome from being on the computer all the time, and feeling useless. UGH!

I know many, many people have been or are going through this right now. Sorry to be so long. It helps to vent. Any other suggestions? Thanks! goofy:

[Jenn! 918]

My husband just got a restuarant job, but without a degree and with shaky english, he didn't have many other options. I realize that would be a huge "step down" for your husband, but any work is better than no work, right?

[Jersey Girl 2]

He gets calls but then people say he is overqualified.

One technique is to have a stripped down resume he can submit to jobs he knows he's overqualified for. It can make him appear less experienced and qualified. Why list every single job in his history? Leave the long-play version for a CV if he's up for a fantastic position.

Age may have something to do with it. The older we get the longer it takes, quite often, to find the next adventure. If he thinks there may be some age discrimination going on, get rid of jobs on the resume going back further than 15 years or so.

If search engines and headhunters aren't working for him, go directly to companies he'd like to work for, via their Web sites. Many companies use internal postings only, so their jobs may not appear on public search engines.

Lastly, don't take this personally. It may seem that the world does not want to recognize or reward past achievements, but this shouldn't be a cue to internalize the frustration and think less of oneself.

Edited May 18, 2006 by Jersey Girl

[000OOO000 0]

Are you in a small town?

[Fandango 1,440]

Shari, don't laugh, but why not start an ebay business or soemthing?

[Shari 6]

Age may have something to do with it. The older we get the longer it takes, quite often, to find the next adventure. If he thinks there may be some age discrimination going on, get rid of jobs on the resume going back further than 15 years or so.

The problem is he has only worked for two companies in his life, and he was with the first one from the time he was 16 until his late 30s, so his two jobs go back to the late 1970s.

Thanks for the suggestions though.

[TracyTN 237]

I would try to get ANYthing here, even if its below his qualifications (or not even in the same field). That way, he is establishing a work history not to mention meeting new people. You never know who might know whom which could eventually land him a job more in line with his experience. People like to see someone who is willing to work, no matter what the job is. It shows they're likely going to be a very motivated employee.

Not to mention the fact that your finances would improve.

[ladybutterfly 0]

Have you tried looking for jobs on Craigs List? I found it alot more 'real' than jobs from these international websites like monster.com, etc. I got my job through Craigs List and I know others who have done the same.

[Shari 6]

Are you in a small town?

No, not at all. We are in Birmingham, Alabama, but after a couple months of not hearing anything, he has applied for jobs all over the southeast.

I would try to get ANYthing here, even if its below his qualifications (or not even in the same field).

He has tried, but after seeing his resume they know he is looking for something with them temporarily and no one is willing to hire temporarily. He has even tried the temporary services like Manpower and STILL has not gotten any response. And since we are older, , our legs/knees/back/bodies don't allow us to stand for long shifts like landscaping, restaurant work. It's not a cop-out, just the truth.

Have you tried looking for jobs on Craigs List? I found it alot more 'real' than jobs from these international websites like monster.com, etc. I got my job through Craigs List and I know others who have done the same.

I did give him that site a while back and will have to ask him if he is still checking that one out. Thanks.

[AnaAndDaniel 0]

Any chance he can start up a small business? either in his field or not.

Daniel

:energetic:

[KaiserD 12]

Hugs for you guys, I don't envy you. It took me forever to get a piddly job here, and I'm still in England!!

With the agencies you are with, don't forget to harass them often.

I agree maybe anything to start off with, as someone else said it will help get more friends and improve morale I hate my job, I realise I might have to go into the american version when I leave but at the end of the day I know it is a means to an end. I certainly won't be there forever

You guys sound very determined so I'm sure it'll work out. All the best to you

[govols 0]

I'm sorry to hear that Keith is still unable to find employment. I guess we were very fortunate that Tony found a job as quickly as he did. He went to the employment office where we live and was quickly interviewed there. He was offered 3 different positions. One was through a referral from my brother in law, one was through a referral from a friend of my mothers', and the other was through the employment office. He took the one that my mother's friend sent him to.

Is there a government run employment office there? What about a convenience market/grocery store? Tony sent in several resumes to places he saw online but didn't have much luck with them.

I'm sure you have already thought of every option but just thought I may offer a couple of suggestions.

Karen

[Shari 6]

Any chance he can start up a small business? either in his field or not.

Daniel

:energetic:

For one thing we have no $$$ to start one up. He has no credit yet. Mine is bad due to ex-hubby having our house foreclosed on that he was supposed to keep payments up on. Thanks for the suggestion though.

Is there a government run employment office there?

Karen

Yes there is, and yes he went in there back in February. He can check their web site every day which he what he does. Thanks for the suggestions.

[rebeccajo 14]

We are in a similar situation. Wes has a job to start in a little over 2 weeks, but it's hardly ideal. It's in a call center, which is what he did over there and loathed, and they are moving the operation to the next town up the road, which is about 35 miles one-way! We have one car, he doesn't drive, and we have no idea how we will manage the logistics. He is scrambling madly to try and find something else before then.

He's having more luck this week by actually pounding the pavement. He went to Kelly Serives this week and they were the first employment agency to really act like they care. He spent 3 hours testing. They told him his accent is not a problem for office or phone work, as it is pleasant (he has the knack of a 'phone voice' from many years in the call center - a bit less Irish but not stuffy BBC - lol).

Shari, if nothing else, have him get out with his resume. It will make him feel like he's DOING something. He will feel pro-active about it. He might stumble into the right office purely by chance. Wes went into Kelly only because he saw their sign - they have a client who called them that morning with an 'urgent need' that happens to be in his field. He has caught their attention purely because he walked in at the right moment and right time. Obviously we don't know how this will turn out, but sometimes this is how good stuff happens.

I know you are hearing he is overqualified. That happens for us as well. And Wes doesn't have a BS either - he has 2 OND's and an NVQ. But he has YEARS of experience. It all sucks. BUT HE CAN'T GET DISCOURAGED AND NEITHER CAN YOU - at least not permanently, beat-down discouraged.

I keep thinking that what our guys need to convey is that they would be GRATEFUL for the opportunity. That they would be loyal and do a really good job for the first person who gives them a fair, honest shake. I just wish i knew the words to put in his mouth that wouldn't sound like groveling......

[Flames9_RN 358]

My ex wife worked in the unemployment business back in Canada, I believe she still does. From what I recall, most jobs that are available are not even posted! One has to get out and hit the pavement, drop off resumes, try to make appointments with human resources. Sitting at a computer or reading the newspaper most likely wont cut it. They held seminars on how to job shop, and the people that attended them, were quite successfull at finding work for which they were qualified for. Best of luck