Job Searches in 2003 the Longest in 20 Years

Reuters ^ | Fri January 9, 2004 03:45 PM ET | By Jonathan Nicholson

[jayef]

More excuses. I see all kinds of people doing all kinds of jobs. Why would I be rejected? I can swab a deck as good as any immigrant. Are you suggesting that I would be discriminated against?

[Nowhere Man]

Yeah, I'm looking myself. I'm in the computer field myself, also know some web design, but I'm still looking and temping too. My grade school buddy is out of work too and we are looking into cleaning offices to get by at our end until things pick up. Still though, we must quit peeing our jobs away to foreign lands and bringing in illegals. I still like President Bush, but it has gotten rockier for him with me over this immigration issue. Due to the war on terrorism and I can't stand "Howlin' Howie Dean" I'll most likely vote for him this year. Still though, the GOP is in the crosshairs now and if they don't get the message, the Democrats can take back from us the things we fought for. I know it doesn't pay to whine about job loss sitting on one's duff while not taking any job to survive, heck, we have to survive somehow, but the issue is that we are in a world of hurt here and if things don't change, we will end up as a Third World nation or end up in Civil War II, i.e., the America we grew up in as we know it will cease to exist. We are at the crossroads here, either we get the economicback to where we take things from the Earth and make something of them, adding value to them, and us as well or we descend into a more socialistic system where people work part of the year with the government (us) picking up the tab like they do in France and Sweden. We are facing that reality and I don't like it. I wish I had 15 minutes to talk with President Bush, one on one. I don't know if it would do any good but at least I would have his ear.

[RightlySo]

Vannrox wrote:

"The profile of the hardest hit:

Age > 40 years. Occupation: Technical Education: BS+ Engineering "

Indeed. And that's me.

37 years old, previously the senior research analyst at an artificial intelligence software/consulting company. Company now bankrupt. I've been looking from coast to coast since August of 2000. Yes, 2000. I even looked into other countries (ie, Canada, Ireland). Superb references to offer, a sterling resume, top notch credit history, no criminal record, etc, etc.

So, I became a realtor. Haven't made a living at it after a year now. Hard business to start up and develop a reputation, even working for one of the local "800 lb. Gorillas" in the industry. (To state the rather obvious: real estate is indeed a reputation based business. If you are thinking of it, I highly recommend becoming extremely social with the peer group you wish to target and expect about a 1 to 1.5 year lead time.)

I'm now looking for convenience store work, Wal-Mart, etc.

Talked to a friend of a friend who put me in touch with a real, living human being "HR manager" at a large bank. She told me that as of this week, they are maintaining 1600 jobs that are open for placement, and 40,000 resumes. Obviously, only a smattering get read. The jobs go to the inside networked contacts first, then people like myself who are lucky enough to get a manager on the phone, and lastly, to the huge number of qualified applicants.

I'm going to likely finger my way through my "black book", make the calls, and assemble all of my unemployed programmer/analyst/CIO friends together and start a new company.

Anyone care to chat on the subject?

[Lael]

but the issue is that we are in a world of hurt here and if things don't change, we will end up as a Third World nation or end up in Civil War II, i.e., the America we grew up in as we know it will cease to exist.

Yes, it is rapidly approaching that point.

I STILL maintain that Bushco's so-called "lock" on reelection is a myth...especially since he committed an "IDENTITY LEVEL" Values Violation with his "Amnesty Lite" program.

Contrast this with Eisenhower's "Operation Wetback" [don't ZOT...that was the official AND legal name for it]...He put a Multijurisdictional Task Force [including MILITARY Units] on the border...deported in excess of ONE MILLION Illegals in just ONE year!!!

In my mind, Bushco will be back at his beloved "Crawford" ranch about 4 PM January 20, 2005.

And H*LL Will Freeze Over before ANYTHING LIKE THIS is attempted again!!!

[waterstraat]

Bush wants mexicans employed and given citizenship, he wants to spend a half trillion dollars in Iraq, yet he is doing nothing to get the jobs and factories back from asia, and does not want to give unemployed american citizens any extended benefits. The voters will clearly see this in 2004.

[Lael]

Bush wants mexicans employed and given citizenship, he wants to spend a half trillion dollars in Iraq, yet he is doing nothing to get the jobs and factories back from asia, and does not want to give unemployed american citizens any extended benefits. The voters will clearly see this in 2004.

Look at the States he lost or won by 10,000 votes or less...[we all know he lost the popular vote]...his neglect to the Home Front is appalling.

I'm not sure he can be reelected, especially if this new batch of charges that even before 9-11 he was fixin' to "DO" Iraq sticks.

[IDontLikeToPayTaxes]

How does anyone go 6 months without a job?

With a lot of beer and pizza rolls.

[waterstraat]

Look at the States he lost or won by 10,000 votes or less...[we all know he lost the popular vote]...his neglect to the Home Front is appalling. I'm not sure he can be reelected,

With the numbers of now unemployed, and with the absence of the gun issue(the democrats wont discuss gun control this year), all the close states will probably go to Dean instead of bush. I dont think bush will be the first president in history who lost the popular vote to get re-elected.

Bush will run on his record:

massive federal budget deficit,

massive balance of trade deficit,

falling US dollar,

millions of jobless,

war,

factories moving out of the United States,

terrorism a household word and terror alerts every day since bush got elected,

loss of world respect,

the illegal immigrants he wants to give jobs and social security and citizenship to, etc.

I could run against bush's record and win the election. If I can win, so can any democrat.

[dakine]

Trust fund? what is that?..I just can't fathom being without a job for 6 months...my "self-esteem" would be crushed...