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Posted on 02/20/2010 6:17:52 PM PST by ricks_place
BUENA PARK, Calif. — Even as the American economy shows tentative signs of a rebound, the human toll of the recession continues to mount, with millions of Americans remaining out of work, out of savings and nearing the end of their unemployment benefits.
Economists fear that the nascent recovery will leave more people behind than in past recessions, failing to create jobs in sufficient numbers to absorb the record-setting ranks of the long-term unemployed.
Call them the new poor: people long accustomed to the comforts of middle-class life who are now relying on public assistance for the first time in their lives — potentially for years to come.
Yet the social safety net is already showing severe strains. Roughly 2.7 million jobless people will lose their unemployment check before the end of April unless Congress approves the Obama administration’s proposal to extend the payments, according to the Labor Department.
Here in Southern California, Jean Eisen has been without work since she lost her job selling beauty salon equipment more than two years ago. In the several months she has endured with neither a paycheck nor an unemployment check, she has relied on local food banks for her groceries.
She has learned to live without the prescription medications she is supposed to take for high blood pressure and cholesterol. She has become effusively religious — an unexpected turn for this onetime standup comic with X-rated material — finding in Christianity her only form of health insurance.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
simple solution.
the US should leave...
Iraq
A’stan
Germany
Japan
Korea
Columbia
and a hundred other countries
And Goldman Sachs. Employment is a non-issue, the only thing important is that Goldman Sachs has enough of their people in positions of political power, regardless of party, to insure massive profit.
President Obama created the “Bipartisan National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform” to provide cover for a tax increase. The Obama tax increase will be the coup d’grace for jobs in the United States.
That's easy! One that is designed to break the middle class and end American Liberty.
Not happening.
I call them the "Government mandated poor" and am quite able to hold the validity of that assertion up in debate.
“I hope you never are challenged with losing your job.”
Some people lose their jobs but they search within themselves and find another, even if it pays less than what they want. Others simply wait for things to get better. Obama is counting on them.
Did you even bother to read the article?
and that will inspire people to create or look for a job?
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Would be interested in a general synopsis of your experience and what you learned from it. I am approaching 55 and have survived several downsizings, but they never seem to stop...
It is very hard for males and females, educated or not, to get jobs if you are over 50. This is not a good situation we are in and there is no end in sight. Never would I have thought that busting my back end since the age of 17 would result in my current situation. Worst of all, is listening or reading the comments from people who have no clue.
We get 5 million or so troops under arms and everything is changed.
You're mustering a private army five millon strong? Really? How's that coming along for you?
did you?
Extending unemployment insurance to three years is not encouraging people to be realistic and retrain, or take lower paying jobs. It’s popular, but I’ve personally seen several people I know decide just to hang on to it as long as possible and enjoy extended free time.
Anyone that thinks that things are goung to get better is living in a fool’s paradise. For the economy to gey better three things have to happen: 1)Abolish the EPA.2) Get obama and the Democrats out of office. 3) Cut taxes. I do not believe any of the three will happen.
Indeed. I am unemployed because my department was closed....I must be a welfare bum.
(I will not verbalize my thoughts of people who think this way)
I went down the Alice in Wonderland Rabbit Hole in 2002-2003 after the triple whammy of the 2000 Recession - followed by 911 and then topped off by the Corporate scandals - Enron and others... Self employed, I lost all my customers, became near homeless... only by a bare inch... This is what I learned....
In finding a job - appearances matter. My total luck in finding another professional job after some 500 job applications later was secured because I worked at looking and appearing younger than my years...
There was no indicator of age on my resume - none put on the job application. I stripped out dates of college, high school, previous employment... I only put the last 10 years of professional employment. Practice creative writing...
If you are only going in for an interview - and they ask for a drivers license - tell them you were in a hurry and forgot it — you’ll bring it next time.
My advice - keep physically fit - constant battle for me... Over dress a little bit for the interview... They say ‘casual’ is Okay - then show up in a nice blazer - open collar. Don’t ever say anything boasting or negative... Be professional and neutral...
Never - ever mention politics period... The gatekeepers are young and likely liberal - but you can’t always be sure...
Keep the resume short - last 10 years - capsulize your over all talents, skills and abilities in a paragraph... Mention a few successes in your past employment - how you helped the employer.
Don’t put any references unless you know for certain what they will say... Prime your references - if possible - with a paragraph or two outlining what you actually did when employed there - specifics that relate to the new job... drop a hint - only a hint that getting this job is really necessary - depends upon how well you know them.
If you have gaps in your 10 year record — then be creative - but don’t go overboard. I actually had an old buddy - who was also unemployed - trying to run a business out of his home - vouch for me working in that ‘gap time’ doing something that seem plausible... I did the same for him... Be careful and prudent here...
If you are gray ... dye your hair - even and especially your eyebrows... YES - that is what I said. It can be done cheaply and progressively... tell your family and friends why - you’re getting past the gatekeepers. If they want you to get a job - then they won’t razz you for it... You can do a good job of dying your hair cheaply... Go to a beauty supply store - get stuff women use - not the crap they sell for men.
If at all possible don’t take jobs at WallMart, Dollar Stores, etc. - if you can help it... Why? ‘Cause if you fall into that lifestyle - you’ll never get out.
And working 40 hours a week at a dead end low pay job leaves you no time to work at getting a real job. Work part time instead - no more than 20 hours per week - mow lawns - clean out garages - on your schedule .... You must spend 20-30 hours a week or more finding a real job.
Network if you can - it is not easy these days with so many people protecting their own job... But try to find someone - on the inside...
Volunteer at some kind of non profit... I did with Habitat for Humanity ReStore (a type of ‘Thrift Store’ for building materials). This will help your self esteem and the right kind of outfit will allow contact with people - make new friends helping them — I did - got one temporary job out of it... plus I put it on my resume - sounded pretty good. And I got a darn good reference from the ReStore Manager which helped greatly .
I could go on for pages — but for now....
Been there more than once. Ended up starting my own company and now have other peoples mortgages depending on me. Now that’s stress!
These are the tough times for believers to apply the faith and declare the promises of scripture that the Lord will provide for the needs (by whatever legitimate ways) lest his people slink down with no hope. Believers rely on the ‘hope and change’ from the Almighty-—not the windy words of Obama!
Great stuff. I’m in my 30’s and it’s scary out there already.
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