[kcvl]

What type of job are you looking for? What area?

BTW, you are in my prayers.

[Shannon]

Nick, don't despair. At least you only wasted one week on this job. Pat yourself on the back that you saw it for what it was before you put a month or more into it.
Go back to actively looking for work and your spirits will lift. Can you try looking a bit outside of your area? Don't give up. Remember, things always look darkest just before they break.

[Alberta's Child]

Prayers offered -- I know that being in that kind of situation can really break a man's spirit.

What is your background, and where do you live?

[IncPen]

Nick, I was in your shoes a year ago.

I had a similar situation with job placement firms - twice- after I fell for their ads.

I've been lucky in the last year to have found a new job and am doing even better than I was before I got laid off after 911.

The best thing to do, trite as it sounds, is to pick yourself up, dust yourself off and move on without looking back.

I don't know what line of work you're in, but a call to any former coworkers, email to family and friends and even a conversation with your pastor, if you have one, are ways to start over. I ended up where I am because I checked in with a friend the day they happened to get some work in... that led to a year of projects and now fulltime work.

It's unfortunate that there are people who prey on others' misfortune, but it's out there. Believe it or not, one day you'll be able to see the lesson in this; I did in my case.

My best message to you would be that you are valuable and you will succeed- no matter what it looks like today- and you must never, ever give up.

[dalebert]

Prayers on the way now. Your job is out there. Go get it.

[RJL]

Prayer sent, and good luck to you.

[mommadooo3]

Prayers up. BTW...toss the 'job hunt' in the LORD'S Lap. Just ask Him where the job is, that He wants you to have.

Sounds silly. But it works!

[spectre]

Nick, have you considered training in the Health Care Industry? There seems to be a huge need in most hospitals and Medical Science fields. Just a thought.

sw

[TonyInOhio]

I'll pray for you, Nick.

A couple of quick tips on your job search:

- Ask your contacts at college for advice and contacts. Let your instructors and the job placement people know about your prior experience

- Broaden your search to include jobs you may not have considered. Many companies need computer-literate people in sales and administration jobs

- Make sure your resume emphasizes what you know and can do, your skill set, and not just where you worked. Bad resumes usually get this backwards

- Be persistient and believe in yourself. That attitude will shine through!

Best of luck, Nick. Let us know of your success.

Tony

[BibChr]

I am trying hard to find a job in the area I live with no luck so far

My first thought is, "Oh? And how long have you lived in California?" (I'm a lifer -- so far.)

FWIW, in the first year of my marriage, I fell for a scam like that. A job that was looking for "managers," had a meeting in a hotel, had a slick presentation and high-powered guys, had all sorts of success stories -- gah, my cheeks are threatening to start burning as I write it. Anyway, it was just another MLM program, and I am SO not-put-together to succeed at such a thing.

But, God help me, I tried.

My point is we're all looking to get ahead, to do well, and that's what these groups and people sieze on. It's trite, but true: you live, and you learn. (Unless you're a Democrat; then you just live, and never learn.) My wife, God love her, was and has remained very merciful about it. She could have gotten a good decade's worth of ribbing, justly, but didn't.

So I learned. Now if I'm unsure, I would ask, "Is this a normal, salaried job? Are sales of any kind involved?" — and questions like that.

Unfortunately, while you can benefit from the experience of others, some of it you just have to get for yourself. Hang in there, keep looking. Everyone who has a job was looking for one before he got hired.

Dan

[Mr. Bird]

You have Freepmail.

[richardtavor]

Most of us have been through similar situations. It is easy to feel (or ask), why is this happening to me? I am an older person, and after seeing this many times, I have concluded that these are the times that prepare us for something greater. Keep your focus on G-d, and all things will come to pass. You will look back and see that this was really a fork in the road. I will pass on a word that I was given:

Lamentations are many, praises are few. The word of the Lord comes upon me, and says the Lord:

That that I am, I am not; and that that I will become comes slowly. For the flesh struggles with the Spirit. Be of good cheer, for the battle is won already. Strive after the spirit and not of the flesh, and listen to the word of the Lord.

I pray that G-d not only puts you in a job, but the job of your lifetime--and when he does, give praise to him. When we have emptiness, we either fill it with earthly things or spiritual things. May G-d bless you and your family!

[Alamo-Girl]

I join with the other Freepers here in praying for you to find the job you need and for peace and blessings!!!

[Auntie Mame]

The advice about calling all your friends and family and making sure they know you are searching for a job is excellent. I've rarely gotten a job that wasn't through that type of networking.

You'll be led to the perfect job at the perfect time. Please bookmark this thread and post about your success here when it happens and ping me. I want to celebrate with you.

Prayers, of course, are on the way.

And, finally, please don't put down door-to-door sales. You can make a TON of money doing it. It will teach you things you'll never learn any other way. Things like discipline and perserverence. You're not selling vacuum cleaners, you're selling YOU.

[mabelkitty]

Will pray, Nick, and maybe we can help?

Let's brainstorm and get you employed!

[Cate]

Nick- have faith the good Lord is lining up the perfect job for you. My husband went through this and he even took a job cleaning the pens at the local dog kennel. Then when all the pieces were set, he was offered a wonderful job that he is great at and he still does to this day. The job you were looking at must have been the wrong one or you'd have got it. Hang in there. God has his own timeline.

[diamond6]

Nick:

Adding you to my Liturgy of the Hours on a daily basis. Please let us know when the prayer is answered, because it will. God's timing is usually not our timing, frustrating but true. Fasting helps ALOT.

[tiki]

That is the wonderful thing about God, he can care for great needs and small and He cares about all of them. I will pray for you.

[Auntbee]

I know how you feel. My husband has been out of work since July of last year. It's tough out there. We're trying to keep the faith, too. Hope you find what you're looking for.

[beachn4fun]

Have you tried on-line? Monster Jobs.com etc? There are plenty jobs near Washington, DC. But when you search, there are many out in the Reston, VA, Chantilly, VA area. It might be a commute for you , but you and your future wife could possibly find a home in between job and WV. Good luck.