The Unemployed Persons Support Group

Yup, me. But truly, it is just a job.

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I was there for a year and a half after college. I finally gave up finding something in my field and just went to a temp agency, then was hired full-time through that this past winter. It's not my life goal, but it's a job, which is better than a lot of people have right now.

Graduating during a recession takes away the luxury of being selective.

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Blaaagh. I just had an extremely discouraging experience about a week ago (and have been through many more!) but I guess you just have to know that in a lot of ways, it's a crapshoot, and you can't kill yourself over trying to find the logic in how it all pans out. It's tough, but all we can do is keep plugging away. I've been floating around (working, thankfully, but not permanently) for a year and a half now. It's frustrating, but something's got to give. And skittles is right; look outside of your dream field right now. This isn't the climate in which to be picky.

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Updated On: 9/23/09 at 06:17 PM

I still am in the running for one other job, or at least I hope so. Maybe they hired someone...

It just seems that no matter what I do (networking, sending out résumés/cover letters, contacting temp agencies, exploring LinkedIn, constantly looking on company job boards and career websites, following up when I do have interviews and even sending thank yous), I am at a dead end. Even finding administrative assistant or office work has been tough. Good luck to you all in finding something.

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I tend to be very down on myself about the whole thing, because it IS frustrating; but I've had a lot of people tell me to look at every interview you have, every connection you make, etc. not as a dead end or wasted time, even if it doesn't get you a job. Think of it as practice, at the very least, or maybe of a connection that will come back to help you down the road. You never know what will happen in the future. If you even get so far as to get an interview, you're ahead of many (maybe even hundreds) of other people. If you get to go in for two or three interviews, you know you've made a good impression. You know you're doing something right. Trust me, I've been in that boat. There was a job I recently applied for that was perfect. I often feel really awkward being aggressive and I don't like to ask for favors, but I wanted this so badly. I felt like I did everything I could have done, and I didn't get the job. Point being, though, that you probably are doing everything right; there are just tons of other people who are, too, and so often, it's about timing more than anything else. And I just keep telling myself that eventually, the wall has got to come down. I know a different outlook doesn't change the circumstances, but try looking at it that way; a different outlook will at least make it feel less grim. It's tough out there, but try not to get discouraged; people can read that on you.

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Updated On: 9/23/09 at 06:48 PM

blaxx, you're probably not breathing heavily enough.

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Lol, Rath, I should practice more of that.

400 applicants? I'm glad at least I'm getting to the first stage - that's insane!

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Ugh, phone interviews are so awkward!

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And against the law.

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FYI, if you are looking for a job (or have one) be careful about your social networking sites/pages. Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and the like offer a plethora of information about you that an employer would normally not be able to ask or inquire about.

spidey you wrote:

"I was hired under false assumptions about my experience..."

I don't get that. Did you lead your employer to believe you had experience you didn't?

No no. I was under the title, "Patient Financial Service Rep." There are two verisons (for lack of a better work) of that title. One is the billing department and the other is admissions. The job I have now is on the admissions side but I have never done that. I was on the billing side of things and when the director hired me, she assumed I knew how to do the admissions side, and I don't. I just confused myself. Does this make sense? lol

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