Unemployed. Proud. Looking.

A Conversation at 15 mph

Dear Mr. President,

Todd and I went cycling yesterday.   It was 77 degrees and for October, we knew this was rare and possibly one of the last great road rides of the season.  We geared up, clicked our shoes in our pedals and took off with the rest of the cyclists on the W&OD trail in Virginia.

Todd is unemployed.  He was laid off several months ago by his employer. Downsized.  He made over $120,000 a year.  Now, he's collecting unemployment-- his income is 20% of what he made, he has child support, and rents a room in a townhouse.     He is 50 years old.  I don't think Todd thought this is how he envisioned his life 5 years ago, much less 2 years ago.    The American Dream is certainly not a reality.

I asked him, "How's the job search going?" He said that he has not seen any opportunities in the last three weeks.   He applied for an amazing management job at a local credit union over three weeks ago and he has heard nothing.  Nothing.    He is shocked about that.

I'm not.  And told him why.  The job search is no longer human.  The Internet has removed any human interaction from the process.  We are graded by our resume's key words.  You are granted an interview if your key words match up to the algorithm set by the database system and only then, you MIGHT get a preliminary phone call from some random person that is not associated with the company.    

Who created this system?  HR? Because they were overwhelmed with resumes?  Phone calls? Mail?  It's a terrible experience from the job seekers viewpoint. 

I love this in the ads-- "Do NOT call US. We will call you if interested."  It's like a bad blind date experience.  It's like the book, "He's just not that into you."   What makes me laugh is that I'll get a "Thanks but no thanks" email 6 months after I applied for a job that I don't remember.  And I love that they tell us our resume will be in their system for a year and not to apply again.  Wow. 

So what do you do?  Todd and I have done it all. We have told our network of friends and family that we are seeking a job.  We have attended job fairs, and we have gone to business networking events.   The general response and feeling we get from others is that they are trying to hold onto their job because their company is about ready to hand out pink slips.  Everyone is out for themselves.

And we are too.  Let the games begin.  It's going to be a loonng game, like Chess.  It's all about strategy. 

As the sun begins to set and our legs start to tire, we realize we have been talking for an hour about the unemployment, the economy and his kids.   Funny, the last thing on our minds is health care reform. 

For an hour and a half, we were free from the news, from the job search, from our bills, from our depleting bank accounts. We were free.  Happy.  Joyful.  Nature rejuvenated our souls, if only briefly. 

For the first time in 5 years, we have decided to try cycling through the winter season.  It seems to be the place to find peace for now.  The other option would be to pack up, hitch hike to a nice warm island, and serve rum drinks to the tourists all winter.  We just need someone to purchase our plane tickets.  Any takers?

Signed,

3AM in VA

Edison, Lightbulb. The Job Hunt: Going Back to School

Last September 2008, my mortgage company basically closed it's doors and I was out of a job.  I was happy because the daily 3 hour round trip commute would be gone, I would save on gas, and I could look for a job closer to home. 

I sat down with my extended family and discussed the options.   It was no longer "what I wanted to do" with my life, as the discussion often revolves around those in their 20s, but instead, what jobs are readily available and what skills do I need to qualify.  It's a very different perspective but I knew I needed to REINVENT myself.

Nursing.  That was it. There is always a demand for nurses so I decided, why not!  I'm open to change, to better things and well, this degree would always have me employed no matter where I lived.  I was excited.  Thrilled.

I visited  all the area community colleges and universities gathering tons of material. I attended information sessions and chatted with advisors.  I studied the course classes and scheduled out how quickly I could graduate and get a job.    I spoke with nurses in the field for advisement and guidance.  I tried to get into a hospital "be a nurse for a day" program too. 

I had a focus.  I felt good.

Here's what I discovered...

1. I had to go to school full time.  Hurdle #1.

• Northern Virginia Community College had offered an online program from home but due to budget cuts, it was no longer an option.  Egads. 
• I still had existing expenses to pay each month- mortgage, food, credit card debt, etc... who was going to pay for that? I was single. No husband either. No savings

2. The program duration would run 18 to 24 months. Hurdle #2

• My college degree was helpful but "too old"  No matter what school I looked into, I would have to retake up to 4 classes before I could even APPLY for the nursing program.  And due to timing, the absolute earliest I could even apply would be the Spring of 2010.  That was almost 1.5 years away in 2008.
• Now I was looking at a graduation of 2012 or 2013.  This is suddenly becoming almost a 4 year adventure. I would be almost 44 years old before I graduated.
• These prerequiste classes were not for working adults. They were designed for full-time students who could take classes during the day.  Again, how could I work, take classes, and pay my bills?

3.  The cost of the program would be around $10,000 - $12,000. Hurdle #3

• Pretty cheap considering, actually.  But where to get the money? Loans? Grants?
• Maybe work at a hospital in another capacity and have THEM pay for my education. In turn, I would agree to work for them for xx years after graduation.  Bummer deal- I used LinkedIn to find a job in the local hospitals.  The recruiters all told me they were on a hiring freeze for non-medical positions.  And still are, btw.
• I applied for non-medical jobs throughout the area-- going directly to websites, through recruiters, job boards. You name it.  Not many jobs.  And I didn't have any medical experience.
• I was offered a $1000 scholarship.  Awesome. But I still had daily life expenses.

4.  The starting pay after passing the State Exam, about $45,000. Hurdle #4

• I can do basic math... my living expenses at that time were $3000 month.  Manageable but I would be living in poverty. Poverty?  At 44 years old? 

Now, I was not so excited.  My extended family was worried too.  I realized that the nursing program is not really designed for people like me in a situation like this. I needed to  find another alternative.

Back to the job hunt.  I knew I would need to work full-time in order to go back to school, no matter what technical skill degree it was. So my priority was GET A JOB.

I'm still applying for jobs.  This is crazy.  Seriously.  Don't you think?  Am I missing something?  Well, I'm not giving up.  I won't give up until I'm dead.  And I plan to live a long time. 

I think of Edison... it took him over 20,000 times to invent the lightbulb.   It's time for me to invent my own lightbulb.  I can say the nursing idea was one of the 20,000. 

Time to eat. That ham sandwich. I think I'll toast it this morning with cheese. Yum.

Signed, 3AMinVA

Ring Ring, "My Status Has Not Changed"

I'm at my desk, looking for jobs online and the phone rings.  Ah, I know who it is. I put on a smile (you know that by smiling before you answer the phone, it is reflected in your voice?)....

Me: Hello?
Pause, the autodialer has identified a phone pick up and there is a transfer to a HUMAN. I wait....

Voice: Hi, 3AM?  Is this 3AM in VA?
Me: Yes, it is.
Voice: How are you today?
Me: Great, you?
V:  Good. I'm Bob from XXX calling about your credit card account.
M: Yes.
V:  Your account is past due and we would like to bring the balance of $1500 current today.
M: I am not able to do that.
V: Why not
M: Well, if you read the account notes from your call yesterday, my status has not changed.
V: Oh, let me look. Hmm, I see. You are still unemployed?
M: Yes.
V: Are you collecting unemployment?
M: Yes.
V: Well, can you make a payment.
M: No. My unemployment only covers my mortgage payment.
V: Do you have savings?  A 401K? A friend? Family? A husband?
M: I have been unemployed for a year.  There is no more money. I've gone through it all. Even a loan on my insurance policy.
V: Wow. Really?  Oh, I'm sorry to act so surprised. Are you looking for a job?
M: Of course.  Everyday. Are you hiring?
V: Um, no.  So when will you get a job?
M: If I knew that, I'd be ecstatic and you would be receiving my payments.
V:  I see.  Well, have you signed up for our payment plan?
M: You have offered that everyday and I don't qualify. I have to have a positive income flow to fit your model, and I don't. And the min. payment you require each month auto debited out of my account is too much.  My priority is shelter, food, and then everyone else. And, besides, you won't give me a payment that I can afford. I've asked several times.
V: Ah yes. I can see that in the notes now.  The federal govt mandates this minimum payment % and there is nothing we can do.
M: Is there anything else you need today from me?
V: No. But know that your credit is being affected and the calls will continue.
M: Of course. I understand that.
V: Well, have a good day. You are so positive for being in your position. Thank you for not yelling at me.
M: Why would I yell?  I'm doing everything I can to get a job and pay my bills.
V: I see that you had a perfect credit record with us for over 5 years.
M: I know.  No income + Expenses = trouble.  There is nothing I can do right now. But I promise to pay when things get better. Have a nice day.

I hang up.  I'm grateful. They won't call again all day.  So I can have peace.  But I know tomorrow will come, as will the phone call.  I tell them...

"The status has not changed." 

It's 3AM, Mr. President, Are You Awake?

It's 3:15 am actually. Or it was a few hours ago.  A few cups of coffee and I stumbled on to this idea to keep my sanity during these "economic times."   I'm tired of listening to the talking heads on television about our economy, our unemployed, how the stock market is thinking about going up, how we all need to "hang in there," blah blah blah.  It's time I had a VOICE. A say. I have no idea if anyone is listening or will listen. This blog is really for me.  It's all the thoughts that roll around in my head before I walk out the door, log online, or network with people... to FIND A JOB.  Virtually ANY JOB.

This blog is also for everyone else.  If you are employed with a job you hate, read this. If you are employed with a job you love, read this. If you are retired, read this. If you are unemployed, read this.  If you are the media, read this. If you are breathing, read this.    If you are the President of the United States, read this.  This is real.  This is not fiction. This is happening 30 miles from your doorstep, Mr. President, in Northern Virginia. 

Will I survive? Yes. but not without getting my word out to the masses.  The unemployed need to be heard, not talked about. Employers and HR companies should visit our side of the employment game.

Dear Mr. President,

Today, The Morning Joe Show was on T.V. talking so "gravely" about the UNEMPLOYED. Yes, I can relate. Sadly.  Humorously. Angryly. Tearfully.  The talking heads went on and on about "what the unemployed" are going through.  Um, the talking heads are employed. How do they know what I am thinking?  I do want to thank them for reminding me of my blight by telling me about me, unemployed:

They are living in a horrible state.  They can't get a job, only "gigs."  Their age bracket is making them unmarketable. They are one of millions of Americans. 

Thanks for the enlightening discussion.  They shake their heads in sadness, as if they are attending a funeral.  They go to a commercial break. Wow.   I won't look to them for the boost of confidence.   I sigh, roll over on the sofa and think of my game plan for the day.   How did this happen to me?  I turn off the television. 

The happiest breathing soul in my house is my dog. He's actually snoring because he sleeps in.   He LOVES my unemployment. He gets to see me every day, go on long walks, and eat delish dog food.  I have not told him that he is now eating the .50 cent can wet dog food, sprinkled over the $3.99/bag crunchie dog food. A year ago, he was eating like a king.  And I, like a princess.  No longer.  Those days are gone, for now.

I have a fully stocked kitchen of gadgets that I collected over the years. They are gathering dust. There is no money to make glorious dishes of food, for leftovers, to share with friends, or even give tidbits to the dog.   Now, it's about the ham sandwich with cheese.  Shall I toast it for breakfast? Have it untoasted for lunch? Or double stack it for dinner?  I used to toss food away on a whim a year ago when I was "tired" of looking at it.

These are the days that I'm calling, "getting back to my roots."  It is the only way I can even come close to saying I'm living below the poverty level or so darn close to it I can feel it breathing down my neck and in my soul.  I try not to let it affect me emotionally so I take a deep breath and swallow hard. Push it way down deep and hope I don't burp it up on someone, or at a job interview.

I'm 41.  Female. Single.   I am college educated with 19+ years of sales, marketing, and administrative experience.  I'm well balanced, have friends, and own a townhouse in the suburbs of VA.   I'm NORMAL in all respects.  Except I the job thing.

I have applied for 100s of jobs, rewritten my resume a million times, have my own resume website with glowing recommendations, and even have started a consulting business on the side just to feel like I'm contributing to the greater good and bring in some cash.   I'm not a slacker. I'm not at home doing nothing or eating bon-bons.  I can't afford bon-bons! I volunteer, ALOT.  I'm out there. I'm networking. 

I've cut back in expenses so much, that even Suze Orman would be impressed.   I read a lot now. I'm learning new skills to become "more" marketable. I find FREE educational events to attend.  I follow businesses on Twitter, absorbing all I can. I even tried going back to school (see my other blog post about that!)

My cable tv service is FREE. By a fluke. I turned it off over a year ago because I could no longer afford the $120 monthly bill.  But it's still feeding to my home.  I'm not so sure that is a good thing because the news is pretty crappy these days. And I don't watch much television. I could take it or leave it at this point.  I do pay for internet connection though- it's my source of information and connection to the world. And for the job hunt.  These days, the only way to get a job is to a) know someone b) or submit resumes blindly through job boards and company websites. (more on that subject later). But those people I know aren't hiring.  Drat.

I honestly work everyday to live in the Law of Attraction.  Believe in Abudance.  Imagine having a huge bank account. Bills paid. Debt Free. 

And still, my bank account balance hovers closer to $0 than it does $500 on most days.   I have to monitor how much I drive because the gas money eats into my food budget.  I smile brightly at all the stay-at-home moms driving their Escalades around the Target parking lot. I'm not jealous or angry. Just wonder how well they would survive if their husbands were without a job.   Would they still be smiling, like me? 

I read the Washington Post Job section every Sunday. Reading about "new" ideas to get a job. Hey, wait a minute! Who is writing these stories? Employed people?  Recruiters? Human Resources?  Oh yes, they are people who have a W-2 paycheck.  My question is, how do they know about getting a job in these conditions? Have they been unemployed?  Maybe I  should be writing the column.  Hey Washington Post-- how about a side column from an unemployed person in the trenches.    We are all sitting at coffee shops reading a copy of your paper- it would be nice to know we are not alone.

Isolationism.  Welcome to the unemployed lifestyle in 2009.

Opps!  Time to run.   I've got to go put on my happy face.  I'm going to make $70 today from my consulting business.   I'm happy though. I get to leave the house and talk to PEOPLE!!! I love doing that.  But   I used to make $75,000 a year doing the same thing. I am humbled.

Signed, It's 3AM in VA