Officially unemployed

[RobertInOntario]

Wow, the job market has changed appreciably since the last time I had to go look for one. To be sure, I've been on both sides of a poor job market, a few times looking for work, and a few times trying to hire someone for a business that we started because I got fed up with the politics and drudgery of working for large companies. I felt badly when I wanted to hire one part-time secretary and about 150 people showed up for the job. I remember being jobless myself, mailing in resumes and just stopping by a business to fill out or drop off an application. I guess though, making a job out of finding a job was the thing that kept me going.

Good luck to you both, I wish you the best in finding a good job that you will enjoy doing.

Thanks, Don! I appreciate your encouragement.

Rob

[cn nutbar]

Hello Everyone---Rob,sorry to hear about your recent setback.Until I retired last year,I was employed by the City of Hamilton Social Service Department as a training co-ordinator/job search coach whose main prioity was to help individuals on social assistance return to the workforce.One of the biggest barriers facing many of my clients was low self-esteem and a lack of confidence in their abilities---once individuals were able to identify their strenghts and what they had to offer to a prospective employer,it gave them a much more positive approach in their job search efforts.With 22 years experience with your last employer you have much to offer.Above all,stay positive,determined and focused in your job search efforts---I wish you good luck.

[RobertInOntario]

Hello Everyone---Rob,sorry to hear about your recent setback.Until I retired last year,I was employed by the City of Hamilton Social Department as a training co-ordinator/job search coach whose main prioity was to help individuals on social assistance return to the workforce.One of the biggest barriers facing many of my clients was low self-esteem and a lack of confidence in their abilities---once individuals were able to identify their strenghts and what they had to offer to a prospective employer,it gave them a much more positive approach in their job search efforts.With 22 years experience with your last employer you have much to offer.Above all,stay positive,determined and focused in your job search efforts---I wish you good luck.

Thanks -- I really appreciate your encouragement. I am trying to be as positive as possible and also trying to hold up my self-esteem as well. That can be hard because it's a huge blow to my ego & self-esteem.

It's early days, but I do have a couple "coals in the fire" that could work out well. I don't want to say too much yet as it's quite early. I will say that both my wife & I are feeling much better and more optimistic today. I've been in a few meetings today and feel overwhelmed with helpful information (a good problem).

Now, I need to take a break and do something totally unrelated, like watching a movie or doing something train-related! ... as Kevin says, hobbies like this can really help keep our sanity.

Thanks again,

Rob

[nachoman]

An update here.

It's been nearly a year, and I've sent out around 150 resumes and applications, had a dozen interviews, mooched off of friends and family, had neighbors pay me cash to do miscellaneous work, and exhausted nearly all of my savings. My degree is in Geology with a touch of environmental science, and I've applied to companies that do environmental testing, water and resource management, and environmental compliance. I've even applied to legal firms that deal with environmental law or historical land research, and to places that test food for safety. But this week, luck finally paid off and I was offered a job - in fact, MY OLD JOB WITH THE STATE OF ARIZONA. I won't get into details as to why they rehired, but let's just say that certain tasks were no longer being done competently (or done at all), and a contract funding source came available from the game & fish department. So, it looks like as of next week, I will be managing surface water rights for the state of Arizona.

Happy Thanksgiving to me!

[ocalicreek]

Congratulations, Kevin!

Galen

[MasonJar]

Andrew

[Gary S]

KEVIN!!!

Best news I heard all day! I'm very happy for you and I am sure you've got to feel major relief. I couldn't be happier!

[doctorwayne]

Great news, Kevin. Congratulations.

Wayne

[P5se Camelback]

WOO HOO!

That's Great News, Kevin!

[nachoman]

thanks, guys. You know, I have been waiting 9 months to make that posting. Better late than never . And it is a huge relief. I bet I sleep 10 hours tonight! But most of all, I feel important again. I absolutely could not stand sitting at home, knowing I have knowledge and skills to be helping, but not having the opportunity to contribute.

So how did I celebrate? I helped my dad take a truckload of scrap metal to the recycling yard. I got to watch a guy in a big, yellow t-rex looking machine tear apart a suburban like it was a toy. Of course, that recycling yard is in the industrial, railroad, part of town - so that made things even more enjoyable. And after that, I spent the afternoon welding on my friend's ditch witch.

[deckroid]

Congrats!

I have also worked for a fickle state. When I was laid off from my IT job at a community college in Spokane,tried looking but tech jobs in Spokane in the early 90s were pretty slim, but they called me out of the blue and said that while my IT job went away they could hire me back in an IS capacity. Not nine months, mind you... but not having insurance and what not was keeping me up at night.

Well done, sir.

George

[cn nutbar]

Hi Kevin---an early Christmas present and a great way to celebrate Thanksgiving Day---I'm happy for you

[Dan85]

Congrats!

[Steamtrains]

Couldn't come at a better time...!! Congrats, and hope it's a LLLOOOOONNNNGGGGG time contract...

[Ralph]

EXCELLENT! Good for you Kevin!
Ralph