Well, I never said I disagree with anyone, I just said I agree with a lot (not all) of things that Kevin said. What you said here makes sense, too. I just think this is one of those debates where no one is really wrong. There's some truth to every posts here except for the posts where nasty, unnecessary racial comments by Max were used.

I think folks here really missed the point
 

I noticed that a number of people here threw Kevin and Als412 (sp?) under the bus because they assumed that neither of them understood or accepted that there weren't any jobs available and both consistently said that there actually was jobs available, and believe it or not, they were right, and what they did not explicitly say, probably because it should have been a given was this:

MOST AMERICANS DO NOT KNOW HOW TO HUSTLE!!

Let me say this again:
MOST AMERICANS DO NOT KNOW HOW TO HUSTLE!!

OK, I understand that many companies are not hiring, and that a lot of the "McJobs" will not hire overqualified candidates, but let me ask you this:

Do you know how to clean houses, wash cars, mow lawns, sing, dance, pick up litter, shovel show, babysit?

Do you have a marketable skill, any at all? If so, you can find work. So you say businesses won't hire you, find individuals who will. Trust me, if you know how to sell yourself, you can never be unemployed. Understand this: Money does NOT disappear, it only gets transferred to those who know how to hustle or has a better hustle.

Folks really need to learn how to be creative in how to make money in these trying times. I tell a lot of folks that they need to think outside the box as far as making money. And yes, you can do it, you just need to step outside of your comfort zone and do what it takes to make it happen. And you know, if people like your hustle, they want to hire YOU, and when they want to hire you, you can call the shots without having to settle, because you're letting them know you're not desparate for money. And being able to do that is an awesome feeling.

Bottom line, it's a matter of:
- Capitalizing on an ability that you can market yourself with
- Knowing how to market yourself
- Stepping outside of your comfort zone.
- Doing the job like a pro and being noticed for your efforts

I have a podcast that delves on this in more detail. PM if you're interested in getting the weblink.

True, but I still think that if you want something bad enough, you'll do something about it, especially if you have other mouths to feed. No offense to anyone on here, but I'll bet there are some people who are unemployed (in general) and are complaining about not being able to find a job, blaming it on the economy, but yet are on facebook chatting with friends, rather than looking for a job.

My point is that citing "my friends in vet school have a part time job" as an example of the wonderful careers that people can get if they only try harder is ridiculous.

A lot of the "advice" being given may apply to a young person who can live with their parents or live in a studio apartment and eat ramen noodles and boxed mac n cheese everyday. It does NOT apply to a 40/50 something with a home, a car payment, and two kids to support who has a master's degree and who, until the past year, was gainfully employed for more than 20 years in their profession in a state where the unemployment rate is 14.9%. The military doesn't take asthmatics who have vertigo and high blood pressure. What would one do with their teenagers while they were in basic training, even if they did? When you work jobs like cleaning houses, etc, there are no benefits, hence, no health insurance, so when your child gets sicks, it costs more than a week's pay to get them in to see a doctor. Going back to school costs money. So now, in addition to the mortgage, car payment, food and kids' needs, you have to come up with money for tuition? Neat trick. For what it's worth, my department is hiring the following in the near future: phlebotomists experienced with drawing blood on kids and infants at about $10/hr, epidemiologists (masters or PhD with grant funding in place or pending), biostatisticians (Masters or PhD, recent grads welcome), and an experienced .NET web programmer. You could learn phlebotomy in the 26 weeks that you get unemployment, sure. The rest take YEARS of schooling.

We ARE in a crisis. I don't think anybody is saying that people should just be paid unemployment forever. However, until we pull out of this recession, the humane thing to do is to help people until they can get back on their feet. The number of people who show up at my door to see if I will pay them to shovel my snow each time we get a snow fall is incredible. I see people trying to do anything they can each and every day. There will always be some people who use and abuse the system, but this situation right now, today, is the worst it has been since the depression. Charities are overwhelmed, animal shelters are overwhelmed, small businesses are closing right and left. It's a crisis situation and there are NOT enough jobs for everybody who wants one.

Many of us who ARE employed have lost retirement matching, vacation time, have had no pay increases for a couple years now or have experienced pay cuts. Many who are NOT unemployed have had their hours cut. The amount of money available to spend on services has diminished. The things people cut out first are the luxuries: paying somebody to clean their house or shovel their snow, going out to eat, getting their nails done or their hair dyed, purchasing anything other than necessities, elective medical procedures, etc. This trickles down through the whole economy. When your unemployment rate increases to 15%, your tax base erodes leading to cuts in education (usually in the form of teacher layoffs), public servants, scholarship money, etc. It trickles further and further into every facet of our society.

*coming out of thread lurkdom*

I can haz signature? Plz?

*vanishes*

ETA:
Quit talking about me while I'm standing right here. :p

First, no one assumed anything, as the two gave enough "evidence" to remove all doubt.

Second, people arent literally meaning that there are ZERO jobs available.

And most importantly:
FISH ARE FRIENDS NOT FOOD!

FISH ARE FRIENDS NOT FOOD!


Yeah, the problem is that "skills" like cleaning house, washing cars, mowing lawns, picking up litter, shoveling snow, etc....those arent skilled positions...thats why in the past, low-payed, UNSKILLED laborers were hired to do those jobs. And since ANYONE can do these jobs anyway, people arent hiring "help" like they used to, its one of the first things that many cut back on.

I dont disagree with your advice, people need to polish their skills in this market.

I do disagree with the idea that its a snap to get hired if you really want to be.

The job market is brutal too. Even if you have expeirence, the next guy has more. If you have five years, with two at the management level, some will have ten, with four, and then people will think that you will never be satisfied with your position, and will always be gunning for the next (the person's who is interviewing you) job. Even if you're not, that is what they will think. Too much too soon can hurt your case. And people tend to hire within their own age group. If you look too young or too old, they will be holding out for another candidate.

I know right! I bet there are people sleeping...eating...using the bathroom...probably even BREATHING instead of out looking for work.

Showing such lack of discipline is why this country is where it is.....:rolleyes:

:o:)

Actually I do get your point...there defintely ARE people out there who could be trying harder...and trust me...when they get to the end of the Unemployment extension...they will be...but by then its too late.

As someone who was unemployed for almost 18 months at one point...its actually mentally unhealthy to NOT take a break from looking for work.

I had a lot of 18 hour days applying for everything, or going door to door downtown to find work and I was actually told that I needed to back off as I was driving myself crazy!

I'm seriously going to start looking for work while at work, and hustle myself. I mean it might be illegal to sell myself, but I need to make money somehow. OH! I can write ads on Craigslist for "companionship" while looking for gigs and selling my possessions. That's after I wade through 10,000 spam ads for jobs.

To Do List:
Pull myself up by my hooker boot straps.
Get "How to be a Ho" by Velvet Jones and all the books by Karrine "Supahead" Steffans via ILL
Get on Kanye's Workout Plan so I don't ever have to work at the mall again

This thread is a trainwreck for a whole 'nother reason...g' night

LOL...I LOVE Supahead!!!...I especially love how she initially thought her nickname was cool....lord have mercy

Glad I brought you a laugh :)

Forest for the trees, xp2k. The issue is not a matter of skilled vs. unskilled labor; the jobs I listed I was being strictly arbitrary to illustrate skills that many people know how to do. The issue is a matter of understanding that everyone has a marketable skill. Everyone. It is simply a matter of matching your marketable skills to the market who wants/needs your skills.

Simply put, take inventory of all the skills that you can sell. Market it. Use it. Make the money instead of waiting on it.

I never said that it was going to be a snap to get hired, especially if you neither know your market nor have a marketing strategy.