Please help the Jobless workers

[IrishLake]

I've been on unemployment since April of last year. I'm smart, experienced, educated, hard working, have a great resume and great references. Finally, after 15 months of being on unemployment compensation, I got a job offer and I should be starting next Tuesday. The job offer comes none too soon, because my compensation expired the last week of May. I've been living on a meager savings since then, that as of this week, is exhausted. We will have to borrow money until I start getting paychecks.

Kevin, it varies state to state. However, in Ohio, we have to contact 2 potential employers per week. That doesn't mean apply for, though. It can mean follow up with, call, e-mail, inquire about the status, etc. And yes, you have to keep evidence (I keep a journal, and save anything electronically). I would have been SOL a long time ago if applying for 3 jobs a week were the case.

I have a BS in environmental science, I've had 8 interviews since I was laid off, and 2 second interviews that did not lead to offers. Things are incredibly competative right now. I apply for jobs in my field, with little luck getting an interview (too much experience, not enough experience, too many job aplicants, etc). I apply for jobs in areas I have zero experience in, and I'm told I won't be hired because I don't have experience or a related degree. I apply for jobs bartending, waiting tables, working at Target, and I'm told I have too much experience. A friend of mine (who is a manager at a grocery store) explained it this way - They won't hire someone like me because:

A. They don't want to hire someone who will leave the job as soon as they get a "real" job offer. They don't want to waste time training me when I won't stay.
B. They don't want to hire someone they see as being "smarter" than them. The positions I have listed in my resume are intimidating.

Were it not for the amazing timing of this new job, I would be royally screwed. We'd lose our little starter house, my husbands car, and would probably have to move in with family. And asking for help like that is not something I look forward to. Asking for a loan from my in-laws to pay the bills, get food and pay for gas until I get paid is hard enough. I took this job with no questions asked, even though it will mean my children will be with a babysitter for over 14 hours for 4 days a week, I will have a 1 hour 20 minute commute each day, and we will evetually have to relocate.

Everything sucks right now. I still need help. Yep, I know it won't last forever, but it is a kick in the nuts that I no longer get any compensation, but people who were laid off a week before me are still getting assistance, because they made the deadline that I missed by a week.

I won't beleive I actually have the job until I'm there working. I still feel like they will call and rescind the offer.