Tom Delay: People Are Unemployed Because They Want To Be

[KSUViolet06]

I can agree with als just a smidgeon.

I have a Master's. I applied for ALOT of jobs after graduation.

Before I got the job I have now, my only option was a part-time position with crappy pay.

Did I want to be part-time with a Masters? Nope.

Did people have jokes because I had an M. Ed. and a part-time job? Yep.

Was I super happy? Nope.

But I did what I had to do until I found something better. I'd still be there if my curent job hadn't come along.

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

I can agree with als just a smidgeon.

I have a Master's. I applied for ALOT of jobs after graduation.

Before I got the job I have now, my only option was a part-time position with crappy pay.

Did I want to be part-time with a Masters? Nope. Was I super happy? Nope.

But I did what I had to do until I found something better. I'd still be there if my curent job hadn't come along.

If you lose a job making $50,000 a year, a $7-an-hour position isn't going to allow you to continue supporting yourself/your family.

And, again, many employers aren't hiring educated people for these jobs right now because they know that the employee will leave as soon as something better comes along.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

If you lose a job making $50,000 a year, a $7-an-hour position isn't going to allow you to continue supporting yourself/your family.

I'll admit that my situation is a bit different than say, someone with a family (I'm single and I have parents who would take me in if push came to shove).

Just putting it out there moreso to say that if you are unemployed, hang on. You never know what is around the corner for you. Just keep at it.

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by als463

Well, I graduated undergrad in 2007. I was hired in June of 2007, after going to interviews before school ended. Remember, that is when I took my civil service exams (Spring Break of 2007). That was my first "real" job where I was paid salary of about $24,000 (which was about $19,000 after taxes). I started graduate school in September of 2007. I left my job as a Caseworker in January of 2008 because I wanted to go from being a part-time graduate student to being a full-time graduate student.

Then, I applied to a job at a Juvenile Detention Facility, which paid about $7/ hour. I worked part-time as I attended graduate school full-time. I was hired around the end of February (I left my job as a caseworker around the middle of January). My boyfriend then got into school in New York and he moved to New York for the fall of 2008 to start school, while I stayed in our hometown to work part-time and finish my Masters until I got to my "thesis" portion of my degree. In January of 2009, I moved to New York (around the end of January), obviously leaving my job at the detention facility. I applied to about 40+ jobs and within 2-3 weeks, I was hired as a Counselor.

I worked as a Counselor until I started school in September 2009. I might go back and work over the summer there. If I don't do that, I'll be happy to flip burgers until school starts up again. Hell, I might decide I don't care for school and go back to working where I was working. We will see, but I don't get worried that I won't be able to find a job.

As far as people who aren't "passionate" about joining the military, I disagree. I wasn't "passionate" about it, but I learned some great skills and met some incredible people. I had the opportunity to build my resume while getting a chance to travel and serve my country. I didn't "LOVE" it, but I didn't mind it. Once again, that is no excuse because you don't have a "passion" for something.

Got it.

FYI -- 2007 =/= late 2008-2010. The country was not in the same state at that point in time.

And salary history makes a difference. Many employers now ask for salary history. Even if you leave off your additional degrees, the amount of money that you've made in the past makes a difference.

I lost my job at a large bank in 2008. I was making about $35,000 PART-TIME and had become accustomed to that lifestyle. When I was unemployed, I cut a lot of things out of my life and tried to get something to make ends meet. I was literally sending out 20-30 resumes a day, and would get only 1-2 callbacks every 2 weeks. At several places, I had connections on the inside, and the most common excuse for not hiring me was that I was overqualified and that senior management couldn't "exploit" me (for lack of a better term).

It wasn't that I wasn't trying. There weren't any places that were willing to take a chance on someone who they knew would leave the minute a better paying job came along.

Thankfully, I've found something since then, but I'm making less than what I was making. Even now, though, when I search for other jobs, they either want someone who has no degree or someone who has 10-15 years of experience.

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

I'll admit that my situation is a bit different than say, someone with a family (I'm single and I have parents who would take me in if push came to shove).

Just putting it out there moreso to say that if you are unemployed, hang on. You never know what is around the corner for you. Just keep at it.

I'm single with no dependents as well, and if it REALLY came down to it, my parents would take me in too. But this is not the case for the majority of job-seekers out there.

[als463]

Knight_Shadow, I agree. It can be tough. Keep in mind, though, that I just recently left my job in August 2009 (considering how recent you may consider that). Whether or not the country is in this economic slump, there are people who really don't try as hard as they claim they are trying.

Don't get me wrong, there are people out there doing what they can to find a job, but as a former caseworker and counselor I watched people play the system like some people play X-Box.

I'm glad you found a job. It sucks to be unemployed, but sometimes you have to take what comes your way, ya' know? I have also been working since age 14 (for a summer job, in PA it is legal).

There are other options out there. I remember how fresh out of college, I honestly applied at a Wendy's for a management position. The guy hiring me looked at me like I was crazy as he said, "You graduated from such-and-such school...with such-and-such degrees...and you want to work here? Why?" I explained that I was not above anyone else who was working there because I had bills to pay, just like everyone else. I showed up with a resume and a smile. I did my best at the interview and I was hired on the spot. This was in 2007 (when our economy totally sucked, as well). If you try, you can find SOME job-maybe not the BEST job, but it can be done.

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by als463

Knight_Shadow, I agree. It can be tough. Keep in mind, though, that I just recently left my job in August 2009 (considering how recent you may consider that). Whether or not the country is in this economic slump, there are people who really don't try as hard as they claim they are trying.

Don't get me wrong, there are people out there doing what they can to find a job, but as a former caseworker and counselor I watched people play the system like some people play X-Box.

I'm glad you found a job. It sucks to be unemployed, but sometimes you have to take what comes your way, ya' know? I have also been working since age 14 (for a summer job, in PA it is legal).

There are other options out there. I remember how fresh out of college, I honestly applied at a Wendy's for a management position. The guy hiring me looked at me like I was crazy as he said, "You graduated from such-and-such school...with such-and-such degrees...and you want to work here? Why?" I explained that I was not above anyone else who was working there because I had bills to pay, just like everyone else. I showed up with a resume and a smile. I did my best at the interview and I was hired on the spot. This was in 2007 (when our economy totally sucked, as well). If you try, you can find SOME job-maybe not the BEST job, but it can be done.

I think we all know that there are people who are playing the system. They're more the exception than the rule.

I started working when I was 17 and was able to build up my resume very quickly. I had more experience than many people who had started before me. That doesn't matter, though, when 400 people are fighting for the same job. When I was looking, I looked at Target, Pizza Hut, and some other similar jobs (management and hourly). My previous experience spoke volumes to them, though. Even if I told them otherwise, they knew that I'd leave if something better presented itself. And this is in Texas, the state that's gotten hit the least.

Don't get me wrong -- I know that jobs are out there. There's just a bigger pool of candidates and now, people with degrees are fighting it out with people that don't have them.

I still don't see how people (not necessarily you, als) think that taking a mediocre job will allow job-seekers to support their families the way they used to with their mid-level jobs. Sure, it'll help, but a lot of folks think that being a cashier at McDonalds will make ends meet when you're used to making $50,000. It won't.

[als463]

Knight_Shadow, you have made some great valid points. I agree that putting a person with a family out in the part-time/ hourly world has to be tough. I do have to say, however, that if it came down to joining the military and feeding your family or saying you don't feel it is for you, then you need to really think about what is important.

I'm glad that this thread turned back into something with people speaking constructively about unemployment. I really didn't find it necessary to name-call Kevin because he disagreed with some of the other GCers. I agree with a lot of what he has said.

Knight_Shadow and KSUViolet, you both had some great points to add, too. MysticCat, I think you put some things into perspective well, also.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

Just putting it out there moreso to say that if you are unemployed, hang on. You never know what is around the corner for you. Just keep at it.

That isn't really the topic, though.

Did als463 essentially post her resume`? LOL For the record, there are many things that younger people don't know that older people know through direct and indirect experience. Success at finding a job when you graduated from college in 2007 doesn't necessarily mean much. And what salary, experience, and resume` circulation mean for a relatively new college graduate is different than what it means for someone who has been out of college longer.

[als463]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

That isn't really the topic, though.

Did als463 essentially post her resume`? LOL For the record, there are many things that younger people don't know that older people know through direct and indirect experience. Success at finding a job when you graduated from college in 2007 doesn't necessarily mean much. And what salary, experience, and resume` circulation mean for a relatively new college graduate is different than what it means for someone who has been out of college longer.

Well, when Knight_Shadow asked what I had done with myself, I told him. I was showing that you can find a job if you really-really try. To sit there and say that "success at finding a job when you graduated from college in 2007 doesn't necessarily mean much," seems to go against this whole thread, doesn't it? You have people on here complaining that they attempted to find jobs as recent college graduates, but couldn't fnd a job. Then, there were people saying that they were "over-qualified" for jobs because of their college degrees, yet you think that finding a job right away is not a success?

Considering many people are talking about having trouble finding a job, I think it is very successful. To get technical, I graduated college in 2004 with my A.A., so I find it very successful to have worked up until I decided to go back to school. I put out tons of applications, so I realize the hard time people may have finding a job, but if you aren't willing to put out (at least 20 resumes a week) all over the place when you have been unemployed for more than a year, then you aren't trying that hard, in my eyes.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by als463

To sit there and say that "success at finding a job when you graduated from college in 2007 doesn't necessarily mean much," seems to go against this whole thread, doesn't it?....yet you think that finding a job right away is not a success?

I'm saying the same thing that knight_shadow said.

[als463]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

I'm saying the same thing that knight_shadow said.

No. You really aren't. If you are college-educated, and you put out applications everywhere, you will eventually find something. I knew people who were caseworkers with me that had degrees in agriculture, recreational park management, etc. and they were willing to take the civil service test and become caseworkers.

People are on here complaining that they can't find jobs, and when I say that I found jobs, you find a way to tell me that I'm not successful for getting something that other people are saying that can't get. I don't feel like you are trying to be constructive, I think you are trying to find something wrong with what I say, so you can have something flippant to say.

I consider myself very successful. I also realize that if I wasn't willing to take a major pay-cut and get some job to pay my bills, that was my fault. Had I not joined the military when I was able-bodied (but unemployed), that would have been my fault, but I joined at 17, so I didn't really worry about that. Being unemployed sucks. I get that. What I don't get is people going on GC and name-calling Kevin and people who agree with him. By telling someone that they have gnats for brains because they agree with him is pretty immature.

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by als463

Well, when Knight_Shadow asked what I had done with myself, I told him. I was showing that you can find a job if you really-really try. To sit there and say that "success at finding a job when you graduated from college in 2007 doesn't necessarily mean much," seems to go against this whole thread, doesn't it? You have people on here complaining that they attempted to find jobs as recent college graduates, but couldn't fnd a job. Then, there were people saying that they were "over-qualified" for jobs because of their college degrees, yet you think that finding a job right away is not a success?

Considering many people are talking about having trouble finding a job, I think it is very successful. To get technical, I graduated college in 2004 with my A.A., so I find it very successful to have worked up until I decided to go back to school. I put out tons of applications, so I realize the hard time people may have finding a job, but if you aren't willing to put out (at least 20 resumes a week) all over the place when you have been unemployed for more than a year, then you aren't trying that hard, in my eyes.

I think you're missing the point.

Many people are putting out 20 resumes A DAY. You can't force someone to give you a callback, though. It's not that people aren't trying -- employers aren't giving them a chance.