Can you blame me for being negative?

[RazorandBlade]

I'm about let off some steam watch out.
I cannot find a job to save my goddamn life. I worked for gamestop until about the beginning of feb, wasnt terminated, didnt quit, but I wasnt given hours for a good 3 weeks so it was sort of like being fired in a nice way I guess. I have sunken so low as to applying at walmart and places of the such. Never do I get a call back, I have 6 years automotive repair experience and I'm not even getting calls back from garages. My degree is good for nothing other than burning it to keep warm which didn't last long...
Just got in a fight with my lady over selling the Wii, I've sold my stand up bass. sold my 88 starion, and have sunken to the point of stealing from chain stores to survive and even thats not working out well... Ummm don't know where I'm going with this...
Any suggestions I guess?

[Snips]

Similar boat here. I just got on Social assistance a week ago or so, and they're encouraging me to stick with the program for awhile and go back to school, rahter than look for more dead end jobs.

I feel your pain, though. I wasn't getting calls back from anywhere, not even Wal-mart or McDonalds or even other places that ate literally always hiring. Hell, I won a 52 inch TV at the company christmas party in december, got laid off the same week, and had to sell it to pay February`s rent.

In all seriousness, at least check out social assistance. if nothing else you`ll have food at least. And if your schooling isn`t landing you any jobs, you may be able to return to school in another field.

I used to say it was a matter of pride, that I was saving the resources for those who really needed them, for the single parents who work 2 part time jobs to support 3 kids, you know? But the thing is, eating a pack of instant noodles every week and a half to 2 weeks isn't surviving. I literally gain 5 lbs from a 1 lb meal due to my metabolism and I'd lost 60 lbs last time I was unemployed. Was it really fair to myself to try to job hunt on the verge of collapse, at two weeks without so much as a slice of bread? (I had reached 3 weeks and I could not even stand without my legs shaking violently, not fun) Now I'm registering for college and turning things around, and yes, I make the equivalent of one paycheck at my last job a month, but I CAN survive on it.

So yeah, probably not what you wanted to hear, but this is my best suggestion.

[RazorandBlade]

No its better than hearing nothing, at least I know now its not just me, the only way I could go back to school though is with a guarantee of a job. Which I know is impossible so its sort of my way of saying im not going back. I was on food stamps for a little but when I lost gamestop they booted me off, besides I was buying most of our family food too so it's not like I relied heavily upon it.

[Snips]

No its better than hearing nothing, at least I know now its not just me, the only way I could go back to school though is with a guarantee of a job. Which I know is impossible so its sort of my way of saying im not going back. I was on food stamps for a little but when I lost gamestop they booted me off, besides I was buying most of our family food too so it's not like I relied heavily upon it.

Actually, good news there. Apparently, (Here in Canada) if you take 2 semesters' worth of the right college courses (at the right college, perhaps?), you're guaranteed an apprenticeship in a major trade (carpentry/ electrical/plumbing) etc and those trades are all on the rebound after a nasty economic hit. The beauty is that all the most experienced masters are closing in on retirement so there will be a lot of jobs in those sectors becoming available fairly soon. I'm looking into becoming an electrician, myself. Once my apprenticeship (which has wages comparable to other jobs, apparently) is done, we're talking 80,000 a year. A pretty worthwhile time investment, if you ask me!

Then again, you seem to be a fair bit older than me, given you mentionned 6 years experience in automotive repair. I'm only 20 and not exactly that established, and I have no idea how settled you are or ho many dependants you may have. Still, I'd say why not? If you've done automotive repair, it couldn't hurt to check out the possibility of a guaranteed apprenticeship in your area in a similar field.

[RazorandBlade]

Ive been working on cars since I was a junior in high school (a month after I got out of high school I started full time auto repair and didn't really stop until a year ago and even then I went to part time) Im not toooo much older than ya 24 to be exact, , but I do have a child, Still maybe I'll look into something like that.

[Snips]

It couldn't hurt to at least check out, and it keeps you going while you find work, if you don't go back to school. That and there are child/ spouse benefits, which results in more money for the sake of your dependants. (My fiancee does not live with me, however, so she doesn't add to my income, or expenses, so it balances out)

I'm currently getting about 650 a month. Because I'm job hunting and attending school once I get my forms filled out, 90 is for transportation (this is only guaranteed for 3 months, however. I may lose it) and my rent is 450 a momth. They only set aside like 360 for shelter, so I take the last 90 out of my basic needs which is 200-ish. Basic needs includes food, hygiene products which does include cleaning agents, and bills. It's hardly luxurious but I can live on it if I'm frugal. Oh, and there's health benefits (I can have free dental work done, at select dentists, once I get my "Drug card," for example) as well, so why not use them?

However, there ARE downsides. Basically, if I found work right now, I wouldn't make any money if I stayed on the system. Let's say it's a prt time stint, only 400 a month. They deduct it. But within a few months they only deduct 50% instead of 100%. This means 200 a month is added to that 650 to make 850. Again, I used to make 600 every 2 weeks but oh well. The reason for this is to continue to assist those with little work experience or who otherwise have difficulty keeping work and to ease them into being able to provide for themselves. You CAN say "yo, job, take me off" and ditch the system the second you get a job, but getting back on the system if the job didn't work out would be annoying. So basically just stick with it unless you make more (aka full time) than they give you.

To get on the system you need to attend an information session and meet with a case worker so they can answer all your questions. I honestly was looking down on myself for making the appointment at first, but now I see that it's not bad. It's not for everyone, but it certainly can help some.

[Nickelback]

I really don't have any advice for the topic, but man, at least here in Florida of the great US of A it's basically impossible to find an entry-level job (Been trying for 2 years, off an on though, but even still). Coming out of high school, recession hits, literally no one is returning calls or calling me about applications I've been going through like PEZ. Everyone says '15% unemployment, what do you expect' but damn it really is bleak out there. Not just here, but out there, the world in general. Literally everyone is suffering, I mean there's guys with PHDs trying to get the same jobs I am.

Can't blame you for being negative, but you know, just try to get by on the knowledge that it's really really bad for pretty much everyone.

[Mina]

I cant blame you, no.
I cant get a damn job either and I spend hours applying to shit daily. Id even work for minimum wage.
I love being all housewifey but I want money for me and to be able to support myself. Its really got me depressed lately.

[RazorandBlade]

Awesome not that im glad that everyones all depressed... but! It just feels a little better knowing I'm not alone. Thanks peeps.
I do have my fingers crossed for this QA technician for a car sharing company (For rich yuppies that live in the city and pay like 100 bucks a month to use a car whenever, which is hardly ever) that I applied to yesterday, actually seems like a job I would like lol.

[Snips]

Good luck! I have a meeting with an employment specialist on the 24th myself, but I'd rather focus on school

[Spud Webb]

you should sell your semen