Coping With the Stages of Unemployment and Tough Times

Posted by: Pam Lester

well, the article has some positive thoughts in it --- but this is America - when a person loses their job - most people don't have a stack of money in the bank - my husband just lost his job - we are in our late 50's - we had relocated for the job he took several years ago - we went into debt and we lived on premises so when the job was lost, everything was lost but..................everything happens for a reason and we know brighter days are ahead - because nothing remains the same forever.  Things will turn around for us and it will turn around for all those others out there looking for a job - steps are ordered..... and the jobs do come.

Posted by: John

Well Rick, that's pretty much where I'm at.  As for focusing on family, my wife left me last year just before I lost my job.  I think I could get a gig elsewhere, but I don't want to live my dying Rust Belt city because my daughter lives here.  It's not much of a choice to starve yourself and nourish your soul by staying or starve you soul and get a job by leaving.  And then I'm told that I'm too negative in interviews.  Damn right I am, and well-earned, too.  I'd raise a toast to Adam Smith if I could afford the alcohol.

Posted by: Monique

I unfortunately fall under the circumstances of the worst. I was self employed and all of of a sudden, the money stopped coming. Now I have exhausted all of my funds, have no money for my rent. My lights will be off in less than a week. My water was turned off and so was my telephone. i sought help from family and they have all turned their backs on me. Not to mention, I'm a single mother of three small children. I spend many hours a day faxing and emailing resumes to no avail. I agree with the comment from the last post that the economy does SUCK and that I find it very difficult to be happy in job hunting when I don't know where our next meal is going to come from or where we will lay our heads. Obviously, the writer of this article has never been in the position that I'm in right now.

Posted by: Adam Chornesky

Sometimes I feel the same way Rick does. I agree with Michael that you need to keep up your morale. I also look upon this period as one of rest, reflection, and an opportunity to explore other avenues of income. Being one dimensionally cast into the same career mold doesn't give you the opportunity to discover your other talents.Periods of unemployment underscore the need to maintain sufficient savings to cover these employment gaps.

Posted by: Terri

This article is a bit dishonest and in some eerie way it's encouraging. I have been seeking employment that offers some type of benefit package and not necessary in my "ideal" career path, just something to get my foot in the door so to speak, since December. I have experienced basically all the "solution" of dealing with no "real" work as described above. The horrid feelings are all too hard to ignore! Yet, on a day like today,this article has some strength for the unemployed. After all the frustration of burning gas and time I really don't have, I find the courage to keep trying to find a gig that will pay my living cost and the debt I acquired from obtaining a higher education and from being plain-a@@ broke!

Posted by: Carol

I found this article to be very helpful in maintaining perspective over a long period of unemployment.  It is easy to get discouraged when good jobs are not forthcoming, but it is important to remember that "this too shall pass."  Those who succeed in life usually go through some tough times, and learn to exhibit courage and tenacity in the process.  Then they are even more thankful when the tide turns their way and a good position is offered.  It is important to keep a positive attitude no matter what happens.

Posted by: jong

This article is very straight forward and from personal experienced where I worked before in the last 10 years in mid management level and lost it through corporate unfortunate decision making and you have to depend on state unemployment where you only received a days worth of pay in your previous job and now your receiving it in a weeks worth of unemployment check it will drive you nuts/crazy and the regular monthly bills won't tell you they'll wait for your payment until you get a new job. It is a great learning experienced for me and I should have listened to Dave Ramsey's advised that you'll need 6 months or so worth of emergency funds to cover for lost wages/etc. I did received a job offer and started working again just last month at a lesser pay scale with more responsibilities than before after 11 months of without it. You cannot blame it on the economy or etc, the question is how better equip and ready are you to hurdle unforseen events in life, like job unemployment? Nobody will solve it for you except yourself. Before I did not even think that what happen to me last year will ever really happen but it did and anyone is vulnerable no exception? So anyone out there work on it now you need have an emergency fund, much better to start it right now who know's you might be next casualty? Be responsible in every decision you make and don't blame it on anybody for what happen to you.

Posted by: Bob

A paradox associated with joblessness, especially among "Boomers," is that while many employers lament anticipated unmet workforce needs as older workers retire and take their knowledge with them, to be replaced by too few and generally less well educated workers, the same employers practice bias against older job candidates in their hiring practices.  Whether it's because of media hype, or HR staff who generally identify with the younger crowd, or simply because employers want to ditch older workers to cut their pension and insurance costs and avoid smart-assed older workers taking on younger, less knowledgeable managers, the result's the same:  well-trained older workers out of work and unable to be reemployed.  Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face!

Posted by: Diana Williams

I believe in the article as it is encouraging and positive. It's important to keep a good attitude during this time. I have been without work since March 12 and today is June 6. I filed Ch7, my home is up for sale, and I'm on food stamps. I have no income at all but I remain optimistic as I know something will be coming my way soon. I have much faith and the article gives excellent advice "Connect deeply with friends and family that are a part of your life."  Don't allow this "inconvenience that can affect the self esteem" trouble you. I still have enough food, clothing, shelter, and my health. A lot of people have much less than myself. I have two college degrees and many skills I have acquired over the years. Something GREAT will happen! Thank you for the article. It's simply a reminder of this.

Posted by: pp

Also, taking a job way beneath your capabilities, while helping with the finances temporarily, can produce a feeling of lower self-worth, especially when you smell like fries and hamburgers every night!  In the interim....I disagree that this would produce any step in the right direction at all.

Posted by: Laurie

I will tell you what I think. I think the article is infact trying to have you focus on patience and well being for the soul.There are many many reasons why finding employment is hard, not just "economy"Also I think it offers some very good advice for different phases of unemployment.It is  what it is, No one can change that and being negative will surley slow down any attempts we make.

Posted by: glenn miller

To all my fellow friends who are out there unemployed, hang in there!! At times it may seem like all hope is gone , but thats not the case, keep your thoughts positive and dont let yourself stay idol, keep busy. Sooner or later you will be back to work and the everyday part of life will be back. So just make the best of the time that you do have off.

Posted by: Carrie

It takes a lot of strength, resilience and courage to remain positive while your energy and spirit are not exactly at the top.  However it is crucial to stay positive at this time.  Employers can sense negative energy at the door before you even step in to shake their hands for the first time.  Use this time to do some self evaluation and improve on skills like how to write an effective resume, how to perform during an interview, read up on successful leadership skills, read up on companies, see who's been promoted into the hiring positions recently and send them your resume directly before the jobs even hit the recruiters or the classified ads.  It is time to think out of the box and be a little more creative.  There will be some miserably dark days but the right opportunity will come.  Just keep your head high and know that this is just part of life and you will manage.  You will bounce back and come out of it being a much stronger and resilient leader.    

Posted by: Sharlean

How ironic that I would find this email today.  I was at the library checking for responses to my emails for employment.  Yes I have a computer at home, but wouldn't you know it(technical problems) with no monies to repair.  My last unemployment check will be coming next week.  So I look on the bright side, I still have one week to find employment.  My faith in God is what keeps me going.  The Bible says in Jerimiah 24:11 "I know the plans I have for you, they are good and not evil, plans to give you a future and hope".  As long as you have hope and you keep doing what you know to do, things will work out.  I will send an update on my new career.  

Posted by: Vinni Novacek

Hello, and Good morning.  The article was fine and well written.  The advice was yes and no.  A good example is the young single mother with 3 young children to take care of; who is helping her?  Where is the help when you become unemployed even it is for a short time?  And then there are the institutions out there that make this situation worse; because of the way some of our financial instutions work; one can incur more debt there.  One may try to pay a bill or get cash that one thinks one really has in their account only to find out that one in fact does not and then the USURY by our own banking system sets in; and the fees begin to multiply.  When one is in the circumstance of being unemployed or underemployed then perhaps our financial institutions should take that into consideration and not make an already badsituation worse.

Posted by: Denny

It's been 4 years working less than ideal, casual, on call shiftwork hoping a fulltime gig will come out of this. I might have worked 100 hrs so far in 2007. The call-ins are few and far between and I feel I've wasted enough time on this goverment employer. It's their mandate to cut jobs that were once fulltime into part time jobs without benefits or security. In the past 6 monthes I've been sending resumes in every direction locally, regionally and nationally. My wife has suggested a separation in our 17 year marriage so I can be free to find employment elsewhere. I was devastated. I've never felt so low in all my life and I think I'm experiencing a form of depression. I find it hard to sleep without being startled awake with anxiety and fear of what my future will be like. I'm scared what will happen to me if I lose everything as well as being under-employed. I'm too proud to ask friends and family for help.  Be positive you say, and things will change. I've been hoping and working on a better tomorrow for years now and it seems to be getting worse. Sorry to not comply with this positive thinking. Bad things happen to good people every day. While some people can walk in the rain and not get wet.   God bless those who've had to endure unemployment when a meaningful job is all they ask for. DS

Posted by: Steve

I agree with Sharlean. Whether you are religious in  nature or not, you need the faith that "something or someone" out there is watching out for you. They will not drop that opportunity in your lap (you still need to do the work), but the feeling of "I will make it" will make it all the sweeter when it does happen. I was let go the day after I turned 55. Sure, I could be negative, blame others etc, but who is to say that an even better opportunity isn't around the next corner. In my job search, I am not singing the praises of my experience. I am instead being stoic and emphasizing my need to balance homelife and work. It keeps me calm but focused. Mr Employer, I am not going away!

Posted by: Henry

Your article was both informative, and does post a degree of encouragement. I am in my 50's and have been out of work in my career field for about 5 years, and have been trying to get work in my profession for all those years. In the past, I have been employed in a very lucrative job located overseas (to be exact, Saudi Arabia), which I was able to save quite a bit of money, but over the last 5 years, I have seen that savings dwindle to almost nothing. I am really facing a "double whammy" in that my last real living wage job was located overseas (so I could not develop a "network" which I could rely on in search for employment in the U S), and the factor of age. Add to this is my health is not very good (I have diabetes and some complications from the desease), so medically, an employer is not willing to pick me up due to the health situation. I have tried independent consulting, but you have to have a "network" for that, and tried the "temps" with no luck in finding work, and have tried applying for menial jobs where I have been rejected for that. I have even tried going back to school (I already have a Masters degree in Electrical Engineering, but now I am going to a local community college to pick up some computer networking courses), but the advanced degree did not help out (in fact getting the advanced degree hurt my job possibilities, for I had a good paying job lined up, but I turned it down due to myself wanting to seek the Masters degree-THE BIGGEST MISTAKE OF MY LIFE). At this point, I have reached the point that I will no longer be considered employable due to my age and health, and what can one really do, except to live on public handouts, if they exist. I hate it but one does have to face reality, and the reality for me is very stark. Finally, I would like to have some suggestions in terms of what I can do to get employable again at a living wage. Henry

Posted by: Rob

Many great comments here. After having most of my family wiped out by a drunk driver 4 years ago and in a short coma myself, I have had to restart my career. In 4 years of trying I finally landed a good-paying job, but I had to "starve" my soul to do it. It is very difficult tho I am reaching out to make friends and get involved. I endured 4 years of worsening poverty, finally living in a tent trailer through an Idaho winter before finding work and hiding my living conditions from the employer. Now I have my boss over for BBQs and he is impressed with how I live, simply yet comfortably. It wasn't easy being told you're "overqualified" and having bill collectors demand a date that you will be able to make a pmt. While I am deeply scarred by the experience, I am also much calmer (worn down?) and resigned to a simple life as I just don't care much anymore. All I can say is be hopeful, believe in yourself, be honest and ALWAYS  put your very best POSITIVE effort into job seeking. I sent out 4-10 resumes a day and was very honest with bill collectors and landlords. Honesty went a long ways toward getting assistance, often unexpected. Hang in there, bounce back after getting down. Don't let employer's shallow poor judgments get you down as they usually make the wrong call, hiring for the wrong reasons and often "make do". You know your worth. Lift up your chin and stand tall because you KNOW what you're worth and it's usually different then how others judge you.Attitude is often the difference maker. Sooner or later, it DOES get better. The hard part is getting there.

Posted by: Claudia

It has been 8 weeks since I suddenly became unemployed and I am now convinced that it is the best thing that could have happened to me. I had been unhappy in my position for several years but was too lazy to do anything about it. A new manager woke me from my comfort zone! I am going through the emotional roller coaster but I have to say that in the end I believe in myself. I have had 3 interviews so far and have gone from being totally intimidated and afraid of the process to now welcoming the experience as another step on the road to my ideal job. I am determined to win over myself and in the situation and that gives me hope to continue - no matter what.

Posted by: Suzan

Thank you all for sharing.  Yes, the road of unemployment is bumpy and difficult to navigate.  I have been out of work since August 2006 and have not had any income since.  I was lucky enough to have money saved (to buy a new car) when I lost my job.  I have had to reduce my spending to bare minimums but I ran out of money in March.  I am truely fortunate (and grateful) for my mother who has been helping me since.  I am constantly sending resumes, replying to any/all jobs for which I am qualified.  To keep positive and active I signed up for some classes at the local community college.  Keep the faith.....this to shall pass...

Posted by: Arnetta

The author writes as if he has been in this situation himself. I have also been in dire straits before. One thing I have learned is that a person can be very creative and resourceful when it comes to survival.

Posted by: MIKE MURPHY

After 30 years in retail store management, I had a very positive, progressive climb from small department stores ($.5 million) to major up-scale department stores (+$50 million). My executive capacity was from store manager, assistant store manager/merchandise manager, and regional manager-in-training trainer.My particular downfall, for which I am here  responding to you today,is that the unfortunate fact that I was forced to take a medical leave for a heart arrythmia which landed me in the hospital twice. When I was able to return to work as my benefits were running out, there was no place for in the company due to the merger of two major department store chains into one ... May Co. and Federated / Macy's. Top management was being laid off, fired and re-located into store positions far below their standards of talent and compensation. Therefore their was no room for me and I negotiated a lay-off agreement, in which I received some compensation from my 12 years with this company, but did forfeit all of my stock options, which were worth Thousands of dollars.So, I sit here today after 3 failed attempts to join new retail chains, in which I would accept demeaning jobs, answering to "managers" who are younger than my daughter, and, of course going broke due the smaller store salary structure.I have been actively marketing myself since Thanksgiving 2006. I have been turned down by Sears, Gap, Inc., Macy's (former May Co. Foleys), Kohl's, Belk, JCPenney, Target, Chase Bank, Robbin's Brothers, Dick's Sporting Goods, AAFES, Hallmark, specialty stores, Jos. A Bank and countless recruiting firms, sales management/marketing/sales and sales management positions, mostly MLM, no salary/no benefit jobs, inside/outside sales to name a few.   

Posted by: Dana Bostick

It is ironic. I eschewed following the path of the corporate treadmill and the "security" that all my elders at the time assured me would be there. Where is that security now folks? I never did feel that putting your life into the hands of some faceless corporate lemming herd was a bright thing to do.I chose to make my own way in various self-employment options and with a few wage earner type jobs sprinkled in here and there that provided me with needed experience in areas I was interested in. As a result, I have a vast experience in a broad range of fields.  I own my own business but, in this case unfortunately, it is connected to the Real Estate industry and has suffered the the same severe drop off in activity that that industry has. I am taking a serious look at my bag of tricks and trying to look forward and re-invent myself and position myself and my company to be ready to respond to new areas of need.In the short term, I have consumed my savings, sold off non-essential tools and toys and tapped the "bank of Mom" to keep things going.  Been living on the edge for many months.  The future is looking better and my business is poised to respond to the new "green" movement and need to conserve energy through the use of technology.Although not a fan of Obama (or any of the offerings of the last election)it appears that he may be moving the country in the direction that may be advantageous to my business, offering tax credits for energy conservation measures.  I will be watching this area closely and tailoring the promotion of my business to take advantage of this.  I just wish it would move a little faster.  I'm getting pretty tired of waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Posted by: Ernest Roberts

As a psychologist, I encourage my clients who are unemployed to look at unemployment as a grief process and reflect on the stages of grief. The stages are as follows: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Husbands and wives affected by unemployment may not follow the sequences together because men get their core identity from their work. Women typically get their identities from their families.

Posted by: Ken Garwick

Well, sooo much for networking. My work the past 7 years left me with no network. I was laid off November 17 at 62 years old. I have been applying to everything I am remotely qualified for. To date I have had several phone interviews but haven't gotten to the face to face interview yet. I have simply had to forget anything and everything relating to age in order to move forward and this has helped me in the search. I know it is only a matter of time before I land a position so I just do the best I can every day to move forward with the process.

Posted by: Steve

This article struck me as odd in some ways but hit home hard in several other ways. Here it is the middle of March 2009 and I still have not yet found a job, more than a year and I am still searching. At least I do not have the day to day pressure of finding money to pay bills. I am still staying above water and believe that I can continue to do so for a good while longer, if needed. I do really hope not though, because I am now finding myself really missing the daily human contact an office/job brings to one's life. Even more so, I think my dogs are getting really tired of hearing about International Monitary Policy, the Dow, the economy crash, stupid HR people and the crazy things people are doing these days to fix our country's so very basic credit and economic problems. A bit of good LINEAR THINKING would be a very welcome thing to see from ANYBODY in Washington DC these days!Being a Former Executive/Boomer out of work in this economy sucks! Bob talks about the discrimination that he feels as a Boomer in his comments above. I will second his comments strongly. Quite honestly, I am really amazed at some of the statements I have heard "Professional" HR people make, directly to me as talking points in interviews. How slow or uninformed about age discrimination issues are they? Do they just not really care because they know they are going to get away with it about 99+% of the time in today's job market? Why would I bother even looking at their job? Well, beyond the fact that I AM looking for a job and I do have GOOD skills and experience that exactly match what they are looking for, in the town where I want to stay and live (can't sell a high end house here now, even if I wanted to do so, no buyers), I also have looked at and researched their job (prior to my interview) and know it is something that I can and would like to do now, today, next week and the next and the next. Do they really believe that ALL Boomers just want a position where they can retire on the job for a few years or so? Do you know any Boomers out there looking for that position? I sure don't and I would be surprised if I ever came across any Boomer looking for an executive position that would ever admit, or even consider, such a dispicable thought or action! Come on now, most of us are honest, hard working people and have been for all of our lives. Don't they know that WE would not think it fair to an employer not to give a full days work ++, each and every day, IF WE JUST MIGHT BE ALLOWED TO DO SO by this omnipotent, but far less than trained or skilled, HR screener person? ANOTHER OME - Don't I know that nobody will pay me even close to the amount of money I made at my last job? Since when did the interview process BEGIN with a salary discussion issue? AND, yes I do know that if I really wanted to make that kind of money again AND I was willing to pay the human toll of travel and time out and alone again, I could go back and do it again sometime. But, maybe there are other reasons or I just want to change my lifestyle now and thus I am willing to dicuss what is reasonable for the job you have offered and to be reasonable IF I AM REALLY OFFERED THE POSITION! OR, do I really have to say that I sold that company and I have a non-compete in that industry? It does clearly say and explain that fact and issue boldly in my resume, right there in the body of information about my LAST JOB. Didn't you already read my resume, or are you just lazy, floating, getting by, flying blind or just completely, overtly and stupidly showing me and the rest of the world that you are arrogantly using age discrimination as a tactic? Do you even understand what I am saying to you when I tell you that now I DO NOT to want to travel 11+ months a year, like I did for the previous 25 years for my last job? I am not even asking nor  am I firm on NO TRAVEL, I am just looking for something with a more reasonable and lower percentage of travel now! Can't you understand that or is your head stuck so deep in the sand that you can't even take a few seconds of your precious time to relate and give each and EVERY interview real professional thought and consideration, even if it is "Just another old guy!" It sure seems to me that there is some very real age discrimination going on in some companies. Not ALL Companies, some go out of their way to be courteous and helpful, even if they do not offer you the job. Thus, even if they are praticing age discrimination in a very subtle manner in their hiring practices, you just cannot be angry with them because they are just so NICE about it. And, there really are a lot of good companies out there honestly looking for good workers OF ANY AGE. We just have to go out and find them and that is more difficult now than it has been in past times, I feel.  SO PLEASE, just don't be like the VP Marketing when he told me "I cannot hire you. You can do MY job!" Come on folks, business executives are supposed to be smarter than that, aren't they?On the lighter side, One thing that I have  personally noticed is that it is much harder to connect with people and build a network when you are looking for employment completely outside of the industry you have been working in for many, many years. That is a tough one and it takes a good amount of extra effort to overcome. Yes, all of the old contacts and friends are still there, but few can or will be able to help you much when you are looking for work with a company completely out of their day to day world. It just makes the contacts, and thus job referrals, just that much more difficult and fewer to come by, especially these days. Another difficult thing, especially in today's terrible economic situation, is going down in job search levels to look for a stop gap job. To me this appears to only seem to open the flood gates to much, much more competition than I see for positions at my previous employment level. A VP of Sales/Marketing position might generate 100 to 200 or so resumes, of which at least 50% are truly qualified to do that job. Whereas and in contrast, a simple sales rep. job with a decent company, a good product, a real territory with real accounts and sales targets already existing and a reasonable compensation package, with or without commissions being the largest % of your compensation structure, today will easily generate 500 to 1,000 resumes, virtually overnight. Who knows how many of those applying really could do the job, not me. Seeing and having experienced that in a few instances recently, it just appears to me that staying at an upper level, if one is really qualified to do so, is just as likely to find you a job as blasting out your resume to any job at your last position level plus a few position levels down, of course in much higher quantity than the former just for good reason of possibly landing a stop gap job. It just seems to INCREASE the competition by a far greater % than that of the likelyhood of my landing one of those lower level jobs. I could be totally wrong and change my actions later, but that is how I see it and am handling it right now. We will see.Oh well, things WILL work out and get better sometime soon. It is all a matter of timing, luck, hard work and the law of averages, the number of resumes and the time that you have been looking that will eventually get you a job in most cases, even in the worst case economic situation we are in today. So stay at the search, work your contacts and practice your interview skills! One of these days it will all work out and we will all have a job again. IF WE CAN BE PATIENT ENOUGH AND HANG ON FOR THAT LONG! Good luck to all!

Posted by: Ralph

All these comments are very similar but,when one is forced into an early retirement and is living on a fixed income and/or Unemployment compensation,there just isn't enough money to go around. I have taken Temp. agency jobs that have lasted anywhere from three days to three months. I have sent out a hundred or so resumes,and have only got one interview,that was through an agency anyway ,I knew I was qualified.I've done that job for twenty three years,but still no job. Employers want someone that is qualified at twenty five or more dollars an hour and hire them for eight dollars an hour. Because of my pension, Employment Security reduces my check I get from them. When I take a temp. job,it sometimes gives me a net pay that is less or barely more than the unemployment check. I can't get any training, or on the job training, or any programs for a veteran to take a college course to better myself, nor can I get any State or other funding for college. So how  in the world am I supposed to better myself? It's not that I am not willing to take a course, but rather that I can't afford to take a course and  better myself. Also because of the corporate GREED I have lost just about all of my 401K that was supposed to help live out my days with dignity. Stay positive? How? Any sugestions?

Posted by: M. A.

As a woman, and usually the last into a position having started my career late, I have been one of the first released for every recession...this is not new to me...just longer and less hopeful. As a boomer I am ready to get out of the musical chair game...there has been every level of game played by HR that could crush a soul if you let it. I would like to offer hope but I am flat out and will just retire out of the everyday, regular work-a-day job.  There are no jobs and people are being called for interviews to make it seem like there are jobs.  I don't want to fish in polluted waters anymore...it is time to take a different direction.  Some are chosing to work for money without a w2, some are bartering and selling, it is unclear what the future will bring.

Posted by: Dan

After workig for the last 15 years without being unemployed it is such a shock to the mental and physical state of a person's mind to be in the state of being unemployed. I was a field engineer and traveled 80% of the time and was pulling down a 6 figure income for the last 5 years. I dont understand why states have such a difference in their unemployment insurance wages. for example the state of Washington has a max pay of $500+ a week for unemployment insurance, while the state I live in is $240 a week. Why cant the Government standarize this wage to be more realisitic? I have sent in over 50 applications in the last month and have only had 2 phone interviews and 1 in person interview. The state of the economy is in bad shape and who knows when it will get better. I have had my utilities turned off, credit cards cancelled, automobile repossessed. Remaining optomisitc is hard, but you have to wake up each morning and keep on breathing, who knows what the day might bring. Nothing in life is a sure bet except taxes and death. The article is true in a lot of ways and least we forget there are a lot more people out there that are worse of than we are. I count my blessings each day that I am healthy and still able to get out of bed each morning and look for a job. It sucks to be unemployed, no doubt, but I have hope that soon it will turn around. God bless all of you and good luck.

Posted by: Gene Dummer

This is a comment for Henry who presently has his Masters Degree win Electrical Engineering. I have been in the Electrical Engineering market for thirty five years with only an Associate degree. Like Henry, I have also lost my job, and am 62 years old. My job search has turned up several jobs which I am not qualified for, but Henry might. If there is a way for him to contact me, maybe we can swap information for available jobs.

Posted by: Mary On: 6/20/2009 4:10:12 PM

Thanks for the article, as it is another reminder that we do need to stay positive. I have been out of work for 7 weeks, and have sent out 80+ resumes, with no response. So I know how difficult it is to maintain that attitude. The article is right; do connect with those people.  They may just surprise you; and right now, we can all use some "surprises".  Good luck to everyone.

Posted by: Lisa Johnson On: 6/28/2009 6:27:04 PM

I agree with Denny, (Ironically, that is my maiden name), anyway. Bad, terrible things happen to good & loving people every secoond of every single day! My "bad" luck (if you will) started when we found my 19 year old son dead in his room from an overdose of H, 3 months after that, an out-of-towner from Arizona was making an ILLEGAL left turn out of a drug store (yes, it was within 2 miles of my home) and stopped right in the middle of the turning lane, where I was appraoching a GREEN turning light, my beautiful, fully paid for and reliable Camaro was totalled! Nowadays I drive an old Cavalier with 172,000 plus miles on it. Every other week, something major goes wrong. Brake system, exhaust system, The latest was the cooling fan motor for the engine that keeps it from overheating)5 months after I lost my car, I suffered a Heart attack & triple bypass at the age of 42! STRESS WILL KILL YOU, PEOPLE! That and Broken Hearts. What makes that worse is that at the time of the Heart attack I only had 2 more semesters left to becomming an RN (my life-long dream). OK.... so plan B...After sitting around for a year in a deep depression and seriously considering suicide, I took one more chance and went back to school to become a Medical Assistant. I graduated with honors (perfect 4.0 GPA), and elected Class President. I was able to find a job, straight out of school within 1 month in March of 2008.I am now unemployed (1 week this past Friday) through no fault of my own, because I saw it coming, I have been searching & applying for the past 3 months, with NO results. I often stop and ask myself..."Why?", I have had such a hard time throughout life. I was abused as a child, but broke the cycle of abuse with my 2 sons (my living son just has his own house built at the age of 24 and is going to school ,part-time for his Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering while working full-time as the same, but with a Bachelor's Degree (both sons were raised exactly the same way, with love & kindness & NO ABUSE of any kind. I am rapidly losing faith & hope. My finace, whom I love dearly fell 3 stories at the age of 30 and 8 years later started collecting a mere 600 per month (that's 20 a day) in SSI. I believe in God and that everything happens for a reason, but I am looking for the goodness in anything right now and I can't see much. Our savings consists of about 2,000.00, which will go rapidly on bills.........Hey, Let's just pray for one another and for all of the people who feel the way I do right now. God Loves us and wants the best for us. But, we just have to do the leg work. Right?