I've been unemployed since October '08 and some of that advice is less than stellar. I also went back to school in the mean time to give myself an edge in the job hunt. I'm now a nationally certified pharmacy technician and have my WA PhT license.
- I spend 8 hrs a day online looking for work. I fill out applications and send in resumes/cover letters. I can usually apply to 5-10 jobs a day. These days having an internet connection is necessary for job hunting. Yes, you can go into the local unemployment offices and use theirs, but you may be limited to 1 hr at most. Same with libraries, many have a time limit so they can serve the most people.
- I am in my school's career rep's office every week for a pep talk and to see if she has heard from any prospective employers that haven't posted an ad online yet. And I have had some job leads through this, but many times the jobs went to one of my classmates. Great for them, not so great for me. =(
- I have pounded the pavement to only be told "We only accept online applications. And only when we are currently hiring." Seriously. Main reason I don't bother with anything but online applications anymore.
- As for McD's and the like: I have more education than they want. They know that as soon as I find a better position I'm out of there and they don't want to be bothered training me when there are so many other people with less education that will stick around for more than a month or so.
- On unemployment I bring home after taxes just over $1000/month. This does not go very far in a city like Seattle where you have a 9.6% sales tax and a rental market through the roof. I get no housing subsidy/food stamps/what have you. I'm lucky if I have anything left over at the end of the week to put towards my student loans.
- The field I am trained in is overcrowded in Seattle. I am moving in a few month where my education will mean more and the field less likely to be as crowded, but until then I'm stuck.
I have been trying everyday and if it weren't for my SO I would be homeless. I've been applying for anything I am qualified for(and some I'm not) and I have had 4 call backs in the last 5 months. 3 of those have resulted in face -to- face interviews and the other a phone interview. None have resulted in an actual offer.
I don't want to sound bitchy, but a lot of the well-intentioned advice that is given to those in this situation is less than helpful. Being told to
stop being a fucking useless lying gobshite
is less than helpful and makes
me feel even worse when I know I am doing all I can do each and every day.