What is Your Employment Situation?

[Blade]

My employment situation has been going down hill since August of 2008. I do still have a job and am working 30 hrs a week. There is rumor that if we loose one of the largest home improvement centers in the US we will go down to 24 hrs a week and likely some will be laid off. They've hit me for $1200 a month, but I am still working and have my benefits, but heck I can't afford to use my benefits. I'm looking for a job. Not a part-time job to compensate for the loss, but a new full time job. Best of luck to everyone looking for a job.

[girl_dee]

Bodyworker here about ready to lay my hands on whomever I can get them on! Hopefully I get some clients who need me!

[Greyson]

I am employed full time but have been at a 15% reduction in pay for the past year and a half. In January it will go to only a 10% reduction in pay.

I don't like it but I know I am still lucky and no matter what happens "out there," I will keep my self respect in knowing, I am doing what I can like most of us here are doing.

[Greyson]

Originally Posted by Greyson

I am employed full time but have been at a 15% reduction in pay for the past year and a half. In January it will go to only a 10% reduction in pay.

I don't like it but I know I am still lucky and no matter what happens "out there," I will keep my self respect in knowing, I am doing what I can like most of us here are doing.

Wow, six years later things have changed a bit. I am retired from that career, in graduate school full time and working part-time. The sort of work I do part-time has been traditionally for entry level young people. Not anymore. I cannot tell you how many adults with higher education scramble for these jobs. Well at least here in the SF Bay Area. The economy still has a long way to go.

[RockOn]

I went from software contractor to permanent full time employee in 2009. I knew I'd get a healthy pay cut but with raises and promotions since '09, I have exceeded original contractor salary. I did not have as much what I call "play money" there for awhile but manageable. I like the stability I have being a permanent employee, good benefits, generous holiday and annual leave, Blue Cross Blue Shield ... I cannot complain at all ... but I will ... I miss the thrill and fast pace of the contract work even though it was terribly stressful at times and people seemingly were more back-biting. A big plus at my current job is that for someone like me who seems to get into trouble periodically for being "mouthy," you would just about have to snuff someone to get fired. Overall, I like the job I have today just fine.

[Zimmeh]

I have had several jobs since I joined the planet nearly seven years ago. I currently work full time at Starbucks and even though the job doesn't pay well, I really enjoy it. I am becoming very good at latte art and talking to people about coffee. I have a bachelors degree in business information systems from DeVry University. I was never able to find a job in that field but I use my education in computers to help train my coworkers on point of sale computer programs.

Zimmeh

[girlin2une]

I am employed full time in work that I love and find very fulfilling but in a workplace that I hate. I am a teacher. It brings immense joy to me to know that I make a difference in the lives of the children I teach, but I yearn for a change. I realise just how blessed I am to have a full time job with benefits. After all, I have my own young children that rely on me.
I want to go back to school. Of course 40 isn't too old to go back to school right?

[Linus]

I've been lucky enough to be employed by the same company for 5 years now and they've been proactive enough to get me a visa to work here in the US. My role has changed a bit but my company is also doing very well (profit of 40% year over year and receiving regular raises and bonuses each year -- this year is a whole new high at about 40% pay increase, bonus and raise combined).

[shadows papa]

I am currently in school,working toward my A.A.S. as a physical therapist assistant. I live and breathe for graduation,state certification boards and getting back to work by June of 2011. It's been a long hard slog of almost 4 years to attain a 2 year degree. For the first 3 years I worked fulltime along with school. Working while actually in the PTA program was pretty much out of the question. So I have been living on school loans and finally,after impoverishing myself enough,I am getting Pell Grants. That along with the help and support of my Miss Pink,my Mama and my bro SnackTime have helped me to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I can't wait for that first paycheck in a field I LOVE,that happens to be very stable and has a HUGE projected growth rate over the next 10 years. The first thing I'm gonna do is take them all out to eat,on my dime because I wouldn't be doing this without them. Sorry for the off topic ramble,but I am truly BLESSED. The job market here in Middle Tennessee is pretty tight for all fields but if folks will post what they are looking for and whether they are able to re-locate maybe we can all help each other through this dismal period in our country's economy. Good luck to all who are looking!

[lipstixgal]

I'm unemployed but just graduated literally weeks ago from a medical assistant college here in NJ. Looking to relocate though to warmer climate. NO I don't have experience which sucks but would do anything to get some. I did do an internship for 6 weeks so that is good. My dream job is to be an nurse a degree in RN...any tips would be appreciated..

[Lynn]

I am lucky enough to be working in my field. I do work two jobs, with some added work thrown in, in order to pay the bills. I haven't seen an increase in income for several years, and, as inflation goes up, this has lead to increasing debt in order to make ends meet. I have looked for jobs with more responsibility, hoping to increase my salary, and even have had job offers. But, always at a significant salary cut. I am actually looking at options for going back to school. I have an interview tomorrow at a college that offers a psychiatric nurse practitioner program. I am not sure that this is feasible, but I'm looking into it. I would immediately see my salary double, and I would be entering a field where there is a need. I already have a lot of expertise in this field, so I'm hoping that it will be possible.

[WickedFemme]

I am fortunate to be employed full-time, but sometimes I get a little resentful that I am working for less pay than I did before the Bush years and since. My bills certainly haven't changed and prices have not come down at all on anything. I looked for other jobs in my field but there isn't anything out there that I am interested in doing nor are there any jobs that pay more than I am making now. It's very sad, but I am grateful to have a job and am looking forward to the day when I can make at least what I was making ten years ago.. I heard I may get a raise next month, which would make me feel a little less stressed.
good luck everyone - it's tough out there... especially for us older folks that are looking for employment. I still can't afford to even touch my student loans - is that crazy or what? I wonder if I ever will???

[EnderD_503]

I'm currently employed full-time and while I'm not actively looking for another job right now, it's definitely on my mind considering how the company treats its employees and membership/clients. Once I've helped my current clients get to where they want to be, I'd like to move away from that kind of atmosphere though in a similar line of work. Who knows, though.

[Julien]

At this moment in time I am an unemployed (laid off) teacher with a PhD in a field that is very competitive in the job search front. I taught for 10 years before the lay off happened. My dad found out 4 weeks ago that he has throat cancer. I believe that my lack of job enabled me to help my folks out. So does everything happen for a reason? I've got to believe in that or I would be really depressed.

[AtLast]

I am fully retired now which means that my monthly income is 1/3rd of what it was. Part of this does reflect the financial collapse in the US as my retirement is tied to those events and recovery. Also, I did retire earlier than expected due to disability issues and since I was self-employed, cannot receive state or federal disability income. I am not 65 yet, so no Medi-Care, but do have private health insurance. At 62, I will be able to collect Social Security at a reduced rate (is higher at 65 or age 70, but not all that much- and hell, ya‘ neva‘ know!!).

Since I left employment working for other people many years ago in which I paid into the SS system, my benefits will not be much- well under 1000/month, which I knew and tried to make up for with personal retirement savings plans- that went down with the Recession. POOF!!!

The wipe-out of the housing sector blew a huge hole in supplemental income I inherited and know will never recover to prior levels. I'm glad I never had it in my head that what I inherited from my folks would be my entire retirement or income in prior years. That would have been a cruel joke and just plain stupid of me! True “Trust Fund babies” are of the Kennedy/Bush type, not we commoners.

I really hope that younger generations think and plan around financial crises, future recessions, and the need for solid retirement planning including health care. What is being discussed now politically in the US about our entitlement and public retirement programs is critical to everyone, no matter what age we are. It WILL have an effect on each and every person’s life unless you do end up independently wealthy. You can count on this! Life turns on a dime- at any age.

Live life to the fullest, be healthy & happy and do some financial planning for the future!

From a grateful old fart!

[Mtn]

On one hand I feel blessed to have a job, when so many don't, but I also know it is sucking the life out of my life, so It's a conundrum right now. I have been here 18 years, so my job security is good,(though no retirement or health insurance) but I think it's time for the bosses to hire my replacement this year so I have time to train them. It's a little scary though in this economy to consider the big changes ahead.

[Two-spirit]

You show work at a truck stop. We drivers are always having back pains, legs pains and just need a good rub down after a 70 hr work week..

At this time I'm still on family leave, my father had two strokes last year. So I'm helping my mother take care of him. But when I can I might go back trucking I always come back home with my back hurting after two weeks on the road.

[imperfect_cupcake]

Originally Posted by Two-spirit

You show work at a truck stop. We drivers are always having back pains, legs pains and just need a good rub down after a 70 hr work week..

At this time I'm still on family leave, my father had two strokes last year. So I'm helping my mother take care of him. But when I can I might go back trucking I always come back home with my back hurting after two weeks on the road.

Oh I got a lot of truck drivers in the UK as patients willing to be treated by me as a student. They were great clients. Friendly, chatty, not up their own arse, not shy about their bodies, appreciative and tipped me and even brought me bottles of wine and a couple gave me restaurant gift certificates. Real sweethearts actually. Flirtatious sometimes but always perfect gentleman with me.

[Hey You]

I work at a uni library as a library assistant, which is below my qualification. And I'm only 2 subjects off being qualified as a librarian. Keeping an eye out for jobs not because I don't like my current job/workplace, but because I need to be on more money. Life will get more expensive when I stop having a student status. Sigh.

[Logicaly]

I just got promoted to Supervisor, Financial Services last week. Currently I manage a team of 8 people and we are already in the process of adding more members to the team. Basically what my team does is handle any fraud and billing issues that our users face, as well as enforcing the Terms of Service and handling reports about that as well. I love what I do, and I love the team that I work with, they really make my job so easy and make it fun to come to work every day.