What is Your Employment Situation?

[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???

[DomnNC]

I guess I'm lucky, I've been self-employed since 1989. I did go to work full-time for one of my clients for about 10 years but I still maintained my other clients on the side. I was working full-time for said client in 2005 when I had to have a neck and back surgery. Chuckles, they hired a 60+ yr old dude to "handle" my position while I was out on sick leave, but we all knew he was my replacement. I had to laugh when said dude cost the company over $150,000 buying computer equipment that was not needed because he corrupted the operating system on an AS400 and did not know how to reinstall it (said he worked for IBM for 20+ years and was a programmer/systems analyst like me, it took one phone call with him to figure out the man lied about his abilities so I told said client I would not help them in any way cuz that man was going to mess up their system and boy did he ever, lol) coughs, so 6 months after I had my back surgery they asked me to come back full-time to which I told them I didn't need their stinking ass job as I was making a comfortable living being self-employed and didn't have to handle the stress of the parent company plus the 6 branch locations (I was the MIS Director). So I'm still self-employed and making a good living at it.

Sorry to hear of everyone's troubles with employment. It does suck out there!

[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.

[little man]

i am employed. for another two days. i don't have anything lined up yet, and am moving 900 miles from here. i am excited and hopeful. i have a broad enough skillset that finding work shouldn't be too difficult. (i can fix things...always in demand)

my plan is to work through temp services or day labor places while i and my buddy ash try to build us a picture business. one of the things i realized in caring for my mother the last two years is that if i'm ever going to chase my dreams, it's now or never.

here's to following rainbows, tilting at windmills and running down a dream.

[atomiczombie]

I am on disability and will be for the forsee-able future.

[WolfyOne]

I just relocated to an area that has jobs because where I was at had absolutely nothing to offer unless I drove an hour or more to get there. I see plenty of jobs in the area I'm in, but many want online apps with resumes. Until I get my resume updated, I'm sort of at a stand still for those online apps. I have had one phone interview and talked to another who wants to sit down with me and talk more on Friday or Saturday as he's been out of town all week and those will be his first days back on the job. I do feel good about the area I'm in and look forward to getting back into the work force.

For the record, I happen to hate online job applications. They seem so impersonal and HR never gets to know the person behind the app if you do one thing wrong when filling it out.