How Does A Person Become Unemployable?
91After reading an article indicating that a person is "unemployable" after being unemployed for more than a year or more, I call my friend. My friend was fully employed for the past 10 years in a field that is a niche within the IT world. He made between $60-70,000 yearly, has a family, nice cars.
That was two years ago. Today, after almost two years of unemployment via the four Federal extensions, there is a sense that he has given up. Sad, but not unexpected when you think of the the hurdles he faces: unemployment for nearly two years (except for a four month job with the US Census last year), age (he is 55), aging skills, over-qualified or under qualified for many jobs, and stiff applicant competition from all ages (those more recently just unemployed). Who said that college grads earn more than high school grads? Not always true, and he should know, he has two degrees. He was telling me that to pass time, he has tried to volunteer at various agencies and even there, there is competition because of the glut of unemployed trying to maintain their sanity by volunteering.
He, like others in the same boat, are at odds of what to do next. Go back to school? How? Major in what other field? What career could one obtain in the shortest time of a year? What happens if that also fails? Get a job a Walmart? Target? Funny, because as he told me, he has tried and either did not "qualify" by their online tests or the interviewer looked at him with suspicion about why he was unemployed. No matter what he said, whatever spin he spun his unemployment dilemma, he felt he was wasting time because of the many others, more recently unemployed, or younger applicants. Being unemployed more than one year has been said to be akin to a "death sentence" because of all of the above. That is how he feels.
He told me that when the interviewer asked about why he could not find a job, he was baffled himself. He spun his skillsets and told them to contact former references, that, nothing was wrong with his work product. The interviewer seemed not hear it or believe it because of his comments about being out of work for over a year. My friend felt like screaming at the person, a smug, coy, 30ish HR person. Even when he has pointed out that his skills are NOT outdated at all, it did not seem to make a difference.
So, this is how a middle aged, college grad, becomes obsolete and into forced retirement. I really feel for the guy, it can happen to anyone, anytime. He is at a loss of what to do, he cannot seem to get even a Walgreen's job. But, if the job market in his area and elements are bad, his far worse enemy is his attitude. I have noticed a change from a vibrant person to one that is beaten over the course of time. As he tells me, he continues to search and send off resumes like he did nearly two years ago. Some of the gigs ask for skills that he possesses but to employers they might seem dated or obsolete because he has not worked. Time and rejection has taken a toll on his self esteem, all while his savings are robbed for daily expenses. The unemployment he has received simply kept the theft of savings to a minimum. It now ends and consequences will be dire as days turn to months and months to years. He figures he can last six months with scrimping before the mortgage is threatened.
It is a good thing his wife works and earns good money, but even that area has been hit hard in terms of relationship. I help as best I can but I cannot save him.
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I hear you. In the past, I have had periods of not working and many find it incredible that I could not find even a $10 hr job because like most, I have college and lots of skills. you have my empathy, for sure.
He is lucky that his wife works....maybe he could try a Temp agency. It worked for me and maybe it can work for him. Good and informative hub.
Let's get real, the only way out of unemployment is SELF employment. There are many ways to make money online, and many ways to learn new skills. Many jobs are never coming back. If you can write, you can make money online. Get a cheap laptop and you can work anywhere, even if homeless you can use the library computers.
Fgual the problem is making more than spare change on what you stated. A few bucks or even a few hundred bucks does not equate to making $1000 or more a week.
Your article is sooo right, I have unemployable for over a year for the simple reason that I have too strong a personality, and talk to straight. I also had a long dry streak some 10 years ago and after 210 resumes only had 3 interviews.
I have done the only thing that can be done and that is to go off on my own. I am not agaisn't young people but let's face it they don't want any body over 50 for the work styles are different, and I firmly believe that they are afraid that us'ns 'boomers' might just overshadow them.
Right now am working on 2 projects with a 3rd in the works. It is sad that employers don't want any of us boomers experience/skills. The other bad part is that at the age of 53 I knew that I would never be hired again and was subjected to 'day labor' which is how I survived. Not even my degree or exp mattered to them.
It would be nice to hear from some employers, HR, people, because I see trend....
This is the EXACT same spot i am in. I got laid off in 2008 due to the economy. I could not find work so i had to start my own business just to try to keep money coming in, food on the plates for my kids. My credit has taken a beating and when ever i do get called in for an interview i am quickly tuerned away due to my credit score..no my qualifications. The hardest thing for me to swallow todate happened today. I got hired into a position and was told to show up today for training. I was ontime and after being there for 2 hours i was told to pack my things and go home because my credit report came in. I am 40 years old, i hold a degree in computer science, 4 kids i raise on my own and i am totally screwed now. There is nothing left for me to do but to start looking at the illegal things i can do to make money..this is no longer the land of opertunity but the nation of the unemployable. I wish you all the best of luck, im afraid my time is done
Corey- wow! What is the credit score? How does one's credit score impact one's job duties? insane. I would say relocate, but with 4 kids, maybe not.
I know this post is several months old, but I have to chime in. Anybody over the age of 40 we will have to do the unthinkable and that is to lie about your age. I do that all the time and it is getting results for me. Just dye your hair and try to act younger and they wont suspect a thing. Yes I know this is lying and it is not good. However, it is much better than being on the street or forced into early retirement. Just my two cents.
I have been unemployed 3 times since 2007. I had a job selling cars and two jobs within a field close to what I had worked in for years. I left selling cars (which hardly amounted to $300.00 per week) to take a job back "in my field". That lasted 5 months because the industry was shrinking; I was unemployed for another 10 months then got another job that lasted for a year-but it was a new startup and wasn't making enough for the parent company. 15 months has elapsed and I'm still unemployed. Everyday that passes I feel more doomed. I am thinking that the world this world is where I no longer want to be. Constant failure, uncertainty and feelings of being obsolete have taken it's toll on me. I have consulted with a few pyschics who tell me to hang on because my life will be turning around soon but it hasn't happened yet.
Before I suffer the indignities of homelessness or not having any more income, I will probably do the unthinkable and unspeakable. I can't live in a world where I have become useless and can't survive.
I really think that "unspeakable" is the only viable solution for those of us over 50 because it's not going to get any better. Our country's economic resources have dried up prospective employers won't give our 50+ or unemployed over 12 months group the time of day. So maybe things will be better on "the other side."
@FRED, I understand the despair and a lot depends on your background, skills and nowadays, luck. If you just quit, nothing WILL result.
All true. I can count at least 20 friends in their fifties or sixties who are well-educated and out of work long term - some for two years or more. They are NOT lazy! Most have totally given up even trying to find a job. Some have tried to start their own businesses but even that takes some start-up cash. In many cases, the start-up is financial planning or real estate. Both not able to generate or replace the several thousand a month they used to make and need to pay their bills. Half have already gone through their savings and lost their homes. This county is in the toilet when businesses won't even look at an over fifty as a good employee. My husband is out of work and continues to come in "second" and we both know it is age. Many online applications actually require "the year you graduated from high school" - yep! Talk about age discrimination. How does one battle something like this? Has anyone out there in their fifties retrained and been finally hired; if so, in what area? Not all of us can afford plastic surgery to look younger.
@ midwest, I too, know few in mid-late 50s. Sporadic work over 2 yrs. It depends on the field, but I have asked middle level managers at Costco in kansas, if all things were equal in skills, and one was 30 and the other 55-60, who would get hired? I was told the 30 yr old. My brother is 62, in OK., he finally got P\T work after over a year.
My state of being unemployable has gone full cycle. At age 30 I sat in the Wa. state unemployment office as the claims person told me I was "unemployable". I was dumbfounded and outraged. At 30, perfectly healthy in every way, plenty smart, no oddities or quirks, total willingness to work any job for any pay!
The reason? I had too little experience at anything useful(true, because I'd moved from odd job to odd job up to that point) and I had no credentials such as degree or certifications.
So... I went back to school and got 2 degrees in computer programming and computer science. That got me employed, till 20 yrs later when a company I worked at closed. Now in my early 50s and the dot-com bust, I was 4 yrs unemployed even though I looked 6 days a week and used every trick and technique in the book and was willing to work in IT anywhere in the US for any pay. I got more credentials, I bought new suits, I showed up at HR offices unannounced, I faxed and emailed, called and networked. I figured if I could just get in somewhere, I'd rise back up through the ranks over time. Clearly, I was again unemployable.
The reason? Now I had TOO MUCH experience and TOO MANY credentials (I'd expanded the credentials over time on previous jobs)! It was assumed by many that I would therefore not stay on that job, but would jump ship at the first better opportunity. The assumption was that an older, degreed, and heavily and positively experienced worker would never stay around.
I eventually took a fast food job that my high school son turned down! So for $7.50/hr I wore a t-shirt and funny hat and worked all day beside the many part-time high schoolers. It was hard standing and grilling burgers all day. Harder still cleaning indescribably dirty rest rooms. And even tougher getting understandably odd looks and questions from the kids and others. Maybe now it's more common to see such workers behind those counters, not sure.
It was humbling, I assure you. I had been, at one time, charged out by a software company at $250/hr. Now I was making $7.50.
I think the most shocked person was the realtor lady, through whom I'd bought family condo and house, when she saw me at the drive-thru.
After 6 months, I quit that and took up technical writing for a helpful friend and his company at $25/hr. The hrs were such that I made exactly the same as the fast food job, so I was happy(er).
Eventually I managed to get in at a hospital in an admin job... then transferred within to an IT-based job, but at about half what I would "normally" be making. Been there several yrs now. I've never been a money grubber, so I'm fine.
Wow!Leo! Many of us may need to reinvent and adapt. I cannot imagine how your ego was while at the fast food place. Technical writer jobs use to be plentiful, now it is sparse and they demand so many other skills not associated with TW, like knowing software code, hardware etc.
I posted 7 weeks ago and still nothing. I haven't stopped sending out resumes and have gotten a response only to be told later on that the people are looking for a better fit. They didn't even speak with me. This life is clearly not worth living and I deserve better than this.
Fred- it is the only life you have, though, forever!
I always heard you have the exp. but not the degrees. I went and got two degrees in less than 3 years. I had to quit my job and move 3000 miles away. I have applied for jobs from being a nanny to jobs in my field. I have had three interviews. One told me to get a head hunter (this was a personnel company) one asked why I didnt get a job before I moved out here. (it was planned)the other was the nanny job have no idea. I have filled out over 200 applications, lowes, Walmart, McDonalds etc. I hate online applications and those dumb assements. I have applied for different jobs for the same company and changed answers and still didnt get a call. There has has to be a change in the system. To prove a point. My husbands company was looking for a clerk of sorts. He was puzzled at the applications that t hey were getting. I was doing the same job for another company and had many years exp. I submitted my resume under maiden name, so did my daughter also qualified. Within a couple of hours we got emails sorry you dont qualify. With our exp we at least should of gotten a phone interview. Nope. But someone who couldnt look up something on th einternet got in for an interview. HMM. I guess now I am unemployable with 3 degrees and oushing 50.
wow. i know several who are in the same boat. maybe they could tell your age, overly educated or discriminated because you were unemployed-many do!
I dont know about unemployable, but if we don't get Obama out, we are all going to be unemployed.
maybe
Tend to agree with Jim Bob there... Killing our economy is not helping the Jobless get back on their feet at all... But trusting in Big Government to supply all our needs will certainly kill any future plans for a better life.. Regardless of what you education level... If they have thier way... it will be Top 10 Percent or Bottom 70 percent... with only a small 20% middle class for keeping the plumbing and lights on... driving the Buses and handling freight... That is the future of Big Gov... Your up... or your down and out... at the whim of the top 10% cant call it a dictatorship though.. because the 70% will keep voting for the Big Gov and the welfare state to feed them and give them free stuff...
Name for it is called a "Machiavellian" Government
I'm new to HubPages and just posted my story which relates to this post. In November 2008 I lost my full time job as a HR Administrative Assistant. Then I was completely screwed over by two men I dated and ended up with 3 misdemeanors on my record, 2 for something I didn't even do. Now, 4 years later, I still cannot find a job. I live in a small town an hour north of Milwaukee, Wisconsin where there are not many employers around but I am willing to work anywhere within an hour drive, and there are 5 metro areas within an hour in each direction. I am a 2 hour drive from Chicago and have started also looking for work in the Chicago area which means if I find something, I'm willing to take any cheap studio or small apartment to live in during the week and drive back home on the weekends and days off. I get $245 a MONTH in employment which is running out soon. When I started getting unemployment I got $250 a WEEK! I can't live off $245 a month! That barely puts gas in my car. My car is a 2003 with 164,000 miles on it. I bought it new but it is in rough shape being a Pontiac, cheaply made and I know it will not last me another winter. I live with my boyfriend and luckily he has a very good job and he could more than afford all of his bills before me, so he doesn't ask for money ever, so I don't really have any bills, but I still need money! I really do not know what to do anymore. I would love to start my own business and have a few ideas that I think would possibly be great business ideas but I just don't know how to start it and I am not a risk taker. I would be happy to find even a part time job if I at least made $1000 a month. When I was in college and worked part time I normally averaged about $1000-$1300 monthly. That would allow me to save money as well as buy a new car. If anyone has any tips or can help it is greatly appreciated. I live near Milwaukee, Wisconsin and will travel furthest to Chicago.
Thanks for the story. There are many like you or are approaching the same situation as all of their backups are consumed- savings, retirement.Very scary and the older you are the harder it is because there IS age discrimination and more competition even for an $8 hr job.
I am 28 so I am not in the stage of life where I should be considered "over qualified" but I'm not under qualified either. I have been told at 28, I look about 23, so apparently I still look like I'm in college. My misdemeanors are not related in any way to most jobs as all 3 happened due to horrible domestic situations in my personal life. I have never hurt anyone, stolen from anyone or anything of that nature, so they should not be held against me, yet they were and they still are. I'm very healthy and have no disabilities yet I just don't get why there are people out there who are holding jobs, (yes most are not family supporting jobs such as Walmart, Target, the mall, etc) but they are holding a job even if it is for $8 to $14 an hour, which in my opinion is slavery wages, I would be happy right now with almost anything. I was at Target yesterday and the cashier was hard of hearing, as listed on her nametag and clearly was very disabled but is able to get a job as a store cashier, I can't even find that! Another point that comes to mind is, I have read a lot that "how one looks" plays a factor in getting hired or not. Now with that said, I have been told that I am well above average in looks, if that is supposed to help with a person's hiring decision, and yet still, can't find a job. What are people supposed to do?
How about this: a person becomes Unemployable when they rely on some other person or entity for supporting them instead of working directly for themselves. Why are you relying on the world around you to take care of you? You have lots of time on your hands... Use it. Start your own hustle on the side.. build a business out of it. Become Self sufficient.
Appearance is very important in making impressions. Tattoos are the fashion but most employers refrain in hiring those with ones in public view. yes, $8 is slave wages and employers wonder why they cannot retain employees or why they slack off. Duh! Target and Walmart hires most of their floor people who are on welfare because part of their wages are paid by them thru work programs or reimbursement. As to starting your won biz, well, if you are near broke yourself the odds of being successful are nil.
So keep supporting Big Government... top 10% or Bottom 70% your Choice.
Actually... its no choice.. because you will never win the lottery... never be given the opportunity to enter first class... so about the best you can hope for is to build something for yourself in the margins... No money... well.. use your Brains and the time you have... Use the skills you have... because that is all you have.
I have a decent "nest egg" saved up and average about $400 per month selling on Ebay and Amazon. I do need a job though because I need a stable/steady stream of regular income. Selling on Ebay is like relying on a job that is 100% commission. You only get paid if you sell something. I have always worked for an employer and never considered self employment until the last few years. I don't know where to start with that.
Not saying for a moment that it will be easy... But look up... Help is from the Lord and he will help those who look to him. After Katrina I was out of work for 3 months and had no Unemployment at all... I was living in South MS where Katrina did allot of damage... Never really missed work... because I went to work cleaning up the very next day and have never gone back to working for someone else's company since then. Its not all Luck either as some would try to downplay God's help... It was a walk of faith and He proved Himself to me over and over in that time... He showed me what to do... what financial moves to make... we survived... Not rich.. but we were ok... no regrets.
Yes, starting your own biz is an act of faith. Make sure God is on your side.
HSchneider Level 6 Commenter 12 months ago
Thanks for writing this Perrya. You are absolutely correct. I am in the exact same boat as your friend. I am 53 and I have been unemployed after being laid off in late 2007. I worked in fianacial services operations for 27 years and I cannot secure a new job in any field. This includes stores, bank teller, or any position. I am trying hard every day. I suspect I am overqualified for many spots or considered too old. It is incredibly frustrating and unfair but I simply go out every day and keep plugging.