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LISA FORSYTHE

417

Introvert trying to tackle the world of Ed Tech

12/30/19 at 4:57PM UTC

Career

Out of Work Over a Year

Have you been out of work for more than a year? How have you been coping or making ends meet? I am in a single household and been out of work for over two years. Granted I was in grad school full time, but was actively looking for work at the same time with no luck. I have had numerous interviews, but no offers. It’s been depressing at times and makes me second guess my abilities and worth. Everyday I am either updating my LinkedIn profile, resume and cover letter, or signing up to staffing agencies (which I find are not the same as they use to be). My bank account is finally tapped out. I’m surviving off of credit cards and I’m about to withdraw from my retirement to keep me going. Stress level is at all time high. Never been in this position before and hope to never be again.

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Mary0612

01/02/20 at 5:18AM UTC (Edited)

What field are you in? You can actually use your grad degree, all the work you completed for it as work experience. Have you built a portfolio? That’s work experience! When I was in undergrad school, I had internships in computer networking that started at $12.50/hour. The internship in my last year of study paid $15 an hour. Many internships are paid internships and many are geared toward current students and recent graduates. I currently have recruiters emailing me for work opportunities within tech. I am about to interview for a job next week in Dallas. The company is paying for my flight and hotel. The job won’t actually be in Dallas, just the interview. Leaving my current job for one that pays better and there’s travel involved. My current job I was found by their recruiter. I didn’t have to go out of my way. Their recruiter contacted me, I interviewed, and got the job. Also, statistics show that there are actually more jobs available than job seekers, and in tech many go unfilled. I think you need to rework how you present and market yourself. Start with counting all the work you completed for grad school as work experience.

Changemaker371201

Digital Strategist~Cert. Social Leads Consultant

01/01/20 at 6:33PM UTC

Check out an app called Easy Shift. They have store audits that pay okay sometimes. If u can hit 6 or 7 stores at a time, it's almost worth the hour drive I have to make to get to the stores ?? 2020 better be awesome!

Changemaker371201

Digital Strategist~Cert. Social Leads Consultant

01/01/20 at 6:29PM UTC

I'm in a similar situation! Been out of work for 5 months now, with no fresh leads. I have over 20 years office admin and very tech savvy. I've been trying to learn every digital skill possible, which is hard with no $ for certs. I've put so many apps in, I bet I have 30 different resumes at this point. I've networked. I've been to employment agencies, temps, recruiters,etc. They are all useless. Even if they already have ur info in the system, you still have to apply to each posting! Why can't they search for candidate they already have!? Then they want you to spend money you don't have to drive an hour to be told they just needed a copy of your dl and SSN....did think I had a job with the state DHS, but hours before I was supposed to start, offer terminated for one blip on my background check, which I told them about on the wasted trip to the recruiter office! So, I applied for TANF. When DHS worker called me 3.5 weeks after submitting my app, she told me they would take my child support while I'm receiving TANF. That would give me a whole $15 extra/month ? AND they would rather do that, then just give me a job so I wouldn't be on welfare!!!! During all this, I've been trying to freelance, which in turn is like starting your own biz with a negative checking account... I've secured unpaid internships, which will result in paid work three months from now... I'm enrolled in classes to finish my accociates degree finally. Classes start in two weeks, but funds from grants and loans don't disperse till end of February.... The situation is sooooo depressing and frustrating! At this point I don't know which direction to focus my attention ? Keep looking for a full-time job? Freelance? Start my own biz? Focus on getting a certification? Network? Personal branding? Internship? ? Have an online gig that pays a whopping $9/hr as contract labor, but with job search, trying to hustle and keep lights on, I'm not sure that paycheck at around $4/hr (after u pay taxes, take out cost of internet, workers comp, unemployment insurance) is worth my time!! All the while my credit score is dropping, I have stuff in collections now. No cash and I can't get anything to go my way! I'm a single mom, with no help from anyone. I can't even get a dang waitress job or work at a gas station bc of my background. And it's only messed up for cannabis, which is legal now!!! What do I do????????????? Whew!!! I feel better :)

LISA FORSYTHE

417

Introvert trying to tackle the world of Ed Tech

01/04/20 at 12:04AM UTC

Wooo...first off, I am going to pray for you big time because as much as I thought I was in the trenches, it always shows that someone is struggling out there more than me. The only think I can think of is see if there are any training programs that provide job placement assistance. Normally, these training programs are through college continuing education departments. My last place of employment that was what we did for people who wanted to return to the workforce. What state are you in?

Changemaker371201

Digital Strategist~Cert. Social Leads Consultant

01/04/20 at 3:51AM UTC

I'm in Oklahoma. I caught a break today actually! I found a temp position to float me for a min. It was so nice to be able to vent here!!! I think being able to get it all out, cleared my path in some way?! Thanks ladies :) Best wishes for all who read this!

LISA FORSYTHE

417

Introvert trying to tackle the world of Ed Tech

01/04/20 at 6:23AM UTC

Awesome news. Congrats. Hope it leads to more opportunities.

Andrea.NYC

163

Consultative sales professional.

01/01/20 at 8:31PM UTC

I just want to send a big hug to you and warm wishes for a better 2020. I have literally not an ounce of advice to send your way! You seem to have everything considered and have reached out to everyone. I am sure something will come up for you and in the meantime, definitely keep at it with the applications and freelance stuff!

Changemaker371201

Digital Strategist~Cert. Social Leads Consultant

01/01/20 at 8:35PM UTC

Thanks! I figure up is the only way to go!!

Andrea.NYC

163

Consultative sales professional.

01/01/20 at 5:47AM UTC

Hugs being sent to you! I am so sorry that you are finding yourself in this terrible situation and that it looks so discouraging! Please let us know what it is you are looking for in particular, and I encourage you to keep a robust profile on LinkedIn --and reach out to your own network to request that they forward to you potential job opportunities in areas in which you are interested. Where are your interests? Skills? Experience? I am sure that you did not go to grad school for nothing? Their resource centers are MOTIVATED to get you hired- so use them! Good luck. There is a community of support here!

LISA FORSYTHE

417

Introvert trying to tackle the world of Ed Tech

01/03/20 at 11:42PM UTC

Hi Andrea, I completed my program online. I tried to connect with the career services virtually through webinars, web conferences and over the phone. I have been given advice about update resume and cover letters, but no real leads. I tapped into my professor who has connected me with some people in my field, but besides leading me to places that I have already applied to, I haven't had any luck. I am truly starting to think it is just me. I will keep looking in the education and educational technology field, but I think I need to also look for that right now job like I stated above to pay the bills.

Sharika82

Just move to Dallas looking to make connections

12/31/19 at 7:46PM UTC

You could try being a babysitter. I was paying my sitter $20 ph before we negotiated a salary. You can sign up on care.com or sitter city. You can find a family that works best for your situation.

LISA FORSYTHE

417

Introvert trying to tackle the world of Ed Tech

12/31/19 at 3:49PM UTC

Thanks so much. I’ve actually applied to a few of the companies listed here.

Maura-Lynne Ross

248

Building relationships to advance opportunities

12/31/19 at 3:03PM UTC

Hi - I've been there.. below is a write up I shared w/a recruiter who then put his name on it & then told me, like many before, could not wouldn't help... I hope this info may help, please check out these links.... A quick referral list to review the returned to work organizations on LI: Pathforward https://www.linkedin.com/company/pathfwd/ ( more tech w/some business, i.e. Verisk iRelaunch https://www.linkedin.com/company/irelaunch/ (BUSINESS, i.e. credit suisse, goldman sachs, macquire, jp morgan, morgan stanley there is a 3rd one that escapes me that requires more time to locate. Additionally, individual corp. also offer their own programs: Pepisco, PriceWCoopers, you may wish to look into MLB kpmg & maybe deloitte, I believe they also be offering opportunities.... This idea is finally spreading as some of these co. have overseas programs Hope this assists those folks you are connected to who are seeking to return to work.... My best to you & success in 2020....

Keri Wilson

792

Business Excellence Consultant

12/30/19 at 7:59PM UTC

Yes, it's depressing. My situation was the same and different from yours and I also watched my bank account dry up and questioned my abilities and my worth every day. It can be horrible to be out of work, doing the things that worked the last time, but don't seem to work now. The job search and placement processes are very different than they used to be (I hear ya on the staffing agency thing!). So if it's money you need, have you considered Lyft? Grubhub? Dog Walking? Babysitting? Running errands for an elderly neighbor (goodness, I wish I had someone who could do that for my Mom). What about retail? Starbucks? Wait staff? Have you been to your local employment office? Someone already mentioned your school's placement office, but universities often have hourly positions open too. Have you told everyone you know that you are looking for some part time work - really anything right now, just to get out of the house and out of your head, and put a little bit of money in your wallet? The reason I bring up these things, even if they're nowhere close to your field of study, is that you will meet people. And they will get to know you and see how wonderful you are and tell their friends, and one of their friends will know someone who knows someone and that, I think, is how you get a job these days. (PS - part-time work could allow you to volunteer or do an unpaid internship in your field of study, also opening doors for you). Good luck! Not gonna lie - it sucks! But I promise you there's a light at the end of this job search tunnel.

LISA FORSYTHE

417

Introvert trying to tackle the world of Ed Tech

12/31/19 at 3:48PM UTC

Thanks for the advice , Keri. My mind has been so hijacked with looking for the long term that jobs that I haven’t really considered the “right now” jobs to pay the bills. Also, volunteering hasn’t been on my list because I’ve been thinking so much about the cost of traveling to these organizations. I’ve seriously been pinching my pennies, but another option to consider, at least locally, preferably in walking distance. Thanks again.

Jennifer Haje

212

Real Estate Agent

12/30/19 at 7:33PM UTC

Congratulations on going to Grad School. I would try networking and going through your school’s career resource center. Keep trying, something will come up for you.

Charlotte F. Polando

185

FGB Community Contributor

12/30/19 at 5:15PM UTC

I know being out of work and having the gap on a resume does not look to good. What would look good and help with gaining some experience and networking is volunteering. I have in one way or another have volunteered in local organization. You could volunteer with an organization that is in your filed of study. Good luck.

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