The NYT has a profile of a woman who has passed the 99 weeks of unemployment benefits and is now essentially homeless, living in a motel paid for with charity from friends. In 2008 she had a good job and was going to business school. Now she’s on food stamps and making ramen in a motel ice bucket.
From the NYT:
Lining the shelves underneath the television are her food supplies: rice and noodles that [she] mixes with water in the motel’s ice bucket and heats up in a microwave; peanut butter and jelly; a loaf of white bread.
[She] still has food stamps, which she qualified for in Tennessee. But she is required to report her move, which will cut them off, so she will have to reapply in Vermont.
She has been struggling with new obstacles, like what to do when an address is required in online applications. She is worried about what will happen when her cellphone is finally cut off, because then any calls to the number she sent out with her résumés will disappear into a netherworld.
99 Weeks Later, Jobless Have Only Desperation [NYT]
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I’m sorry, but 99 weeks? The economy is tough and jobs are hard to find, there’s no denying either of those statements.
I know so many people who just got new jobs. Sure this comparison doesn’t mean much, but there ARE open jobs. Some people just feel they are too good for certain positions. I’m sure she didn’t try hard enough.
Having $92,000 in student debt from an undergrad business school says a lot about her business sense.
My parents owned a business and eventually lost it. They both had to find jobs later in life (late 50s, early 60s). For my dad, it was a bit easier as he was an accountant before and was able to find a job without too much difficulty.
For my mom, though, it was was tough. She didn’t have accounting skills, had to get job training to learn to use computer software like Word and Excel, plus is a woman and looks older (gray/white hair). Was able to find some temporary government jobs, and eventually was able find a permanent county job. It was really depressing for her – she would go to interviews and they wouldn’t result in anything. (I told her she didn’t have to work, because my dad, me and my sister all have full-time jobs and she could afford not to work, but she was convinced that there must be a job out there for her).
I’d suggest for the OP to try the civil service/government job route. In smaller cities and towns, it tends to be limited, but if she could get near a larger metropolitan area – there can be a lot of opportunities. Also, there are sometimes seasonal government jobs (such as working for the county registrar office during an election year) and that type of stuff. Even if it’s just a part-time job, it’s still something. There are budget cuts and hiring freezes, but some (like Los Angeles county) still do some hiring.
I’m a firm believer that education is a life long process if for no other reason you might need something you learn for a new job one day.
I think part of the problem with continuing education besides money is that many non degreed courses carry a stigma as ‘oh you weren’t good enough for college’ and yet just a few courses out of your major or adult continuing education given just to teach and not for grades can be very usefull such as the Excel course. It also shows you are willing to learn and learn as an adult on a regular basis.
I know someone who stopped going to college after they got their associates and spent all their spare time recreating as a white collar professional instead of taking college part-time for his BA, he’s suffering in this job market even with alot of experience. They didn’t even pick up an time quality management type course which many companies look for.
If its course even at the local high school and you have the time and money never be afraid to take them. It could lead to something else one day.
it is sad, and sad to say a very similar thing is happening to my sister. Her mental illness caused her to have a severe panic episode last summer and resulted her getting fired from USPS. She had worked 11 years with a stellar record but because of the manic episode, she has lost custody of children, has been ordered to pay $1000 per month child support, lost her house to her ex husband, and any assets she had. It is so sad because she has always been the type to believe in hard work since she started working at 14. She currently has to live with ex hubby because she has no other choice, she is pretty much his slave and has to bow down to him or else she would be on the streets. He doesn’t understand her mental health issues and doesn’t care. She stayed with me awhile, but she went back to his house just so she could be with her kids. Where do you go when all you know how to do is deliver mail and work retail and retail won’t hardly even pay for the child support. She doesn’t deserve the situation she landed in.
She could find ANY paying job in 99 weeks? I’m sorry, but even in a harsh economic climate I find that hard to believe. Throw away any pride you have and take any paying job you can come across. It might not get you fully back on your feet, but it’s better than living off charity from friends.
I must admit after almost 2 years not even a job at Walmart? Charity from friends? But on the other hand once you’re over 40 you do get discriminated against. And if she doesn’t look fit or has a lot of grey she’s even more screwed. Or doesn’t have the experience or education for a specific job you are done in a market like this.
I’ve seen several other people sit on their unemployment in that they assume in time they’ll get a job in their desired field. Early on I can see this logic BUT after a certain point even with unemployment you have to get into the mindset I just need a job. What happens is that when you do start looking for A job or any job is that the potential employer assumes/thinks why the heck weren’t you looking for a job months ago- meaning they’re assuming you don’t want a job you still want a career and you’ll leave the minute you find a job in your field. In other words they’ll hire who they percieve to be the hungriest(not necessarily qualified or best candidate, especially at the entry level) and the most needy/not likely to leave an ruin their turnover stats.
One of the big things as well you cannot look you age. You have to look fit. Not anorexic meaning is she at least walking and not popping out of her suit, looking tired and/or unhealthy? Same for guys. You cannot go into an interview looking out of shape and old because there is age discrimination among others.
Once you hit 40 you fall into a “special group” and along with the potential for suing an employer for a variety of reasons a new one becomes available.
At 40 you’re now able to sue for age discrimination – hiring someone 40+ to work an entry level position especially the food industry when there are younger applicants available doesn’t make sense from a liability standpoint.
Wal Mart is always hiring. If you’re completely unemployed for that long, it’s because you refuse to take a job you feel is “beneath” you.
What I see in this story, as well as some of the comments, are a lot of excuses. I’m sorry, but excuses, even ones that are compelling enough to be considered valid reasons, still do not make for a job, they just sort-of justify the hopelessness of the unemployed individuals’ status quo.
I have some difficulty understanding this mindset. What do people who have been unemployed for nearly two years do all day? Yes, for this particular woman, there was attending college for a few months, but what did she do after that?
Further, why is it always up to “someone else” to provide job opportunities? At what point should someone just come to terms with the fact that their skills maybe aren’t marketable, and find some product or service to offer? Sure, most small businesses fail, but if everyone felt that way and refused to even try, everyone would be unemployed. Job opportunities do not just make themselves.
There are also plenty of little things someone can do to make money that require little overhead. I’d think there’s much more dignity in curbside shopping and selling usable things on Craigslist or eBay than just sinking slowly into an indigent lifestyle. There are also service talents that may not pay well, but they will pay, and most people have at least one skill that would fall into that category. Someone who is smart enough to be well on her way to earning an MBA degree should make a fantastic part-time personal assistant or administrator for a small business. There’s not as much security, salary, or benefits in such a job, but it’s better than nothing.
One of the kickers now is that I know people and states that have to keep a log of the places the unemployed applied for a job. A faxed or mailed resume counts.
The killer is many of the employers in these states know this so they assume many applicants are just applying to get there 3 applications a week in and won’t hire you. Many states have done this for years, actually in many states you are supposed to look 3 places a week from day one but they rarely enforce the 3 a week/keep a log rule right away.
Luckily I am not currently in your position but I have been there. I wouldn’t even be able to get ramen noodles or white bread because I am gluten free (food which costs 4x’s the amount of normal food or day-old stuff)… needless to say many of the alternatives people have done included gluten (flour, wheat, starches)…. that would essential make me sick AND broke. Get a job at a nearby mall. I had to do it, it’s not a time to be “too proud”. I myself have a 2 degrees and make 50 cents less than I did 10 YEARS ago.
I’m going to guess a lot of 99ers wouldn’t mind having the same mall job.
Also, some rice gluten free?
Not to be a huge bitch here, but come on. 99 weeks is more than enough time to find a job. She’s obviously not being smart about her job search. Like many people have pointed out, being overqualified is a huge red flag for potential employers, it would be wise to omit that. I mean, really, at the end of the day, there is ALWAYS work to be found in fast-food joints. I rather suspect that although she may have applied for some minimum wage positions, she probably considered many positions beneath her. I am fortunate to be employed right now, believe me, I know, and I have had my share of troubles finding work in my life. But when I was desperate for income, I was always able to find a paycheck in fast food.
And again, not to be a bitch, but that woman does not look like she is in any imminent danger of starving to death.
I’m there.