My 401k is Rebounding, So Where Are All The Jobs?

During the last couple of weeks I've noticed that the stock market has been improving. While this is good news for peoples retirement funds (including mine!), it doesn't solve my most pressing problem, which is finding a job. Home sales have picked up also and while this is encouraging I feel that unless more jobs are available to get people like myself back to work, then the economy will be struggling for the foreseeable future. Today, President Obama said that he wants to change the rules on unemployment benefits so that people can go to college or get training without the worry of losing their unemployment checks. Finally, some common sense coming out of the government!! Can you believe it!! I just hope it happens soon as I feel it's the only way to a decent job.

Looking at Innovative Ways to Find Employment

  As I stated in earlier posts, I'm learning how to earn a living online, most notably with Google. Part of that learning process involves visiting different blogs and websites to get other peoples ideas and thoughts on subjects that interest me. During these travels I've found quite a few tidbits of useful information that I would like to pass on.

  The first site I'd like to share with you is http://www.unemployment-website.com. This site has excellent articles and links to help the unemployed in their search for work as well as dealing with the anxiety and depression that many of us feel during these trying times. Feedback is encouraged as it always helps to vent your frustration over your predicament. Another good site is Career Explorer (http://blog.careerexplorer.net). This blog, like unemployment-website.com, hashelpful articles on such things as career training, career exploration and an assessment test you can take to help match you to a suitable career choice. Other sites to check out are;

• http://www.dollarish.com
  
• http://www.yourblogismoney.com
  
• http://unemploymentality.com

as well as hundreds if not thousands more! Do some surfing and see what you can come up with and remember, doing nothing will only guaranty you nothing in return.

Collecting Unemployment

I received my first unemployment check today. Of course, it's not nearly as much as I was earning when I was working. Also, to add insult to injury, federal and state taxes are withheld giving me even less to live on. After all the feds must need every dime they can get so they can pay all those bonuses to the CEO's who got us in this mess in the first place! I was hoping the first $2400 would be tax free due to the stimulus package, but I guess I have to wait until I do my taxes at the end of the year. That's too bad because I really could use the extra cash now. I'm still working on my Google "career", but it's slow going due to the fact that my computer skills are limited. This blog is part of that process, so hopefully, as I improve my communication skills my "career" will take off!

Re-inventing Myself

I'm attempting to re-invent myself as a entrepreneur on the internet. After looking at job listings online for a couple of weeks and not finding anything that's related to my last job I'm willing to try something new. I'm giving www.my-internet-payday.com a shot as it looks to be a legitimate site ( A+ BBB rated, etc.). I'm finding this process difficult, though, because my computer skills are limited. I definitely have to learn how to use a computer as a tool to make money instead of as a toy! I figure if I can get the basics down I'll have a shot at making this succeed.

What to do now.

  After I got laid off I drove home in a daze, still not believing what happened. My boss took my badge and escorted me out the door, not even allowing me to say goodbye to my fellow workers, whom I've worked with for the last decade. Once I got home I immediately called unemployment to open my claim. I then called a friend of mine, who was downsized from the same place two months earlier also due to a reduction in workforce. He is almost 60 years old and doubts he'll ever get hired at his trade again. He had fifteen years of service at the same company. Once again, seniority took a back seat to cheap labor! He told me what to expect from unemployment, heath insurance etc. I wasn't too happy about my prospects for the immediate future. I started looking at employment websites to see what's out there and while there's jobs to be found there is none that I can see that will pay me anything close to what I was making. I'm thinking of going back to school, or to re-invent myself as a entrepreneur but I have to see if I can get some funds (grants, loans etc.) as I'll need my savings to help pay my mortgage. Thanks for letting me vent as this helps me put all this into proper perspective. I'll get back to you all soon.

Do you feel betrayed by you employer?

  Hello world. I've been just laid off from my job of ten years due to the reduction of workforce.This came as a shock because I thought my ten year seniority would insulate me from a layoff. I guess seniority means nothing in a non-union shop as there are five people with less time than I still working there. Of course, they earn less than I did which I'm sure was the reason why I got downsized and they didn't. The reason why I'm writing this is to get my frustration and anger out of my system and to keep a positive attitude. Part of this anger comes from the fact while I performed my job well and met all the requirements of my position it still wasn't enough for me to keep my job. The frustration part comes when you realize that once once you reach a certain age and get to the top of your pay rate you become more of a liability than an asset because there are people can do your job for less money. In my opinion, that's no way to treat loyal employees.