Is anyone else having trouble finding a job? - AfroChat - African American

sistahcutie · October 5th, 2005, 07:02 PM

Today my parents' yelled at me again for not having a job. A year ago I moved from the North to the South and even though the payscale was much lower in the South and I am making about a fourth of what I used to make, I had savings for about a year and I used that along with what I was making on part time jobs that I had to pay rent and other bills. For the last 8-9 months my parents have had to pay the mortgage and other bills because even though I am working, most of my money goes to my medical coverage which is $450.00 per month. I have worked for the past year at jobs that either had no medical coverage or they were part time jobs. I have had 3 full time jobs, one was a 2 hour commute and the two were too stressful. Right now I am working but it is seasonal work. I do not know what else to do, I have taken my resumes to at least 100 employers and filled out that many applications. In the North, I worked at a customer service job for 15 years and never missed a day. But my parents' constantly tell me that I am not trying hard enough to find a job, my mother tells me that it is not fair to my father to have to pay all the bills and both of them say that I am not looking for a job hard enough even though the majority of employers in my area have my resume and know that I am still looking even though my parents say that the employers' don't know if I don't keep going to them every week. I don't know what else to do.

MilitantWombMan · October 5th, 2005, 07:05 PM

How old are you if your parents are still yelling? I've had somewhat a hard time,but I've been helping my mom out with the kids so she can work,but i'm working right now...it was a uphill battle..i did temp agencies and the like...but now i think im going to start a small business...because bush done jacked up the economy

goodcookinmama · October 5th, 2005, 07:08 PM

yes lets get that cleadr up real quick

then we will talk

DBlack · October 5th, 2005, 07:56 PM

It's rough everywhere sweetie! We are the last to hire, first to fire, but that doesn't mean we can succeed. Due dilligence, and perserverance is paramount.

Whatever you do for a living, I would reevaluate it. Perhaps it's not getting you where you want to be. Try looking at new ways to make money. My family uses the short term, mid term and long term money making strategy. What can you do to make money now? How does that help you in making money or to engage opportunities that will enable you to make more money later? Your jobs that you seek now should be building blocks to greater opportunities in the future.

I know that's easier said than done, but it's a plan that, if you beleive in it and stick with it, WILL work.

sistahcutie · October 5th, 2005, 09:46 PM

How old are you if your parents are still yelling? I've had somewhat a hard time,but I've been helping my mom out with the kids so she can work,but i'm working right now...it was a uphill battle..i did temp agencies and the like...but now i think im going to start a small business...because bush done jacked up the economy

I am 38. They have never had a reason to yell before when I had a job but they always have because that is the way that they are. I have worked since I came home from college for 15 years and never missed a day. When I moved, now I make much less money and what I do make barely pays my medical coverage. My parents' have had to pay the expenses for 8-9 months. I want to start my own business also, I used to sell at flea markets and I was good at it and enjoyed it. This economy is messed up but my parents say that is no reason for me not to be able to get a job.

MilitantWombMan · October 5th, 2005, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sistahcutie

How old are you if your parents are still yelling? I've had somewhat a hard time,but I've been helping my mom out with the kids so she can work,but i'm working right now...it was a uphill battle..i did temp agencies and the like...but now i think im going to start a small business...because bush done jacked up the economy

I am 38. They have never had a reason to yell before when I had a job but they always have because that is the way that they are. I have worked since I came home from college for 15 years and never missed a day. When I moved, now I make much less money and what I do make barely pays my medical coverage. My parents' have had to pay the expenses for 8-9 months. I want to start my own business also, I used to sell at flea markets and I was good at it and enjoyed it. This economy is messed up but my parents say that is no reason for me not to be able to get a job.

IMO your parents shouldnt have a say in anything..you're 38 not 8 my god

sistahcutie · October 5th, 2005, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DBlack

Whatever you do for a living, I would reevaluate it. Perhaps it's not getting you where you want to be. Try looking at new ways to make money. My family uses the short term, mid term and long term money making strategy. What can you do to make money now? How does that help you in making money or to engage opportunities that will enable you to make more money later? Your jobs that you seek now should be building blocks to greater opportunities in the future.

I know that's easier said than done, but it's a plan that, if you beleive in it and stick with it, WILL work.

Thanks for the reply Dblack, I want to start my own business or maybe sell at flea markets because I loved doing that and I made some decent money but my parents' want me to get a real 9-5 job. I wouldn't mind having my own business and being my own boss. When I lived in the North, I worked for 15 years from 7 am to 7 pm and then helped in the cleaning business 1-2 times a week if needed. I have also done taxes, been a receptionist, worked in a department store helping customers, teller, collector, file clerk, etc. I believe in this plan of doing what I have to do to earn money, I am delivering mail right now but the work is seasonal and my parents' keep nagging me to get a full time job even though I am working right now and I haven't stopped looking but I work all day and I don't have time to go looking for a job when bills have to be paid. Also, I have been to the majority of employers and they all have my resumes and completed applications but my parents criticize me on how I don't go to the employers' every day so they see my face and they criticize me that I am not aggressive enough in asking the employers' what is required for me to get the job that I have applied for. I have handed out at least 100 applications and resumes and also visit these agencies and call them at least 2-3 times a week. Many of them know me by name so it's not like they don't know who I am.

Chelbe · October 5th, 2005, 09:59 PM

I quit my job a little over a month ago.. and I quit without having a clue of here my income would come from. I posted my resume online and luckily I did some online searching. I happen to find a job that was even better.. so within about 3 weeks I was back at work again. This time it did seem much easier than when I would use the sunday paper and spend money on faxing people who would never really respond to me. I found that alot of the better jobs were not even in the paper.

Good luck to you.

MissDD138 · October 5th, 2005, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sistahcutie

Today my parents' yelled at me again for not having a job. A year ago I moved from the North to the South and even though the payscale was much lower in the South and I am making about a fourth of what I used to make, I had savings for about a year and I used that along with what I was making on part time jobs that I had to pay rent and other bills. For the last 8-9 months my parents have had to pay the mortgage and other bills because even though I am working, most of my money goes to my medical coverage which is $450.00 per month. I have worked for the past year at jobs that either had no medical coverage or they were part time jobs. I have had 3 full time jobs, one was a 2 hour commute and the two were too stressful. Right now I am working but it is seasonal work. I do not know what else to do, I have taken my resumes to at least 100 employers and filled out that many applications. In the North, I worked at a customer service job for 15 years and never missed a day. But my parents' constantly tell me that I am not trying hard enough to find a job, my mother tells me that it is not fair to my father to have to pay all the bills and both of them say that I am not looking for a job hard enough even though the majority of employers in my area have my resume and know that I am still looking even though my parents say that the employers' don't know if I don't keep going to them every week. I don't know what else to do.

I do understand that the pay scale is lower in the south, but so is the cost of living.

You said that you are paying $450 per month for medical coverage, do they not have any public health clinics where you can go for yearly check-ups unless you have a medical condition that you have to go more often, even then there are programs available for lower income people (been there, done that).

Don't give up, keep looking, I think I worked at 2 temp agencies and another crappy job before I was blessed with what I have now. Honey its a little rough everywhere.

You said you worked in customer service, are you applying for those jobs only or do you have other skills? when I was haveing hard time I think I applied for whatever was available. have you tried the state, city or county for jobs?

It WILL be alright just keep praying & keep going. You may give out, but don't give up!

sistahcutie · October 5th, 2005, 10:09 PM

IMO your parents shouldnt have a say in anything..you're 38 not 8 my god

I agree with you. Unfortunately they don't. My mother wrote a letter to me stating that it was not fair that my father was paying the majority of the bills and that I was preventing them from going on vacation next year. That hurt me because they both knew that I am doing all that I can to get a job. Since I moved, I have been working all the time and when I haven't worked, I have been looking. But both of them are not going to be satisfied until I am working in a 9-5 job.