Jen,
at the risk of turning this into another BelissimAA flame war - Idsant is just saying what a lot of people have been thinking when reading your posts from the past couple of weeks.

We all understand that you are in a tough spot right now. However, we also remember your earlier posts talking about the joys of unemployment. It's tough not to see your attitude as slightly 'pity me, pity me,' when one recalls that you've made several trips to Mexico (yes, I know with miles/points) and remodeled your house since you've been laid off. All while collecting unemployment. What's more, your indignation over the fact that recruiters and welfare workers aren't willing to accommodate your inability to get a phone does indeed translate as a sense of entitlement. How dare these people not go above and beyond their job description for you!

Now, I would never presume to tell you how to live your life, but I personally don't feel quite as bad about your situation, as I would have had you not been sitting at home watching cable TV and buying mattresses earlier this year.

And while you think that we can't understand you because we have jobs, if you read the posts carefully, you will note that most people here have been unemployed before. I, for one, have had retail, food-service and telemarketing jobs to avoid resorting to welfare.

The kind folks who posted on your thread were all trying to give advice in the true spirit of FT community. You can't really control what kind of feedback you get when you post here. You post a problem and people try to help you solve it. It's only natural, IMHO.
None of the posters were criticizing you until you started rejecting the advice that was being given.

There is a government sponsored programme in NY called "smoke signals" ( The one with Erik Estrada in the ads on the subway) which provides basic and low cost phone service to anyone that requires it. No Credit check, no migra, nothing. I would strongly suggest that you give them a try.

Secondly, and I do not mean this in a critical way. There is plenty of work to be had in NYC right now. I have a lot of friends that have been in your situation this year and they all manage to keep their heads above water by doing a plethora of jobs. (although as a disclaimer, I do not suggest that you do the following)Your "tax" argument was not realistic as there are tonnes of jobs that you could get where you really would not have to worry about the unemployment people finding out about your earnings.

As for your concern about taking a "menial" job, I understand that. The truth is that when the new employer asks you what you did the last six months, you do not have to tell them, just continue saying whatever you have been saying so far. Remember you are the only one who knows.

Hfly: can you expand on these jobs that would risk her unemployment insurance checks... I didn't know we were starting a money laundering thread here

Secondly, and I do not mean this in a critical way. There is plenty of work to be had in NYC right now. I have a lot of friends that have been in your situation this year and they all manage to keep their heads above water by doing a plethora of jobs. (although as a disclaimer, I do not suggest that you do the following)Your "tax" argument was not realistic as there are tonnes of jobs that you could get where you really would not have to worry about the unemployment people finding out about your earnings.

As for your concern about taking a "menial" job, I understand that. The truth is that when the new employer asks you what you did the last six months, you do not have to tell them, just continue saying whatever you have been saying so far. Remember you are the only one who knows.[/B][/QUOTE]

PErsonally I wouldn't know.

I would say however that from what I understand that waitresses and bar staff supposedly very rerely declare all their earning, and in bars especially much work is done "off the books". Of course there are many shops which I understand work this way as well. Much freelance work that could be done (perhaps even in her specialty) could be done as an independent contracter who would be responsible for declaring his/her own taxes at the END of the tax year.

Furthermore, if one were to supply personal services (dog walking, baby sitting, etc.) the nature of the work would lead to it being cash in hand, and once again the onus of what/when to declare would also be upon the individual.

Let your imagination do the rest.

CozumelJen,

I am not sure why some people have reacted to your posts the way they have, but please feel free to e-mail me anytime.
I find it comforting to hear from you and others who (Like ME) are unemployed and having a hard time finding work.

Dawn

Furthermore, to add my 2.5 cents in here: There are many jobs in this city, true enough, but I also know several friends and friends of friends who are not hired for 'menial' jobs because they are pervceived as being overqualified. A friend of a co-worker was telling us last week how on a recent interview she was practically pleading for an entry level job the employer would not give her because she has a couple of degrees. It's a big city, but there are lots of people in it also.

That is true. Because there are so many people unemployed, employers have the pick of the litter so to speak. They can choose someone who is willing to accept less money, or someone who is 10 times more qualified than you are.
Needless to say, looking for a job right now is not the easiest of things.

This morning I got a call at 10:00am from a company who wanted to set up an interview. I asked when they would like to schedule it for, and his response was "Today." I was not at all ready for an interview, but I figured I would have time to get myself together. I asked what would be a good time and his response was 11:00am.
Normally I would not put such pressure on myself, but with the job market the way it is...I accepted the time. I have never showered, put on makeup, did my hair, got dressed and drove to an interview so fast in my life.

Pointsgirl:

So, how did the interview go?!

Thank you for asking!! I do not know. I will say that the man who interviewed me was pretty funny. He seemed more nervous than I did. We were already talking and a good 3 min into the interview when he said "You are Dawn right" ha ha ha ha .....

Just thought I'd add a positive story...

I got laid-off on May 3 from my IT job (my third in 18 months). But since late April, I've been getting a constant stream of calls for various contract jobs. I eventually got offered a 3-month contract which I accepted. The pay wasn't very good, but it paid the bills.

But a few days before I was supposed to start, I got a call from a major telecommunications company here in Denver. They were calling about a position I had applied for through their website in early April! I deferred my contract start date by a day so I could interview with them (I didn't have high expectation; I just wanted to hear what they had to say).

The interview went well. The position sounded great. When worried about their track record of laying off lots of people, one of the interviewing managers (there were four in the room) said, "I'll be honest with you: I can't guarantee you won't be laid-off in six months." Not very comforting, but this was a permanent position with full benefits.

To make a long story short: 5 phone interviews and 5 Brainbench exams later, I was offered a position three days ago. The offer was phenomenal; one I really couldn't turn down. I just feel that having this company on my resume would look more impressive than the company I'm at right now. Plus, if I survive the layoffs, then the opportunities for advancement are limitless.

So, I submitted my resignation today. Now, I have next week to relax (read: golf) and pack for our trip to Sweden, then I can return in mid-July to start my new job--and, hopefully, start a long, fulfilling career.

I sent an e-mail to all of the recruiters/headhunters I've been in contact with saying that I hope I don't have to speak to any of them for a long time.

I wish everyone the best of luck in their job search.

Cheers,
Lawrence

[This message has been edited by pseudoswede (edited 06-22-2002).]

[This message has been edited by pseudoswede (edited 06-22-2002).]

I haven't been on this board much this year (or traveling this year) because I have been working part-time - I'm seriously underemployed - but I have had periods in my life of being unemployed and that is worse, sitting at home day after day...I am up for a full-time position and should know what's going on with that in a few weeks. However temping might be a better idea, especially now that some temp agencies offer benefits.

I'm 5 1/2 years without a permanent full-time job. (I'm single, no family here, no outside means of support...just scraping by on underemployment.)

ClassicalGal, you win (if that is winning!). It has been almost 5.5 years since I left the corporate world. I have had full-time jobs, freelance work, and my current parttime job in that period. Notice I do not call them permanent. I've learned that nothing is permanent.

CG, IIRC, you are/were a dj. How bad is my memory?

Your memory is good. I'm a radio announcer who's been working shows on the weekends for about the past year (part of why it's been difficult to travel)...but I've been part-time and pick up extra money by also working substitute airshifts during the week as well as whatever else I can do around the radio station. There's a full-time job open now (not an announcer job) and I have applied for that. It looks promising but who knows.