Recession and employment, where do you stand?

[ZephCrow]

In the midst of the decline of the economy, we've all seen more and more perfectly suitable employees laid off or turned away from a company. It seems that every day, another locally owned store or even unsuccessful chain stores see the last lights of business with sales before closing their doors.

At this point, since being laid off in December, I am still doing my best to find a job. I submit an average of eight resumes and applications per day for over four months and only received one call-back interview from which I never heard anything of. Most companies are looking for either individuals who are very experienced, no no one at all. Retail only keeps the "Now hiring" signs in their windows at the order of their corporate headquarters.

My questions are, is there anyone here on the forums struggling in this same position? How has the decline in economy affected you? Do you have any advice for those in the same position?

[Hakaryu]

I just got hired as a cook at a new resteraunt opening in June. Business in my city is actually growing a bit.

[ZephCrow]

I just got hired as a cook at a new resteraunt opening in June. Business in my city is actually growing a bit.

That's good to hear. I know that some areas are starting to pick up, while others are just starting to get to the worst of it. It's really sad to hear about more and more large companies having to force layoffs in the mean time.

[Elomin Sha]

I've been rehired by GAME and I earn quite a bit from it, £100-£200 a week. I'm okay.

[Lyinginbedmon]

I stand in my past and present situation of being an unemployed student.

[Dave-O_Boy]

I've always had a hard/impossible time finding jobs regardless on how the economy is going.

[Joshua]

I lost my job, a while ago from them cutting hours, and now no one is hiring, and I'm in debt from wrecking a car, can't find a job around this town. I just don't have enough experience in anything, and unskilled laborers aren't in high demand.

[Raine]

I know how hard it is. But I am SUPER lucky By having 2 jobs. BUT be for i get the hate mail let me try to explain
the first job is 15 hours more once in a while as a kennel tech. the 2ed is dealing with a dick of an uncle. that's 30ish depending oh his mood.
Even with that i still cut close to pay bills...

[King Kool]

I've been looking for a job for about two and a half years now. I had a temporary position at Target, and I've worked at the movie theatre, but at the moment, I'm not making enough money to pay for my student loans for my useless education.

[CommanderKeen]

I got my cruise ship job in February and I'm fairly certain it's not going away anytime soon. Seniors are still spending money on cruises, and apparently college kids have the money to go cruising during spring break. So as long as there is spending like that for vacations. I'm doing alright. Despite this whole global recession thing.

[Kdz]

I was unemployed for a while after Circuit City closed. But I just recently got a part-time job. It pays the bills, so I wont complain much, but I'd like to have something full-time. At least I'm not on a swing schedule anymore, and my hours are pretty consistent.

[Lyinginbedmon]

I've been looking for a job for about two and a half years now. I had a temporary position at Target, and I've worked at the movie theatre, but at the moment, I'm not making enough money to pay for my student loans for my useless education.

Over here you only have to pay back student loans when you're actually capable, and after a couple decades it's completely written off even if you haven't paid it back.

As my dad puts it the government almost literally gives you money for your education.

Then again there are limits, in fact he makes so much money right now that by law he has to contribute more money to me for education.

[Cureless_Poison]

I don't know anyone who's lost their jobs and I've had no trouble landing a summer job ahead of time. Recession = Bullshit from my perspective.

[masamune]

'tis rooted and getting a lot worse here.
i am without a job. i may have a 16 hour a week one soon. yay.

[sdhonda]

Depends on where you are really: In western Canada theres still such a boom here that the recession has only had a mild impact.

I'm still employed.

[Sable]

I'm still employed, but at reduced hours because there's been not much to do. This is picking up in the past few weeks, which is nice.

I have to second that a lot of the job offers out there are asking for much higher levels of experience than they seemed to be earlier. I'm seriously thinking of throwing my hat in and opening my own business (a cafe or something, dunno) because fuck it, if nobody will let me work for them, I'll do it my own goddamn self.

[Insert discussion of risk of owning your own shop, how much work it is, etc. here, I am fully aware thanks.]

[empath]

The 'far east' of Canada's doing just fine, too; Hebron oil field project is gearing up, and White Rose & Hibernia are literally pumping gobs and gobs of revenue into the region; just remember all you jingoists don't have to be at the mercy of 'towel-heads' due to your oil consumption.

My grocery store is doing just fine - we're hiring on a handful of students for the summer, so my hours will be cut back very slightly (25/wk instead of 30/wk) for about a month to accommodate the trainees, just like every other year I've been here.

I just wish I could do my job sitting down - rainy, damp day today meant my arthritic knees decided to stop working about an hour before the end of my shift.

[The Jester]

I'm still employed, but at reduced hours because there's been not much to do. This is picking up in the past few weeks, which is nice.

I have to second that a lot of the job offers out there are asking for much higher levels of experience than they seemed to be earlier. I'm seriously thinking of throwing my hat in and opening my own business (a cafe or something, dunno) because fuck it, if nobody will let me work for them, I'll do it my own goddamn self.

[Insert discussion of risk of owning your own shop, how much work it is, etc. here, I am fully aware thanks.]

Hey, if you're serious it could work out, and you'll have no shortage of people to hire, I imagine. Cafe's are cool places to hang out, too, or at least cafe/coffe shops. You deffinatlye need huge carnivorous armchairs and sofas for people to sit on (carnivorous because they almost swallow you when you sit on them), I love those chairs.


Myself, I am un-employed. I want to work in comics, but I seriously doubt any local newspapers or other publications are gonna be looking to hire a cartonist right now, and I really really do not want to work retail again. With those things in mind I'm prepaparing my portfolio in order to bother comic company editors with it

[Tapir12]

The recession was pretty irrelevant to me while I was away, but now I am back, unemployed and looking for something on the island. Just for four months though, because I have something set up for September (though it pays peanuts!)

I am enjoying my unemployed-ness at the moment.

[TheRocket]

I've got seniority and a union. I'm safe, get paid lots of money, and have great benefits. I'm super lucky that this recession hasn't hit me, but it's hit a lot of my close friends. They are being laid off left right center.

[Tensen01]

I'm working a retail job in a position that requires training... and I've been at this job for coming up on 5 years... While I'd like to change jobs right now I'm gonna be doing my damndest to keep it until such a time as I can easily find another one.

[Darkobra]

My friend got laid off because he worked in a bike store. Less people buying bikes, big recession, store shut down. In fact, all of Maryhill shopping center has shut down, leaving only a post office. Springburn's getting the same way but not as bad. We still have Gregg's.

[Annchan]

I'm a stay at home mom so I don't think I am going to lose my job. The Hubby is an electrician in the union so I think we're pretty safe.
Don't really see the recession over here....

[Chemistring]

I was laid off at the end of January, two months into a new job. It was a hell of a shock, and a last minute decision for my company as well, but they had most of their contracts for winter/spring cancelled in December, so no work = no money = no way to pay workers.

Depends on where you are really: In western Canada theres still such a boom here that the recession has only had a mild impact.

That depends on your field. Not really much out there for Ph.D. chemists, and the oil service industry has slowed right down, at least as far as research goes.

[Fuzzyfreaker]

I'm returning to my job at GameStop in the next few weeks. I'm trying to find something else, but it's tough out there right now. Submitted an application to a website for a film news writing job, but they haven't made their choice yet.

But I'm just sticking with what I got, so I can get enough to keep on this whole college shindig.