Hanging in there

I am unemployed in my mid forties. I am single and looking for work in senior management. I have been applying to jobs, networking like crazy and going to social events. It is amazing how self centre people are. I have been unemployed for six months and pretty used up my savings. I was depressed but I decided to fight this depression. During this time, I can see the selfishness of people now. Being unemployed has been a difficult time but I have learned a lot about myself. I am less materialistic, more patient and more understanding. I overhead a group from Metro Vancouver (union workers probably) complaining about having only five weeks of vacation. Seriously some people take for granted what they have. Please do not get me started with the staff at Human Resources departments. My experience is that they are clueless and very biased. I have been hearing horror stories from others who have dealt with Human Resources departments. Two weeks ago, I had a great interview and the panel liked what I offered. Then the HR person in the panel blurted out that I was unemployed for six months. Bad sign. Seriously?? Never heard back again.

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Union workers?

Dec 1, 2015 at 5:24pm

I am in a private sector union, and unlike public sector union workers I do not receive benefits that are taken for granted by the public sector. Please do not lump all unions and their workers together. There is a vast gulf between the benefits I work hard for in my private sector union and the ones government employees receive.

You have a case of the dumb

Dec 1, 2015 at 11:59pm

Your anti-union post is pretty pathetic. You should be trying to better yourself rather than pull others down. Probably your negative views towards anyone that has it a little better than you is making it more difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel. We would all be working 7 days a week 14 hours a day till we dropped dead had it not been for unions. Let's not forget paid stat holidays too. In your mind is it the fault of the unions that many employers hire "part time" employees for full time hours as a way to get out of paying any benefits as well as having any loyalty what-so-ever? I feel safe at work in my union environment everyday, nobody has asks me to do anything dangerous or forces me to use tools I have no training for like when I was in the private sector. I'm treated with respect rather than used as a pawn. The way you chose to paint all union workers with one brush based on a conversation you probably didn't actually hear anywhere really annoys me but it is alright because I have a strong feeling you know nothing at all about unions except for the standard rhetoric passed down to you by your uncle who never made anything of himself.

Most people take everything for granted

Dec 2, 2015 at 6:46am

And it's only when one has nothing, that one realizes how fortunate they have been. I would only posit it is your turn now to realize how good you've had it: a full time job, savings, vacations.

It's frustrating and maddening to be unemployed. But it appears that you're striking out at anyone and everyone, and this negativity must be emanating in how you carry yourself in interviews.

Employers do look for red flags; they're supposed to. It could be that they used your 6 month unemployment as an excuse to back out of seriously considering you a candidate. Some employers might waive this if they are highly interested in you.

You could try and do some volunteering to help eliminate the glare of a 6 month unemployment gap. There are lots of volunteer opportunities in town. It does look better on paper if you're still active in the community.

It's interesting how many people rage against Human Resource Departments here in Confessions. I guess people resent them because they hold a lot of power. (Just for the record, No, I am not in HR.) They can work for you or against you. Use your people skills toward the former.

Break the mould.

Dec 2, 2015 at 8:44am

I'm an engineer. I haven't touched a red pen in a decade but I'm fully employed. You just need to take a step back and find what industry is on top here and enter that work force.

Been there

Dec 2, 2015 at 1:23pm

I completely understand how frustrating it can be to be unemployed. I sympathize with your need to vent and I commend you for vowing to fight your depression. I know all too well, staying positive in those circumstances is far easier said than done. I also know it isn't helpful to try to completely suppress those negative feelings. Sometimes finding a way to release those feelings helps you to feel better and move on. One time I let myself have a good long cry and I surprising felt much more positive and productive afterwards.

My understanding is the job search tends to be longer the higher the level of position, so a senior management position would take a bit longer, I would expect.

I personally found volunteering while unemployed helped lift my mood, in addition to keeping my skills up to date and having something recent to put on my resume. If you haven't already done so it might be something worth considering.

@break the mould

Dec 2, 2015 at 1:30pm

"I haven't touched a red pen in a decade but I'm fully employed."

I kept re-reading that sentence and even looked up "touch a red pen" to see if it was an expression I'd never heard of. Alas, I still don't know what on earth you mean by that sentence.

Want to work?

Dec 2, 2015 at 2:10pm

(forget your values) Become a pedophile or learn how to behave like a psychopath- join a secret society -Corporate People- will beat a path to your door.

It will get better

Dec 2, 2015 at 2:21pm

Wow. After reading some of the positive and negative comments to this post. Great for the positive posts suggesting to volunteer. We need to support others. To the negative posts...shame on you! (especially the second post....Your negativity and resentment shows that you are careless, selfish person! You are a bully. Seriously, those insults are pathetic!) You do not understand what this person is going through. There is a mental, physical and emotional toll when you are unemployed. To the first response...I only heard..ME Me Me Me. (Who cares!) You do not know the whole story. Honestly, you are bullies and self-centre. I have been unemployed for 14 months but it will get better. You need to focus on your job search, network and send out more applications. Can you imagine having no pay cheque for a whole year? I did it and survived. It was tough but I made it.

There are a lot of negative people out there. They can be afraid of you actually. I encountered this. When I was interviewing for jobs, I can spot the one who is a "know it all" person who held a mask. Actually, they are really insecure and deep down...hate their jobs.

Hang in there!

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