I
haven’t written here much in the past month or so because of a project that has
kept me from the job search and from blogging, except for shorts burst on CoffeehouseObserver.
The
project involved fact checking several chapters of a travel guide due out next
year. The travel guide publisher has promised me more work and she just emailed
me about two projects. I could use the money.
But
now I’m back at full speed, at least on a limited basis. I’m still looking for
work and trying to line up freelance gigs to get by.
What
I really need, of course, is a real job, one with steady pay, some benefits,
and some social contact.
Things
are really rough out there. They just announced that the unemployment rate in
California is back up to 12 percent, the second worst unemployment rate in the
country behind Nevada. The unemployment rate in the county where I live usually
has been about 5 percentage points to 8 percentage points higher than the state
level, so I would not be surprised if the unemployment rate here is 17 percent
or higher.
It
is terribly frustrating and unnerving. And very, very scary. It is even more
frustrating and more unnerving and scarier when recognizing that the
unemployment rate really does not count all those who are out of work, people
who have given up looking for work or otherwise are no longer counted by the
government. Experts usually say that the unemployment rate is significantly
higher when taking into account those people. I am among those people who are
no longer counted.
But
I keep looking.
Friends
I’ve known for 20 years or longer voice amazement that I haven’t been offered
work in the past two and a half years since being laid off
“You have tons of experience,” they say. “Why
hasn’t someone hired you already?”
That
experience is a double-edged sword – I have proven myself capable, which is
good for an employer because quality work will be done within deadlines. But
I’ve proven myself capable, which is bad for an employer because it will cost
the employer more in salary, the employer immediately assumes.
“You’re
good at what you do,” my friends argue. “Something has to come up for you
soon.”
I
suppose I was good at what I did, but it has been a while since I did what I
did. And employers can see that and I fear now that they barely consider my
resume.
Just
last week I applied for a job on the East Coast and within two days I had
received an email noticed that I would not be considered for the position. I
was sooo happy that the company took the time to fully consider my
qualifications. (Please read the sarcasm in the previous sentence.)
I’ve
come to expect rejection, which does little for confidence or morale or feeling
of self-worth.
I
keep plugging away, though. I have no other choice. I ran out of unemployment
benefits months ago and cashed in an IRA, the thing money experts – people with
jobs not facing eviction or starvation – say never to do. I am living on the
money that would have been a portion of my total retirement. Another portion is
left in investment accounts that are dwindling with each dip of the Stocks
Exchange.
I
will never retire. Certainly, not in the conventional sense of “retire.” But
then again, there is nothing conventional about what some of us are
experiencing.
So
I continue the job search. I continue to look in my field – journalism. So if
you know of any openings in journalism – editing, writing, blogging – or
freelance opportunities, you can get in touch with me via the email address
under my contact info.
And
I also look for jobs with nonprofits, green industry, colleges and
universities, and occasionally government. I also look for delivery jobs and
general labor jobs and retail jobs and … well, you get the point.
I
suppose that’s it for now. I just wanted to let you know I’m still around,
still kicking, and still very hungry to get back to work.
All rights reserved by Keith Michaud ©
