Do I EVER get where you're coming from! I see that you're also in California. When I read what you wrote about "...I only see people driving nice cars, shopping, having a good time...", I thought, "...he must live where I live...".

Despite MUCH effort to prevent it from happening, I became a 99er this past Sunday. During the last two weeks, I've had 3 interviews. I found out yesterday that, of the three, the position I wanted most went to "another candidate". The HR person said I did very well and had actually come in at #2, but, #2 doesn't get the job, nor a paycheck. Then I thought, I bet they tell everyone who doesn't get chosen that they were #2. Why wouldn't they?

Unlike yourself, my UI benefits were my lifeline for staying afloat financially. Without them, I don't know what I'm going to do. Despite MUCH effort at staying positive and hopeful, I feel like something just broke inside me during the last few days. This afternoon, I ended up in an urgent care doctor's office. I felt like someone had just sucked all the life out of my body.

In early August, I had two interviews for Nestle USA. It would have been my DREAM job - great pay, interesting work, and my commute would have been so short, I could have WALKED to work. But, despite the good Nestle folks telling me to "stay tuned!" after my second interview, the position went to an internal candidate. After I saw the doctor today, they sent me a few doors down for lab work. The Nestle USA office was a few doors down. I just wanted to sit in the courtyard and cry.

I find that, wherever I go now, I seem to fixate on people who have jobs, like I did with the doctor's staff today...same thing when I went to the lab for the bloodwork. As the tech took my blood, I noticed her workstation with the little plant and pictures of her family and her cat. I thought, "...I used to have a workstation..." (I worked at AT&T for 18 years. Since the second and final downsizing from them in 2002, I have yet to recover financially).

As I walked back to my borrowed 2000 Malibu (my little truck is still pretty sick...they tell me it might be the torque converter), all I saw were Mercedes, BMW's and other signs that "life is good". I REALLY fixate on people driving new cars. To me, they're like some foreign, alien being, living in the land of "life is good".

You DO have age on your side. I'm 59, and even though I have a wealth of job skills and experience, not to mention a killer work ethic, I believe all hiring managers see now is an older worker. I think most of them could GIVE a crap what's on my resume.

I feel like, between the mistakes I've made during my life and setbacks I had no control over, I've ended up with this broken life. And, I don't seem to know how to put it back together.

It didn't used to be this way in this country. Employers cared about their employees, and, employees felt a loyalty to the company they worked for. You felt proud to say you worked for ABC Company. I know I felt that way about AT&T. If a company found itself in trouble, the very LAST option was downsizing their employees. Now, it's the first option - and they don't even have to be in trouble. Sometimes a company will downsize just to kiss their stockholders ass. See? They don't matter - all we care about is YOU, mighty shareholder!

Usually, when people such as yourself post messages like yours, I do my cheerleader pep talk. (Maybe someone else who feels more positive will step up). But, I just don't feel it today. I just wanted you to know I know how you feel...and THEN some...

Janice

Hang in there. Sometimes we have to look at the things that we have instead of what we don't have.

I feel the same way. I'm single. Never married. No family that's close. I feel depressed, anxious, useless, worthless and broken. However, with support I get through each day.

I'm in Florida where our unemployment is around $1100 a month. I was making over $50K. After I pay the bills, I have nothing left. I sold my car just to be sure I can pay the rent until something happens.

Chin up! You're not alone. I'll keep you in my prayers.

Sondra

DON'T FEEL GUILTY...I am 61 and have been out of work on and off for about a year,,,these are very abnormal times,,,and there are thousands even millions of people in similar situations some a bit better and some a bit worse,,,I have had some interviews but the market is saturated and so many people are vying for the little that is out there,,,when you least expect something ,,,that is when the conditions shift and you get hired,,it just all clicks together..
good luck

I can relate completely to what everyone here is saying. Even though we are among 26 million others, we can't help but feel alone sometimes.
I have been out of work several times in the last 8 years. It seems like I'm not meant to work for more than a year at a time. My resume does not reflect the kind of person I am at all.
But I decided when I was told I was going to be laid-off this time (I've been out of work for 4 months), that I would not lay around and act like I had anything to be ashamed of (I wasn't laid-off due to my work, it was a "business decision," ie, greed, that led to 6 of us being let go) and I was going to work on myself-mind, body, soul, and spirit.
We have to do this so we will be ready when our next opportunity comes along, and to restore purpose in ourselves. We are more than our job titles folks!!! We do not cease to exist when a job comes to an end. If that were true, I'd have "died" 4 or 5 times now.
I get up 4-5 days a week the same time I would be when I go to work and instead, I go to the pool at my gym. I am back in school. I'm learning Chinese. I get together with friends and family every week. I spend time with God. I read a lot. I look for work (not obsessively) and attend networking and web seminars. I do everything I can to increase my marketability. I joined a great new church. I am about to start volunteering.
And YES, you can put volunteer work on your resume. On my first time out 8 yrs ago, I volunteered at the bookstore I helped create for my former church-I was there in some capacity (whether in the store or working on things for the store) for a year and a half.
Prospective employers want to know you were doing something during your time between jobs.
People-forget about the nice cars, etc. Trust me, I worked for a credit bureau for 5 1/2 yrs....most of these ppl aren't paying their bills and they are in debt to their eyeballs. Don't envy them.
Please get up and live your life. You are not guaranteed tomorrow, so live your best life today! :)

I have to tell you I feel so the same way as you. After consistently working for 22 years making a great salary I am now on my 7th week being unemployed. Like you my new job is looking for a job.
I had a third interview with a company out of state (TX, I live in Orange County, CA) I was told I should hear back from their HR dept. this week, I am a basket case over this one, its like if I dont get this one then what???!!!
I have to keep my head up and be positive, and so do you, you have your housing covered which is a big deal, its the hurry up and wait process of finding something that is the hard part. Hang in there!!!

Adrian65....I understand where you are coming from. Believe me, if you read my post above yours you will see that I am been through hell and back for over 8 yrs, but I still perservere because I have to.
7 weeks is really not a long time-especially in today's job market.
I'm on 4 1/2 months (just THIS time being out of work) and it does get hard some days to remain optimistic, but it's usually at this point in the job search that people get creative.....usually out of desperation. They network more,volunteer, get certified in computers, etc, do whatever they can to increase their chances of finding a good job and staying marketable so that they don't hear the same crap a lot of long-term unempl folks are hearing...."you've been out too long, your skills are becoming obsolete."
I say do whatever you have to do to not become complacent and depressed. Learn as much as you can, and take care of yourself mind, soul, body, and spirit.

Hi LoveBlue2 (jan) , thanks for post, we all in the same boat, i learned in 1992 that I am more than my job, we are all more than the company, more than a title , we are all more than being a taxpayer. I think what is frustrating and annoying is the 'insult to our intelligence' the hypocrisy and being surrounded by idiots. Surround yourself with supportive loving people let that be your full time job. Friends in full time living , Michelle xxx

I can so relate to this post and everyone responding. I am 25 with a degree in Political science and law and have not even had the opportunity to even remotely work in my field. i been outta work for over a year and it seems like the light at the end of the tunnel has been shut off. i just keep hoping and praying and busting my ass filling out apps. that is about all i can do now.

I am so with you guys. I am on my 7th week of unemployment and my severance just ran out. My husband took off earlier this year and I am a single mom to a two year old. I feel completely beat down at this point. Its like I have to try to make excuses for the fact that a company laid me off after they recruited me away from a stable job only a year and a half ago. It makes me feel like such a loser.

I am thankful for my family and my son. I know I won't lose my house because they will help me out, but I am going to feel like such a mooch if I have to go to them for help.

I just feel resentful and sad all over and its hard to mask and try to appear positive.