What is Your Employment Situation?

[stephfromMIT]

Other: I'm in graduate school.

[DapperButch]

Originally Posted by stephfromMIT

Other: I'm in graduate school.

Hey, I remember that sweet life!

A word of advice. Never leave. The real world sucks.

[thedivahrrrself]

Going to graduate school while working full time as a headhunter.

So, if there are any unemployed engineers out there, you might want to message me!

[Martina]

teacher here. my last line of work before retirement, I hope. there were several before this. Anyway, it's so so much fun part of the time. But when it's not, it is a huge amount of work in conditions that are insulting to one's dignity and sometimes heartbreakingly sad.

But there's that fun. Not too many jobs are fun and meaningful. Still most days it's a toss up as to whether I made the right decision. Some it's "Why did I ever get into this profession?"

My mom and dad are both retired teachers. They both said, "DON'T DO IT!" I do not think I made the wrong decision, but seven years in, I now know what they meant.

[ArkansasPiscesGrrl]

Self employed business owner. I do medical billing & collections, utilization review, and managed care contracting. I specialize with Behavioral Health treatment facilities (drug & alcohol treatment, eating disorder treatment, etc)

I actually might be looking for someone to help me with the UR work, if you are experienced. You can even work from home!

APG

[CherylNYC]

I'm a freelance sculptor/scenic artist. I make sculptural scenery for theatre, film and TV. You can often find me on a ladder or scaffolding cutting up huge chunks of styrofoam with my sawzall while dressed in clothing horribly encrusted with layers of paint and plaster. I usually work no more than a few weeks or months on a typical assignment, and I sometimes only work on a particular job for a day or two. That works out very well for someone as cantankerous as I can be because it keeps me from getting overly annoyed by irritating people. I also have the freedom to decide when and how much time to take off work, which suits me well. I get paid when I work, and I don't get paid when I go on vacation. Easy-peasy. That said, it's a feast-or-famine business, but I don't have a huge mortgage or children to support, so the dry times don't usually concern me very deeply. We often work very loooong hours. A typical day on a movie is 10 hours long before they start throwing emergency scenery at us, and the giant sculptural work in which I specialize is quite physically demanding. Younger artists are typically the most enthusiastic about those long hours, but most of them still can't keep up with me. (I just turned 50!!! YAY!)

I'm a member of a small union, (it's more like an artisan's guild than a traditional union, and our officers are scrupulously honest), so I get the best of both worlds. The union negotiates and enforces our contracts so I don't have to worry about getting stiffed by an employer. Through my union I have decent medical insurance, a 401k, and I'm accruing pension benefits, plus I'm eligible for unemployment benefits when there's no work.

Even though it's not my own art, I make a decent living as a sculptor in NYC. I'm very good at what I do, and my coworkers, (an odd cast of rotating characters, many of whom have known me and each other for decades), deeply respect me and my skills. I feel very lucky.

[*Anya*]

I am so fortunate that I am an RN. It has served me so well through thick and thin.

I wanted to be a nurse from the time I was little but after I was left with a 6-month old and a 2-year old by their deadbeat dad, I knew it was the best choice I had to be able to support them. I spent a few years on welfare, doing all the prerequisites, got into nursing school, earned my nursing, bachelors degree and never looked back.

Right now I am struggling with whether or not to accept a job offer I just got yesterday. It is for way more money but also way more work. It is a management position. I am so torn. My current job has less stress, is closer to my home but there is no opportunity for advancement. I was willing to settle.

Out of the blue came a recruiter and this company that recognizes my worth, my skill set and value. Did I mention, a ton more work? I swore I would never get back into management again! The politics make me cringe but there is no escaping politics anywhere these days, in any organization.

I wish I did not have to make this decision now. I was not looking for a move. I am still not 100% from my surgeries as well as dealing with matters of the heart.

I know so many people on the Planet and in the USA are looking for work. I am grateful to be in the position of being employed. I do know how fortunate I am.

[morningstar55]

anyone looking for a job??? want to drive a cargo van???
i know a lady whom is seeking a driver, she is out of pittsburgers..
she'd like drivers to live near by , OH, Pa , NY, MI , but you can be from anywhere..
orientation is every monday at Panther , in seville ohio...
just need your reg. general license or class B ... can have hazmat but not neccesary .....
this is not your typical 9-5 job.. its being out on the open road, gone from home frequently
call cathy ... for more info ... 724-518-1501

she is a nice lady the owner of the vans, is a decent owner, has nice bunks in the vans.
can get pre approved by panther

http://www.pantherexpedite.com

[Ginger]

It's interesting to me that the U.S. unemployment rate, according to the Department of Labor, is about 7.8% right now, but the unemployment rate in people who responded to this survey is about 20.52%.

I fear unemployment, I think, more than anything in the world. I live in one of the boroughs of New York City, and it was a huge relief for me, when I went from grant-funded work to a job funded by City funds, and much more secure.

I have never dated someone who struggled with employment. I've always somehow dated people who had even more secure jobs than mine. It just happened that way. I seem to attract people who are higher achievers than I am, for some reason.

I think unemployment is more of an issue for people who live in any disenfranchised group, including people on the far end of the gender spectrum, and people who live in harder hit areas of the country where entire industries have folded. I'm wondering if that is a factor in the numbers I'm seeing in this little internal survey.

I definitely see the perks of having a domestic partner, and a shared household and budget and planning for the future. It must feel amazing to know someone's got your back, someone will be there if you lose your job or get sick. I remember what that felt like, but it's been over ten years since N and I broke up. I don't want to make decisions out of fear, but I understand why people settle for situations that aren't ideal, because it feels more secure.

I am so full of fear sometimes.

[DapperButch]

Islandscout,

I hear what you are saying about the numbers of unemployment here vs. the general population. Something to keep in mind is that this thread started in 11/2010 and that is no doubt when most people answered the poll.

Also, I wonder if stats would show that there is a high percentage of nonworkers who go online than workers, simply due to available time.

However, I do know that I have read that "lesbians" have a greater unemployment rate than heterosexual women, which may at least be partially to the gender presentation of us butches. I dunno.

ETA: All I know is that I have always felt fortunate to be in mental health. Being gay is more accepted...or rather, you look like a jackass if you verbalize having a problem with gay people. It is still ok to be grossed out by trans people in some mental health circles, however.

[easygoingfemme]

I agree, it would be interesting to take this poll again.

I am self employed. I have a private practice where I provide holistic health counseling. I primarily focus on helping women heal their relationship with food. Being holistic, I work on the whole picture of food, lifestyle, healthy relationships, exercise. I see a lot of people here in my office but also work by phone and have clients all over the states and sometimes internationally.
I absolutely love my job.

On the side, I am one of four directors for a big three day international music and dance festival that is held in my town every winter. That is a labor of love.

[morningstar55]

a friend of mine Cathy owns a cargo van ... leased to
Panther transportation.... located out of Seville Oh.
she is looking for a driver
this is a over the road job...
you need to have a CDL endorsement on your licensee which is just general knowledge from the CDL handbook.
if interested please contact Cathy 724-518-1501 for more info she is the one hiring.
to learn more about Panther here is the link.

http://www.pantherexpedite.com

[DapperButch]

Originally Posted by morningstar55

a friend of mine Cathy owns a cargo van ... leased to
Panther transportation.... located out of Seville Oh.
she is looking for a driver
this is a over the road job...
you need to have a CDL endorsement on your licensee which is just general knowledge from the CDL handbook.
if interested please contact Cathy 724-518-1501 for more info she is the one hiring.
to learn more about Panther here is the link.

http://www.pantherexpedite.com

Hey, morningstar, I think it is great that you posted this! How about cutting/pasting it into the "Job Fair" thread? It is in the same forum as this thread.

[Luv]

Working one job 32 hour's a week and looking for a new job..hate where I work and the. Company

[CherylNYC]

Self employed sculptor/scenic artist, but I get my work through my union. I do a lot of overtime when there is work, so I can comfortably pay my bills on as little as 36ish weeks of work a year if I have to.

I'm well respected in my industry and good at my job. I usually like the work, but there are times like last night when I supervised a sandblasting project until 12:30 at night, when I think about doing something clean, quiet, and stress free, like operating a jackhammer on a construction site.

[morningstar55]

...need a job ??? ......
check out my last post .. and give cathy a call

[little_ms_sunshyne]

I don't remember if I posted before, so will post anyway...

I am a high school administrator. I never thought that I would choose to be in education or stay in education but somehow I became passionate. I walk the halls of the school and know every student's name, their history, and at least one thing they are interested in. I enjoy the idea that I might make a difference even if I never know it. The possibility is there and that's kinda incredible.

I do have other dreams and one day I may follow them, but for now I continue on this path I'm on. Everything happens for a reason, right?

[grenade]

I changed jobs a month ago. Same field, different title, different organization. I love the organization. Love the flexible schedule. Strongly dislike the mess the last case manager left for me. I cuss him out daily. I'll get it smoothed out eventually.

[starryeyes]

I am the director of a large and busy sign language interpreting agency! I have no life, I work 24/7, I'm always tired but it's all worth it