OT: MGoUnemployed Club
Who else is a member? (Or a member of our sister club, the MGoUnderemployed Club).
On the plus side, if anyone has the skills to pay the bills, I just saw that FIU is hiring both an offensive and a defensive coordinator. The application's on their site. Too bad I don't have at least one year of coaching experience at the high school level or above.
January 6th, 2010 at 9:05 AM ^
I came out with a PoliSci Degree and an engineering degree. I want to work in the political field, but there is nothing going down there. Couldn't even get an interview with freakin Homeland Security.
So I had to fall back on the engineering degree. I'm working for the Hospital system. I figure I can take this for about three years, after that its either grad school or the military.
Anyone need a political aide? I can do math, crunch numbers and I know how to keep my mouth shut when the Justice Department starts nosing around.
January 7th, 2010 at 1:09 AM ^
If you're considering grad school, with ur background and interesting mix of degrees, u should look into law school and practicing patent law. IP law will always be easier to find a job, particularly hard ip (e.g. patent law).
January 7th, 2010 at 10:04 AM ^
I'm trying to avoid becoming a lawyer. I'm really interested in human trafficking and crimes like that. Supposedly a good number of Eastern European women are brought in to America via the Detroit and Port Huron border crossings and end up working at strip clubs in Chicago and other cities in the Upper Midwest. I'd love to score a job in that area.
January 9th, 2010 at 12:30 PM ^
I don't know man, I've never heard of a stripper named 'CRex'.
January 6th, 2010 at 9:33 AM ^
of the club since june 19th, 2009... i was part of a bundle contract service at GM doing data entry for 3 years. my parent company was great. when they hired me they told me that they had a 3 year contract with GM and hoped to stay as long as possible but if not they'll move on to the next job and take me with them... well then the auto industry took a dump, and GM started cutting their own people. because of that GM started asking the contract workers and the bundle contract services to do more stuff. my company agreed to do more work, but they wanted to get paid for the extra hours that we would have to put in. well GM didn't like that and our GM supervisor went on a head hunting mission to get rid of us. that person found a company that low balled everyone and GM decided to go with them when our contract was up instead of re-upping with the company that was there for 3 years, and had fixed all of their problems in that department. because of the fall of the economy my parent company had no where to place the 4 of us so they had to lay us off.
the best part is my wife and i closed on our house the day after i found out that i was losing my job...since our house was a foreclosure it needed to have some work done, so being out of work gave me the time to do it. but now everything is done for the most part, so i sit here and send out resumes all day to fake job postings on craigs list(who else is having that problem). since june i've had 3 real interviews. but things are looking up. i got $40 a week raise when i got my extension with UE and i might be getting a part time job with a software company, hopefully i hear back from the guy today.
January 6th, 2010 at 1:51 PM ^
I say that in sympathy, not making fun.
January 6th, 2010 at 2:42 PM ^
i've sent out over 200 resumes to craigs list postings and about %50 of them are fake... out of the 3 real interveiws i've 2 of them are from craigs list posts. i've also had 2 "fake" interviews from craigs list postings. the reason why i call them fake is because the company said one thing in their post but when you went for the interview the job was completely different.... one was "work for a sports marketing company" it really was to go door to door and try and sell these coupon packages... and the other was for "customer service rep" which really meant you're going to have to call 15,000 customers and find out if there vacums need service, and for every one you bring in to get fixed you get paid....
January 6th, 2010 at 6:22 PM ^
on the possible part time job... yesterday the guy offered me the job on a trial basis i told him that i had to talk it over with my wife before i agreed... i talked to her and we decided that its a job and its a start... so i emailed him back with a couple of questions and that was around 7:30pm last night. so today i have been waiting for either a phone call or a email with my questions answered and a start date... well it neither ever came. so i went on craigs list to see if there is anything worth emailing a resume for... and what do i see??? oh just the job that i thought was mine reposted at 8:55am with a opening line of "open for immediate hire"... that little fuck couldn't even take the time to just email or call me back and say sorry but i don't think you're right for the job....
January 6th, 2010 at 7:20 PM ^
Shitty job called me for a phone interview, then emailed me that they had filled the position. THEN the ad popped up on Craigslist again. And it's STILL not filled.
But then, both examples may just be fakes that got too deep.
January 7th, 2010 at 9:33 AM ^
but with mine, the guy responded to me the day that i emailed him my resume to ask questions... i answered them and then asked some of my own. we exchanged about 4 emails before he setup a phone interview with me. i did the phone interview and he told me at the end of it that he had a few more to do and after that he would contact the ones that he wanted to bring in for in person interviews. the next day i had a email from to setup a in person interview. so i did the interview on monday... it went well, he told me that he had to do a couple more and he would contact the person by the end of the week. i had to go over to the michigan works office to hand in my paper work for my UE extension... and when i got home there was a email from the guy asking for my references.... i emailed him back with 3 of them (my last 2 bosses and my uncle). my last boss called me about 45 mins later to tell me that the guy called him, and i had a message from my uncle in the morning saying that he got a call also. the guy also went as far as to send me these online assessment tests... i was able to do 2 of them but the 3rd wouldn't work on my computer, i told him this and he said that i could come to the office to do it the next day (that would have been tuesday). so i went to his office to do it, but he was have issues getting his computer to connect to the internet.. so we talked some more about the job. i left his office at 2:30pm thinking that i had the job, at 4:30pm he calls me back and tells me that he is going to offer me the job on a trial basis and so on (the rest has already been explained)... i'm not overly pissed that i didn't get the job, because i've been turned down before. i'm more pissed about how he went about it.
January 6th, 2010 at 7:18 PM ^
That one goes back to the fake newspaper ad days.
I find myself going through Craigslist just to make the fake ones as spam, I've gotten so good at picking them out. What the fuck, I've got the time.
January 7th, 2010 at 9:38 AM ^
them back nasty emails now... as soon as i see a link for a "free credit report" i hit reply...
January 6th, 2010 at 10:42 AM ^
Graduated from WMU with Manufacturing Engineering and straight from college went to a GM supplier...GM scraped the line it August and I have been dating Marvin ever since.
January 6th, 2010 at 10:52 AM ^
were you working on??? and doesn't marvin has such a wonderful voice....
January 6th, 2010 at 11:28 AM ^
It was the GM Medium Duty line...the 560 line (Top Kicks)...We manufactured all the Frames for the Chasis in Flint.
January 6th, 2010 at 11:45 AM ^
the good old GMT 560... i had that program up until the end of my days a GM. what a pain in the ass when they started screwing with "up time" and "down time" at that plant. i never knew if they working or not because GM kept changing the weeks they were down....
January 6th, 2010 at 11:47 AM ^
To the both of you: do Marvin online. It is sooooo much easier. You can certify for your pay any day of the week, and any time of the day as long as it is between the hours of 7a-7p instead of going through that bullshit of calling in during a certain time on a certain day only to get the oh so pleasant "all circuits are busy, goodbye" crap. Today marks the one year anniversary of being with Marvin, and I want a divorce. Easier said than done unfortunately. On the bright side, I get to devote more time to my schooling, and my 4 yr old son and 3 yr old daughter. Can't help but feel like a total pansy because the missus is the breadwinner with great benefits, but she constantly tells me what I do around the house is greatly appreciated which makes me feel somewhat better. As bad as I wish that everybody here finds gainful employment, I do feel a little better knowing that I'm not alone out there. Here's to good times ahead for all.
January 6th, 2010 at 11:42 AM ^
After my layoff from the newspaper in October, I found a job with the rival paper as a freelance writer. I make my own hours and what, but I would still like to have a full-time job with benefits. I need to find something else, but there is nothing.
January 6th, 2010 at 11:46 AM ^
I always wondered if you really were a crime reporter. Stay positive--something will work out!
January 6th, 2010 at 12:49 PM ^
Thanks for the positive words. I'm trying. Some days are better than others. That is why I love this blog so much. I enjoy talking with you guys and the support given when needed.
January 6th, 2010 at 2:24 PM ^
My best friend Jason's first love has always been newspapers. We were Michigan Daily geeks and he was EPE and then EIC. After we graduated in '06, he flew to California, rented a car and drove around looking for a reporting gig. He got a job at the San Bernardino Sun as a Metro Reporter.
He loved it, but the resources weren't there for him to be able to do the stories that needed to be done. He chased fires and went to crime scenes, etc. (He even had a fire suit in his car which we still tease him about!)
By '08, he saw cut after cut and people who had been there much longer than he was were being laid off. He panicked, applied to law schools and is now back at U of M in law school.
Michigan Law is incredible and a tremendous accomplishment, but he finally admitted he's doing this because he longs for security (financial and otherwise.) I tell Jason all the time how much it bothers me that he's doing this law school thing, because newspapers will always be his first love. I feel like he sold out, but he tells me he just grew up.
My gut feeling is that he still will end up working at the NYT at some point, because no amount of money is worth being away from your first love.
Anyway,I think it's awesome that you're still doing what you love. Continue to do what you love and the rest will fall into place, I promise. 3
January 6th, 2010 at 9:22 PM ^
I appreciate it. I have been in the newspaper business since I was 16. Unfortunately, a lot has changed in the 11 years since my first internship. The place I was just cut from has undergone round after round of layoffs since I started there in 2007.
It was demoralizing, to say the least, to see people you respected, get let go because they made too much. It bothered me because the paper was getting rid of all its leadership and replacing it with yes men. I didn't really chase ambulances, as that's not my thing. I find my approach worked much better for getting people to talk with me.
The paper I'm at now is owned by the New York Times, which is pretty cool. I don't know how long it will last, though, as the industry is in shambles. It sucks, because this is what I know and love.
January 6th, 2010 at 9:45 PM ^
I can't imagine how difficult it must be, and I commend your bravery for continuing on. Isn't there a quote about how nothing worth having comes easily?
Are you in Michigan? Have you ever spoken with Phil Power? He is a really great resource. Jason (my newspaper--> law school best friend) knows a lot of people in the industry and may be able to help put you in contact with other people who could help. If you're interested in getting in contact with Jason, shoot me an e-mail ([email protected]), even if you're not in Michigan.
I love this blog because I think we all can help each other in some real way. 3
January 7th, 2010 at 10:59 AM ^
I took a job in Florida in 2007 to be closer to my family. They retired and moved here several years earlier. The experience was not a waste, as I did some interesting stories and hone my skills, but it be nice to have some security. I will e-mail you soon. Thanks.
January 7th, 2010 at 12:46 AM ^
...that at this point your friend should pursue Michigan Law to the fullest extent. If he focuses on something like bankruptcy law he will be able to find steady work for several years in the near future. In today's world I think people are better off finding the steadiest work possible to put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads.
However, your friend should be able to structure his law practice in such a fashion that it would allow him to write for a paper in his locale a few nights a week. I say this because one of my best friends from HS is a full-time teacher, but he spends a few nights a week working the sports desk for the local paper to fulfill his passion for covering sports.
January 6th, 2010 at 11:59 AM ^
. . . MBA, LSA at Michigan. Years of experience in project management, marketing, electronic publishing.
January 6th, 2010 at 3:04 PM ^
I just got this email (NOT spam, from the U of M SNRE mailing list) if anyone is a minority considering an MBA program:
Subject: Fwd: [SAIGE] Scholarship Opportunity for MBA program in North Carolina
FREE MASTERS PROGRAM AT WAKE FOREST RECEIVES POOR RESPONSE
Wake Forest University has an opportunity for minority students to attend its MBA program for FREE, and so far, the response has been very poor. Please, pass along this opportunity to your friends, families, and networks to see if there is an interest. This is a great school and a tremendous opportunity to attend a top graduate school.
See details below. The contact person information is:
Derrick S. Boone, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Marketing
Room 3139 Worrell Professional Center
Babcock Graduate School of Management
Wake Forest University 1834 Wake
Forest Drive Winston-Salem , NC 27109-8758
email: derrick.boone@...
Website: http://mba.wfu.edu/
Phone: (336)..758.4475;
Toll-free: (866) 925-3622;
Fax: 336.758.4514
Message from Derrick S. Boone, Ph.D.:
Greetings, I wanted to let you know about a great opportunity here at Wake Forest where you can get a FREE education and get PAID while you're doing it. Our Dean of the Schools of Business is the former CEO of PepsiCo and very committed to diversity. He's gone around to his CEO friends, who have agreed to donate a bunch of money to pay tuition and fees, provide a stipend, and a job, to diverse students. The details are below. The problem is, response to the program has been dismal! As a faculty member, I would be embarrassed for him to have to tell his CEO friends, "thanks so much for your donation, but unfortunately I have to give it back because we couldn't find Any students who wanted it." So, I need your help. Please contact me if you, or ANYONE you know is interested in the program. I want to help out as many young scholars as I can. Don't worry about whether or not you (or they) have taken the GMAT, etc. All you need to do at this point is JUST APPLY.
About the Program: The Master of Art in Management program is designed specifically for liberal arts majors only. The MA degree program is a 10 month intense study of the basic functional areas of Business. After graduation and working for approximately two years, all MA graduates are eligible to apply to Wake Forest as part of the MA/MBA joint degree program and get the MBA in one year. The new Dean, Steve Reinemund, has created a new scholarship for diverse students pursuing the MA degree called the Corporate Fellowship.
The Corporate Fellowship provides full tuition and a $21,000 stipend to cover living expenses. Additionally, each Corporate Fellow will participate in a practicum. The practicum has two components, educational and professional development. Each student will be assigned a mentor that is a high level executive with their sponsor corporation. The mentor will oversee an educational project covering 4 of the functional areas of business using their own corporation as the subject.
The student will visit the corporation 3 - 4 times during the program to present his/her results of their research project. Additionally, the "professional development" component of the fellowship provides career coaching and leadership development for the students.
The goal for the corporation is to be able to groom and hopefully, hire a top candidate from a diverse background for their organization. Of course, there is no obligation that the students accept any offer of employment. Still, the student benefits, even if they are not ultimately hired by their sponsor corporation in that they have the MA degree and the type of experience that will make them more marketable.
January 6th, 2010 at 5:07 PM ^
I graduated in December 08 from U of M. I had a job lined up at a biomedical company that fell through because of the economy. I searched for 3 months, applied to about 400 jobs, and had a couple interviews. I stopped looking, and about 3 months later, I got a phone call from someone who found my resume on monster. Now I work in the back woods of South Carolina.
My advice to job searchers who are flexible is to apply to jobs nobody wants to live. I got most of my interviews from small towns. I applied to jobs in middle of nowhere Kansas, Wyoming, Nebraska, and other places. I usually heard back within 2 weeks from applying. Applying to metropolitan areas like Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago may be a lost cause for new grads.
Good luck for all you MGoUnemployed club members.
January 6th, 2010 at 7:30 PM ^
Housing rates have collapsed so much that you need a job that's willing to pay moving expenses, and most small town companies aren't able to pay off mortgages. I mean, you're talking houses that are maybe worth 50-75% of what you paid for them. That's a hell of a buy out to change jobs.
And didn't you save enough money from your time with the Raiders to get by?
January 7th, 2010 at 12:48 AM ^
...I rent. This is totally my opinion, but in this day and age I would rather have the flexibility to move to where the work is, and it's much cheaper for a company to buy out a lease versus a mortgage.
January 6th, 2010 at 5:26 PM ^
I've been steadily employed for the past ten years, and still am, the problem is my income has fallen off a damn cliff in the last year. I'm finding myself in an increasingly untenable position, mounting bills, and a very uncertain future.
Here's hoping Michigan turns around soon.
January 6th, 2010 at 7:23 PM ^
I've gotten pay a big pay cut the last time I had to switch position (we're talking 5 digits here), and everything I'm applying for seems to be going down around the same amount. Everything cost more, but salaries are going down.
January 6th, 2010 at 7:48 PM ^
I feel your pain. Big paycuts suck, especially when you're used to being comfortable, and your expenses reflect that. The expenses can be very tough to cut. Lesson learned; live below your means.
January 6th, 2010 at 6:25 PM ^
Damn double posts.
January 7th, 2010 at 11:56 AM ^
First post but long time reader. This place has helped keep me sane during my unemployment.
Been unemployed for a year now. Had a management position with a building products company for the last 8 years. I got the job right out of high school and progressed up the company and then the housing market took a dump. Took my severance and doubled up on class-load to finish my degree ASAP.
Graduated in August 09 with a BBA and a near perfect GPA but have received only 1 call for an interview. Thats just half the battle though. Its usually 1-3 weeks between finding a job posting worth applying for.
Gotta love all of those insurance company sales positions ....no thanks!