for those who are unemployed ..

[mysterioussoul]

how do you feel?

i've been unemployed for about 8 months. i quit my job because i was sick and tired of working at a dead end job with horrible people. so i quit spontaneously because i just snapped.

ever since then i'm supposed to be looking for work and i have been at times but lately i've been lazy and unmotivated. i was supposed to go to community college when the second semester starts but that didn't work out so now i just need a decent job until next year. i need to get a job soon because i'm so comfortable staying at home and not having to deal with people that i wouldn't be able to handle the work environment if i continue to stay at home.

i feel very low and worthless about not working. it's not just about the money but also about being able to work and function normally and help my parents out. i'm not on unemployment benefits because i have too much pride but i feel like i have to be on it because i know that they will actually help me look for work but i'm so afraid of attending meetings and workshops and fear being judged.

it's one of the reasons why i don't want to meet new people. i don't want to have to tell them that i'm unemployed. i don't have the confidence to carry it off.

i was chatting to this girl i met on a dating site and i was so nervous and feeling myself get red because she's hot (from the photo i've seen) so i was already intimidated but also i had to tell her that i'm unemployed and looking for work, and i felt like i was judged and that she was immediately turned off.

so i just think it's better not to meet new people and feeling embarrassed and possibly getting hurt and just live like a hermit.

[Ysonesse]

I feel unmotivated as well, but sometimes I put enough effort into a job search and then I find a job but then I have to quit for various reasons. I alternate between not wanting to work ever again and just living off disability and wanting to get out into the world because I hate being stuck in the house.

[Elisa littleboat]

I feel exactly the same way-
- I feel lazy and unmotivated
- I have no goals
- I'm afraid of job interviews and even phone calls
- I feel ashamed and feel I'm not deserve to be taken care of because I can't help to my parents
- I feel worthless
- I'm afraid to talk to anybody, because I avoid to tell about this situation

[Mr_nobody]

I've been unemployed for the past 2 years and it has it's ups and downs. I do enjoy the free time, of course (who wouldn't?) but I feel like a complete burden on my family. I can't stand the thought of going in for a job interview because I always blank out when they ask me questions. I can usually handle the work with minimal anxiety once I get hired but the process of looking for a job is what kills me the most. It's been even more difficult recently due to the fact that my brother doesn't have a car anymore so now he has to use mine to go to work. So while he's at work I have no means of transportation (I'm not comfortable driving my mom's car or my dad's truck- specially not the truck). I feel completely worthless in the job market. I've never made up a resume before because I've never had to but looking around on the internet job listings I'm noticing that most places want you to send a resume. I don't really have anything that's worth putting on a resume; Everything I could say on a resume would easily fit on any job application. I don't have any special skills that would relate to any job and I don't have a degree so making up a resume is pointless. I'm only fit to do low-end minimum wage work.

I also dread talking about myself when meeting new people. Most of the time when I tell people that I'm unemployed they follow up with "well, are you looking? What kind of job do you want to do?" This really frustrates me because it makes me realize that I don't know what I want to do or even what I CAN do. I don't have enough knowledge or experience in anything to make a living off of it. I don't even have a "dream job" in mind. I would like to be a professional musician but, let's face it, that's never going to happen. Not necessarily looking to be a mega rock star but I would be content with having a normal job and then recording my own stuff at home. Maybe form a band and then make our own CDs and sell them for extra income.

[Bekah26]

Can you afford to work at a job for less than what you would like to make? Have you ever thought about trying to find a job in a retail music store? Or even a musical instrument shop? You may not like the idea of it, but you could end up doing really well being around the very thing you like. Opportunitues present themselves to people when they are least expected. I made the mistake of thinking I had to find a career job right away, but in all reality it takes time for some people to realize what they actually want to do, and then to work up the confidence that they CAN do it just like anyone else. Make a small goal, ignore the worthless feelings...I know, easier said than done, but if you start with small goals the bigger ones become decreasingly scary..promise.

[Sameer]

mysterioussoul
i quit my job because i was sick and tired of working at a dead end job with horrible people.

Horrible people will be there in any work. Ive heard about it and ive seen onetime...I worked outside only for 6 months. For that work also, i didn't went on my own. My sister's friend was there. With that man's support...i joined there.No interviews for me. It lasted 6 months...coz the guy who run that office was crap. He cheated his relative who gave him money to run that office. Anyway.... Wasted many days and now only im studying a course. Actually before some years...i should have completed the courses like the one iam studying now, but i can't able to as i had shy / anxiety problem those days.

Elisa littleboat

- I have no goals

I have no goals either. Like...days are going..Something good will happen automatically,but don't know what it is, when it is.
Well, for some people, its like that...

- I'm afraid of job interviews and even phone calls

I don't afraid of job interviews, but i don't like interviews.

[Georgina 22]

I am unemployed (or sorta or will be soon) I say sort of because it's only one that I do on wednesdays (newspaper round if you must know :P) and I don't get much for it.
But I am quitting it, just emailed them my 2 weeks notice because I am sick of it. I only have to do it next wednesday then I finish and i'll be officially unemployed again. Don't know where I am going to get another job.

[Chri588]

I have been out of work for just over 2 years now. I really want to work but the whole idea of meeting people and having interviews worries me too much. I mentioned in another thread that I applied for a job today but now i'm almost regretting it. I really want money and hate the whole rep you get for being out of work.
I think the worse thing though is having to tell people that you're not working, and especially when you know people and they ask, 'Got a job yet?'. You can practically hear them thinking, 'you lazy bum' when yet again you answer 'no'.

I'm hoping that if I just go for it and try working again, i'll realise that it isn't as bad as I thought it would be, like most things.

[StevenGlansberg]

I just graduated from College and am supposed to be looking for a job right now. I'm too embarrassed that I have nothing to offer to even finish my resume.

[kraigg]

Originally Posted by Chri588

I think the worse thing though is having to tell people that you're not working, and especially when you know people and they ask, 'Got a job yet?'. You can practically hear them thinking, 'you lazy bum' when yet again you answer 'no'.

A few years ago, when I'd been out of work for 3 years straight, I noticed the same thing too. When people know me and asked me if I had a job yet, and I said no, I would notice the looks they were giving me, like they were judging me. Not in a very subtle manner either.

And it's just as bad when you meet someone new. After they ask your name, the next question is "So what do you do?". I often felt like I had to make up something on the spot!

[CleverUsername]

like crap

[Dothan]

I don't know how it is in austrialia but here in northern europe no one judges you for being unemployed. especially not in the department of labour or in the workshops for unemployed people, after all you are all in the same boat. to be with other people who are looking for a job could be a huge motivator. we have here very good programms for supporting unemployed people.
so look into that before going on job search directly.

[Salus]

im scared to even apply for jobs because when they ask me why i have hardly worked in the last two years...what the heck am i suppose to say?? im a lazy bum!!

[billphilbertson]

Originally Posted by mimcofied

im scared to even apply for jobs because when they ask me why i have hardly worked in the last two years...what the heck am i suppose to say?? im a lazy bum!!

Yeah I know exactly how you feel. But as I'm sure you're aware, that two years turns into longer if you don't take the plunge! I'm in a very similar boat.

[meganmila]

Yea, I do feel like an outsider for being unemployed. I don't want to meet new people cause I don't want to have to explain about being unemployed for 3 years. And I wouldn't know what to say when the interviewer asks" So what have you been doing?" I just really want to avoid that question and wish people wouldn't ask it. People do have personal problems and just most don't understand and they you are just lazy so suck it up. I'm so glad I'm not the only one that hates that question "what do you do?" Oh god just shut up! I'm an embarrassment, what else do you want me to say?!

[PhilipJFry]

My biggest problem with job interviews is that question. I've been unemployed for over a year. It didn't help me that I was sick off and on quite a bit last year, more so than I was over the previous five years. I'd be lying though if I didn't say I enjoy the free time but I'd like to get at least a part time job soon.

[gaz]

I feel like crap, but when i am working i feel like crap having to cope with people.

I've been unemplyed since October due to my stupid sa messing my job up.

[secretlyshecries]

I feel bad when I see that everyone else feels bad about it because I honestly don't. Not really. I haven't worked for so long I'm just used to it. I feel sort of directionless at times but the relief of not having to get up and go to work everyday and be around people and face a big, long unpredictable day makes me feel better about it.

[nemesis1]

Originally Posted by gaz

I feel like crap, but when i am working i feel like crap having to cope with people.

This is why i dont really care about being unemployed. Having a job and having to deal with people all day when you have SA is just torture.

[crystaltears]

Originally Posted by Elisa littleboat

I feel exactly the same way-
- I feel lazy and unmotivated
- I have no goals
- I'm afraid of job interviews and even phone calls
- I feel ashamed and feel I'm not deserve to be taken care of because I can't help to my parents
- I feel worthless
- I'm afraid to talk to anybody, because I avoid to tell about this situation

you just described me