So damn frustrated. (long)

[LenaGardner]

hear me out, this is kind of hard to explain. it's not that your not 'qualified' as a worker. it's that the computer system only puts through apps that are consistant. meaning: you can't answer many or ANY maybe/middle of the road answers. they want strong 'yes' and 'no' answers. does this make any sense?!?!

Yep, this is exactly why I asked if there was an Orion opinion survey on there. I used to administer them (as a matter of fact, I think my knowledge of it kept me from getting a job last summer because I got none wrong, and it's designed for you to get SOMETHING of the 63 questions wrong...I've never seen anyone not get flagged from SOMETHING in all of my years hiring and then someone like me comes along and knows every answer. LOL, I'm sure it looked suspicious. But that's not the point...the point is I agree it could have been kicked out by the computer, as a matter of fact I'd put money on it since you got your answer so quickly and most Personnel managers work M-F. Don't give up hope yet!

 

[crystalbird]

I don't have anything more to add to what great advice everyone has already given but just wanted to send some ((((hugs))))!!!

 

[junebug]

it doesn't make sense that you cannot find a job!!! i would be super pissed too!

one quick word of advice: (since DH is a manager at Best Buy) i know for a fact that when you are applying through those automated, computer programs, they will just kick out your app if your app doesn't 'qualify'. hear me out, this is kind of hard to explain. it's not that your not 'qualified' as a worker. it's that the computer system only puts through apps that are consistant. meaning: you can't answer many or ANY maybe/middle of the road answers. they want strong 'yes' and 'no' answers. does this make any sense?!?! DH has had to call people back that he knew personally that were applying at his stores in the past and override the system to bring them in for the 'next step' interviews. simply because 'the system' didn't 'like' their applications. pm me if you want my number to call me.

aha!!! that has to be why! i had a lot of yes or no but also quite a few in the middle . but that's just me, lol. i'm in the middle on a lot okay. i feel a tad bit better that it was a stupid computer that didn't like me and not the person that hires, lol.

thank you Bryn and everyone for your kind words. i have always wanted to go to college, and graphic design is (well one of)the things i've wanted to do. We have IUK her just down the road from me. I know DH would love if i went to school. he used to say either finde a job or go to school. i don't think i could handle both and still take care of the kids unless it was just a few classes at a time and if DH seriously stepped up to help me more. i'm just scared, lol. i graduated high school in '97. i did okay. i could have done better. what scares me is math. its alwasy been my weakness. i hate math lol. i actually did a few a's mostly b's in algebra when i took it but thats as high as i went. no calculus or geometry. so i know there are basic requirements you have to complete in college and i'm afraid i'll find out i'm an idiot . no, i know i'm not. i had really good grades in everything else. and i love learning. c'mon, the discover channel and discovery science channel are my favorite things to watch, and going to are/history/science museums make me giddy. i'm in fact, a big nerd.

maybe i'll look into that as well. i know that since Chad is a Veteran, there are a lot of financial help for spouses out there.

thanks again!:wub:

 

[nonnie]

Hang in there Corey ~ And I have to say that I totally agree with Bryn - I went back to school and I have a degree in Anthropology - (somewhat useless for a "real" job - but I LOVE it!) and I am now working on my masters - I have to say that the better I feel about myself reflects on the the quality of our relationship... Starbucks is another option - they have great diversity in employees - in most of the "mall" shops they are looking for someone who looks like the posters -
I think graphic design would be something to look into - even if you started at the community college and I know starting Aug 09 - spouses can use their husbands GI bill -

Huggs!!!!!

 

[junebug]

I think its cool that you are doing something you love even if it isn't a "real" job. i have always thought it would be fun to go to college just to learn everything you wanted to learn, many different fields.

i also have had a secret dream of wanting to be like Indiana Jones; digging for old relics and things in far off places. it sounds SO fun, but i really can't think of leaving my kids behind when i'm off traipsing around the world, so it'll stay a fantasy, lol. Unless i could get a job at a museum....

 

[scrapmonkey]

Corey - unfortunately the job market sucks out there, retail or not. My husband has been looking since December/January and he has a business degree. We're in Ohio, close to the Indiana border, so it's a similar economy. He's had 9-10 calls the entire time he's been looking and he's applied via craigslist, monster, classifieds, and even networking contacts. He has a similar problem of changing jobs and then spaces in employment, but for different reasons than you - he was a student for several years so he had to sometimes look when his schedule changed, then we moved here from TX to OH for my job, then he was in an accident and had back surgery, and he was laid off last year seasonally (but the business didn't recover enough after the season to invite him back). We are fortunate enough during this time not to have kids to add to the financial stress, but I think I've been very patient with him not getting a job. Never have I threatened to leave him if he didn't get a job, even though I get frustrated when he refuses to look at temp agencies. In fact more times than not, I am standing up and trying to boost his ego, since the long job search alone can strip someone of what confidence they may have.
As for going to school, don't be afraid of college math - there's little above the algebraic level unless you major in mathematics, finance, engineering, economics or physics. You'll also find that education is much better as an adult than it was when we were younger - I got so much more out of graduate school than I did in undergraduate and my mom had a better time getting her college degree when she got her degree nearly at the same time as me, than her attempt when she was younger (when she almost failed and then actually dropped out). I have been trying to convince my DH that this might be the right time to get his graduate degree (he wants to be an employment rights lawyer), but we are going to hold off until I get a more secure job, preferably better paying, since I've been told I am being laid off in June.
You are not alone, Corey, and hopefully the advice presented by others will help you. I just wish your DH was being more supportive during this rough time.

 

[ditzyscrap]

Sorry you're having trouble finding work, Corey!!

Speaking of the surveys...even McD's has one, lol! In bigger cities it's valuable for figuring out who should be hired (we have green/yellow/red categories - green is like "hire now", red is like "not a good candidate") but they DO screw up. Some of the best employees our McD's has (which is in the top 10 of Canada for McD's restaurants) were reds. And lots of greens have quit soon after being hired or are extremely unreliable. Cities are hard because there are SO many applying for the same job that they kinda have to use it as a guideline, but I'm in a smaller town and we need people, so the survey is just a random thing we do but don't really pay attention to, lol.

I didn't read through all of the responses, but I would encourage you to broaden your search a bit. If you've been in retail - you know how to run a till, right? Try pharmacies (as a cashier), movie stores, even fast food restaurants! If you want to broaden it a little bit more, you could try to do something entry-level in a restaurant - prep cook or hostess, even. Don't narrow it down to "I've always done retail, so I need to do retail now" - that experience you gained in retail helps in almost every other service related industry - customer service and knowing how to use a till goes a LONG way. You could try places like Staples, Office Depot, etc, as well - Best Buy even maybe?

 

[junebug]

thank you, Leslie. it helps to know i'm not alone, and that it's not like i am just not good enough. i don't apply for anything i don't know how to do. i'm going to look into possibly going to school, though we really do need extra money. we're not about to lose the car or anything but its just really tight. Plus we are trying to get the work done on this fixer upper so hopefully in about 4 or 5 years we can sell it and get what we really want (little bigger, nicer).

Bree, that's a good idea to broaden my search. well, except for fast food, lol. i know i shouldn't be picky, and no offense to anyone who's done that but i really don't want to do that. i haven't tried Staples or Best Buy. i do have a Hobby Lobby app to fill out and turn in. Now that is the job i should have, lol. a craft store!

you guys have really boosted my spirits, seriously. i may not know you all in person, but i consider everyone here my friends and i luv ya!

 

[junebug]

oh, and boy has this thread gotten long. i wasn't expecting so many kind responses!