OT: I feel so unwanted

[Ds9jullian]

I feel so unwanted and useless. I work as a subsitute teacher but when I am not at school I spend 12 hours a day sitting at home doing nothing. I would love to go volunteer at the library but I am not allowed to because I am on the payroll as a subsitute for them as well except they are being so tight with their sub budget it isn't funny. I haven't worked there in over a month. I am having difficulty find a job, I apply for nearly a dozen jobs a week but haven't had an interview in nearly a year. For someone who worked all the way through high school and collage it is very depressing and painful to be unempolyed. I have a teaching liseance and nine years of library experiance but I can't get a job even working as a telemarketer. I was told by the telemarketing company that I was a too much of a risk, i.e. my prospects for getting a better job were just too high. I can't get a job at the library because they never have any job openings and when they do they see to find someone better qualified or better friends with the person doing the hiring. I just don't know what to do with myself anymore, the people who I thought were my friends now treat me like I am in the way.

Ashley

[adorevintage]

Aww Ashley... I can't really say I know what you mean, I've never been in that situation... but do know there are people who think more of you and do want you and love you.

An opportunity will open up someday, maybe not incredibly soon, but once it does happen, snatch it up!

Don't lose heart! [img]graemlins/heart.gif[/img]

[heidiabigail]

oh dear . . .keep on keeping on. (that's what my dad always says).


I hope that an opportunity is right around the corner for you! I'll be thinking of you!!

[angelnise]

I noticed that you live in Colorado, and everyone I know who lives in that state has an employment problem. The best thing to do is just hang on. You know, you don't have to list your education just to get a plain clerk job. People create resumes for different positions.

[MaryCarly]

Maybe you could volunteer somewhere else like at a preschool, a daycare, the church nursery, or the local hospital pediatric floor. Or maybe you could try something completely different. Look around and try to think of somewhere that sounds interesting to you. If you get out and about more, you will meet more people, you will feel less lonely, and I bet your chances for a job will improve too. The economy is bad in lots of places and the job market seems to be very tough. I agree that most of the jobs that do open up tend to go to someone that the person hiring knows. That just shows that almost everyone knows someone who is job hunting. Try doing some other things now and maybe the next time a good job opens up, you will be the person that someone knows. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[heidiabigail]

oooh, good advice! [img]graemlins/thumbs_up.gif[/img]

[monimarine]

I would first try to find someone who can help you create a resume for different positions so that you know which one to use for certain employers. That way they won't see you as a risk when they look at your resume, and they will give you a chance. If you go into the interview with a very visible willingness to do any type of work, and a good work ethic, that shows. If you go in with a defeatist mentality, that shows too.

For right now with the economy being what it is, I wouldn't limit myself to just libraries or schools if the market seems closed. Is there a Starbucks or a Subway? Places like that and retail shops may have high turnover. At least you would be establishing more work history and gaining a reference to provide for your next prospective employer. True, a degree or license would make you overqualified, but the experience could provide you with peers to network with.

I have an accounting degree. In my hometown in Ohio, jobs like that didn't open up often because people settled and retired there. I had to go where the jobs were. In NC my first job was part time seasonal retail. The women I worked with pointed me in the direction of the employment security comission and that is where I got my first good paying full time job down here doing something with my degree/field of study.

Just a few thoughts.

[AG Seamstress]

Sometimes you need to get creative, and make your own job.
About 20 years ago, our elementary school(private, parochial) didn't have a latchkey program, and I heard a number of mothers expressing a need. After doing some research on what was involved, I talked to the pastor, and set up a program.

Summer is coming, how about offering yourself out for childcare, maybe 2 or 3 girls with an interest in AG?
How about offering tutoring during the summer?
My neighbor girl practically put herself through college working as a nanny during the summer. A lot of parents prefer one on one to daycare, and are willing to pay more.
Keep sending resumes, and try not to get discouraged. Sometimes a defeatist attitude carries into an interview.
Look for other places, beside the library where you can volunteer. Sometimes volunteer positions become paid positions.
Just do your best, not to let it get you down!
I've been through a couple of bouts of unemployment with my husband, and he did the best when he was kept busy. He's an accountant, and for him, there were always accounting temp agencys, so he could keep working in between jobs.
That did a lot for his morale!
We'll be rooting for you!

[judiaci]

It sounds like you are in a little slump. I have been in those, too. I am sure a lot of us have. MaryCarly gave you some good advise. I would volunteer at church, girl scouts, big sisters or something completely different like the zoo or the museum. The more new people you get to know, the more opportunities that will open up.

After I got my bachelor's degree, I ended up working as a waitress for almost a year because of the tight job market. I was pretty sad about it, but eventually, I did get a decent job in my field. In the mean time, I had fun waitressing and met a lot of nice people.

[Samanthasmom]

Ashley,

This is just a suggestion but my dd has been going to summer camp for about 4 years now, I went to sign her up at the YMCA they are having a very difficult time finding qualified staff this year ( head people) , Im sure with your education you would be more then qualified!! Here in MA the pay is quite good and I know that there were a few teachers from my DD school who did this in the summer time. Maybe a head leader for a summer program would be a good job for you. Also, have you tried Monster.com?