Mar 29, 2011

User's Response to News You Can Use

Bullet #1:
  • No matter how difficult things may seem, people are finding gainful employment every single day! This can't be emphasized enough!
This is a bunch of liberal crap ! Unemployment continues to rise in California, where I am from, as well as in all the other states. Major business are pulling out or have began outsourcing to other countries. Please do not waste my time by sending these false statements to my mail.

Response to the comment:
The comment that every single day someone in California, as well as in other states, finds employment is in no way a false statement. No where did I indicate that this is easy. But as career development and job placement professionals, we have to keep our students and clients motivated and positive so that they don’t give up! You can’t give up when times are tough. It causes desperation.

Living in a community that is quite devastated in terms of unemployment, I would be the last person to ever take the current state of the economy as a joke. However, even considering current state of our economy, the following is a true story of how an African American female resident of Oakland, California -which has one of the highest unemployment rates in the state- has found employment. This person also has only a high school diploma, and no college training.
Her story, in her words:
I found employment because I had no choice. Every morning I would get up and go to the computer, and search for jobs on web sites, including Craigslist. I would go to companies and leave my resume and fill out job applications. I talked to everyone I knew, including people I just met during my job search.
Through my efforts, I found a little known employer. This employment is available all over the country, and maybe in small towns as well. I am currently working two jobs and sending one of my daughters to college.
Job 1: I got this job from Craigslist. I work as a Driver for Worker's Comp Patients. The company I work for represents several Worker's Compensation Insurance Companies.
My first experience in this occupation was working for someone else, who would give me the referrals he was receiving directly from the service. I was having a difficult time getting my pay from him, so I did my own investigation. I got in touch directly with the referral service and learned that I could work directly for them. The job requirements are to own a car, have comprehensive car insurance, have a valid driver's license, and have a good driving record. You also have to be at least 21 years old. I drive patients to see doctors that the insurance company tells them to see. I work nearly everyday.
My pay is predicated upon which company I am working for that day, but it generally offers the following: Mileage is covered at an average of $1.10/mile, high pay per day is $100 plus mileage plus pay per hour if you have to wait for the patient. My average pay per day is about $75 plus mileage.
Job 2: I found out about this job from a friend. This job is fun! I market products at grocery stores for a national marketing firm. I mostly do this job on weekends. I have mostly promoted products like Cliff Bars, Starbucks Coffee, Coffee Machines, etc. The pay per day for this is around $15/hr. on Fridays and Saturdays, $22.50/hr on Sundays, and $30 per hour on any day for alcoholic beverages.
Believe me, finding this work took a lot of patience and perseverance! It wasn't easy! But I tell young people all the time to not give up. Do not resort to crime. Just keep trying and God will help you. I tell my daughters the same thing.
For any with concerns, I sincerely hope this sheds a little light on what I meant by the first bullet. Also, please consider that in some instances finding employment or starting your own business, may mean moving to another part of the state, another state, or even another country!

In our next issue, I hope to do a brief piece on the Global Labor Market. Yes, we send jobs to other countries, but our people can also go to other countries to work. The world is now small, and unfortunately those of us who live in the United States sometimes do not see this as an opportunity.

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