I hate this whole shitty situation! On February 2019, I lost my job because the company was going under. It upset me a little bit but the whole office was let go, so I wasn’t alone in my misery. But I kept a positive attitude. I had severance pay for 3 months. I took a month off and worked temp jobs for the next two months hoping to find a job. Well, companies weren’t hiring too much, so I decided to go on unemployment after my severance pay ended. I still was confident. I had a good track record with my last job. 10 yrs working straight–good work record. I worked through 2019 with no hiring prospects.
In the beginning of 2020, things were picking up. I had one prospect that hired me back for temp work in March 2020. Then it hit—we all got notice that a major pandemic was happening and that there would be a “lockdown” No one could fathom what was coming. After all the rules were explained, no one could believe it!! The employee’s were cut down to the bone with only a few remaining. I was again one of the employee’s let go–so it was back to the unemployment line.
The first few weeks of lockdown were not that bad. I had purchased enough toilet paper and disinfectants to last me a month maybe more. The news said unemployment was increasing more and more in my state. I noticed the unemployment websites were crashing about every two days. And if you think you could get help via phone—ho ho! All you would receive is a busy signal and directions to use a failed website to get your benefits–a website that gave VERY vague instructions on claiming benefits–no e-mail help–NO ASSISTENCE AT ALL!!!
So, first I probably cried to myself out of frustration and worry for a week—no I just laugh–no job offers, no help and a ridiculous system that said to be patient and help will be on the way. So far that has been 3 weeks!
I live in Maryland—does anyone out there have any advice or help?

Yes it’s hard and awful feeling. In my case I graduated in engineering in 2008. I have applied and called thousand places and havent heard from them except few replies that others candidate were more qualified. I have no prior experience and almost all the jobs related required atleast 4 to 5 yrs exp. I tried modfying my resume to adjust to the latest format…I’m still unemployed and lost hope. Still applying bcos as long as I’m alive there is hope inside. I know my educational background needs a some ungrade since it’s been almost 9 years, but I don’t believe to go back to school and get another tuition on top of the tuition that is already piling with interest, with the hope I will land in a job I deserve. To my surprise Im over qualified to work in gas station or gift shops… and got unsuccessful replies . I even tried hiding my education but no one called me up for interview. I’m now a woman in my middle 30s. I Spent my precious years, 6,focusing only on my studies get my degree without working on other aspects of my life. Now I’m lost what to do with my career life. I’m still being supported by families and now working as server in a newy opened local dining, living on tip. I found this job last year by lying I’ve lots of experiences serving guests which I never had before.

This is such right on. I shared this with my family and they thought you nailed it. It’s just how this feels! If you ever want to rant, and share a post, let me know.

I need 150 signatures to get it published on the main website everyone can see.

You are definitely right! It’s a double edged sword – when you’re employed, you can get a job. When you don’t have a job, you can’t get employed. There’s no solution it seems! My idea would be to give employers a tax benefit for hiring the employed – it gives a perk and an incentive to hire the unemployed. The government needs to get creative because the old ways just aren’t working.

The US Government is trying to help, but what they should do, is restrict employers from hiring other people that are already employed??? Make room for some of us that need jobs. The Land of the Free, the Home of the Brave or Unemployed simply doesn’t exist. Feel like immigrating to a different country.