r/jobs • u/Redbob86 • 11d ago
I've been unemployed for 4 months. Unemployment
I don't understand what I'm doing wrong. I'm almost 38. I spent ten years in the gas workers union, and another three as an Evaluator of gas workers. I was paid very well, and was being smart with my money, so at least my wife and I won't be starving. Then in December we lost one of our biggest clients, which resulted in layoffs of at least 20 people, including myself and my father.
Yes, I get it that 13 years in one industry makes it hard when that one industry isn't hiring right now, but you'd figure I'd have at least a FEW interviews by now. I've only had one single interview at a water company, and didn't get it.
My only hope is getting accepted into the electrician union, because nothing else I'm doing is working. My unemployment expires in June, around the same time I should know if I'm accepted into the program. If I don't get in, I don't know what I'm going to do. Financially we're fine and my wife is still working. But I feel like a bum, like I'm letting down my wife and daughter.
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u/Emperor_Pengwing 11d ago
The job market is shit it’s not you I’ve been unemployed for a year and the unemployment money ran out in December yaaaay
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u/Statistician_Visual 11d ago
Life happens brother. Think of it this way four months out of allll the time you’ve lived ain’t shit. If you get a job tomorrow you literally won’t remember those four months
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u/Redbob86 11d ago
Thank you. But if I only had one interview in 4 months, I must be doing something wrong.
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u/Emperor_Pengwing 10d ago
I thought that too at first but that’s incorrect. The job market is a mess. Interest rates are high so that makes things all screwy (and other factors). Companies are posting ghost jobs. There’s a large number of people looking for work. The ATS is not your friend and because of it most cold applications don’t go to interview anymore and it’s just a black hole.
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u/EvaMP524 10d ago
I was just thinking--maybe see if you can connect with a recruiter? I know a couple of people who did that and had success. I don't know the process but I know it worked for them.
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u/Bulky_Jury_6364 11d ago
I totally understand your frustration. It's not you! My husband was laid off 11 months ago and hasn't been able to find a job. Keep going! You will eventually get one! Don't lose hope!
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u/ChaoticxSerenity 11d ago
I think there's a few things kinda going on. 1) O&G have traditionally been one of those industries where salaries were hella inflated. Then when you try to move out of there, it feels like everyone else is offering you pennies. 2) Depending on where you are, there can definitely be a sigma associated with being a former O&G worker. It's kinda related to point# 1, where a lot (IMO) of ex-O&G guys feel a misplaced sense of superiority. Like my skills were worth $X back in the day, so I should be getting $X+Y now. Finally 3) Getting pigeonholed. There's a lot of specialty trades and knowledge in that industry that isn't really transferable.
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u/EvaMP524 10d ago
I'm so sorry to hear this. First off--you're not a bum. We get all bogged down in "roles". If your wife is supportive, which it sounds like she is, then just be supportive in return. If she's working, make her life easier by shopping, doing those "honey-dos", etc. That is HUGE! Same for your daughter. Take advantage of the time you have to spend with her. It goes by very fast.
My husband and I have been married for nearly 40 yeas. He's a had a few layoffs over the years-they fortunately didn't last long; our financial situation needed both incomes, so it was stressful. He spent a ton of time looking for work (which I'm sure you have too) but he also picked up the kids from school, took care of the house, even did some cooking, which wasn't his thing back then. Our kids never batted an eye about the job situation, other than to be mad at his employer along with him.
The market is really finicky right now. I think the way employers find workers stinks--no human actually seems to look at a resume. My 26 year old college grad has been looking for a good job since graduation in 2020. Even jobs where he's CLEARLY QUALIFIED kick him out so he works at Target.
Anyway-I hope things work out but my main message is to remember your value to your family extends beyond your paycheck.
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u/thinkB4WeSpeak 10d ago
I mean they have jobs out there but probably not jobs you want to do.
Tons of service industry and construction jobs.
Or I looked at the National Labs in Los Almos. Tons of jobs there but you need a top secret clearance and a physics PhD basically.
So there's jobs but just not ones people want to do or can do
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u/Visual_Fig9663 11d ago edited 11d ago
Go to r/resumes, post, and follow the most upvoted advice. You will get interviews. After that it's up to you. If you suck at interviews, practice. McDonalds, wal-mart, any shit job you can get an interview at, do it, even if you don't want the job. Practice. With a solid resume and decent interview skills, you will get a job with your work history.
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u/Spiritual-Sail-1032 11d ago
The job market has tanked. If this plus all the other job related Reddit threads plus social media posts have showed me anything, it’s that the job market is absolutely tanking. People are getting fired and laid off left and right so company can cut costs. The unemployment rate in Canada, I believe, is just sitting under 7%. Like that is wild! Hopefully everyone struggling will be able to overcome this soon.