Things to Do While Unemployed

The week did not start off with a bang.  I received a call from an agency in San Francisco about a possible temporary position.  It sounded good and I agreed to have them represent me.  Besides, the position and company had not shown up on any of my job searches for the day.  I tried something new today.  Went straight into looking for positions before checking my emails.

I have begun a chart of the positions/dates/search sites I have been using.  When you are on the computer, it is easy to switch back and forth.  It also saves time and paper from writing all of it down.  The information is important for EDD.  It is also helpful in keeping track of what I have applied for so I don’t keep applying for the same positions.  Most of the time they notify you that you have already applied.

It is very tiring and discouraging looking for a job in this current market.  Hundreds of other applicants are applying for most all of the positions.  I wonder how they cull through all of them to come up with people the company deems qualified to interview.  Even though companies are not supposed to discriminate by age (or anything else), they can guess by dates of employment the possible age of an applicant.  Unfortunately for me, being over 50, there is discrimination.  Partly because most companies want someone young and cute; also because young and cute, with lots less experience, does not cost as much. 

Years ago, as a supervisor, we needed a couple of temps.  The agency sent us two women, then in the 50’s.  They were great.  They knew the programs, were experienced enough to pick up quickly on what was needed, they were punctual and dependable.  Too bad neither of them wanted a full-time position.  I certainly would have hired them.

By Wednesday, I still had not heard back from anyone.  One of the points they made at the interview workshop was to make callbacks.  When you apply online, there usually is not a name to contact.  In fact, most of them send you a “no reply” confirmation email of the position to which you have applied.  At least the election is over, television is back to normal, except for “Dancing with the Stars,” which usually airs on Tuesday, and is this week airing on Wednesday.  I did spend quite a bit of time going through my job search sites looking for anything new.  I applied to a couple.  You would think that one of them would at least call.