Yah, the people on this thread will laugh, heartless bastids that they are (cause they haven't lost their jobs yet or are working at a subsistence wage) but I've sent out hundreds of resumes as well and paid for an agency to send out a thousand resumes around the first of Dec. I have excellent references and work the cutting edge of technology.
The problem isn't only no jobs. Businesses aren't even willing to set up interviews. All that and I've had 2 interviews.
SInce 911, the IT industry has lost over 650,000 jobs. 20% fewer airline flights means 20% fewer reservation systems and 20% fewer IT jobs, and this is one industry (and besides the 100,000 computers that went down in the WTC/Pentagon). Those that still exist are being filled by H1B visa holders from overseas because they'll work for significantly less money.
Sure. We can take a burger flipper job. But why should we. It's happened to the IT industry and it'll be coming to an industry near all these nay-sayers. Their solution is to make all of America burger flippers.
What morons.
The solution is to stop giving away America's plum jobs to foreigners who work for next to nothing. American business, American government and American people like those on this thread are what have done me out of my job, not me or mine.
I've resigned myself to giving up my house and the standard of living that we've enjoyed for almost 20 years. I'll probably be pushed into a janitor's job and life will go on. I'm not lazy nor am I stupid. I'll hate my new job because it's going to be far below what I'm qualified for and the only reason that I'm forced to work it is because my company wanted to save a few bucks and sent its computer operation to another state and there are no replacement jobs out there to be had, no matter how bad one wants to work. I love my job - my old one that is.
Godspeed
Vannrox, I agree with you about engineering; I have a degree in the field...decades ago, you couldn't pick up a newspaper without reading of the coming shortage of engineers...and I'm glad to say I was out of the field in a few years. It has always struck me as odd that engineers - with a wealth of knowledge and education - are so very expendable.
America's Resolve, may I offer a suggestion? Consider substitute teaching. No, I'm serious. On the one hand, you may only get $80-$100 per day - but there is a considerable demand for substitute teachers, and the qualifications are far less than what yours appear to be. You might even enjoy it, and might be able to create a job for yourself.
Yes, I know there are drawbacks - but please consider it.
I've been luckier, so far, then you both have...but there's no guarantee. I have a feeling that the current economic malaise may last quite a long time, on the order of 20 years. I have a basis for that, but I won't bore everyone with it right now...the key is to survive; which I'm confident both of you will do.
PS: don't worry about the heartless b------s; bad economies tend to bite the arrogant in painful ways. They'll get their's.