I wouldn't mind doing something a few days a week for the same reason as Susan. But I want to do something in the home. Not babysitting though.
Leslie

When I retired last December I thought I might clean a couple of houses a day for two days a week. I like cleaning other peoples' homes better than I like cleaning my own. :)
I had planned to wait a few months because I had a lot of catching up to do on chores around my own house. I'm still not done with all of those, but I'm getting close.

I've started scrapbooking again and have really been enjoying it. I've got a lot of that to do, so I may not look for that other part time work right now. Anyway, I think hiring someone to clean one's house is probably pretty low on the totem pole in one's budget right now and it's really the only thing I want to do because I can work hours of my choice and days of my choice and I don't have to dress up.

Linda

I'm done with work. Selling my house sealed that deal.

My pension and SS checks are enough to live on and I went for liquidity in my investments a couple of years ago.

I have a different thought. I am hoping I can retire next July 1st. I will have 2 medium sized pensions and SS if I choose to pull at that time. I also have savings and an IRA and 403b...BUT with the ecomony and the stock market I'm really hoping I can achieve my goal. I know this sounds horrible but I really want to start my retirement years. (I guess I say that because it makes me feel guilty when so many people will be out of work or need work.) I've worked over 40 years and I'm ready to embrace the next phase of my life.

I guess the only thing to do is wait and see what happens. And I know it won't be the end of the world if I stay another year (or so).

Susan

Yeppers. :(
Have to hit the temp services. Unemployment ran out. Retail is hiring but pay is too low, and it's just seasonal.
I could cashier at a local all in one store (not walmart), but I cannot stand in one place that long. :(
Di

I'm not - I have one and very thankful for that these days. I read this post because I'm hearing from more and more people I know being laid off - people who are not ready for retirement. I'm worried for these people. Maybe I'm chicken little but I have felt we are heading into another depression like state for awhile and every day it seems like we are plummeting into one. So it worries me that these people could face serious hardships. Susan - I don't think you should feel guilty. If you are in a position to retire then do it - maybe you will free up a job for someone who needs one!

Linda - I think cleaning houses is a good idea - though you are probably right that timing is not great. Where I live I think people who clean houses independently do well. The person who cleans mine probably makes about $30/hour. I'm not here when she comes so that's based on my estimate of how long she's here based on a few times when I've been around when she's come or gone. I love this woman - she is a huge help and she is a good friend to us even though we don't see her very often.

I am so grateful that I found full time work. In my area even part time work is hard to find. I have to travel close to an hour to work though. But DH and I have decided to sell our home and move closer to my job.

SamKaren
your resident DJ

If anyone finds any "in the home" work , that actually is a for real job that would pay. Let me know....

For the first time in my life I could use a job...

But I've never worked, all my married life. and I'm no spring chicken...so I can't imagine anyone wanting me.

patti

i work in my families logging business on and off, have been busting butt the last few weeks, too much rain so one lot you couldnt work, one lot we could then the picker on the logtruck died, so 2 weeks to find one and 3 days to put it on, bad time of the year usually we have to take the first 2 weeks of hunting season off this year we dont thank god, cant even work the quarries after the regular days work because of hunting season, but hey its the landowners priviledge, just when we thought we were getting ahead now were way behind. if anyone knows logging we log slow but me and my brother just got 3 loads out in 1 day when normally we do 3 loads a week! sorry i didnt mean to go on and on and hi jack this but i just get so darned mad because like many of you we cant catch a break no matter how hard we work and my dad is over 70 and im trying to help them too plus babysit... but thank the lord i at least have some kind of work! ok i apologize for going on i didnt know i needed to vent this bad..jeeze hope you all understand..again i apologize

I've been looking for 2 1/2 months now. No one is hiring anywhere. I'll probably take the first job thats offered. Things are really bad around here jobs are few and far between. I am getting fat & lazy.

You may have heard me say that I am looking for a full-time teaching position next school year. I expect to have my certification again by April. I have my eye on a school that will open next year to grades 6-8. This year the building is not complete but they have only grade 7. They will simply move a lot of teachers from other schools when they move the students. But that is the school most likely to need to hire, so I think that is my best chance in this school district. So I sub there as much as I can and try to make myself known. The AP knows I am getting certified and want a middle school job next year. First of the year, I am sort of thinking about taking my name off the list for other schools and telling him (he schedules subs) that I will be exclusive to that school if he can use me. Last 4 times he called me I was already committed somewhere else, and I really hate to turn down sub jobs at that school right now! Called tonight, in fact, but I'm already committed to a kindergarten teacher tomorrow. It's better for my future right now to get into that middle school as often as I can.

I just want so much to teach middle school next year! We want to switch our medical coverage from DH's to mine when I'm teaching, at least for myself and kids. And no amount of saving will put 4 kids in a row through college on one income these days. The oldest will start in 3 years. Plus, it would be such a relief to have another full-time income just in case (even if is a teacher's salary LOL).

I gave up my job to move. It took me less than two weeks to find another job that not only pays about the same as I was making, but I'm getting more hours. No nights, no weekends and major holidays off.

I went from cooking in a school district main kitchen to working with babies, which I absolutely love. And, I don't have to get up at 5 am! LoL

Other than some office work here and there, my main jobs have been in the writing and editing field--especially newspaper reporting, which I don't want to go back to right now. So my job search hasn't had a particular focus; I'm just sort of seeing what's available. And the answer is: not much!

At the moment I'm pinning my hopes on a part-time position as a library assistant at a university. I have no real qualifications, but my resume shows a lot of publishing experience, which I hope reflects my love of books. The commute would be a little long, but the school tends to close in bad weather. I like the idea of working in a library, and am hoping they'll give me an interview.

Good luck, everyone who's looking!

Like Pattico, I haven't worked since I got married. For the first time in his 62 years, my husband has a job...before that he was self employed...and it pays well, and he can work as long as he wants to. It means he is away from home for weeks at a time, so my job is to try to hold things together here and look after everything. It isn't easy, but I'd rather do that than work a "real" job.

I work for a high end kitchen design studio that also does our own GC work. Things have been painfully slow and getting slower. Last week the boss told us that he may have to cut our hours back to 30 a week. This would be a hard hit for my family. (I would loose a full weeks pay each month) If I can find some part time work to make up the hours IÂd take it. I have spoken to several friends who are also kitchen designers and they maybe could use some help writing orders or checking cabinet conformations. I also have a professional meeting coming up this week which I can do some networking.

Luckily my husband, formerly a self employed residential electrician, recently took a job with the local rail road so at least he is working steady. The construction market here has really tanked. There are so many good craftsmen that cannot find enough work to get by.

I am willing to keep my options open and would consider any recession resistant work as long as it pays enough. We have been thru this before; I was unemployed for a year in 2004 and was able to get by on (2) part time jobs and freelance work. It is more stressful, but you have to work with what you can get.

One of my favorite Jobs was working as a College Para-Professional Advisor. It was such a fun job working with young people who were really serious about higher education. I'd love to do that again, but I am 50 miles from the nearest College.

Gayle

I am looking for a job.My unemployment ran out.So,I am cleaning houses for now.

Susan - how about this?

"Consider being a guide. About.com is one site that hires work at home writers to be expert "guides" to give tips and advice. Competition is stiff, because About.com states guides recieve a minimum payment of $725 a month up to over $100,000 for popular guides. See http://beaguide.about.com/ for more information."

Clicking on 'Apply Now' will bring up the topics they are looking for writers for.

I think I would like to have a part time job but don't know if anyone would hire me. It has been 24 years since I worked!
Clare

Thanks, Lydia--you know, I checked into that some months ago. The site must have grown considerably since then, because there were only a few categories open the last time I looked. The only one I felt qualified for was Grandmother, and even that was dicey because I have only one grandchild and she's always lived either here or not far away. I don't know anything about long-distance grandparenting. I figured I could learn, but the application made it clear that a big commitment was required, and I didn't feel in a position to devote all my energy to it.

I think it's a great opportunity for the right person, though, and I'm a little disappointed that I don't qualify for anything on the much longer current list. If they ever add Traditional Rug Hooking (or Scranton, even!) I'd probably jump on it.

Anyone else?

Yep - as aggressivly as I can!! My unemployment is going strong, FINALLY, but it does not even begin to cover the necessities, including my mortgage. I have to keep the electric and phone/internet going because those are my source for finding work. I have a gel fireplace in case the gas goes - a splurge purchase two years ago that is truly paying for itself!! I know of people living in their cars - hope my situation doesn't come to that. This economy is awful.

It's been on a full-time job just looking for a job; for almost two months now. I'm pretty marketable, but it's still pretty tough. Many companies are posting, but want A LOT for a little itty bitty salary. I'm flexible on that provided I don't have a 100mi or more RT commute (I've done that several times before). The problem is my previous salary history - they know that and think if I take a smaller salary, that I'll leave when I find something better-paying. I'm also getting calls and emails from companies for jobs that are so far from my skillset that I know I wouldn't even be considered. This, I think, is because everthing these days is computer based. They find certain words in my resume and the computer generates a message. There are also those that have just decided to do without and end up hiring "friends" on favors, or not hiring at all.

For those using job boards, I got a tip from an employment agency - Indeed.com and DICE. I'm told they use all job boards - Monster, Careerbuilder, Hotjobs, and some professional association sites, to compile their list of all available jobs, in all industires. So far, I've found them to be helpful.

I wish I could retire - not there for a good ten years or more. I'm afraid though that by that time, I'll have to work another ten years just to survive.

Anyway - best wishes and my prayers that you, and this economy have better days ahead!!

Cheers!!

gneegirl

No, but I'm annoyed with my current job right now. I came home late, stayed over 2 hours to help out (it was my 8 hour day today). Come to find out (after I'd been there over an hour already) that they may not pay my overtime? WTF?! You "should" take comp time I was told, which is a joke for RNs, because there are never enough of us on any given day to take comp time. So, I left earlier than I had planned to and they were short. I did finish my meds (I worked on a med cart today) and wanted to take care of my patients, especially since it is VETERANS day. Geez....

I'm still waiting for them to pay me for 3 hours of mandated overtime I worked over a month ago. This is way before the current "you should take comp time because your overtime may not be paid" crap. No wonder the turnover rate is so high there.

Good luck to everyone on their job search, sorry about highjacking the thread to vent but it feels good to get it off my chest.

No I'm not, but then I like my job. I'll be there for away yet.
For those who want to do some cleaning. Come to my city. There are many seniors here looking for someone to clean for them.
Try directing your work search to seniors. I bet you get lots of replies.

I have an interview tomorrow for the library job! I have to email contact information for three employers. Fortunately, my three favorite bosses are happy to give me references. I hope it's okay to use two bosses from the same job.

My DD suggested that I search the Internet for "tricky interview questions." She said interviewers often ask questions that seem to have nothing to do with the job.

Since 1973, with the exception of the 8 years I had my own graphic design business, I've had a career in the corporate world. Always in some design or marketing capacity. Lots of hours, everything project-related, unrealistic deadlines.

I currently have an incredible job with a thriving company even in this time of economic downturn but ... I want a job, not a career. At 55, I'm getting too old for the long hours and trying to keep up with 20 and 30 year olds. I want to walk out at closing time, hit the light switch, close the door and lock it with nothing further to do but come in the next day.

I'd truly be a fool to walk away from what I have; great benefits, stock options, interesting, challenging, cutting edge work in a high-tech industry but some days I just can't justify what it does to my health and home life.

Now don't laugh, but when I was a kid, when everyone else was wanted to be a teacher or doctor or actor, I dreamt of working in a pet store. A place where I could share my vast knowledge of animals. I've even gone so far as to fill out an application for Petco. Now all I have to do is submit it ... and I will, one day, when I have time. :-)

Jodi-

Oh yes Susan - watch out for those tricky questions. Here are three famous ones-

What is your name?
What is your quest?
What is the air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow?

Oh sorry - those are from Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

I hope your interview goes well and they offer you the job. The library would be lucky to hire you!! Good luck, I'll be thinking about you and keeping my old library fingers crossed.

ROFL -- that is very funny, Mcmann! It would be great if the interviewer has a similar sense of humor and actually asks those questions. But I won't count on it.

I just ran across this list of undesirable qualities in a job applicant.

* Too self-assured
* Too aggressive
* Too domineering
* Critical of previous companies and superiors
* Non-enthusiastic
* Cold
* Badly dressed
* Non-eye contact
* Too much talking
* Being unprepared
* Being late for interviews

Let's see if we can provide some examples, shall we?

* Too self-assured
"I knew you'd give me an interview. It was a slam dunk."

* Too aggressive
"I hope you don't mind if I share your chair."

* Too domineering
"Why yes--I always wear thigh-high boots and carry a whip."

* Critical of previous companies and superiors
"My last boss? Pond scum, I tell you!"

* Non-enthusiastic
"I'm sorry. I didn't hear a word you said. I was thinking about lunch."

* Cold
"No, you may not call me Susan."

* Badly dressed
"If you were up on current fashion trends, you'd know that lots of people wear jammies to work."

* Non-eye contact
"Mmmmm . . . what?"

* Too much talking
". . . so when I realized I'd be interviewed here I called my girlfriend to see if she wanted to do some shopping afterward, but she had to go to Middletown to visit her son at college because he ran out of money--apparently he has a gambling problem, which we think he inherited from his deadbeat father, who was only active as a parent for three years before he took of with a dental hygienist--who works just down the road, by the way. Do you know Dr. Flatko?"

* Being unprepared
"Very nice to meet you, Mr. Rockwell . . . excuse me? You're not Mr. Rockwell? Oh, sorry . . . Mr. Anderson? Oops--not him either?"

* Being late for interviews
"I did it again, huh? Trust me, I always want to be on time, but stuff happens, ya know?"

:-)

Oh Susan - you made me snort! You're on a roll. My favorite was the "too much talking..." Maybe you should be a writer for Saturday Night Live. That would make a great skit and much better than many of the ones they actually air. Now after reading that wonderfully funny response I have one suggestion to make for your interview tomorrow - no bunny slippers either.

Seriously now, that was hysterical.

Hey - what's wrong with bunny slippers; I've logged many hours in bunny slippers - LOL. Too bad I never got paid for any of them.

Since I've been on this recent job hunt, I've been asked the strangest questions. I probabaly blew off a job today during a phone interview. It was as though I was in kindergarden - she was the one talking too much. Oh well, I wouldn't have wanted to work there anyway.