Trapped in Unemployment or Trapped in a Selective Search?

Last night I watched “Trapped in Unemployment,” a segment which appeared on 60 Minutes. Although the show detailed Joe Carbone’s educational program for the long-term unemployed in Connecticut (Platform for Employment), it was overshadowed by the students who were interviewed.

One participant shared his unwillingness to accept work he felt was below him, such as part-time positions and working at a local grocery store; yet he bemoaned his inability to find a job for over two years. Ironic. Strangely enough, this is too often a sentiment shared among the unemployed. While some of those who are out of work are willing to do anything to support their families, others remain selective in their job search.

Those who are unemployed need to realize there are jobs available, they may be part-time positions or positions with a lower compensation rate, but nonetheless, they are opportunities.

Unemployed job seekers must be willing to make sacrifices to secure a position, such as taking a pay cut, learning new skills, and volunteering their time to expand their business acumen. If they do this, I believe they will find themselves among the ranks of the employed.

While there are instances where it is acceptable to wait for a higher offer, when you are collecting unemployment is not the right time. No matter how much money you end up getting, waiting for a position with a higher salary is not as important as having a job.

Comments

[Thomas Santoro]

What about those with high private student loan debt that requires them to make monthly payments of over 1500 a month? Grocery work isn't going to cut it, but sadly there isn't any entry level work that will cover that. Going to college was a horrible mistake.

[Tom Gimbel]

I'm not sure I follow you? No matter your debt amount, not working doesn't pay off the debt faster than working. No large debt amount is going to be paid off in two years. Having a large student loan is like having a mortgage...you pay it off over 10+ years at a low rate. For example, if you had a student loan of $100,000 at a 4.5% interest rate, you could pay it off over 15 years for $580.50 a month. Whether working in a grocery store or entering a training program...it's not about where you are today. It is about where your work ethic will take you in 10+ years. Some companies like Target hire recent college graduates for their management programs at salaries in excess of $40,000. Entry level leads to something...it just takes time.

[Gina]

I apply for all kind of work. I still can not get work. I can not work nights or rotating hours because I have nocturnal epilepsy. I can only work day shifts. I normally do administrative work but I have applied at grocery stores but they want you to work night shifts and rotating hours. I have also applied for customer service position jobs and they want you to work night shifts also and rotating hours. I do get my foot back in work place. I have been unemployed since August of 2011. I had good job that was working days.