My husband got a job (sort of) -- at week 90

[Paula Sims]

Hi all,
I've posted before but this time is something personal. My husband, an engineer in the petrochemical field, was layed off in November 2008. Since then he's sent out hundreds (thousands?) of resumes, only 2 of which resulted in an interview. Both said that he was "Overqualified" (translation, either you're too old or since you went to Harvard and Yale, you're too smart for us) and that he'd leave once the economy got better (yea, I'm still waiting). Funny, the friends in his industry who have jobs are working enough for 3 or 4 people AND they still have to take unpaid furloughs. Hubby's job is an 8 week contract (for which we are really grateful) at a good salary and close to home. Luckily I have had a great job for 23 years and I'm still needed and wanted. Hopefully it can extend into something longer with paid holidays (he's not getting paid for Labor Day -- insert snicker here).

We've looked into "retraining" -- but for WHAT?? My nephew just got his master's in Math with education minor and can't find a job, another friend applied for one of 4 waiter position -- him and 200 others like him. Legal work, accounting, even radiology is being shipped overseas. He's be happy to retrain, even if he is 60 and starting out -- but in what field?

Yes, at 60 he should be looking forward to retirement, but we can't afford it. We're supporting his mother at the dementia center (she's 92), my parents (mother 80 with schizophrenia, father 89 with prostate cancer), and because of 30k of our own medical bills annually (WITH EXCELLENT insurance coverage), it's not fun.

I know I'm singing to the choir here, but if you meet someone at a Burger King and you can -- buy them a coffee. That happened to my husband and he cried at the kindness of strangers.

Thanks so much for listening

Paula

[CurtEastPoint]

1. Thanks for sharing and best to you all.

It's tough, Paula. In a similar situation jobwise but still hopeful. Good for you all!

[eleny]

2. I'm glad for you both

k&r

[AnneD]

3. It is not much....

but Houston is looking for math tutors for the Apollo 20 program.

[TheDebbieDee]

4. Good luck to you and yours..............

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. Hugs and good luck

I wish I could do more than just do this

:hug:

[midnight]

6. You raise a good question about what area to pursue to retrain in.

Anyone have any thoughts about what areas are hiring? Solar panel installers? High rail?

[truedelphi]

10. Hi speed rail hasn't really been given enough money to do squat.

Installing solar panels when you are pushing sixty would be quite challenging. Though maybe entering that field in the sales and marketing end of things might be fruitful.

What really needs to happen is a way to vote the entire political class of people OUT.

The experts testifying before some congressional committee tonight on C Span have just finished saying that America hasn't had anything but "jobless recoveries" over the last fifteen to thirty years - and that we won't have anything but "jobless recoveries" now and in the future.

There is something seriously wrong when no one inside the Beltway thinks we need jobs!

Or when the few who do acknowledge the need for jobs don't have any serious way of bringing them to us.

But if the trillions spent on the wars were spent on the high speed rail lines, or manufacturing renewable energy powered automobiles, that would mean that our middle class, the key element to any successful democracy, could rebound.

[applegrove]

7. Things are looking up. So sorry you have had it so rough.

[w8liftinglady]

8. I agree...sending positive thoughts your way...

[prolesunited]

9. Good to hear

Who knows, maybe it will pan out as I'm sure he'll go in hungry and ready to do the best damn job ever. Plus, he gets current job experience to add.

As far as retraining, unless you can get into a paid program, it really doesn't seem worth it. I think age, rather than skills, is the stumbling block. I know it's illegal, but if you look at the statistics for employment of those older than 45, it is clearly happening. You get the training and have to repay the loan for it and still can't get a job.

I know I am happy for any small indulgence I can find.

[SoCalDem]

11. Great news & much success to your husband at his new job..

My husband is 66, and still working.. he had hoped to retire to his "Train Room" long before now.. Our hope is that he gets to retire soon enough to actually build the thing:) He's very lucky to have a great boss and a job that requires brain work , since physically he's not got much stamina..