For those of you who have lost a job,

[Robb]

How long did it take to get back on your feet?

I've been unemployed now for 5+ months and frankly I can't believe it. It was never this difficult before.
Checking my saved emails it looks like I've applied online to over 300 jobs in the last 5 months. Most are close to the field I've been working in the last 15 years, some have been a stretch but I though it was a realistic possibility, all local. I've come close a few times but only as close as 2nd place.

So I spend a big portion of my time job searching and the rest of the day trying not to spend a penny. Puttering around the house is getting old.

Just curious how long you found yourself unemployed before the next position came along?
Mostly I'm just wondering if it's me, my age, (58) or what the deal is. Well, or if it's just ME.

[newracer]

I didn't lose my job but it took about a year of applying for me to get a new one. I applied for about 20 jobs in that time. I was also trying to stay in northern Colorado.


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[GilpinGuy]

It took me almost a year and a few hundred applications/resumes before I got ONE call back. Hang in there and keep trying.

And I agree that puttering around the house with no money to dive into projects was hard. I did more fishing that year than ever before - it's cheap.

[Wulf202]

9 months. I started going thru everything in the house. Donating or selling a bunch of stuff.

[Circuits]

18 months since I quit. Still doin' OK, but drinking a lot more. Day-drinking takes on a new dimension when you're (semi-)retired.

Getting a new, serious job, seems to be harder once you're past 50, if you're not being recruited away from an existing position - ageism. You've got tons of experience they 'd like, but don't want to pay for.

[ray1970]

I've been blessed with skills that are pretty much always in demand. I've always been able to find work whenever I want. I've never applied for a job and not been interviewed and have gotten every job that I ever applied for except for two of them.

At 46 years old that may change in the next four or five years. But I took a new job a little over a year ago and they were glad to have me knowing that I have at least fifteen good years to give them before I throw in the towel.

It could be a good time for a career change if you aren't having any luck finding work in your current field.

[hurley842002]

I would say age has a lot to do with it, as I even notice within my agency, the younger folks (right or wrong) are getting the "good jobs", the promotions, etc. Nobody wants to invest in someone that is going to stick around for a few more years, and then be on their way to retirement. I'm fortunate to be an older "young person", as I left my previous agency after 10 years of service, to start all over.

[mattiooo]

Since I moved to Colorado over 10 years ago, I was unemployed twice. Both times it was about a year before I found another job. It helped that both times I was let go due to reasons that had nothing to do with my performance. Once because the economy tanked and everyone was shedding expenses, and once because of a company merger. That one I could have requested transfer - back to New Jersey. That would have cost me my marriage. LOL

I was 41 after the second layoff, and though I couldn't confirm it, I think age and salary for my experience definitely played a role in it taking a while to find another position.

Both were difficult times for sure. Perseverance pays off, it's just hard to have patience when you're in that situation. I have felt your pain, friend.

[Robb]

My wife keeps telling me it's my age, not much I can do about that tho.

Circuits, I had to laugh. I've never been a drinker but since all this started I have tried to develop a taste for Scotch, sadly I'm a disappointment to my ancestors, but I'm still trying. Aberfeldy and Cardhu are a couple I can get down.

FYI, my layoff was my 6 year contract was completed, I wasn't fired. I lobbied as hard as I could but they didn't want to make the investment to keeping me.

[SouthPaw]

Feel free not to answer Robb, but what line of work are you in?