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Category: Unemployment Stories

First-hand accounts of being unemployed

soldier holds hand with wife high unemployment among military wives
Married to the Military and Divorced from a Job

Married to the Military and Divorced from a Job

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Spouses of military members have unique challenges when it comes to finding employment. The unemployment rate for military spouses is reported to be nearly twice the  rate  for  the  overall  U.S. population between 18 and 65. Combine this with higher rates of depression, alcohol abuse and divorce than their counterparts, and it can sometimes seem as if the military spouse is the one fighting a war. But there is hope! I am one of these military spouses, and I spent…

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Career Dead End or Detour?

Career Dead End or Detour?

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  Is it OK to take a Career Detour? In today’s market, many people are challenged with making abrupt and unexpected changes in their chosen career path. We’ve all heard the recommendation, “use your existing network to get leads.” But … what happens if your path is obstructed for an indefinite period of time and these gaps are reflected in your resume? Is a career detour worth considering? I reflected on the route my hubby, Rolly, navigated when having to…

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Some of the WORST Advice I Ever Got About Unemployment…

Some of the WORST Advice I Ever Got About Unemployment…

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I’m late to this party of unemployment. I had worked steadily for almost 45 years before I was ever unemployed, and to this day, I still cringe when I remember what it was like to wake up and have no place to go. I didn’t need to pack my lunch or my planner. I didn’t need to check my schedule and do my morning ritual before leaving for the day. It didn’t matter if I had gas in my car…

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A Career-Ending Injury: Robert’s Story (Part 1)

A Career-Ending Injury: Robert’s Story (Part 1)

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I remember the day clearly.  It was warm, not hot, with a breeze to keep us comfortable. I had been working at that site, building frames to install solar panels for several months. It was very physically demanding. I didn’t like the job, but I liked the money it gave me. I was working for the Laborer’s Union for about a year and was employed more often than not. I worked on demolishing buildings and road paving crews. The Union…

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recent college graduate unemployed
I Thought I’d Disappointed Everyone in my Life

I Thought I’d Disappointed Everyone in my Life

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I graduated from a well-ranked liberal-arts college and thought finding work would be… a cinch! I had majored in business—often touted as one of the most employable degrees—had a high GPA and sported a long list of scholarships and merit awards. There was no shortage of professors and former supervisors eager to give me glowing recommendations or references wherever needed. Best of all, I’d worked 9 internships, which was a ton of experience for a college graduate. People said that…

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Which is the right career path for me?

Which is the right career path for me?

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Where are you living now? Well, I have resided in Ocala, FL for the last several years. I came up here from Polk County, FL in the summer of 2011. Because after 10+ years in Retailing and nearly 20 years in the Cosmetology industry, the nationwide recession had my options for work falling through. Disaster relief after a few quite strong hurricane seasons also had come kind of slow. Cosmetology was my passion, but although I was great at creating,…

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