Like so many Americans I have been touched this year by the rising unemployment in this country. After 22 years of working for the same company I found myself a victim of a reduction in force. I hate that term. It’s corporate America’s fancy way of saying laid off.
In March of 2012 I found myself unemployed for the first time in over 20 years. Was I surprised, not necessarily. Was I upset, you bet. It’s scary at 48 years of age to suddenly find yourself single and without a job.
So what did I do? I did what everyone else does, I applied for my unemployment benefits and started my job search. What I found however, is that most employers want a degree of some kind. Like many my age I don’t have a degree. I have over 30 years of experience in the health insurance industry and am certified in Instructional Design but I don’t have that coveted degree.
I’ve continued to submit my resume for every Instructional Design position I can find, that’s added up to apply for between 100 to 150 different jobs but no real bites. Am I discouraged, very much so. I am certified in Instructional Design and have been doing Instructional Design for over 8 years but again, I don’t have that degree. Why are employers so concerned about someone having a degree instead of being concerned with the fact that someone has actual practical experience in the skills they are seeking.
What else did I do? If you’ve been reading my blog you know that I published my first book. This was a dream of mine. I love to write but apparently the reading world isn’t ready for my books. My first book only sold about 100 copies, at least up to this point.
At the end of September I started hitting the job looking even heavier then I had been. I have to find a job. I have to be able to pay my bills, put a roof over my head and all those things that we all have to do to be a participating part of society. Since September I’ve at least had one pre-screening interview and another actual face to face interview but still no job. I know that the perfect job is out there but it’s hard to keep your faith when you don’t get so much as a bite.
Pauline
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