The Unemployed Thread

“Here’s an unemployment thread for those of us trying to find a job. If you are job hunting and find that the whole thing sux, report here and maybe, just maybe, we can help you.

Here's my sad song. I was laid off two months ago, a victim of corporate downsizing. After two months of applying for jobs, networking and career counseling, I haven’t even had a nibble from a prospective employer. Argggggggggg.

Are there any hiring managers on this board that can offer some advise as to how they choose candidates to interview for positions? Do you put more weight on candidates for whom you have received a personal referral? Do you like or detest job seekers who call you after sending you a resume? What’s the scoop?”

“If this is going to be a thread for unemployed backpackers...this is going to set the record for most replies to a single thread.

McDonald's is always looking for Asst. Managers.... he he.”

“why tpm, you got fired from your job at McDee's?”

“lol @ maple!!”

“mapleleaf is soooooo mean!”

“I will take a number 3 please!”

“I think you always take a number 2 !!!






haha”

“Would you like a job with that? Wait? I didnt know you could use food stamps at McDonalds!”

“what do you do Creek Dancer?”

“mmmmm...McDonalds fries. See you guys later.”

“snafu Always taking about the # 2. You should hook up with TPM.”

“I leave number two's I never take them......”

“TPM = toilet paper man
NTM = Number two Man

Match made for the Ye olde Inn and out house”

“For the record, I don't feed trolls.”

“Was that directed at me?”

“I think you have those tendencies coming out there snafu. Don't worry! I don't think TPM will mind if you fall short of a happy meal.”

“I thought this was going to be a thread about tpm's member.”

“but I don't think a disability qualifies you for unemployment”

“My last job was corporate employee stock plan management. I also have about 15 years of paralegal experience, a bachelor's degree and a master's degree.

The only good thing about being unemployed is there is plenty of time for backpacking.”

“Are day labor centers good for the community?

Absolutely, positively no.

Let's make one thing clear: Day labor centers are for the benefit of illegal aliens. Legal immigrants can go to Department of Economic Security job centers and dozens of legitimate temporary labor agencies throughout the Valley.

Phoenix blatantly thumbs its nose at federal law by illegally building these centers for illegal aliens. INA § 274 states that encouraging "an alien to . . . reside in the United States, knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that such residence is or will be in violation of the law," or who "aids and abets the commission of any of the preceding acts" has committed a federal felony. Obviously, helping illegal aliens find work is "encouraging" them to "reside in the United States," so why isn't the entire Phoenix City Council, which voted unanimously for the day labor center, being prosecuted and sent to jail?

INA § 274A makes it unlawful to recruit an alien for employment or refer him for a fee, so the city is illegally facilitating employers who are illegally hiring these aliens. Councilwoman Peggy Neely said in an April 20, 2002 Republic article that "hiring immigrants for occasional day work is not unlawful." Unfortunately for Neely, I don't believe the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals agrees with her.

At a recent Phoenix zoning hearing, some 40 residents and business owners near the current day labor center attended. Thirty-two signed up to speak against expanding that center's hours. Area residents provided dozens of photos showing hundreds of illegal immigrants still loitering around the neighborhood.

Residents complained of increased loitering, littering, illegal soliciting, harassment, begging, drug dealing, prostitution, public urination, intoxication, trespassing and off-hours operations. The zoning board, as usual, ignored the residents and voted 6-0 in favor of the proponents - all city employees or open-border advocates, not one of whom lives near the labor center.

Let's get another thing clear: This is not about race or racism. If the hiring hall were for illegal Canadians, Britons or Asians, we would oppose it just as strongly - not just because it's illegal, but also because it's part of the attractive nuisance Phoenix has created that entices illegal aliens up here.

State and local officials declare ad nauseum that illegal immigration is a federal problem. For sure, the feds need to secure our borders with the military - just like three-fourths of Americans want, but cities like Phoenix and states like Arizona have created an unbelievable billion-dollar-a-year welfare state at taxpayers' expense that lures illegal immigrants here.

The fact that there are few jobs for legal residents on the lowest rung of the skills ladder, much less for unskilled laborers who can't even speak English, doesn't seem to phase the Phoenix City Council. Every taxpayer in Phoenix is paying for this nonsense, so that a few greedy people can save a few bucks.

If the Macehualli Work Center has gotten 150 to 200 people a day off the street, it's been at the expense of luring hundreds more to the area who are still harassing area residents, littering, loitering, begging and trespassing.

Where would the money come from to deport illegal immigrants pursuant to law? The approximate $1 billion illegal immigrants cost the state (and there's no telling what they cost the city) every year would cover it. President Eisenhower deported 1 million illegal immigrants in 1954, so there is a system in place that can and sometimes does work.

Recently a TV reporter repeatedly said, "but these people are here working." Is working an excuse to break our laws? "They come here to work" is not even totally true. Americans for Immigration Control reports that 25 percent of federal prisoners are immigrants. Bill O'Reilly reports one-third of illegal immigrants are on welfare; and "Public Costs of Immigration" says that immigrants are 50 percent more likely to get welfare than natives - with a whopping 70 percent being more likely to get food stamps, at a cost of $3.7 billion a year.

So, a fair number of illegal immigrants come here to commit crimes and a larger number to get welfare. Day labor center advocates admit that only one-third of the people at the center get jobs in a day, while a recent article in another paper quoted a Phoenix illegal alien testifying in court that he was up north because "only about 15 percent of the people" at Macehualli get jobs.

A Feb. 16 Republic article reported "unemployment" is 100 percent at some work centers in California, so day laborers peddle drugs for street gangs for pocket change. Proponents say the center needs to attract more employers - in other words, the city needs to coerce more employers to lay off citizens and legal immigrants, then hire illegal aliens?

Day labor centers are bad news for taxpayers, the community, nearby residents, legitimate temp agencies, property owners in the area, and traffic. Did I mention they're illegal, too?

For 35 years, Kathy McKee has been a champion of abused and neglected children, animal welfare, senior citizens, indigents (all legal), preserving Arizona history, the environment and insight meditation. She is the state director for the upcoming Protect Arizona NOW Committee.


The Arizona Republic
http://www.arizonarepublic.com

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/viewpoints/articles/0706mckee0706.html”

“No ynami, I did not direct my earlier response to you.”

“haha
fall short of a happy meal."

Well, that's still better then being on the .99c value menu.”

“Have you tried temp agencies? Maybe you can get something at least related to your field with a temp agency either as a temp or temp-to-hire? Even if it's something you don't like it seems it's so much easier to get interviews and get hired when you already have a job.

Just a thought.”

“No ynami, I did not direct my earlier response to you.”

“Are there any hiring managers on this board that can offer some advise as to how they choose candidates to interview for positions? Do you put more weight on candidates for whom you have received a personal referral? Do you like or detest job seekers who call you after sending you a resume? What’s the scoop?"




Try to find a recruiter in your field if you can, one who you don't have to pay fees to. I would say its easier to get an interview if you have a personal reference, but keep trying to get in a door - any door. ALWAYS follow up with a phone call, it makes you look like a serious candidate.

Its like playing the lotto. The more you play, the better your chances at winning. (Also applies to dating!)”

“Hook up with Hog On Ice and his crossbuck saw.”

“Hey Creek,
What do you want to do? Who does it in your area. Apply there. If you wait til an ad is run, you've waited too long.”

“Good idea. When the severance runs out, I might have to do that. Unfortunately, most temp agencies around here (central va) don't have benefits. But a temp job might the foot in the door.”

“Booo snafu Booo!”

“Day labor centers are for the benefit of the people who hire them, duhhhhh!

They exploit the illegal workers.”

“Good luck with the search, I know how tough it is. I had a crap time temping last year after the job I'd lined up after immigration clearance fell through. The areas you work in are not areas I know too much about. From what I learned the trick is just to send out a barrage of applications. You'll get responses sooner or later. (And appreciate the time to backpack - I didn't make the most of the time I had :o) )”

“You are correct, it's a foot in the door. That's how I got the job I have now. And it looks like we're about to hire another who is currently temping for us.”

“I had only a couple or responses in the first few months, (followed by possibly the worst interview of my life) - then I had about half-a-dozen bites in a week.”

“"Booo snafu Booo!"

Golly Gomer, That reply will be very difficult to "one upurs"”

“Worst interview of your life?

I think we need to hear that story...”

“it wasn't all that bad I guess. She just seemed incapable of accepting that I could cope with writing in American English rather than British English. She must have said, "but there are nuances," about thirty times. I think she was pleased with the word.
All I could do was tell her it would be ok but she kept saying it.”

“Temp agencies are just that...temporary. They'll have you work till the work runs out which will either be days or weeks. But it's work and a paycheck, non the less.

I got lucky on the West Rim Trail this past weekend. I passed a family who has a girl that works in my hometown. She works for a Wetland/Forestry/Biology typt environmental Co., but told me they are looking for someone with my crediential. Then... after talking to her Dad and telling him of my degree and employment situation, he gave me his business card...he's a Local Gov't Liaison who workd for the DEP.”

“snafu you need to get out more. That crap in backing up into your brain. I told you TPM would probably help you out!”

“It sounds like she was desperately searching for a reason to not hire you...”

“ANd she must have been a nuisance”

“lol @ ynami. A couple of years ago during an interview the subject of backpacking came up. The hiring manager just kinda got that glazed over look and stared at me like I was nuts.

Ok, I am nuts, but that's beside the point.”

“It would have meant a trek to your part of the world every day Tom, for evening shifts. But I was fed-up with being a temp by that stage.”

“Mmmmmm.. I better check my resume for spelling errors.”

“Good luck Buddur! My career counselor told me that 70% of jobs landed these days are the result of networking. It's all in who you know.”

“lol Creek Dancer, well the backpacking alone is a good enough reason to hire you in my book.”

“Knowing someone is how I found out about my current job. I just happened to have the perfect skills match.”

“upurs,
Takes a Sh-t Head to know a Sh-t Head.”

“Yeah, only backpackers understand backpackers!”

“Or maybe the title is about uu's member.”

“LMAO !!!”