I was offered a job at the beginning of last year, to start in the second half of 2013. Then, due to a combination of miscommunication, bureaucracy, and incompetence, it fell through in October (although they didn't tell me it had fallen through until January, which is another symptom of the incompetence). So the annoying thing is that I would have been jobhunting all through last year if I'd known this was going to happen, and wouldn't have needed to be unemployed right now.

Also, I almost have a fucking PhD! It shouldn't be so difficult to get a job. I've sent off shitloads of applications, got interviews with a grand total of two companies, both of which said that they were going with other candidates and went radio silent when I asked for feedback. I had a preliminary interview for another job on Tuesday, but haven't heard back from them yet. Not really expecting much there, as I don't think I'm really qualified for that one.

I'd just like to point out that I'm definitely not a bootstrapper, I could count my personal successes on my two hands. That doesn't mean I don't have the inclination to make something of myself, though.

I think you completely misread the part of the "definition" that stated that a bootstrapper is someone who believes personal successes were entirely of their own volition and had no outside influence

From what you've stated up to now in the thread, it was implied that was your pov

I've had one job, and I need to start looking again. I worked at KFC for a year, and after getting tired of dealing with the jerks that are the patrons of fast food, I decided to put in my 2 week notice and then vow to never go into fast food again. I probably just doomed myself to being unemployed for a while, and after reading some of this thread, it definitely looks like I wont have an easy time finding work.

I'm sure there's a joke somewhere around here about Job McYossie being JOB-less, but I do not have the magic ability to make a pun out of anything like Manco so I can not make said joke

Job McLossie.

The process of finding a job is grueling, and, to put it eloquently, shit. I have full sympathy, and this is one of the other many reasons I get angry at the Government (UK) for using poor people who need benefits and using foreigners as scapegoats. It's very difficult to live to begin with if you're not rich, but when you're jobless and still being taxed left, right and centre, it's borderline impossible.

not with that attitude

something something jerk chicken

We don't get much education in foreign governments over here in the U.S., so I can't really fairly compare the two governments. But I can say that the shit employers do is terrible.

And by the way, with the whole pun thing, it's pronounced "Jobe", but the pun still works and is humours.

Because of the taxes in the US and the absurd amount we have to pay for health insurance, my family lives in diamond encrusted poverty.

Then one day we realized they weren't actually diamonds, they were just tiny shards of glass this whole time.

The damn health insurance doesn't even cover what we need to remain healthy and stable. Some bullshit right here.

Don't forget the whole, 'benefits seekers should have to work for there JSA'. The gov were suggesting you work like, 9-5 five days a week doing litter picking and stuff so you could get your £60 a week, which would put it so far below the minimum wage it probably breaks human rights conventions. Oh and it takes away jobs from people already working for the councils that do such work for a living. So unemployment goes up. The country's economists are seriously incompetent fucks.

Anarchy say I. ANARCHY.

Officials elected to represent the will of the people have turned into a separate class of politicians that we get to pick and choose between, all of which are as bad as each other and many of whom come from wealthy backgrounds. They've never had to live the commoner's life so they don't have a clue what they're talking about. It's a disgrace.

Seems to be a reoccurring thing world wide.

Bwahahahahahahaha...

You do know that taxes in the US are lower than almost all the countries in the industrialised world? I always find it funny when I hear Americans complain about how high their taxes are. Why don't you come here and try to pay Australian taxes, with an Australian cost-of-living?


Of course, then you'd get healthcare taken care of for you. Not gonna criticise you for complaining about how expensive that is in the US. That shit is crazy.

No, I already know that's a thing. On one hand, I'm thankful for that... but I also know our minimum wage is WAY lower than it needs to be, and when my parents moved our cost of living increased by quite a lot, on TOP of the absurd amount we have to pay for health insurance that doesn't even cover our medical needs.

The financial class I'm situated in has to pay the highest taxes out of all the classes over here. I have no idea where that stands vs the rest of the world, but I have to say, it's very strange wondering whether or not we're going to have food to last until either of my parents' next paychecks.

Also it stresses me out so much that I'm still so heavily reliant on them financially. A lot of my commission money ends up going to helping them pay bills so we keep the damn roof over our heads.

I knew that feel. It sucks being below the poverty line and still having to pay for Type 1 Diabetes supplies. Healthcare is too expensive. I wouldn't mind higher taxes, if we had more amenities provided. And maybe less military, but that's a discussion bomb for another day.

Hooray, we're 37th! Suck on that, America!

Our healthcare barely works.

Yay Britain. We may have very high taxes but if Imangle my leg in a car accident, I'm not gonna have to pay £240,000 up front to get it fixed.

Not yet, anyway.

Give it another few Conservative governments and we'll see.

"kids, don't you dare break those legs! too fucking expensive!"

So, I had an initial interview with a company in Boston that went really well. But they told me yesterday that they're not going to proceed with me because they can't afford to fly me there for an in-person interview. None of the other companies I've interviewed with in the States have even suggested in-person interviews! With them, they were happy to deal with Skype to make a decision.

Le sigh.

Having been turned down an interview due to being overqualified seems to be a thing going nowadays.

I know a girl who has two A-levels and she's finding it impossible to get into a call center field.

Is there so much fuss? I am overwhelmed with contracts from foreign countries (however, none are accepted). It seemed to me, that people were haunted by companies since their school years, if they had had achievements.

Is the unemployment really severe in your countries??

Yes.

Yeah, it's bad. And what's this I'm hearing about not accepting overqualified? That seems like an incredibly bad idea. For every party involved.

If you have a university degree and you apply for a job as a check-out chick, people are smart enough to work out that it's not something that you want to do and that you'll probably be actively looking for better work the entire time you're there.

That is a side I never thought of. Still seems ridiculous that people with degrees can't get jobs.

One of the few reasons I'm glad the education and loan systems screwed me over so bad preventing me from furthering my degree

Still can't find a damn job though

See my desire to acquire a music degree is actually really smart, because I'll be just as unemployable once I get one.

You better hope not or you're sucking money out of your pocket for nothing. Unless university really is the best 3 years of your life like it's supposed to be (and of course I sincerely hope you enjoy it).

What Phylum said. I also think that the average working class turns their nose down at anyone with at least one high-standard degree.

HEY STM I MADE A JOKE ABOUT MUSICIANS

This reminds me a conversation I had with my dad recently.

Dad: "You know, you should be applying for some sort of retail job just to get yourself by until you get a real job."
Me: "Yeah, I know. But it's not easy to get a job anywhere that they know you're not going to be there long-term."
Dad: "So? Tell them you'll be there long-term."
Me: "They'll see it on my resume that I have higher ambitions."
Dad: "Change your resume, then."
Me: "And what do I put in there for the last four and a half years?"
Dad: "I don't know... Make something up!"
Me: "Weren't you telling me last week how easy it is to tell when someone is lying on their resume?"
Dad: "Yes, but you won't be detected."
Me: "Why?"
Dad: "Because you're smarter than the people applying to work for me."*
Then the conversation went around in circles for several minutes as I objected to lying on my resume on general principles and dad told me to do it anyway.




* Dad is a lawyer and he's been trying to hire a new lawyer for his firm. Apparently the standard of young lawyers out there is rather poor.

MUSICIANS ARE NO LAUGHING MATTER.

I think it's time you whored yourself out Nate.

Are you hoping to be my first John, Jordan?

It's not even like the Melbourne street corners are cold.

I wouldn't go into the prostitution business. Aside from being at a high risk of contracting STDs, I hear the social lifestyle will make you sad.

I wouldn't mind being a prostitute as long as they had big dicks

I was offered a job as a male escort last year. I declined. Then I got a job at a warehouse and had a break down in November.

Haha life choices.