This is a really interesting blog. Very similar to our circumstances. Ours turned into a success story despite EVERYTHING, and I am sure yours will too (because your husband and you both are clearly determined and will persevere).

There was a period of a few years (okay, several) when my husband could not find a job! He took contracts, but they were few and far between. He was making lots of mistakes that your husband probably (hopefully) isn’t. The thing is, he HAD several really good jobs before that, but made a slight change in fields, so his experience wasn’t up to par. IN THE END, he got the first job based on prior work and built from there. Now things are going well for him. It was a very tough time–but we could do it again if we had to.

HANG IN THERE! If you need a lift, visit this post–http://www.husbandclothes.com/uncategorized/is-your-guy-jobless-point-him-right-here/
But note that it puts a humorous spin on things, which you may not find funny right now–humor really carried me through though…

We are prepared to live apart for a while so my son can finish the grade he is in and the whole family will move in together during the summer. That’s a good point about noting somewhere in the resume about a very quick relocation.

I don’t think the online thing is your problem. I’ve applied online for my last two jobs and gotten them with no prior contacts. However, joining professional organizations is a good way to meet people in the industry and hear about jobs.

Danielle – thanks for the info about Pongo. I’ll have to look into it.

For an update, my husband sent out that $900 piece of equipment today. We should know in a few days exactly how much we will get (the $900 was a quote).

SimplyHired has developed special job search filters that might interest you husband: http://www.simplyhired.com/a/special-searches/home

Good luck!
Francis
SimplyHired.com

Within some driving distance, you should have a county government center and possibly multiple town governments and state agencies. Your husband should not be looking for a “certain” job. He should apply for every job for which he could qualify, even if it is “beneath” him. That includes low paying temporary jobs, like working for the Registrar of Voters during election season and the Tax Collector during tax season. We hired numerous people into permanent positions from temporary and seasonal jobs, including jobs in completely different fields. These jobs give the employer a chance to “try out” the employee. The temporary job goes on the resume and the hiring person will call the department for a reference. If you get a dependable, hard-working, motivated person, if you can’t hire him, you will find him a position in another department, because you will have a happy hiring-level manager in that department, as well as a grateul ex-employee.

Good luck!

Way back when, I almost landed a state job making very good money. When I applied, it was a bit of a stretch (not within my degree) but I tried anyway because so few jobs like that pop up around where I live and I knew I had the skills to do the job. It dealt with numbers and I love numbers. I got as far as the second interview and the decision was between me and another candidate.

They told me in the interview that they appreciated the thank you I sent them after the first interview and my enthusiasm for the position was one of the reasons they called me back. I didn’t end up getting it, but I tell ya, I was so pumped to get as far as I did.

anonymous – there is a government entity nearby. Slowly, it is growing and it’s one of those that you watch hoping they open up a certain job. Right now, it’s a pretty small organization.

But yes, employers do appreciate a nice thank you note after interviews. Sometimes I think I have gotten jobs because of my follow up emails and not because of the interview itself.

Corporate employers have plenty of candidates for every job. Government might be an alternative worth exploring. When I was the hiring authority for a large local government agency, I had trouble attracting bright, capable, motivated people. Government is usually less susceptible to layoffs and there are usually good benefits. You may have city, county, and state agencies within driving distance. Your husband should look online and in person at the HR office for each agency and apply for every job for which he is qualified.

In your shoes, I would insist that he sell the equipment and get a job. He can deliver pizzas or work at a fast food restaurant, but he must have full time employment and contribute his share to the family.

During our garage sales, we sold some of the smaller ticket items that we purchased. I’ve also donated some to a non-profit. We went all out to get the business going, even getting advertising material. It’s amazing how the little stuff adds up as well.

I have reaped big rewards for being proactive (not annoying, but maybe almost!) in the job search — calling and writing after interviews, finding ways to send in a portfolio even if they don’t want one, etc. It sounds like your husband is at least thinking about this.

Are there ways to think creatively regarding ways your husband could keep up his skills if he does sell his equipment? (Especially since I imagine the equipment is depreciating every day.) Could he sell at least part of it? Could he sell his nicer stuff and buy much cheaper and older stuff on ebay or craigslist that will still do the job? Could he find free equipment to use at the library or a community college? Could he find some other people locally who are in his field and pay them a small fee to use their equipment a couple times a week after hours?

Good luck to you!

He is applying to numerous jobs that are not perfect. Only the one that I refer to as “awesome” was a really good fit for him. But you are right, he didn’t follow-up with the phone interview.

I am very patient. I hear that a lot. But I am frustrated that employers (bigger corporate ones) are only asking for an online resume and cover letter for a creative, project-based position. It bugs me that they are not asking for a portfolio. The one job that did ask for one is the one my husband got an interview for. Why aren’t they asking to see results? He could just send one in, but for these online places you can’t even find an address. They want you to submit online. Everything you read says to follow instructions. Sorry…bit of a rant there.

To be fair, the equipment was purchased for a business that didn’t get off the ground. I’m as much to blame about that as he was. I would go as far as to say that it was more my fault that it didn’t go anywhere. I’ve also spent some money on a different business I was going to start but never did because I found employment.

He already has gotten quotes for selling some of the equipment and is ready to trade in for cash to go towards our debt. I am the hesitant one here, because selling that equipment will take away his ability to keep up with his job skills while he is working in-between jobs (from an earlier post, he did some almost free work for a non-profits to keep his skills sharp).

So we’ll keep searching.

Best of luck to your husband. Looking and waiting for a job is just horrible.

Also, it’s unclear to me why he will wait to look for new “in-between” work. Why wait until the current one is almost over? Start looking now, and maybe he’ll be lucky enough to have several jobs at once. That would help with debt reduction, building contacts, and bolstering his resume.

You are a patient woman. I would be furious if my husband took the approach your husband does with his career (this comment is based on several previous blog posts that address the issue) and if my husband ran up credit card debt buying expensive equipment (that is tech-based and plummets in value!) that he justified by saying he needed it for his job.