by Donna Burt

Created on: July 03, 2008

Regardless of our age and wisdom, some words, when presented together in life, leave us speechless. Over fifty and just laid off comes to mind. There are few things that can outdo the impact of that meaning. With the economy being assaulted from every angle, job stability tops the list in major consumer concerns. Old and young alike face this possible challenge; most likely though, through a different set of priorities.

It seems each generation tackles the job market with different perspectives. Not long ago, jobs were for life. The traditional household I knew growing up was my father being the "breadwinner" and my mother stayed home with the children. I was the youngest, and my mom decided to began her career once I was well into high school. Even then, she managed to start and retire from the same company before she passed away. My father was with the same company for over 40 years when he retired.

I, on the other hand, began college, obtained a part-time job that ended up being my career, dropped out and never looked back. Until August of last year, that is. Having spent 32 years in the mortgage industry, there was a misguided belief in experience and stability being compatible. A hard lesson in life was to learn there was no such thing.

The awakening came, when it was discovered while tucked away in my cozy security blanket, the whole job market outside had changed. Gone were employers seeking the more experienced worker, gone also, was my affordable health insurance. While I considered myself somewhat savvy in the technology department, it was not long before I realized just how sheltered my job life had been.

Gone were the days when you received at least one call a week with job offers that would make your head spin. Sadly, gone were the days when your name and reputation were not adequate enough to be offered a job on the phone. For the first time in over twenty years resume's and interviews became a daily part of my life, along with Craigslist and Monster.com.

Networking took on a whole new meaning, as call after call only forced the realization that most my contacts were in the same situation. The few that had managed to be working for a company still in business were so bombarded by job seekers they no longer answered their phone or returned calls.

If it wasn't so sad, it would be humorous to describe the cattle calls that were somehow represented as interviews. It was an employer's paradise when a job spot came open. Not knowing how to handle 300+ resumes

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