Times are tough and the stories here are real. Unemployment rate is high, especially in the state of Michigan, where I reside. Michigan’s unemployment rate stands at 14.1% as of November 2009. Many are underemployed, either they had to take a pay cut, were laid off, are working part time, or they are working two part time jobs just to make ends meet. The underemployed are also a category of folks who are not employing their skills. The underemployed often hold Bachelors, Masters, and even Doctorate degrees but are unable to make the money they were making. These worker's are thankful they even have a job in these hard times, even if they are working at the local fast food establishment or the trendy shop in the mall. With so many out of work, there is a lot to be thankful for.
I should know, I am one of those people. In July 2007 I had to make some changes in life. After the loss of both grandparents, I went through a divorce and moved across the country, from Oklahoma to Michigan. If it were not for family, I would have not picked one of the highest unemployed states in the nation. I started applying for jobs online before I even crossed the Oklahoma border. I was hoping I would have something to look forward to. Little did I know the adventure that was waiting for me.
For six months I sent out resumes to every possible job in my field, and even those closely related. I applied online through every possible outlet I could get my fingers on. Applying for work literally became my job. In October I was asked to come back to West at Home. A work from home call center I had worked for about three years back. They were in need of Christmas help, I accepted, making minimum wage.
In January of 2008, my West line ended, and I was able to get on at H&R Block. I had worked for the company in the past and was able to do a transfer. Only problem was, I would not be preparing taxes. Instead, I would be greeting the customers, scheduling the appointments, and taking payments. Just like so many others, I was thankful to even have a job, even if I was taking a pay cut of half of what I had made before. A third of what I was making at the job I had left in Oklahoma.
January also brought on some other changes. I decided to go back to school. I hold an Associates in Accounting from the State University as well as Diploma of Accounting from a technical school. Also, there are the many years of experience, along with job training certifications I have taken. I am years beyond entry level positions. I am currently working on a double major in Accounting and Psychology. However, I have my doubts as to whether it will help me with the norm of the world these days. It does give me peace of mind knowing that at least I am trying to better myself by furthering my education.
Once H&R Block ended I landed a Payroll Clerk position for a local staffing company. I had done payroll before, even though I was qualified to do more. I took the position and with a 1/3 pay cut compared to my job in Oklahoma. The job was shorted lived (downsizing) and once again I was unemployed. Between April 2008 and November 2008 I felt like I had applied to every place in the state of Michigan. I was applying at mall stores, fast food restaurants, bowling alleys, and anything else that would pay me to do something. My phone only rang one time for a company a friend worked at doing IT work. Nothing I am qualified for but they were willing to train the right person. I had two interviews and did not pass. In November I was asked by the staffing agency if I wanted to try an office job at a manufacturing plant that makes paper tubing. I know nothing about tubing, much less manufacturing plants. Desperate times call for desperate measures and I accepted. I stayed a month. What little I was getting paid was not worth being the office lackey and dealing with criticism on a daily basis because I did not have the background experience.
Once again, off to the unemployment line. By March 2009 I had received notice from West they had a new temporary line, again at minimum wage. Shortly after came another work from home, Alpine Access. The pay was just above minimum wage, but once I got through training I knew the job was not what they presented it to be, less like accounting and more like collections. A field I had no desire to go into when I know times are tough for so many people.
I started searching for other work from home jobs and began to apply. I landed a few text chat jobs that were short lived. I could not make a living on ten cents a text. I started to look at things I was good at and enjoyed, writing. I had no idea I could really make a living writing even if I was not a New York Times National Best Seller.
By July of 2009 I was a full time freelance writer and loving every minute of it. I have my own website; I manage my own clients, as well as contract with other companies like Helium, Text Broker, London Broker, Demand Studios, Seed, Private Clients, and more.
The path has been long, and it has been hard. I still do not make the sort of money I made at my old job in Oklahoma. However, I no longer have a commute so that alleviates that expense. So long as the internet keeps growing and businesses need writers, I have job security. I am allowed to use all my college and job training, writing expert articles in that field as well as owning my own business.
I am just like many of the other underemployed; I am blessed to even have a job in these hard times. I might be underemployed compared to my previous jobs and education, but at least I am employed doing something that I love. To me, that is not a waste of my skills or talent, but rather opening doors to those I already had.