Putting out an S.O.S.

Good luck and all the best, Ed. May your term of unemployment be short, and may your new gig be fulfilling when you get it.

Sorry to hear it. What do (did) you do as work? What field are you looking in?

I suggest volunteering during your downtime (maybe for a campaign or somesuch). Keeps you on a schedule, and opens up new networking possibilities. Good luck!

Register with a temp agency. YMMV, but I know several people who made good, steady money temping and eventually found good permanent jobs.

And more importantly, when you do get a job. Stop browsing CHUD so much.

Seconding the temp thing. Both Adecco and Star Staffing were fantastic and both got me placed in jobs that I got paid way too much for.

I'll keep my eyes open. I got the boot last week. It wasn't my whole income, but about half.

I'm looking at craigslist, job boards, networking groups, whatever I can think of. If I'm cruising the web and see something, I'll send it on PM.

Good luck, Sir. I guess I can´t be of much help. Unless you want a roadie job with your beloved Tokio Hotel I guess.

But seriously I hope it works out well and quick for you. And that you´ll have a computer at work as to post here all day long!

Ain´t about 80% of work a kind of prostitution?

Keep your spirits high though!

I hear you. I saw some ads, they have a laundry list of shit they want you to be able to do, 6-10 years experience, and then they offer $15/hr. Shit is fucked out there right now.

edit: Here's the craigslist page. http://losangeles.craigslist.org/ofc/
I have gotten a few good jobs from craigslist, so it could be worth a try. I don't know exactly what you are looking for.

I just went through this. Was let go in June, and just got a new job starting Monday. My silver lining was a months severance, and some owed commissions. My advice, there is no shame in drawing unemployment until you find the right job. Remember, you PAY into unemployment insurance while you're working, it's your right to draw it if you're let go, that's why it's there (provided you didn't do anything to get fired, ala punching the boss, get caught browsing the sex section of the boards, etc...).

I do endorse staffing firms, even though that's the kind of company I was just let go from (I was recruiting). Make sure they know what kind of degree you have, and look for Recruiting firms that specialize in Accounting and Finance, since that's what you were doing. I know MRI has a division like that (that's where I used to work), and I think Robert Half does as well. Also, talk to more than one agency. When you're temping, your rate is not being negotiated from the company you'll work for, it's negotiated by the temp agency, so feel free to look around for better offers, especially since you have a degree. Oh, and in the meantime, if you have the patience, you could look into substitute teaching to put some groceries on the table. This may be obvious, but make sure you're posted on the major job boards (Monster,Careerbuilder), and you might want to look into Linkedin as well. Good luck man, I know how much this sucks.

Pick up the temp jobs. Here's how unemployment works in Maryland. They determine the max amount you'll draw (I was at the max, due to my previous salary, and having a child). Let's say for the sake of easy math, that amount is 500 per week (nowhere near that high here, by the way). Now, let's say you get a temp job and make 250 a week, unemployment will pay you the difference up to your max amount. The other thing about temping, is if you find a good place, and they bring you on permanent, you'll usually make more money when they bring you on. They pay the temp agency 20 bucks an hour for you, and the agency pays you 15, so it's cheaper for them to bring you on permanent at 17 (again, using random numbers here).

But really Ed, you have a degree, and are therefore a bigger commodity than what a lot of agencies deal with. When you meet with a recruiter, make sure they know you are very interested in finding permanent work. If they don't do permanent placement, find someplace that does (a lot do both). A good recruiter should be able to find you something equal to or greater than your previous salary, especially if you have good references and a decent looking job history. Oh, and if you're not against relocating, there are a LOT of potential opportunities for you, and most will pay to move you.

Make sure your recruiter works nationally, and knows where you would be willing to relocate, and that you would need a relocation package to do so. Best you can hope for in terms of support these days is a lump sum to pay for you move, and maybe a months worth of temporary housing while you find a new place. If this is going to involve you selling a house, it's going to be extra tough, though. Also, don't expect to be placed overnight, it can take a long time to find the right fit (trust me). But stay in somewhat close contact with your recruiter, and temp until you find the right thing.

All of what Miller said. If you're not averse to getting a temp job within a larger company, that could work out in your favor - I worked a year and a half with a large institution, ended up being hired on as a casual appointment (job security, but I was officially an employee and got employee benefits with the understanding that my time there was limited), went back with the temp agency for the same department due to my casual appt. expiring, and then went back after ending that temp assignment and got a job directly with the institution.

Between glowing recommendations from the department in which had previously worked, I was an easier hire (as far as paperwork goes) than someone off the street because I was already listed in their files with an employee ID, enrolled benefits, passed background check, and everything.

It might be obvious, but while temping make sure you do GREAT work (never miss the opportunity to help out in an "above and beyond" fashion) and try to make positive contacts with your managers and co-workers. Then keep track of those contacts whenever possible after you leave. I'm in my mid-30s now, did NOT do enough of that in my youth. It might not lead to a dream job tomorrow but it won't hurt and in 10 years you may be surprised with who you know and where they are.

And make EVERYONE (friends, girlfriend, little brother) read your resume and offer their constructive criticism. Twice.

I'm really scared because my company is dumping my entire department. They got me doing other stuff now, but it feels like busy work. I actually can't temp because I need the insurance, I'm considered uninsurable by most companies and can only get coverage through a work-place.

However, my health issues may actually end up saving my job for the time being because I'm going on a short term medical leave, and according to the contracts they aren't allowed to fire me for a year's worth of leave. That doesn't mean I won't get canned when I get back, but it's something.

Pretty much impossible anywhere,especially if that's the sole income. Don't limit yourself to Appleone, there is no exclusivity clause for candidates, go to every agency out there and look for the best offer.

You've been on the internet all day! Get a fucking JOB already!

Well, at least you picked something respectable to bank for. Fuck those guys. I hope that every GLBT person ever and everyone who's known a GLBT individual ever boycotts the living hell out of those hotels.

I want to see the rotten sonofabitch that introduced that proposition begging on the streetcorner for change just so that I can yell "Sorry, douchebag, I've got a lot of gay friends and they absolutely fucking HATE YOU. No, it's cool, I'm just gonna call them and tell them where you are. I'm sure they've got plenty of change for your worthless ass."