I’d take menial work before selling my car to survive. In fact, as a former petroleum geologist, I’ve taken crummy jobs a couple of times when the oil business has gone down the crapper.

If you sell your means of getting to a job you’re truly hosed.

Everywhere I go I see “help wanted” signs, and employees who do show up to work are working twice as hard because every business is short handed. This provides an opportunity for a dedicated employee to advance rapidly. You may not be able to find work in HR but you can keep groceries on the table.

I wish you well.

I worked a shit teaching job for 15 years before I gained enough experience to land the position I have now. The only upside to teaching was they system paid for continuing education classes for me to train on the latest technology.

Even then I had to become THE authority in my field to command the compensation I desired.

Still, to me sales is where the real money is.

Been there and it's frustrating as hell. My old employer was one that actually looked very favorably at veterans. If you're spinning your wheels you need to figure out why. Does the resume need tweaked? Networking effectively?
One thing that helped me tremendously was going through a formal process of identifying what my dream job would be. You have to be truly excited/interested in a position in order to sell yourself to fill that position on a resume and in the interview.
Once I was able to do that and get my foot in the door it turned into a long chain of promotions.
Stay focused and positive. Job searching can be a grueling full time job in itself.

I don't know the particulars of your situation other than what you posted so I realize my words are worth what you paid for them.

I'm sure it's frustrating and demoralizing.

I have though recruited, interviewed and hired many people over the years.

As some others have said, if you get a chance, ask potential employers why they didn't choose you.

They may or may not be completely truthful with you but you may be able to glean some hard truth through the exercise.

You may have to accept a job below what you think you deserve. Education is overrated as a predictor of who will excel at a job.

Perhaps try for a lesser job in the field you want to be in and use your education to help you kick butt in that job.

Kicking butt in a job will set you up for a better job.

Think of your education as a tool to help you kick butt rather than something that entitles you.

There are a lot of MBAs out there. Building a track record of over achieving in your jobs ultimately means more.

With all this being said, I sincerely wish you nothing but the best. I hope you ultimately find your dream job.

quote:

Originally posted by Edmond:
Got an offer to work construction in the field

I'm a professional who works in the field with construction workers. My favorite part of my job is being outside and shootin' the shit with construction workers all day. I've gained tremendous respect for these people. They're such hard workers. With OT opportunities at their 1.5x and 2.0x rates, many make much more than I make in a year. But it's such hard physical work and I wouldn't want to switch positions with them. If you were on my jobsite telling me the story you just told, I'd sympathize. In an attempt to encourage you, I'd say keep pursuing what you really want and try to look at this phase as a stepping stone to your goal. I don't believe 'work hard and you will be rewarded' is a lie.

About every police dept. in the country is hiring and most like a military background.
There are plenty of jobs in every town. It might not be the one you want or not pay enough, but if you want to work, there are jobs. Get two jobs if you have to. I would do whatever it takes.

As frustrating as your situation is hang in there. This next part is going to sound very pollyanna but I'll tell you where it comes from.

You choose your attitude and you choose how you handle/react to things you cannot control.

Background: More than 15 years ago I leveraged everything I owned and leveraged a significant amount of my parent's retirement fund to open a business. Millions of dollars in loans. I've always done things the "Right" way just like you described. College, saved diligently, invested wisely, then took a big risk to open a business.

I worked my ass off. I did very well. I continued to save, and invest, pay down my debt as quickly as I could. I was in a great place.

Covid hit and my business was decimated. Gutted. I continued to do what I knew and tried to maintain a brave face. I had to meet with a bankruptcy attorney...my assets are worth and were worth more than I owe on them. My bankruptcy would leave me at about zero. SO I thought...the attorney educated me about my house. "I keep my house and 401k through this, right?"

Short answer, no. I would probably lose my house. I was literally facing losing every bit of equity I had acquired over the last 15 working years of my life. I would have nearly nothing. There's much more to this story. but suffice it to say I did everything right. I was fiscally conservative, ethically sound...and about to lose it all.

I could have done many things at that point. I think I recall "pitching a bitch" about it here and got some really nice support and sound advice.

SigMonkey(the wise) posted something that caused me to read and reread parts of "Man's Search for Meaning" (Which I heartily recommend.)

After all that I realized how little I actually control. So I took a few calming breaths and decided to adjust my attitude, take on the challenges of what I actually controlled and let the rest sort itself out.

I sincerely wish you the best. You seem smart and experienced. This frustration will pass. Things will work out.

I would not consider myself someone who is extraordinarily qualified to give career advice, but I do have a couple of observations/comments.

1) Forget HR if you are not female, a PoC, or not in some other "underserved" class, the profession has been taken over by the woke. Even if you find a job in this field, your career will quickly stall if you can't check the right boxes.

2) Employers are eager to hire people who will make them money, or make it easier for them to make money themselves. This is true no matter how bad or good the economy is. Examine what you have to offer prospective employers from this perspective, and sell these skills. Even if you are "just" working in the field, you always have the option of selling work, something an employer will value much more highly than whatever you might accomplish with your hands.

3) I fail to see what is so objectionable about "working in the field" as a construction employee. Many many people have had success in this field either through attaining expertise or through founding their own enterprise. There is nothing shameful about getting your hands dirty whether one is aspiring to something "better," or just gaining experience. If you feel like you hate the job, please do yourself a favor and don't hate it for how others might regard it.

4) Find your own path. Whether it is through self-employment, becoming a specialist/SME, developing a product, or whatever, get off the beaten path of subjecting yourself to others' expectations and assumptions. You do not have to do something you don't like to do to make a living.

5) Don't sell your car. One of the first questions I was ever asked early in my job seeking history was, "Do you have reliable transportation?" (I didn't get that job.) It's a valid concern, the best worker in the world is useless if he can't make it to work.

6) Expand your horizons. For example, consider working off-shore, Govt. contractors are desperate for people who will commit to multi-year postings, and who can get clearances. Your military experience would be a big plus in this environment.

7) Don't wait until you are out of options before making important life-changing decisions. Turnarounds take time, and having to choose from a list with only a single option on it is very unlikely to lead to a favorable outcome.

6) Network, network, network. The more you widen your social circle the more opportunities you will hear of, and equally as important, the more those who might provide opportunities will hear of you. Whether it is through a veteran's group, volunteering, a gun club, or some other shared interest, people always like to hire someone they know.

There is plenty of great advice in the postings above. I feel for your situation, but bemoaning one's situation is never appropriate, nor likely to generate a respectful response from others. Realize that there are plenty of people in the world who are far more desperate in their situations. Be thankful that you are not in their place, have a family to support (even though it might seem to be too much responsibility), and you live in a country that values opportunity above all else.

As others have said, perform a self analysis to see how you may be coming across. If you’re having trouble getting to the initial interview, after perusing your resume & cover letters for issues, I’d ask if there’s anything out there on social media that prospective employers can find knowing your name and address that might put you in a less than favorable light and nix the idea of calling you in for an interview? Some of the more professional opportunities could be performing due diligence on social media before spending money bringing people in for interviews and maybe they’re seeing what they consider show stoppers? Just a thought, but something you could check for yourself.

The Internal Revenue Service is hiring.

Try USAJOBS.GOV

I don’t know where you live, but Mrs. Mikes company is always hiring. The current CEO started pushing pallets of food in a warehouse. Mclane foods. https://www.mclaneco.com/conte...claneco/en/home.html

They have food centers all over the country and are in need of HR personnel.

Edmond-- Can your reserve unit put you on active duty? As an O-4, your pay would be pretty substantial. You may have to change services, e.g. Army to Air Guard, but a temp AD tour could work into a full-time AGR or Technician job, if you are so inclined.
I was 45 with a failed business and no job, but had 6+ years of prior service--the Air Guard took me in and I took every deployment I could until they hired me full-time.
It was a lifesaver!
Best of luck!

Tim

America’s the greatest country in the world to file bankruptcy. You will have credit established again within six months, but you will live debt free for the rest of your years because you’ve grown.

I once spent nearly 3 years looking for a job, while doing whatever it took to make sure the kids were safe. Had the best Christmas ever with absolutely no material gifts. Shake things up as needed. Move to an area where your skill set is in demand.


Spiritual fitness will get you through anything.

I’ve lost everything a couple of times. I’ve always come back stronger. (I have both worked for the man, and started six different companies.)

Embrace the suck and press forward. Apparently this is a necessary test for you. What other options do you have?

quote:

Originally posted by SIGnified:
America’s the greatest country in the world to file bankruptcy. You will have credit established again within six months, but you will live debt free for the rest of your years because you’ve grown.

I know a few people that would prove you wrong. They did a bankruptcy, then got the offers in the mail for credit cards and such, and within 3 years were in the same position financially as they were when they declared bankruptcy.

A lot of people never learn.

quote:

Originally posted by Flash-LB:

quote:

Originally posted by SIGnified:
America’s the greatest country in the world to file bankruptcy. You will have credit established again within six months, but you will live debt free for the rest of your years because you’ve grown.

I know a few people that would prove you wrong. They did a bankruptcy, then got the offers in the mail for credit cards and such, and within 3 years were in the same position financially as they were when they declared bankruptcy.

A lot of people never learn.

Obviously, if you’re going to remain stupid and not learn the lesson intended for you … no empathy for those who refuse life education opportunities.

I was seeking to lay out BK/starting over in a positive perspective.
Not so earth-shattering as many suggest. But life can be hard if you’re stupid. Learn from your mistakes.

Edmond dont know where you live as you dont post it on your footer. So I will blanketly say move to a free state if you are not there now.
There are hiring signs seemingly in front of every business in the Houston area. If you have people skills I know restaurants are hiring like crazy, seek a mgr. position that offers training. Oil and gas always needs folks, they pay well till there is the eventual downturn, so save wisely in the great feast seasons in O&G.

Move from where ever you are if needed.

HK Ag

As someone who didn't goto college and worked for myself / sales most of my life, the times I did need a 2nd job or when I finally got sick and tired of doing everything myself and wanted to just focus on selling for someone else, it was friends who came through for me. I would start there and see what's available. Friends in the right places trumps any degree.


Post COVID a lot of people got used to living the unemployed life and have not returned to work. There's a lot of good companies out there looking for solid, hard working people. If I was living back in the states I could easily pick up where I left off for four simple reasons:

I work hard.

I am reliable / show up on time.

I am coachable.

I don't do drugs and alcohol is not a necessity in my life.


Anyone who can do those 4 things can find success and any manager/team lead worth a damn will take people like that every day of the week. It sounds like you meet that criteria so if you keep it up it's a matter of time before you turn the corner. Just gotta hang in there long enough to see it through. Never give up.


You got a construction thing lined up? I'd take it and keep looking. Ask your friends and family about other opportunities. Make new friends and expand your network. Try to be as flexible as possible. Is relocation on the table? Some states are getting back to normal sooner than others and it may be in your best interest to embrace that.


As for the poster talking about the OP owing something to the taxpayers for his education, I strongly disagree. Anyone who serves is entitled to the benefits that come along with it. Period. The only issue I have with that whole agreement is the university charging the taxpayers $250k for something that could be offered for 1/5th of that.

The Daily Wire is looking for an HR Manager and an Office Manager in Nashville.

https://bentkey-ventures.breez...r-of-human-resources

https://bentkey-ventures.breez...04d79-office-manager

What area of the country do you live in?

quote:

Originally posted by Edmond:
Years of education and military service have come to mean absolutely nothing when it comes to looking for meaningful employment. Got an offer to work construction in the field but it's kind of underwhelming considering I worked my ass off for years, have an MBA and masters in HR to show for it. 13 years of military service and currently an O4 in the reserves.

Yet I can't even get an interview in a professional level job.

So I guess I'll just toil my sorry ass away in the field doing something someone with a high school education does. Not the way I thought my life would turn out.

Instead, there are snakes who I went to school with making nearly 6 figures with less experience and education than me.

I'm about a month away from selling my car and 2 months away from being homeless.

It's all lies:

-go to college, you need a degree to get ahead
-join the military, employers value your leadership experience
-get a graduate degree, it'll distinguish yourself from others
-work hard and you will be rewarded

$50k in undergraduate education and about $200k in graduate education, all paid for by the taxpayer, for nothing.

Sometimes I wonder what it would've been like to have born privileged.

No advice, just moral support.

Chin up buddy.