If the President has created so many new jobs, where are they?

First off, a little background. I was Honorably Discharged from the U.S. Navy In March, after four years of service. Since then I have tried to find a job, I have been to countless businesses to apply. Along with my Military Service, I am an accomplished mechanic with certificates from the Vo-Tech I attended in high school, references ranging from my time in the Military, and from jobs that I had prior to that. First I went to every Auto Shop within 25 miles, after that didn't pan out, I went to all of the local casinos (I live in Miami, Ok, there are 7 of them. Then I applied at Rocket Gaming. Then I applied at various stores and retailers. Now I am down to fast food businesses, where I will be making minimum wage, which I have no problem with, however, with my qualifications, I should have at least had someone call me back by now. While in the Navy I was a Sonar Technician, and my job was to operate, maintain, and repair the A/N SQQ-89(V)15 Sonar System, where I became proficient in digital electronics, software, and fiber optics. In addition to that, I had several people serving under me, usually 5, but sometimes up to 10, also I became proficient with small arms, from the 9mm pistol, up to the .50cal machine gun, stood armed sentry watches, and learned much about security. Also, as I have mentioned, I am a proficient Auto Mechanic. So why have I not found a job? All I want to do is work. Every place I have been gave me the same line, "Well, we're not hiring at the moment, but you can fill out an application."

I am not trying to talk down about the President, I served under him, and though I haven't agreed with a lot of the things he's done or said, we did elect him.

So, to make a long story short, has anyone else had this problem? I'm getting tired of filling out applications that don't get looked at, and soon, my unemployment compensation will run out. What should I do?

Ive been in your position bro.

Different situation. But still, I could not get a job anywhere.

Do a job search online. Find something you like or qualify for.

Send your application. Some companies will fly you out for an interview.

We live in a time where you may have to uproot yourself.

Don't think locally. Think nationally.

I landed a really good job in another state.

Good luck man.

Thank you for your service.

No, I have been employed since graduating from college in 2010.


The biggest problem we have at my current job is that most of our new hires can't show up to work when they're supposed to. There's plenty of employment opportunities in town, harder to find committed employees to hire.

From what I've seen, experienced, and watched others go through... the jobs are there. They are just not the jobs we are used to, want, or would take if given a choice.

Work in a factory before? Full time? Full benefits? Overtime opportunity? Sorry. Now you're going to work at Taco Bell or Wal Mart, part time, no benefits, and at a fraction of what you used to make per hour.

Unless you've got some arcane, highly specialized degree or skill. Then you might get lucky and find a cutting edge tech job - if your resume happens to be the 1 out of 3,000 that the human resources person happened to pull out of the stack during interviews.

Mostly, though, McJobs = "created jobs".

And, of course, this is a trap in and of itself. We cannot have a nearly fully service based economy. If Bob works at McDonalds and serves Steve who works at Taco Bell... nothing has been created or produced. Nothing is generating wealth. It's just changing money from one pocket to the next.

This, IMO, is a bubble we'll see pop 2 or 3 bubbles down the road. After the DOW tanks again and bank runs happen.

~Heff

reply to post by Hawking


I've never had the problem of not showing up to work, Once I suffered from strep throat and sinusitus for a week and never missed work. Plus, over the last four years, I've been unable to miss work, in the military, you can't just call in sick.

reply to post by Hefficide


I have no problem working a "McJob" (gonna have to remember that one! that's good!). I just don''t think I could pay my rent, utilities, auto insurance, and still afford to buy groceries.

reply to post by dave_welch


If you can afford it, buy a nail bag, hammer, speed square, 30' tape and start cruising construction sites for jobs. Mondays are a good day since sometimes the weakest workers don't show up and if you are there you can pick up a job.

That is what I did when I ran into the same problem in the late '80s. Got out honorable and had a dickens of a time finding anything (inside). I realize it isn't the greatest of times but if you pick up a trade or two and are good and even slightly ambitious word of mouth can bring you steady work.

May not be for you but it is just a suggestion.

Everything had to be cut to pay the Baby Boomers their SS, Medicare, Federal retirements, Military Retirements, and VA Disability. They are the 1/3rd about to die and getting everything right now.

Economy won't come for 5 years, until all the Baby Boomers are dead. On that day though.....Latinos are the majority and they'll take over and change the US official language to Spanish.

Baby Boomers didn't create enough babies to replace them......creating the economic dark hole you are staring down right now.

reply to post by dave_welch


They were 'Made in China.'
2nd line.

I’d say the same thing that is happening in the US regarding jobs is happening here in Australia. Recently they changed the criteria to be officially recognised as employed, which fudges the figures somewhat. I can’t remember what it is, but it’s something like three hours a week or something similar. Employment figures here have been reasonably steady, yet many industries are losing jobs and plenty more are only hiring on a casual or part time basis. Perhaps Obama has been fudging figures by lowering the hours worked to be considered employed by their standards? I’ve had a fair few troubles trying to find work in the construction sector, despite being a highly qualified carpenter.

reply to post by Pervius


Very thorough, I couldn't have said it better myself.

reply to post by dave_welch


New jobs added were probably military.

I keep hearing that IRS is hiring thousands of new tax agents. You can get certified in not time at all. You will probably have an advantage since you were in the military.
Of course you will become part of the problem rather than the solution.

Originally posted by Skywatcher2011
reply to post by dave_welch

 

New jobs added were probably military.

Actually the opposite. Bill Clinton's "Quadrennial Defese Review" eliminated many military units and replaced them with a few low paid contractors. He also got rid of allll the Federal Civil Service Wage Grade (blue collar) jobs in DOD and replaced them with a couple minimum wage making contract workers.

Plus the 2005 BRAC closed many more military bases/sites and created a few "Joint Bases" where they merged different military branches together and FIRED half......to run it cheaper.


The military's a ghost op. The military's been getting cut under Obama. The 2005 BRAC cuts are still ongoing and won't stop until next year.

reply to post by Pervius


Very true, the navy has what they call Optimal Manning, and believe me they are being very liberal with the definition of Optimal, my division required 20 people to run properly, we had 12.

Fellow vet,I know you love your passion and core experience as a mechanic, so to broaden your options why don't you also look for jobs that may be somewhat related if you haven't done so already ? example: automotive retail chains, I see signs up there all the time, like Advance automotive , Auto Zone and the others or even service stations, this could possibly help you in the meantime and possibly set you up to network to get that mechanics job.

The next thing is to realize there are many jobs with very high pay in occupations like IT, helpesk, etc.. you may have to possibly relocate if you are living in a region where those jobs are not nearby.

I have been in that field ever since leaving the military many years ago in 1989 but I also used my benefits to assist in obtaining my college degree as a vet I know nowadays you get access to at least 50k to further your education, in the last 4 years I even established my own business, have you been to your local employment center or any of the free resources that can help you locate a job especially as a veteran? these services are free and there are jobs, may not be the exact one you want but I bet you can find something that will help you at least short term and maybe you can cross train into another occupation.

Good Luck!