As the economy continues to falter, double-digit unemployment means that more and more people have lost jobs and they’re often shocked and surprised when it happens.
What to do? Where to turn?
These days, “pounding the pavement” means “pounding the internet” because that’s where the unemployed usually go first to find work. But there’s also a non-cyber option. Job fairs are usually one-day events that attract people looking for work.
That’s where we met Christine Heard and Robert Valentine - two typical Southern Californians who were blindsided by losing their jobs. This is their personal story about the stresses and pressures they both face, along with their determination to find work in these toughest of economic times.
RELATED RESOURCES:
California Job Service
California Jobs
California Job Source
California Jobs
Real California Jobs
CalJobSite
California's Employment Development Department
Idealist.org Career Fair Monday, April 6, 2009
Irvine Career Fair April 13, 2009
Los Angeles Career Fair Thursday, May 28, 2009
RELATED STORIES:
Locations for Rent - By Correspondent Val Zavala - In this tight economy more homeowners are trying to get their homes in the movies--or in commercials, or on TV.
Commentary - David Lazarus - Is finding a job you love even possible in this economy?
WEB ORIGINAL:
California's Job Outlook - By the Web Team - Which segments of the population are hit hardest by unemployment? What survival strategies do people use when they lose their job? And how effective are employment fairs in actually finding a new job?
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Very scary times. I am better off than others. I have influential contacts that have kept me in day jobs for the last 8 years while I have been looking for permanent employment. But now with the economy downturn, my days jobs are falling off. BTW, I am one of those well educated people (college degree in computer science and post graduate technical school degree) with years of experience (7 years building and supporting the local county courts' computer networks). In the last 8 years of employment search, I have volunteered to make contacts (1 year at one company) and I have taken several entry level temporary positions to make contacts. Nothing seems to work. What I hear from others looking for employment, this is nothing new. I guess I was just very lucky in my earlier career; and now I am in the more common employment search reality.
I wish for everyone, the economy will pick up and jobs will appear for us all.
WS