husband has been unemployed for over a year. Tips on finding work

[odzzy]

One of the problems is he is a director and the film industry is suffering these days and has limited job opportunities. He only has film related experience so nobody wants to hire him (he's sent out resumes everywhere). What should he do? he's applied to minimum wage jobs (who wont hire him because he is too overqualified) and he has applied for better paying jobs (who wont hire him because he is underqualified). He's been very depressed lately and his EI runs out soon. What are we supposed to do? PS. he has a degree in psychology and in film. Please help! Also, he is unwilling to go to school unless it's a few months or less.

[mannyb]

Perhaps he should take up a trade.

[Jimboski]

Any friends or family that can employ him? Assuming they have their own business or can refer your husband?

[odzzy]

dont think he would want to do that. He's very artsy and creative and is not a physical worker by any stretch of the imagination

[88snakes]

For minimum pay jobs, he should just remove some of his experience. I wish you well. Hopefully you are working so that your family has some income coming in.

[odzzy]

is anyone else having a hard time finding a job? why does it is seem hard to find a decent paying job these days?

[b166er1337]

is anyone else having a hard time finding a job? why does it is seem hard to find a decent paying job these days?

Job market in Ontario is pretty bad. I know someone who relocated to Alberta and got a job a week later. Unemployment numbers don't lie.

[Syne]

Any friends or family that can employ him? Assuming they have their own business or can refer your husband?

Kind of sad when we're outright condoning nepotism as a viable employment strategy.

[Dilton]

Kind of sad when we're outright condoning nepotism as a viable employment strategy.
It's only nepotism if he's not qualified for the job.

But I agree with the previous poster who said he should go into the trades. It's good money. He can still be artsy and creative after work and on the weekends, right?

[mannyb]

I agree with the previous poster who said he should go into the trades. It's good money. He can still be artsy and creative after work and on the weekends, right?+1. In a past job, I used to manage construction clients (I'm in commercial banking). Some of these trades make more then some family doctors.

[Syne]

It's only nepotism if he's not qualified for the job.

But I agree with the previous poster who said he should go into the trades. It's good money. He can still be artsy and creative after work and on the weekends, right?

It doesn't look like it's really in his overall constitution. There is a large divide from the fine arts archetype and the skilled trades archetype and I'm not saying they can't overlap, as many people who are good with their hands can be good woodworkers or mechanics (for example) due to having well developed fine motor skills. Still, some artists might not be suited for trades work.

Also, there seems to be this relentless notion from certain posters that someone can just 'pick up' and do a trade, as if the lack of people doing so is just due to their unwillingness to take it on. This is absurd. I can think of no lucrative job that exists today, that doesn't take several years of training in both a practical and theoretical setting, in order for one to be qualified on paper for entry level employment. Trades included.

So what you're really telling him is to go back to school, start from scratch and in five years (give or take) with a lot of hard work and a bit of luck, he can have a new career. OP said he's not willing to go back to school, so trades are out.

[C_C]

Tell him to suck it up. This is going to sound harsh but if it's been this long then he needs to be realistic with himself and the situation he's in. The longer he's out of work, the harder it's going to be to get back into it with a lot more prejudice from employers.

Tell him to try temp agencies for short term assignments, start working with recruiters (and I know people are going to say this is a waste of time, well guess what?! nothing is guaranteed. Its just another avenue to explore). Start networking like mad and revise his resume so he has a few that reflect different levels of experience for different types of jobs. At this point he should consider different industries and a potential career change. The media and film industry is a large one - I'm sure there are multiple different jobs and titles to work with in different sections of the industries.

I don't know if going back to school would be an option especially for something more creative. All the people talking about trades - thats not easy to get into either, it takes years of training depending on the trade and finding an apprenticeship is no easy task unless you have connections.

The most important thing is flexibility, things have changed with his industry and his situation he needs to adapt.

[Dilton]

So what you're really telling him is to go back to school, start from scratch and in five years (give or take) with a lot of hard work and a bit of luck, he can have a new career. OP said he's not willing to go back to school, so trades are out.
It doesn't take 5 years to learn a trade. There are many things you can get trained for in less than a year.

[thestar99]

Has he contacted TIFF Bell Light Box ? I have volunteered with TIFF they usually have assignments throughout the year albeit they are not paid. Maybe he should contact them

[Syne]

It doesn't take 5 years to learn a trade. There are many things you can get trained for in less than a year.

Really? Like what.. and from where?

[Dilton]

Really? Like what.. and from where?
Go to http://www.ontariocolleges.ca/FindProgram

Type in a subject such as carpentry or mechanic.

It will give you a list of colleges that offer those programs and how long they are.

[Syne]

You do realize that there's a difference between doing a trade yourself and working under a tradesman, right?

[Kaz]

Go to http://www.ontariocolleges.ca/FindProgram

Type in a subject such as carpentry or mechanic.

It will give you a list of colleges that offer those programs and how long they are.

You won't become a carpenter or mechanic in a year..:lol:
If the husband has no apptitude or interest, why suggest something like that anyway?

[Dilton]

You do realize that there's a difference between doing a trade yourself and working under a tradesman, right?
Who cares? :facepalm: Whatever it takes to get him making some decent money in a reasonably short amount of time.

[Dilton]

You won't become a carpenter or mechanic in a year..:lol:
Yes you will.


If the husband has no apptitude or interest, why suggest something like that anyway?
If he needs money he doesn't have the luxury of finding the perfect job.

[Syne]

I think he should be able to spend time exploring interests and finding out what he'd like to do with his life, but he seems unwilling to go back to school. :(

[kmarcie]

Anything art related is all about connections (as with all industries, but more so in art because it's so subjective). Unfortunately since his other education in psychology on its own is not too useful, it seems like the best option is go back to school for a bit.

Your husband will not be content even if he gets a minimum wage job - and he has to start accepting that he may not be able to be a director anymore - so the job he's looking for must be at least semi-permanent and he must be at least half content with it.

If he is artistic, can he learn design and do some freelance?

[setell]

No suggestions other then to switch fields as he doesn't seem to have any connection to the film industry if he can't find anything new a year later. I would suggest he be a journalist and write but that would require you to go back to school. Even then it's not guarantee as I know some unemployed journalism grads. To be honest, not many do exactly what they want but if you're close enough then meh that's good enough. I'm not doing 100% what I want but it's close enough that I'm satisifed with it as it pays me well enough to have the lifestyle I want. Tell him to have a more open viewpoint so he will be more personable. Recruiters can tell from your vibe how upbeat you are.

[sleepyguy]

Gonna assume financially it's tough right now... he's gotta man up and support his family. Grab a job that will take him... we're not talking trades as those take years of experience under pros. I'm talking working at a warehouse packing... driving a truck, etc. Stuff you can make $14-20/hr doing with little to no experience.

On the side you can look for work in his field, I'm not saying give up on his career aspirations... but really taking care of your family comes first. -sg

[adamtheman]

Tell your husband to keep his chin up, and remind him how unique he is. Why anyone would want to spend their life welding is beyond me... what a waste of a life. We only get one chance at this thing, do something you enjoy. It's more than about money... maybe he is focusing on the wrong jobs. Ask him "What is your dream job". Assuming it is attainable, tell him to go after it. A job is about ambition. If he wants to work on big box office movies, then go down to hollywood and make connections, etc. Most importantly, don't let the years waste away while looking for a job. If the last year has been a bad year, then that's also a waste of a year. Enjoy the time off, spend it with family, etc. Good luck!

[Bleys007]

Yes you will.


If he needs money he doesn't have the luxury of finding the perfect job.

Lol. You won't become a journeyman in a year. Apprentice, sure, but apprentices don't make anywhere near what journeymen make.

[thesubmitter]

I would tell him to think out of the box, maybe make a co-op find other good unemployed actors make some short films or something, apply for government funding .... There is a hope but it doesnt mean getting a job, sometimes you gotta make the job....

[Moz]

I know how it feels, I was laid off last february and it can get very depressing. Especially in my case with all the time and effort you take to customize your resume for the job you are qualified for and dont hear anything back at all, not a confirmation, not a phone call nothing.

My advice, is to diversify. If all his skills are soft skills, and all his experience is in one area, then use a functional resume, were all your skills are highlighted vs your experience. Also, some jobs can be found in the most unconventional ways such as kijiji or craigslist, or even dare I say it the newspaper (tuesday, thursday and saturday editions of the star). I did manager to find a position in my field, but it was in a small town and the pay wasnt great and they let me go 3 days before xmas, so I am back to square one now. I did manager to settle for a warehouse position for now as I need some money and was sick of not working, but on my days off, I never stop job searching, so tell your husband to keep his head up and maybe he might have to settle on something like taxi driver, cleaner, or working in a factory until something better comes along.

[Kuurgen]

OP, where are you located?

[ourdressshop]

Before he can find a full-time job, you can help him get some online part-time jobs. Working even part-time jobs will not make him that depressed. There are a lot of online stores hiring part-time writers. I think you can have a try. At least have some income is better than none.

[JSz]

Job market in Ontario is pretty bad. I know someone who relocated to Alberta and got a job a week later. Unemployment numbers don't lie.

Didn't the conservative government says that there was a decrease in unemployment last month with most of the job increases being in ontario? Though I think those crooks might have fudged the numbers some how.

[tyreman]

Maybe going have to take anything perhaps tone done the resume a bit?
Maybe going to have to do things that you don't want to do as well.
Be a security guard even.
Lots of times it all done in the first few seconds of an interview how perspective party comes off and of course timing is and can be everything.

[Elfer]

Perhaps he should take up a trade.

Yeah, just like that! It's so easy for people with no connection to a trade to suddenly find an apprenticeship.

It's baffling to me that people think unemployment is just due to a person not being willing to work for money. I have tried for over a year to find work relevant to my degree (engineering), but also as a technician, in skilled trades, in retail, and in restaurants, all without success. It's not that I'm unwilling to work, it's that there is not enough opportunity to become engaged in the labour force. Unless you have connections or significant prior experience that directly relates to the job you're applying for, you're basically screwed.

[Syne]

^ Man, don't even get me started. The attitude of people on this board when it comes to "helping" the unemployed is beyond fail. It's almost like they come here to laugh at those who need help, while only a few of us actually trouble ourselves to come up with actual advice.

[tyreman]

It doesn't take 5 years to learn a trade. There are many things you can get trained for in less than a year.


As I hold a couple of trade certs.........Uh okay I'll bite what trade..security guard

[lornegershman]

Get a security license and do that. It'll cost about $500 but the work is nearly guaranteed. Booming industry. And if hes crafty he can grab a job that pays like $15-20. Most likely near min. wage to start though.

[alpharius]

The guy who says that you can pick up a trade like that doesn't know what he/she is talking about unless the provincial standards in his province are a) exceedingly low and b) easy to gain apprenticeship.

In ontario, neither one is true. It will take several years to just get through the first stages, and its not cheap. This is why the skill shortage in trades is so severe.

[dibksbgon]

The guy who says that you can pick up a trade like that doesn't know what he/she is talking about unless the provincial standards in his province are a) exceedingly low and b) easy to gain apprenticeship.

In ontario, neither one is true. It will take several years to just get through the first stages, and its not cheap. This is why the skill shortage in trades is so severe.

This. We need to sticky a Trades thread with some links to the government website about how a formal apprenticeship goes and about the Red Seal -- keeping in mind not all "trades" require Red Seal certification.

That said, not saying it is exceedingly difficult, most people just aren't willing to bust their butts to get into the field, but it is not a walk in the park either.
Hubby is in his third year of his carpentry apprenticeship.

[tyreman]

Even "Red Seal" isn't a guarantee either
It can be called Red Seal but may incur fee/tests
A gas tech coming into Ontario or exiting to other provinces may have to pay fees and undergo tests.

[Mark77]

^ Man, don't even get me started. The attitude of people on this board when it comes to "helping" the unemployed is beyond fail. It's almost like they come here to laugh at those who need help, while only a few of us actually trouble ourselves to come up with actual advice.

Yup, pretty sickening how out of date a lot of the attitudes are. People need to understand that, outside of government and the housing industry, employment hasn't grown in over a decade. Yet immigrants have come into Canada/USA in literally millions. All against a demographic backdrop of probably the largest available workforce ever seen. Nevermind all the technological efficiency that has propelled the private sector to greater productivity.

"just get any job" might work for people whose station in life is to work at random labour jobs, but for university-trained professionals, most of them aren't employable as truck drivers, janitors, etc. No employer in his right mind would hire an engineer to sweep floors. Heck, even within engineering, many employers won't hire people from other parts of the engineering sector that have collapsed (ie: telecom in Canada) out of fear that they might want too much money, etc.

[Mark77]

Hubby is in his third year of his carpentry apprenticeship.

Yeah, right in time for an epic housing crash... :(. That's the problem with people thinking they can retrain into a 'hot' field -- it might work at first, but by the time that one gets all this training, there's a pretty good chance the demand will have dried up.

[tyreman]

Just look what happened with PSW workers

Once 2nd carer promoted it and jammed tons of people thru now most are working part time for 12.00 hrly

We have several friends wives who found out the hard way.
If its a union environment different but not all places are union

have a older child who is even trying to get nursing as PSW field is just to saturated and the issues of dead lifts by one person

[tyreman]

Yup, pretty sickening how out of date a lot of the attitudes are. People need to understand that, outside of government and the housing industry, employment hasn't grown in over a decade. Yet immigrants have come into Canada/USA in literally millions. All against a demographic backdrop of probably the largest available workforce ever seen. Nevermind all the technological efficiency that has propelled the private sector to greater productivity.

"just get any job" might work for people whose station in life is to work at random labour jobs, but for university-trained professionals, most of them aren't employable as truck drivers, janitors, etc. No employer in his right mind would hire an engineer to sweep floors. Heck, even within engineering, many employers won't hire people from other parts of the engineering sector that have collapsed (ie: telecom in Canada) out of fear that they might want too much money, etc.


Yep employment has been stagnating

Look at all the companies that have gone "offshore"

In the states with what is it 18 million out of work(-+) most of those jobs have gone over the pond and won't be back that's why not the growth over there that should be ............no need to rehire when no plant there anymore.

what I would like to know is what is our youth going to do All be computer programmers?
Look at the student debt being racked up

[Syne]

"just get any job" might work for people whose station in life is to work at random labour jobs, but for university-trained professionals, most of them aren't employable as truck drivers, janitors, etc. No employer in his right mind would hire an engineer to sweep floors. Heck, even within engineering, many employers won't hire people from other parts of the engineering sector that have collapsed (ie: telecom in Canada) out of fear that they might want too much money, etc.

You know what their big solution is going to be though. They will tell you to lie on your resume and play dumb in the interview. Anything to get a min. wage job, right?

Meanwhile, the work experience you get sweeping floors is further devaluing your actual skill set and lucrative prospects move further out into the distance.

[tyreman]

Some HR's to only consider your last job on the resume as your "current qualification" for their companies entrance.

So if you did a bird job to keep actively employed and then try toapply for your trained vocation somewhere you aren't going to get in there even if you had previous jobs at your vocation

[TodayHello]

Definitely pick a trade.

Best way to go ......

Or move to Alberta ......

Best way to go.

Even BETTER .... go pick up a trade IN Alberta.

Best way to go.

[sirex]

fml

[Syne]

Definitely pick a trade.

Best way to go ......

Or move to Alberta ......

Best way to go.

Even BETTER .... go pick up a trade IN Alberta.

Best way to go.

If he's gonna be in Alberta doing trade work, he's going to want a nice coat to keep warm. What are your thoughts on Canada Goose jackets?

[mastercool]

Just get the hell out of Canada. There are NO jobs here...It's really quite sad given the current state of affairs.

if so many people are so well-educated with amazing degrees then why the hell all the poverty? Why the high rate of corporate corruption if people are so well educated and "well-off"? Why the high rate of prisoners, addiction, and mental illness? These are serious questions that need serious analysis.

[dibksbgon]

^Well educated with zero work experience. You can have all the education in the world and still be unemployable because a lack of any semblence of work experience. This is part of the problem.

[NoFixedAddress]

One of the problems is he is a director and the film industry is suffering these days and has limited job opportunities. He only has film related experience so nobody wants to hire him (he's sent out resumes everywhere). What should he do? he's applied to minimum wage jobs (who wont hire him because he is too overqualified) and he has applied for better paying jobs (who wont hire him because he is underqualified). He's been very depressed lately and his EI runs out soon. What are we supposed to do? PS. he has a degree in psychology and in film. Please help! Also, he is unwilling to go to school unless it's a few months or less.

MMMMMMMMMM
Has he tried the website www.mandy.com ???
They post many film jobs there, perhaps he can find something there?

Also why not take a pizza delivery job?
Friend of mine makes killer cash!

Does he do something on-the-side IE: hobby like wood-working, fix-it man, or does he have a truck?
Perhaps post in SERVICES on Kijiji offering to do odd jobs: painting, small furniture mover etc

A lot post on Kijiji offering to pick-up furniture items people have bought on the site
Most don't have a truck and need a quick deal-delivery mover to help with a couch, chair and even some post asking for people to help them pick-up an IKEA item at the Ikea store

Just a few thoughts:)

[jimmy-j]

Just get the hell out of Canada. There are NO jobs here...It's really quite sad given the current state of affairs.

if so many people are so well-educated with amazing degrees then why the hell all the poverty? Why the high rate of corporate corruption if people are so well educated and "well-off"? Why the high rate of prisoners, addiction, and mental illness? These are serious questions that need serious analysis.

to relocate to another country costs an enormous amount of money and planning.

i know a few guys in trades who are always working and always able to find work but as said before it takes years and years before you can get a journeyman. whoever said it takes only a year definitely does not know what it takes.

hvac (friends) & electrician (friends) - these guys struggled during apprenticeship years but once they got certified and got another couple of years of experience, they now run their own businesses and are very busy.

autobody (dad) - always working and there's guys calling non stop for him to go to their shop and work for them. he's been working non-stop for about 30 years now.. almost since we moved to canada in 1979.