In 2008, Marcey Carver lost her job in the finance department of a Vermont car parts maker that closed its doors after the auto industry went into freefall. With a degree in molecular biology, an MBA and a master's in accounting, Carver, 58, spent the next year and a half working temporary jobs, landing full-time work in October 2009 as finance director for a small non-profit. After 11 months, she was laid off again.
Indelethio Nebeker, 37, with a degree in communications and experience as corporate trainer, has been looking for full-time work for several years. He recently was up against 700 other applicants for an opening at a Louisiana pharmaceutical company. The interview process took five months. More than a month later, a company manager called to break the news that they had decided to go in a different direction.
Up for another entry level job with a different company, he said, the interviewer recently asked why he was interested in a job that paid less than someone with his experience would typically expect to earn. I thought, Because its the only one youre offering. Have you looked around? he said. It seems like the people that are hiring have no clue about whats going on out here.
George Morris, 30, has been looking for a full-time job in advertising since he was laid off from his last one in February 2010. Since then hes been working a series of related odd jobs. When I was in college, the unemployment rate was at a 4 percent rate, and if you could spell your own name right you could get hired, he said.