Dealing with unemployment - anyone else?

[Tuckervill]

This isn't some little fashion game for me either, I've been in the punk scene for 10 years. It's my LIFE, my personality, and who I am. If an employer can't accept that then they are not accepting ME as a person, and that would be a serious issue. I'm not changing myself because others want to be discriminatory. It's not snootiness. I'm a friendly, organized, and well adjusted person. What if someone demanded you drastically change appearance in order to work somewhere, what if they asked YOU to dye YOUR hair pink? - would you do it???

If I were hungry enough, and about to lose my home AND my cat, that would be a big FAT YES.

It's just hair, you know. It will grow back.

One of my very best friends in the whole world is about 75% covered from head to toe in tattoos. She was punk before you were even born. But now, she's a stay at home mom of three in a big fine house behind a gate, married to a company man and spends her time playing tennis and throwing parties for her charities. She still rocks the punk hair every once in a while, but I can guarantee you she never once thought she would be where she is now. You'd like her a lot. I'm sure she'd tell you that you're putting too much mojo on the pink hair. It is amazing what you would do without when you're about to starve.

Karen

[andtckrtoo]

If I were hungry enough, and about to lose my home AND my cat, that would be a big FAT YES.

It's just hair, you know. It will grow back.

One of my very best friends in the whole world is about 75% covered from head to toe in tattoos. She was punk before you were even born. But now, she's a stay at home mom of three in a big fine house behind a gate, married to a company man and spends her time playing tennis and throwing parties for her charities. She still rocks the punk hair every once in a while, but I can guarantee you she never once thought she would be where she is now. You'd like her a lot. I'm sure she'd tell you that you're putting too much mojo on the pink hair. It is amazing what you would do without when you're about to starve.

Karen

I agree with Karen. I live in the Bay Area, too, and while this area seems very accepting of people regardless of what, that does not always apply when you are talking about offering jobs. There may be no "rules" against it, but many of the employers I know would take one look and decide that you are too different and would not fit in, even though you just might. By toning down the hair and dressing more conservatively you may be able to convince people you would fit in, then gradually add yourself back into the mix. It's an employers market right now.

I also think you should try the temp agencies. If you can type, file, etc - you can earn some money while trying to find a job. I actually found a permanent position by working in a temp agency - and the temp job and the permanent job were in two different fields. I just had to get in the door and show them I was willing to work.

Once you have some stability, start pushing for a job in the industry you want. People hire people who have jobs. It's a sad and frustrating fact when you don't have one.