Dealing with unemployment - anyone else?

[Tuckervill]

Trading your valuable time for something equally as valuable is not "selling out". It's participating in a system in our society which allows people to get the things they want for the things they have. We don't have to talk about whether capitalism is good or bad, because no one's mind will be changed. However, it is the way of the world here. Participate or not as you see fit, but don't let yourself sink to desperation and then expect sympathy or consideration for your self expression.

In the hierarchy of needs, pink hair does not rank.

eta: Okay, that came out more harsh than I intended. It's not personally directed, but directed at a general group of mainly young people, who have yet to learn these cold hard realities. Fortunately, we have recessions that help with this problem!

Karen

[papaver]

You don't have to LOOK creative to BE creative. Just tone it down a little and you'll be just fine. I often work with fashion designers and whenever they come to an important meeting they are very dressed down. They know that if they don't do that, they will not be taken seriously.

It took me a long time before I could realize my dream. I worked in factories, I did secretary work,... and I waited for my moment. And when it came, I was ready for it.

[shootingstar]

Presumably you'll scope out all the bike clothing manufacturers. Make a difference for women who cycle, Ivana:

Like here: http://www2.sugoi.com/can/eng/careers

Rent in Vancouver, B.C. is pretty high, one of the highest in Canada. On par with Toronto.

would agree with papaver..you will be meeting corporate clients to sell fashion /design lines..if there's a way to look edgey without screaming some other misleading message. After all, you will have to show your portfolio..that's where it counts too.

[Biciclista]

Hate to be putting the damper on your escape to Europe idea, but have you seen the unemployment statistics over there? They are hurting big time. Major corporations are laying off scads of people, they've got inflation, and right now they're very hostile about immigrants. I just read an article about how bad it is in Ireland, and England isn't much different.
You're not going to escape the bad economy by leaving the States. You might be able to escape your bills, but at least here you have your mother.

Good luck. I have a son in your shoes except he didn't get pierced or tattooed so perhaps he will have a slightly better chance of getting a crappy job.

[Selkie]

Ivana, when I received my BS, the economy was bad. I felt lucky to land a low paying retail mgt job that required long hours and barely paid me enough to pay my basic bills (I shared a one-bedroom apt w/a friend in a not-so-great area of Philly). It took two plus years after getting my degree to land a good entry-level job that paid a living wage, move up the "ladder," and I've been with the same employer for 21+ years. I never had a "dream" career --- I just wanted to be financially independent & comfortable, so I never had to move "home" again or ask my dad for help.

I am sending good karma your way. I understand - completely - about how you don't want to compromise your sensibilities and "conform." [I was part of the punk/new wave scene back in the '80s, although I had a more conservative facade]. You are lucky to have found your passion in life, and I hope that the fates align in a way that you can make a living doing what you love.

[IvonaDestroi]

Trading your valuable time for something equally as valuable is not "selling out". It's participating in a system in our society which allows people to get the things they want for the things they have. We don't have to talk about whether capitalism is good or bad, because no one's mind will be changed. However, it is the way of the world here. Participate or not as you see fit, but don't let yourself sink to desperation and then expect sympathy or consideration for your self expression.

In the hierarchy of needs, pink hair does not rank.

eta: Okay, that came out more harsh than I intended. It's not personally directed, but directed at a general group of mainly young people, who have yet to learn these cold hard realities. Fortunately, we have recessions that help with this problem!

Karen

You're fun to debate with - I like these types of discussions with people whos ideas are exactly opposite of my own. Call it an exercise in objectivity...

well, you know, your generation probably had much more conservative attitudes then my own. For you, this type of thing is probably considered an extremity of some sort, a youthful and unrealistic phase in life that one will eventually "snap out of".

You have to understand that as time goes on, things that were previously considered exotic quickly become socially acceptable. You remind me so much of my mother, with the idea that that it's just a childish rebellious attitude to grow out of. 10 years later it's still 'just a phase'...

Just like you are entitled to your religion, every one else is also entitled to theirs. Well, then, think of this as my religion. Not everyone looks at the world through the same lens. Imagine even having this discussion in the 50's... It would have been impercievable. I see a little bit of that leftover in your ideas. (BTW the 50's was the best decade ever in my opinion and I wish I lived back then...except for the whole civil rights issue, but the rest was great-ironic, right?) I am in no way saying you were around back then, but many of those ideas stuck into the following generations.

Anyways I don't think that's really the issue here, why are we still talking about hair color? As I previously stated, it's pretty acceptable in this part of California and really that's not a serious issue at interviews thus far at all. Everyone's said their fine with it. I went to that interview that I was worried might have issues with it this morning, and it turns out the guy had no problem with it whatsoever.

it's funny you call it a "problem". I call it a solution!

[Flybye]

Okay, I will be quiet no longer
Have you considered getting career counseling and trying to identify other areas that use your talents that might have a better hire ratio?
I have spent the last 4 months in a course teaching counselors the how's and why's of career counseling.
From this vantage point, I see a lot of benefit in broadening your areas of interest, although it is obvious that you are open to anything.
Also from this vantage point, I can see no better time to get more education. I know that you mentioned that you were busy 80 hours per week while you schooled, but have you considered that it does not have to be the same experience the second time around? I know that it is expensive to attend college, but it is also an investment. It differs from no other investment in that you have to be willing to research the availability of jobs on the other end. You sound like a bright woman - a career test might narrow some other options that have high placement rates, might give you an opportunity to have some income from student loan funding, and might give you some relief from the stress that you are under.
Now, this is just an opinion, but a cat is a cat. I don't think undo guilt is necessary to heap on you right now - list him on Craigslist or find a humane society to help you out.
As for the pink hair - here is my $.02 - take it or leave it - I LOVE to wear shorts and a tank top - no make up - pony tail - hat. But when it come to work - I have professional attire. Do I love that? In some ways, yes, in others no. But I do feel that it is necessary to dress for the job. Unfortunately, to some who have a stereotypical view of the world, individuals who look different scare them. Thoughts they may have are generally negative and unfair.
You have the advantage of choice in this situation. If freedom of expression is that important to you that you would not consider changing your hair color - then be happy with that but know that there are consequences to the choice. One of those might be unemployment. Is that unemployment worth leaving the country and your family? Consider too, whether leaving will be to your advantage or to your disadvantage. I would think, and this is just an assumption, that you would be at an even greater disadvantage to finding work in another country.
I truly hope that you can find a balance in all of this - the thought of not knowing where or what was going to happen in one month is a scary thought.
Good luck in your decision. Take time to think it through.

[IvonaDestroi]

Ok, I am going to say this one last and final time. The hair color is not as big of an issue as you guys are making it out to be.

It does have a mild hinderance, but in the long run, the effects are VERY minor and the very vast majority of employers around here are not bothered by it. I do not think that changing it would be worth it in this particular circumstance, however I do accept the consequential exemption from a small minority of employers that I would typically be some of my bottom choices anyway.

My location makes this decision a lot easier, so please don't think that appearance is my main problem. It's really not.

The real problem is the over/underqualified issue and also competition by the sheer number of applicants. It's not the look of my competitors, it's their qualification levels and the fact that theres so many of them. I think really my biggest problem is the qualification thing. I'm not "16" enough for those bottom jobs (there's tons of these little kids competing for the same job), and I'm not experienced enough for the few things open in my field.

Also mental strength is another thing I was asking for advice on... that's the really tough part!

[NbyNW]

Posting this because it might be of general interest, and not just to the OP:

http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/pdf/1121i.pdf

This is a list of skilled professions that Australia has decided they need to recruit from abroad. While they are experiencing the same slow-down as the rest of us, it seems that the government is still trying to promote this program.

And yes, fashion designer is on the list!

[ttaylor508]

I think your biggest issue is not hair color or anything other than lack of working experience in the field you are looking to get into. Have you looked for internships that might give you some on-the-job experience?

I was laid off in December so I am currently unemployed and have been actively looking for work. I have over 20 years of experience in my field and still haven't had much luck finding anything. I think it is just a really, really hard time to be looking for work.

Wishing you lots of luck! Hopefully things will pick up in the job market for all of us who are currently seeking employment.

[Bluetree]

Ok, I wanted to keep quiet but have to weigh in here. I went to art school as well. I came out with more than $100,000 in debt. I couldn't find a position in my field and my dream job seemed like a lost cause. You know what I did?

• I moved back in with my parents, as embarrassing as that was at the time. It did serious damage to my social life, but I feel I had no other/better options.

• I took ANY job. No job was beneath me. I scrubbed windows, I did errands, I did sh**work. Why? Because I had a responsibility to repay my loans and that came above my petty pride. Any thoughts I had of entitlement only stood in the way of success. I knew I was destined for something better, even if it took a long time. In short, when times got tough I sucked it up. (Frankly, in this economy, I find the attitude that a "job is beneath anyone" quite foolish)

• I did internships. I did stuff for free, just for the experience. I put up with a heap of abuse from crappy bosses. I did stuff where my talents were, quite frankly, exploited. It wasn't easy – nothing worthwhile is. But I learned a lot... sometimes because of my jobs, sometimes in spite of it. No one handed me my dream job. I paid my dues, and I am proud that I did.

• I kept my eye on the prize. Everything I did was for my ultimate goal – to be a self-supporting artist. When you read stats like "5% of Fine Arts graduates are able to support themselves in their field" you know how tough it is. Self-expression in business is a luxury for those with power... I was determined to earn that power. And sometimes, pay the price.

• I made hard choices. Do I take a job with better earning potential or one that furthers my career? Do I turn away clients that I may find personally offensive? How much do I value creature comforts over creative independence? Do I take the job I have to do over the one I want to do?

These are the kinds of decisions that are in front of you now. It's tough out there, so you have to be tougher. Hard as nails tough. You may even have to make personal sacrifices/concessions for the time being. But you have to decide what is the most important thing to you, and then make a plan to achieve it. If you think I'm full of it, guess what, I did that dance and now I can call my own shots. And... I now have pink hair.

[shootingstar]

Ivona, if hair colour is not a big deal..wait until your hair turns grey! Otherwise why do so many women colour their hair to hide the grey???

The whole issue of ageism, image/perception and job-hunting becomes a more twisted ballgame.

I can't even begin to tell you, Ivona how many women envy that I have never coloured my hair yet. One less cost for me so far.

It's still all naturally black hair..with many years of work experience which I haven't regretted thus far.

Image can be important for different reasons at different stages in life. The most recent discussion on the unemployed Susan Boyle from the British tv talent competition and perceptions of her image vs. her inner gifts, is a stunning example.

I have confidence you aren't as clued-out or naive as you appear to be...particularily if your parent(s) immigrated from outside of non-English speaking country. Usually kids of such parents, witness serious struggle of their parents and their itinerant friends to survive in North America.

[Blueberry]

Ivona, if hair colour is not a big deal..wait until your hair turns grey! Otherwise why do so many women colour their hair to hide the grey???

Shoot - there was an article on MSNBC *encouraging* women with gray hair to color it. I, for one, was offended.

I wish you all the luck in the world! I finally (after 8 months) have just found a job. It's not perfect (it's not technically a permanent position), but it's a LOT closer to what I really want to be doing than anything else has been. And I think it will lead to more. You've gotten some good advice here - just be persistent. Jobs many times come from where you least expect it (I actually got 2 offers, and I didn't technically apply for either).

CA

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

well, you know, your generation probably had much more conservative attitudes then my own. For you, this type of thing is probably considered an extremity of some sort, a youthful and unrealistic phase in life that one will eventually "snap out of".

I just have to respond to these things you wrote. Call it, to paraphrase your words, another exercise in objectivity.

First, there is more than one generation responding to your posts here, so let's keep that in mind- we are of all ages here.
Then, please don't assume that any of these other generations had 'more conservative attitudes' than you when they were your age. Speaking for myself at least, we took risks, we paved the way in terms of rebellious extremes and revolution against the Establishment. I feel fairly safe in saying that many of us were just as wild, creative, and free thinking as you. Many of the women here still are! Without going into detail, I consider myself lucky to even be alive after somehow making it through my first 25 years.

You have to understand that as time goes on, things that were previously considered exotic quickly become socially acceptable.

Um, we already learned this a long time ago. We invented 'the exotic' too, you know. So did our mothers and grandmothers. We were all 'socially unacceptable' and radical in turn. As will your children likely be if you have any.

You remind me so much of my mother, with the idea that that it's just a childish rebellious attitude to grow out of. 10 years later it's still 'just a phase'...

Now that's funny! It is more than probable that in 15 years or so, you will suddenly realize with a shock that you remind yourself of your mother. Most of us have already experienced that little treat. Later still, we start to realize that maybe our mothers were not quite as clueless and conservative as we thought they were.

Yet many of our radical/rebellious thoughts and our fierce individualism we still carry with us as adults, just in an evolved form. Sometimes you won't see it so obviously on the outside....but believe me, it's in there! Oooh...the stories we could tell. Most of us former young rebels have slowly evolved methods of using the passion and individualism in our lives in creative or productive ways to build a life for ourselves. This is a very useful skill, this harnessing of the Wild Forces of Nature within us all, and it comes only with experience and from a lifetime of learning from our mistakes. Do not confuse this experience with 'conservativism'.

Not everyone looks at the world through the same lens. Imagine even having this discussion in the 50's... It would have been impercievable. I see a little bit of that leftover in your ideas. (BTW the 50's was the best decade ever in my opinion and I wish I lived back then...except for the whole civil rights issue, but the rest was great-ironic, right?) I am in no way saying you were around back then, but many of those ideas stuck into the following generations.

You mean 'unimaginable'?
Every generation carries influences and is a product to some extent of the several generations before it, even yours.
Actually, despite the hype, the '50's was a decade of repression- McCarthyism spreading its ugly icy fingers of fear across the country, hateful segregation and brutal race riots, monumental social disdain for anything rebellious or non-conforming...the decade of cookie cutter suburbia, vulgar materialism, environmental destruction, gluttony, and waste, blind corporate loyalty, and the promotion of sameness as being somehow patriotic. Women were still expected to get married, have children, and stay home vacuuming and cooking. And let's not forget the really bad food. For most people, Happy Days it wasn't. Yet, despite all that, you'd be surprised to learn that yes indeed, there were discussions just like this one back then too!

Anyways I don't think that's really the issue here, why are we still talking about hair color? As I previously stated, it's pretty acceptable in this part of California and really that's not a serious issue at interviews thus far at all. Everyone's said their fine with it. I went to that interview that I was worried might have issues with it this morning, and it turns out the guy had no problem with it whatsoever.
it's funny you call it a "problem". I call it a solution!

I think she was referring to the 'problem' you brought up in this thread- that of not having a job and being in your current difficult situation.

I think it's natural for someone young to feel that older people don't understand them, their values, or the issues. In reality, most of us women have not forgotten our beginnings, or the difficult lessons we had to learn along the way. We are on your side. We've been there.

I agree with you, we've all discussed your hair long enough. It's about far more than hair, and the problem you face is a serious one effecting far too many people in our country today. But because the problem is so widespread, any little thing can either work against you or give you an edge on the competition.
Many women have now given you their valuable input based on their own experiences. Put together, that's a lot of experience. Lots of good, varied, and/or interesting suggestions to think about! Consider it all carefully before dismissing it, keep your mind receptive. The rest is up to you.

[Biciclista]

You want to keep your mind strong? I'm not sure what you mean like that? Does it mean being stubborn? you sound kind of stubborn.

You come in here and say; I have tattoos funny hair and I can't get a job. what should I do?

So you DON'T expect us to say; clean up your act, keep the fun stuff for after hours?

Ivona, I thank my lucky stars that I am not where you are. When people need strength, they go to their families. They forget about their pride and take advice from their elders. I was younger than you when I did that. it really burned me and I thought the advice was stupid, but since I did trust (my grandparents) them, I did what they said. And it helped me a lot down the road of life.

Read BlueTree's post about 3 times. She chose an even harder career path than you have, and she's made it.

Good luck