I stopped looking for work
The number of discouraged job seekers is at an all time high. These readers tell us what it's like to give up on the job search.
Moved in with mom and dad
Age: 29
Hometown: Columbus, Ohio
Job wanted: Marketing manager
I've been looking for work since July 2007 but haven't applied to a single job in about 6 months. I graduated with my M.A. in marketing July 2007 in London and decided that I would look for a job there. I applied for about 400 jobs. I had three interviews but I knew that not having a visa, it would be difficult.
I moved back to the U.S. in June 2008 and spent a few months coming to terms with moving back in with my parents, but started diligently applying for jobs a few months later. I kept track -- since then I've applied for 759 jobs, have heard back from 23, and interviewed with two.
I have 6 years experience in project management in the nonprofit sector. But even when friends pass along jobs to me, I just don't get excited about them anymore, knowing that odds are I'll do all this work putting something together and not even get an acknowledgment from the company. A few months ago, I just stopped looking because I've been doing volunteer work to try to keep my skills up and am putting in over 40 hours a week doing that.
NEXT: Taking a break from job hunting
