Whats the longest you've ever been out of work?

[peter may]

Anyone?

[Number 9 Dream]

Originally Posted by peter may

Anyone?

The longest I've ever been out of work was when I first started college and couldn't find time to work. That was a few months I was out of work...but now I've been at the same job for 4 years so that was a while ago.

[TripperFan]

Currently - two years, but I've purposely taken some time off. I've worked at a couple of places, but just for a month or so each in the meantime.

Back actively looking now though. Would like a complete change and get away from the corporate environment.

[phoebe7165]

I think it was like 3 months. I hate being out of work and I hate looking for a job!!! Filling out applications?

I guess I've been lucky because I've managed to stay employed since 1992!!!

[TripperFan]

Originally Posted by phoebe7165

I think it was like 3 months. I hate being out of work and I hate looking for a job!!! Filling out applications?

I guess I've been lucky because I've managed to stay employed since 1992!!!

These days, yeah, 13 years is a long time. I was at the same place for almost 19 years when I got laid off. Gone are the days you can depend on being with the same company until retirement.

I hate the hunt too. I don't fill out applications, but constantly tweaking the resume to adjust for each job and then coming up with a great cover letter to market yourself. I'm fine in interviews though and usually do very well in them. My problem right now is that I'm over qualified for most of the jobs in my area and I don't want to go back to commuting.

[dawsongirl]

Hmm...since I graduated and needed a job...we'll go from there. So it was May-December of 03...so 7 months. Then I quit that one in the beginning of July and was out of work until December again, so 5.5 months. Well, there was that month I was a nanny, but that sucked anyway.

[Mijada]

I've been very fortunate and have never been out of work. I started working little part time jobs when I was 11/12 and started working full time when i finished HS.

[Janice]

Originally Posted by TripperFan

Would like a complete change and get away from the corporate environment.

Same here. I worked in corporate for years, and I hated it. The office politics alone is enough to drive a person nuts. I had a 45 minute commute into Boston by car.

I haven't worked for four years now, and I don't miss it one bit. I worked from junior year in HS straight through....26 years. Now, I'm taking it easy. If I could work around the corner babysitting dogs all day, I would. Until that comes along, I'm content.

[TripperFan]

Originally Posted by Janice

Same here. I worked in corporate for years, and I hated it. The office politics alone is enough to drive a person nuts. I had a 45 minute commute into Boston by car.

I haven't worked for four years now, and I don't miss it one bit. I worked from junior year in HS straight through....26 years. Now, I'm taking it easy. If I could work around the corner babysitting dogs all day, I would. Until that comes along, I'm content.

I'm with you! I actually LOVE being at home, but got to admit that even though my hubby's bringing in a six digit salary, I sure miss making my own money to go nuts with.
As you say though, the office politics are the absolute worst! I was a freelance artist and waitress before that which had much more freedom to it. I was always the class clown so fitting myself into an executive corporate environment was really restricting for me (although I could still get goofy with the execs behind closed doors). The commute started out as 45 mins., but then as developments filled in it went to an hour (on good days - up to three on bad ones). I wrote one car off (with only 24,000 kms on it) in a winter storm and then got whiplash just before being laid off. I had to take 5 different highways in and just got to the point that no job is worth losing your life over just getting there!
And odd that you would say about babysitting dogs! I looked into become a registered dog trainer for service dogs, but believe it or not, it takes 8 years to get certified and the pay is quite low (although that doesn't matter so much to me - I'd rather be happy and healthy at what I'm doing).
I figure if I could work somewhere for another year, we could both then retire with the savings and investments we've made. Sure would be nice!
The thought of climbing back into pantihose and suits again makes me ill!

[Chad22]

18 and A Half Years.

[*MIBabe03*]

I worked at the same job for a little over 3 years. I quit because it started driving me crazy. Now I'm focused on my education instead.

[JT]

15 years and ten days...almost exactly to the minute, as well...

[TheHappyBurgerMeister]

I didn't get my first job until I turned 19, the fall after I graduated high school so i don't count those first 19 years, but I quit my job in like December and didn't get one until March, so about 3 months.