Job search strategy discussion thread

H&R Block is a good company, I use them for my taxes. It'd also be a really valuable skill for you to learn how to do your own taxes to the best of your ability, you can save a lot of money that way and also help other people leverage that knowledge.

Not yet. TBH, my father had some seriously heavy tax problems.

He was a tax evader. Didn't pay the penalty fine when he withdrew funds from his IRA. Ended up dying with 200,000 in tax debt.

So, I suspect the IRS would audit me. Which would be a pain. I mean, I've never even filed my taxes, because I've never made enough in any given year to have to.

Though, I'm not certain that the bonds that paid for my final year of school (plus some living expenses) shouldn't be counted. I mean, there's a "gift tax" on gifts made over 11,000 dollars...

But, yeah-the IRS is one place I'm going to look into. The main reason I'm psyched about H&R Block is because I know the specific locations where I'd be working, and they're all accessible via bus.

That's one of the things I like about my Personal Financial Management course, it's spent some time talking about how to do your taxes. Of course, most people are better off just taking the standard deduction rather than itemizing anyway.

edited 28th Aug '12 9:19:07 AM by TheyCallMeTomu

Yeah, I know a decent bit about my taxes, mostly on itemizing work expenses like mileage, dry cleaning, et cetera.

... So much for the H&R Block front. It seems that the jobs all require a 300 dollar tax preparation course, located in Pooler.

I'm not about to throw 300 dollars down just yet (not to mention that I'm not confident I could get there and back). Maybe when I'm closer to the end of my degree program though.

Although, it says "or comparable program" so maybe I can find an online program. Though I suspect I'd get preferential treatment if I used theirs.

edited 28th Aug '12 10:27:43 AM by TheyCallMeTomu

I say spend the $300.

I think it's a good idea to find out what constitutes "comparable programs" but be prepared to spend the $300. It's an investment in your future.

Actually, the 300 dollars is the less problematic part. The big issue is that it's in Pooler. I have no way of getting there.

It's theoretically possible to get five miles away from the location, it looks like-but those five miles are the problem. I suppose it'd be possible to go from the 114 to the 2, then bike the rest of the way. Total commute would be about two and a half hours. No thanks.

There is an online program that I found. Seems to be legit. Basically, they're a free program, but they like to advertise their proprietary software using the site, so it's more tailored towards people who want to be self-employed tax professionals. At the very least, I'll learn something from it.

edited 28th Aug '12 11:55:53 AM by TheyCallMeTomu

Yep, check with the Block to see if that's an acceptable substitute.

So, I went to the mandatory Re-employment meeting down at the Workforce Center. It was about as I expected, got my preliminary work search plan approved. Then I found out that to use the Workforce services, I should also take their orientation class, which happily was only an hour later.

And now I'm signed up for a Work Ready Veterans class in mid-September (the generic Work Ready U class doesn't start until October) and the other person at the meeting signed up for "A New Leaf" which helps out ex-offenders. All of these are free; Minnesota really wants you to get back on the job pronto.

Oh, and while being on unemployment or assistance gives access to more programs, their basic job search help is available to any Minnesota citizen. The same may be true of other states.

Even if it's not an acceptable substitute, I still plan on taking the course. It's free, and I can't afford (or afford to go to) the HR Block one, and it's good information. My understanding is that the HR Block course is generally considered to be the best quality of such course, but I trust in my ability to obtain information independently.

^^

Cali does that too, and it's decent. I used their service and they were helpful.

Might want to look into Jackson Hewitt then. I obviously don't know if there is one in your area, but I worked there last year and all their training is on-line.

I'll keep that in mind. For now, I'm just taking this free course because it's free. If it turns out to be useless, I'll consider the Jackson Hewitt one.

Considering this thread is mainly a boy's club, I might not hve much luck- but I was wondering if there were any other women out there having trouble with the job market who are getting pressure to go in all the wrong ways.

For example, my family is pushing me to get married. The other pressure is from former coworkers is to be a stripper. The whole thing with the stripper job started as a joke and now it's lead to me cutting people off because they consider it a viable option.

So for the long term unemployeed, especially the ladies, what pressures have you been facing and how do you deal with it?

Well, I could be derisive and tell you to be a stripper and if you don't want to do that then obviously you don't really want help-but if I said that, I'd be a complete and utter hypocrite (note: this is me sniping at some things from a few pages back; I don't actually think you should pursue the stripper path).

On the one hand, I don't have any unemployed female friends. On the other hand, I have basically 0 female friends to begin with.

My mother was unemployed for quite some time. She ultimately managed to get a job as a receptionist working for the university from which she graduated though. So, there's that.

so, after looking around the college I just started attending for job postings, I managed to schedule an interview/open house with what looks like a progressive organizing company.

i've never done this before, so I'm a bit nervous. not as much as I should be, though.

A little bit nervous is good. If you're totally confident at your age, the interviewers are likely to get a bit suspicious.

@ Tomu: I trust in my ability to obtain information independently.

Excellent. Put that down as "self-starter" and "can work independently."

• Rolls eyes*

@Gabrael - two things, isn't your bf black? Does this mean your family could care less, or that they'd rather see you you married...to a white guy?

Second, in my experience, I don't know any unemployed women. Women, in my opinion, tend to be more clever, more driven, and more willing to do whatever it takes (though, not stripping ) to get ahead.

Theoretically, due to the wage gap, employers should be hiring more women than men as they try and cut wages.

Not sure if that's observed empirically though.

Starship, both you and Tomu are pushing buttons that don't need to be pushed.

I have put in around 125+ applications ranging in skill from fast food service and janitor positions to college professor, retail management as well as clerk, and federal positions. My main restriction is I have no money to leave the state. I have to work between 6 am and 6 pm Monday through Friday, because I do not have a babysitter otherwise.

I am either over qualified, have the wrong experience, or do not have the availability. I would love to join the military, but even if I did have a babysitter for when I was at boot camp, I have metal holding my spine together. MEPS doesn't approve of that.

I am in the process of beginning my second masters Spring 2013. I freelance write, model, take photos, act as a seamstress or even construction jobs as I can to make rent.

Because of this, my family doesn't want me to keep busting my ass for nothing. They want me to be okay.

And what does mine or my boyfriend's melanin content have to do with anything?

My apologies, I was sniping at a conversation I already said wasn't supposed to be in my thread. That was completely inappropriate and hypocritical.

As for your melanin content, well, there's empirical studies about how different racial groups have different results in this economy.

Gabrael, you really need to learn to respond to what's written and leave whatever "button-pushing" you're imagining out of it. It's tiring to respond to.

I simply said I don't personally know of any unemployed women in response to your question about women facing unemployment. I then added my completely non-confrontational observation that women tend to, in my experience, be more driven and more creative in finding work than their male counterparts. If anything it was a compliment.

Further I only asked about your bf because you mentioned he was black, and then you mentioned your family wanted you to get married. As a black man who's dated outside the race, I was curious as to whether or not their wish for you to get married took that into account, or if they totally didn't care.

There was nothing more to it.

Edit: More to the point, your own experience underscores what I meant about women earlier. I find, here in the Bronx at least, that when a man cannot find work in his field he is extremely slow to move into a new area, if ever.

Meanwhile, many women, like you, will already be finding the odd job here and there wherever it is, regardless of it's their background or not.

edited 29th Aug '12 10:36:11 AM by TheStarshipMaxima

Yes, we could use more perspectives in here. The one unemployed woman I met yesterday has a lot of hurdles—limited child care, prison record (I didn't inquire), has sued for workman's comp, previous employer is fighting her unemployment claim and generally badmouthing her, is a person of color with visible tattoos, no higher education—but she's out there every day (and up to now didn't know that the Workforce Center had programs to help!)

^

Sounds like she has bigger problems than her genitals.

Perhaps, but notice the way she simply doesn't throw up her hands and say "Oh, well". This is something I've noticed in all women of every age, income bracket, racial demographic, and education level.

I'd be interested to see if there's any data on this phenomenon.