SavvySugar

Ask Savvy: My Best Friend Won't Stop Talking About Her Job

SavvySugar — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 08:30:44 -0700

Dear Savvy,

I've been unemployed for a couple months and am trying to stay positive, but I find it difficult when my best friend constantly talks about how busy she is at work. It's the first thing out of her mouth every time we talk, and it seems like her job is all she wants to talk about. I'm typically very supportive of her career, but she's bringing up her job more than ever at a time when I'm working my butt off trying to find a job that will pay the bills. Any advice for how I can give her the hint to pipe it down, without offending her?

Savvy says: There are so many people without jobs right now that I doubt you're alone in this situation. It can be hard enough to turn down invitations when your employed friends want to go out and you can't spend the money, and you don't want to be reminded of your misfortune whenever you want to chat with your best friend. See my advice when you read more.

Firstly, step back and ask yourself if your friend is really talking about her job more than usual, or if you're just noticing it more because it hits a sore spot. It's important for your friendship to acknowledge if she's really just being her same old self, because that should help reduce your bitterness toward what seems like a relentless reminder of your unemployment.

Regardless of whether she's focusing more on work conversations than usual, the fact remains that you're unhappy when the two of you talk. It sounds like she's better at talking than listening, so take a note from your friend and volunteer some details about the way your job search is going and how hard you're working trying to find a job. Your honesty should remind her to be a little more sensitive toward you.

Bottom line, this girl is your best friend and you should be able to speak up if you feel like she could be more sensitive about your situation. Tell her you still want to be the first person she calls when something good (or frustrating) happens at the office, but for now it would help your state of mind if she didn't go through a play-by-play of what happened at the office.

Unemployed People Do Two More Hours of Housework Per Day

SavvySugar — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 04:30:58 -0700

It's obvious to say the unemployed population has more time on their hands because they're not spending their days in offices. The American Time Use Survey asked thousands of employed and unemployed people to learn more about the differences in time spent by these two groups. Below are some of the survey's conclusions.

On an average weekday, someone who's unemployed sleeps an hour more than an employed individual.
An unemployed person spends two hours each day (at least twice as much time as someone with a job) doing house or yard work.
Someone who's unemployed spends an additional hour in the classroom and 70 more minutes watching TV than someone who's employed.

Economists use the survey to try and value the time of those without a paycheck, and Daniel S. Hamermesh, an economics professor at the University of Texas at Austin commented, "If all we were doing is substituting production at home for production in the marketplace, then maybe unemployment wouldn't be so bad."

Which States Have the Highest and Lowest Unemployment Rates?

SavvySugar — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 13:15:24 -0700

The June unemployment data was released last week. Some numbers were up, but others were down and 15 states crossed the 10 percent threshold. It's striking how much the rates can vary from one state to the next. Can you guess what states were hit harder and which ones came up? Take the quiz!

Take the quiz

Yoga Retreat Work-Exchanges Filling Up During Hard Times

SavvySugar — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 04:30:39 -0700

You might wish you had the ability to hibernate when you're handed a pink slip; that's not entirely possible, but some people are finding solace by turning to yoga retreats with work-study arrangements. In exchange for $300 to $900 a month, a few daily hours of chores like cooking, washing dishes, cleaning rooms or weeding gardens, participants receive a room, three meals a day, and unlimited access to classes and events. The retreats can last for a month, a few months, a year, and sometimes more.

While traditionally these centers have attracted people with the ability to take extended time off, like writers or entrepreneurs, the current flood of applications are increasingly from recent college graduates and those with professional careers. Todd Wolfenberg, director of marketing at the Himalayan Institute in Honesdale, PA, said, “I suspect that is due to the fact that they haven’t been able to find a job after college or are leaving a job."

Yehnemsah Oneha, work-study coordinator at Ananda Ashram in Monroe, NY, warns, "If you’re applying because you can’t deal with life, that’s not a good motivation." The work-exchange programs, sometimes known as karma yoga, are to "foster selflessness and good will." Would consider this an attractive option if you lost your job?

Do You Know More Unemployed Men or Women?

SavvySugar — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 08:30:41 -0700

The June unemployment rate for men was 10.6 percent and the women’s rate came in at 8.3 percent. According to Sophia Koropeckyj, an economist with Moody’s Economy.com, "The gap between female and male unemployment has never been as large as it is now." Do the numbers mesh with the jobless folks you know?

Your Two Cents: Is Work the New Luxury?

SavvySugar — Fri, 29 May 2009 10:30:25 -0700

Forbes recently called out the classic black suit as "back in fashion for women" in regard to the best interview attire. I'm pretty sure the word "classic" implies that something is timeless, but that is neither here nor there. I'm more interested in the way Forbes classifies work today. Below is the excerpt explaining why suits are "back."

In the midst of layoffs, unemployment and uncertainty about the future, this may seem like strange timing. But the return of this work staple is actually a surprisingly straightforward response by fashion designers to the financial crisis. Work, after all, is the new luxury.

Sure, we feel lucky to be employed when so many people have lost their jobs. But what do you think - is work the new luxury?

Source

How Does College Education Affect Chances of Employment?

SavvySugar — Wed, 20 May 2009 06:30:14 -0700

College graduation is always bittersweet, and this year's class might say they are experiencing more bitter than sweet as they enter a weak job market. However, college graduates are collectively better off than those who didn't complete higher education. Times are tough for new grads, but don't go taking those diplomas for granted. Think you know how education affects employment? Take the quiz!

Source

Take the quiz

Forbes Names 10 Worst Cities For Jobs

SavvySugar — Mon, 04 May 2009 04:30:16 -0700

We're used to hearing about unemployment statistics on a national scale, but jobs are also relative to local economies. When Forbes came up with its list of the best places for business and careers, it couldn't help but realize the worst cities, too. After all, some places had to fall to the bottom of the list. You might think twice before attempting to set up shop (or cube) in one of the worst big cities for jobs.

Detroit-Livonia-Dearborn, MI
Providence-Fall River-Warwick, RI
Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor, OH
Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, CA
Oakland-Fremont-Hayward, CA
West Palm Beach-Boca Raton-Boynton Beach, FL
Sacramento-Arden Arcase-Roseville, CA
Warren-Troy-Farmington Hills, MI
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA

Source

7 Steps For Structuring Your Life After Job Loss

SavvySugar — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 06:30:03 -0700

When Maria Shriver was asked how she felt leaving her job as a reporter due to conflict of interest, she said, "It was hard. A lot of things go when you lose your job, and it doesn’t matter who you are. It’s a loss of identity, it’s a loss of structure, it’s a loss of your passion depending on the role the job played in your life." Adapting to a wide-open schedule after job loss is challenging; follow my seven steps for creating structure when there suddenly is none. Source

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I'm Asking: What's the Longest You've Been Unemployed?

SavvySugar — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 04:30:47 -0700

Getting laid off and going through the process of filing for unemployment and looking for a new job is never a walk in the park, and the experience often becomes more painful as time ticks on and you remain jobless. That being said, there are millions of reasons some people remain unemployed for lengthy amounts of time. Sometimes we take time off to go back to school or get additional certifications, have children or raise a family, or simply take a breather between jobs or careers for reflection and goal setting while a partner carries us financially or we live off savings.

What is the longest you've ever been unemployed, whether planned or unplanned?

Source