Finding a Job

By Doug Geed

     Claudia of Smithtown was doing really well -- a computer specialist making about 130-thousand a year for a big LI company. But then, like so many other Long Islanders, she lost her job. It was the second time in a year she was laid off.

   She went months searching for a new job ("there are jobs out there, but you're competing against hundreds of others for that one job") and finally found a part-time gig as a bank teller working 25 hours a week.

   Claudia is far from alone. Bob Simmons is a career counselor who says he's seen a dramatic rise in the number of middle-aged, high-paid executives who have been laid off and are having to settle for jobs at less than half the salary they were making. Bob now employs a social worker to counsel people in that position. With no disrespect to bank tellers, restaurant workers, maintenance workers or any other profession, he says when you've been making 6 figures and you're the head of a household, the change can be devastating.

    But in this economy, some would say any job is a good job. As Claudia points out, she's a single mom whose ailing mother lives with her. "I'm it" she says -- "I have to support the family."

    If you're looking for a job, here are some sites that may help.

www.careerbuilder.com

www.monster.com

www.careerjournal.com