Frustrated....

[moosmom]

Take it from someone with LOTS of rejection experience. Businesses don't send out reject letters anymore, they just leave ya hanging. I would follow-up 3 times, but no more as you'll be labled a pest.

Looking for full-time work is a full-time job. I'm glad I'm retired. It can be very frustrating.

Good luck.

[Animalhouse26]

I know what you mean! i have been jobless over a yr now. I have had a LOT going on since I lost my job to keep me from being firm on looking for a job the whole time. But, I have done my share of interviews. Things aren't getting any easier. Stick to your guns for what you want. You will find someone that is perfect for you!

[Randi]

Have you tried putting your CV into some of the jobdatabases? Then companies may come looking for you! The pay you get sounds very low, but then, I can't really compare. I'm also working for temp. agencies, but unfortunately, they don't have jobs all the time. In my last job I was paid $25 an hour, and the temp. agency had already got half, or more. Here, the working week is 37,5 hours - including half an hour lunch break. Some places you pay for that yourself, and some not.

The lowest wage you would get here is probably around $20 an hour, and that is if you work in a supermarket.

Well, I'll keep looking, and I wish you luck finding a job with a decent wage! But remember, it's just as important it's a place you thrive!

[jennielynn1970]

The lowest wage you would get here is probably around $20 an hour, and that is if you sit in a supermarket.

Aren't the taxes in your country really high as well?? Sweden was the same way. The minimum wage was and outrageously high amount, but the taxes they took out of the paycheck were outrageous as well.

The one thing I remember about Sweden though was that even though taxes were high, it was a socialized economy, and health care and all that was covered, which I'm sure took a bite out of the extras you have to pay per month.

[Randi]

Oh yes, taxes are high here - I pay the lowest though, which is 39%. Then, if you own a house or have taken loans for cars, boats, etc. you can deduct that, so of course, the richest people end up not paying very high taxes, if they know how to go about it.

And yes, it's free for everyone to go to a doctor and to a hospital, but you pay for the dentist.

Petrol is quite high here too - but distances aren't like in the USA. However, parking in the inner city has really gone up!

A normal Bank Assistent who is 40 and have 20 years of working experience would get in between $5.700 - 6.600 a month. And a shop assitent 30 years old with 10 years of working experience would get $5.060 - 5.450 a month.

[cyber-sibes]

I used to have a job that paid $12./hr, got laid off. Was told I could come back.... depending on how little I was willing to work for. That was like a smack in the face! I told them I was already working for the lowest wage I would accept, but I was willing to go to part-time if that helped them stay in budget, as I would use my free time to generate other work - they had me back full time soon afterwards.

Good luck. It is frutstrating. the last job I got on the "short list" would have been wonderful - but it was a govt. job & they were obligated to offer it first to any veteran who applied, even though I was more qualified. There were 3 vets in front of me on the list. So I'm still looking.

[Ginger's Mom]

Even allowing for the difference in tax rates, your wages are much higher over there (I would say about 15-20%) higher than over here. And your medical expenses are free? Nice.

Carmen, I too feel your pain. If it were possible now to go to a new company and get paid at a rate somewhat comparable to what I am making here, I would be gone. It's funny, even the "experts" are now advising people that if you can't negotiate a higher salary try to negotiate extra benefits (like two extra vacation days or a pass to the company gym is going to help pay the electric bill ). Stick with it; they say that you should expect to be out of work for one month for every $10,000 of yearly pay. Hope you don't have to wait that long.

[beeniesmom]

Wow, thanks for the replies.

Pitc9: The PT job I'm in is not from a temp. agency. I was contacted directly from the owners because they already knew me (luckily) and somehow found out that I was on the market for something better. Instead of advertising the job on the newspaper they called me. It was supposed to be a 3 month project but has turned out to be almost a year now.
I know it's winding down now.

Moosmom: I haven't followed up with anyone. I know this sounds awful but I figure my resume speaks for itself. If they like it, they call me.

Randi: I don't trust the job databases here. You never get contacted by serious companies (at least by my personal experience).


ANYWAY.... You all won't believe this but one of the companies that initially turned me down called me at home this morning as I was walking out the door. They said that they are considering an increase to what they initially proposed. They wanted to know if I was still interested.
I said that I was indeed. They will call me back sometime tomorrow and let me know what this proposed increase is. The guy I am supposed to work for said that he was very impressed with my resume and with my interview ...and the fact that I speak fluent italian since one of their larger clients is an Italian firm is a PLUS for me!

WISH ME LUCK!!!