Help - Former USAID contractor -- zero interviews in a year

[Anonymous]

My husband, like thousands of others in the area, has been out of work for over a year now. He has literally not gotten ONE interview from the hundreds of jobs he's applied for. I'm at my wits end. Will he ever work again? I think after 25 years in the same job, his network is all in his field. He's highly skilled, willing to go down in level, salary, all of it. But ... are there any jobs out there? Are there recruiters that would be good for someone with skills in program development management, grants, social impact? He has experience in South American, Middle East, Eastern Europe and the Caribbean. He's managed portfolios of hundreds of millions of dollars. Do they care about people that have this amazing government experience doing the work internationally? How do you make it transferable?

We've done all that work to adapt the resume, put in the key words, etc. etc. I've networked as much as I can with my network. Does the rest of the country realize how bad it is for these people thanks to Elon Musk?

I'm ranting... thanks for letting me rant... Most days I keep my stress in check, but this year plus mark is really getting to me.

Any advice welcome... especially about local networking events even.

[Anonymous]

I know the zone is flooded with this position for very few jobs. I truly recommend seeing a career counselor. DH needs to find strengths in his career and reposition himself as so many international development professionals are unemployed right now.

[Anonymous]

My only advice is to apply out of the area, maybe even out of the country (like those countries that your DH has experience with). For years, we've been telling coal miners in WV to move to where the jobs are. I think white collar workers in DC need to be willing to do the same.

FWIW, I despise Trump and fully support USAID. I actually thought about working for them decades ago. If/when USAID ever comes back, you could potentially move back.

It sucks, but I also had to move to where the jobs were. In my case, it was the best decision ever. My career really took off, and I made a ton more money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My only advice is to apply out of the area, maybe even out of the country (like those countries that your DH has experience with). For years, we've been telling coal miners in WV to move to where the jobs are. I think white collar workers in DC need to be willing to do the same.

FWIW, I despise Trump and fully support USAID. I actually thought about working for them decades ago. If/when USAID ever comes back, you could potentially move back.

It sucks, but I also had to move to where the jobs were. In my case, it was the best decision ever. My career really took off, and I made a ton more money.

NP. What field are you in and where did you move to

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My only advice is to apply out of the area, maybe even out of the country (like those countries that your DH has experience with). For years, we've been telling coal miners in WV to move to where the jobs are. I think white collar workers in DC need to be willing to do the same.

FWIW, I despise Trump and fully support USAID. I actually thought about working for them decades ago. If/when USAID ever comes back, you could potentially move back.

It sucks, but I also had to move to where the jobs were. In my case, it was the best decision ever. My career really took off, and I made a ton more money.

Agree with the idea of moving. Has he been applying all over the country and world? The skills you mention are so general that they have to be applicable somewhere.

[Anonymous]

Op here. I totally agree and he’s absolutely open to that and I can work from anywhere.

[Anonymous]

I’m sorry, OP. It’s so hard right now. And USAID did such good work.

[Anonymous]

As other pee, pees have suggested, broad in the scope of what he’s looking for. Look at nonprofits and international companies that he has expertise in their specific areas of commerce. DH needs to work outside of his industry to people he knows, people he went to school with, and former coworkers..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As other pee, pees have suggested, broad in the scope of what he’s looking for. Look at nonprofits and international companies that he has expertise in their specific areas of commerce. DH needs to work outside of his industry to people he knows, people he went to school with, and former coworkers..

Apologies, was doing voice dictation. Should say PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here. I totally agree and he’s absolutely open to that and I can work from anywhere.

do it. you can get a digital nomad visa to places like Spain. If I were in your shoes, I would take this opportunity to do that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As other pee, pees have suggested, broad in the scope of what he’s looking for. Look at nonprofits and international companies that he has expertise in their specific areas of commerce. DH needs to work outside of his industry to people he knows, people he went to school with, and former coworkers..

Apologies, was doing voice dictation. Should say PP.

I like pee pees better

[Anonymous]

This stinks OP. As someone who has lots of former USAID/former USAID contractor friends (we all graduated from an MA in IR 25 years ago), I will say almost none are on this space any longer...they've all pivoted and none of them are back to what they were making a year ago. It's brutal...

[Anonymous]

But at least they’ve pivoted! Any tips on how they did that?

[Anonymous]

I know a former USAID contractor who decided to become a death doula.

[Anonymous]

I'm impressed by many of the pivots I've heard about. I think for younger people it's easier to do something entirely new. But for a 55 year old... not as easy.