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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, can you get health insurance through your work? Or be looking for a new job also to increase chances of finding a job with health insurance?

for him - career counselor. write away.

Without revealing too many specifics, my self employment does have the potential to have health insurance through one of my clients but not for a bit.. and I have applied for a few jobs but it’s not ideal for me to give up my current work.

This isn’t hard, you apply to lots of jobs just like DH and then do the math if the pay and savings from health insurance make sense.

Why exactly is it hard to pivot for you?

This thread isn't about me. My gig is very good .. just without benefits. There are many potential long term financial upsides if I stay where I am. No need to go into more details.

[Anonymous]

Has he applied to state and local government jobs, or to teach, just to get his foot in the door? Those jobs have good health benefits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, can you get health insurance through your work? Or be looking for a new job also to increase chances of finding a job with health insurance?

for him - career counselor. write away.

Without revealing too many specifics, my self employment does have the potential to have health insurance through one of my clients but not for a bit.. and I have applied for a few jobs but it’s not ideal for me to give up my current work.

This isn’t hard, you apply to lots of jobs just like DH and then do the math if the pay and savings from health insurance make sense.

Why exactly is it hard to pivot for you?

This thread isn't about me. My gig is very good .. just without benefits. There are many potential long term financial upsides if I stay where I am. No need to go into more details.

Then you won’t need health insurance other than catastrophic ACA, so you can wait for this windfall and make up any medical debt you accrue.

You stated the biggest reason was to have health insurance and that’s something you can both look to acquire but you are opting out.

Are you being paid in stock options? Good luck with that…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, can you get health insurance through your work? Or be looking for a new job also to increase chances of finding a job with health insurance?

for him - career counselor. write away.

Without revealing too many specifics, my self employment does have the potential to have health insurance through one of my clients but not for a bit.. and I have applied for a few jobs but it’s not ideal for me to give up my current work.

This isn’t hard, you apply to lots of jobs just like DH and then do the math if the pay and savings from health insurance make sense.

Why exactly is it hard to pivot for you?

This thread isn't about me. My gig is very good .. just without benefits. There are many potential long term financial upsides if I stay where I am. No need to go into more details.

What an oddly aggressive/angry response to OP. Let's keep this kind of thread supportive. Times are tough.
Then you won’t need health insurance other than catastrophic ACA, so you can wait for this windfall and make up any medical debt you accrue.

You stated the biggest reason was to have health insurance and that’s something you can both look to acquire but you are opting out.

Are you being paid in stock options? Good luck with that…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

This was a long time ago (I'm talking 30years), and not in the government. But, the point remains, when you are out of a job, and clearly need a new one, and the area you live in doesn't have jobs that fit you, you need to move to an area that has some jobs that you may be a fit for. That could be in a different city (me since the state I lived in was huge), or a different state, or even a different country.

IMO, it sucks to start over, but doubly so in your 50s (I'm 55). But, if you don't have much tying you to this area, like HS kids whom a move would be difficult for, with the DH's background, I'd look into jobs in other countries since OP can work anywhere.

I guess I'm projecting because if I could get a job in Spain, for example, I'd move there in a heartbeat right now. But my kids are in college, so it would be easier for us.

So you moved for a job 30 years ago when you were 25 and it worked out great.

That is not really applicable to a 55 year old.

Why not? I understand it's harder at 55 (I stated as much). But, if he did get a job overseas, they could do it.

Like I said, we tell coal miners to move to where the jobs are. White collar workers should be able to do the same, no?

I'm sympathetic to OP and her husband, but the reality is that a 50 something year is going to have a tough time, period, landing a new job. So, go wherever you can find that job by keeping your options open.

We are fortunate to have enough saved where I can not work if I got laid off right now but if I needed the income (for health insurance), you bet I'd be looking at other states/countries. As a matter of fact, my spouse came here for work from another country.

[Anonymous]

My kid's science teacher is a former USAID employee.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

This was a long time ago (I'm talking 30years), and not in the government. But, the point remains, when you are out of a job, and clearly need a new one, and the area you live in doesn't have jobs that fit you, you need to move to an area that has some jobs that you may be a fit for. That could be in a different city (me since the state I lived in was huge), or a different state, or even a different country.

IMO, it sucks to start over, but doubly so in your 50s (I'm 55). But, if you don't have much tying you to this area, like HS kids whom a move would be difficult for, with the DH's background, I'd look into jobs in other countries since OP can work anywhere.

I guess I'm projecting because if I could get a job in Spain, for example, I'd move there in a heartbeat right now. But my kids are in college, so it would be easier for us.

So you moved for a job 30 years ago when you were 25 and it worked out great.

That is not really applicable to a 55 year old.

Why not? I understand it's harder at 55 (I stated as much). But, if he did get a job overseas, they could do it.

Like I said, we tell coal miners to move to where the jobs are. White collar workers should be able to do the same, no?

I'm sympathetic to OP and her husband, but the reality is that a 50 something year is going to have a tough time, period, landing a new job. So, go wherever you can find that job by keeping your options open.

We are fortunate to have enough saved where I can not work if I got laid off right now but if I needed the income (for health insurance), you bet I'd be looking at other states/countries. As a matter of fact, my spouse came here for work from another country.

I’m sure he’s looking for jobs all over, but it’s a big risk to leave your network and neighborhood for a job. Many 50 year olds are hire to fire patsies. It would be best to treat it as a trial for a year or two.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

This was a long time ago (I'm talking 30years), and not in the government. But, the point remains, when you are out of a job, and clearly need a new one, and the area you live in doesn't have jobs that fit you, you need to move to an area that has some jobs that you may be a fit for. That could be in a different city (me since the state I lived in was huge), or a different state, or even a different country.

IMO, it sucks to start over, but doubly so in your 50s (I'm 55). But, if you don't have much tying you to this area, like HS kids whom a move would be difficult for, with the DH's background, I'd look into jobs in other countries since OP can work anywhere.

I guess I'm projecting because if I could get a job in Spain, for example, I'd move there in a heartbeat right now. But my kids are in college, so it would be easier for us.

So you moved for a job 30 years ago when you were 25 and it worked out great.

That is not really applicable to a 55 year old.

Why not? I understand it's harder at 55 (I stated as much). But, if he did get a job overseas, they could do it.

Like I said, we tell coal miners to move to where the jobs are. White collar workers should be able to do the same, no?

I'm sympathetic to OP and her husband, but the reality is that a 50 something year is going to have a tough time, period, landing a new job. So, go wherever you can find that job by keeping your options open.

We are fortunate to have enough saved where I can not work if I got laid off right now but if I needed the income (for health insurance), you bet I'd be looking at other states/countries. As a matter of fact, my spouse came here for work from another country.

Not sure why you are obsessed with coal miners. Most advice is to retrain and then move, so unlikely applicable to a 55 year old man — is heading to grad school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, can you get health insurance through your work? Or be looking for a new job also to increase chances of finding a job with health insurance?

for him - career counselor. write away.

Without revealing too many specifics, my self employment does have the potential to have health insurance through one of my clients but not for a bit.. and I have applied for a few jobs but it’s not ideal for me to give up my current work.

This isn’t hard, you apply to lots of jobs just like DH and then do the math if the pay and savings from health insurance make sense.

Why exactly is it hard to pivot for you?

This thread isn't about me. My gig is very good .. just without benefits. There are many potential long term financial upsides if I stay where I am. No need to go into more details.

What an oddly aggressive/angry response to OP. Let's keep this kind of thread supportive. Times are tough.
Then you won’t need health insurance other than catastrophic ACA, so you can wait for this windfall and make up any medical debt you accrue.

You stated the biggest reason was to have health insurance and that’s something you can both look to acquire but you are opting out.

Are you being paid in stock options? Good luck with that…

She acts like she is desperate in her OP, and then says “never mind, we will soon be rich anyways”.

[Anonymous]

I'm the OP and that is not at all what I said. Upsides don't always mean stock options. I believe I said that my job could likely evolve into one with benefits. And, like I said, I am also applying for jobs. But while I have a good one, looking for advice for my husband, who does not. So.. Thank you to all the people who wrote supportive comments. It sucks. and even more so when people start attacking you.

[Anonymous]

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

Work also with a temp agency. Can you get some training in AI and data visualization tools etc as well? I have DOGEed friends from other agencies who managed to get short contract positions and at a junior level. But, very soon, they were getting return offers at higher level and much more money. Still contracting though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm the OP and that is not at all what I said. Upsides don't always mean stock options. I believe I said that my job could likely evolve into one with benefits. And, like I said, I am also applying for jobs. But while I have a good one, looking for advice for my husband, who does not. So.. Thank you to all the people who wrote supportive comments. It sucks. and even more so when people start attacking you.

NP—This is a strong argument for staying. Don’t let the aPlLy to cOsTcO posters get to you.

[Anonymous]

One of the hard realities of managing large, multimillion dollar contracts in a do-gooder aid organization with limited accountability is that this is not an easily transferrable "skill".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

This was a long time ago (I'm talking 30years), and not in the government. But, the point remains, when you are out of a job, and clearly need a new one, and the area you live in doesn't have jobs that fit you, you need to move to an area that has some jobs that you may be a fit for. That could be in a different city (me since the state I lived in was huge), or a different state, or even a different country.

IMO, it sucks to start over, but doubly so in your 50s (I'm 55). But, if you don't have much tying you to this area, like HS kids whom a move would be difficult for, with the DH's background, I'd look into jobs in other countries since OP can work anywhere.

I guess I'm projecting because if I could get a job in Spain, for example, I'd move there in a heartbeat right now. But my kids are in college, so it would be easier for us.

This is such a ridiculously unhelpful post. A 25 year old who didn't work for the government moves for a job 30 years ago and feels qualified to offer her two cents? What a joke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

This was a long time ago (I'm talking 30years), and not in the government. But, the point remains, when you are out of a job, and clearly need a new one, and the area you live in doesn't have jobs that fit you, you need to move to an area that has some jobs that you may be a fit for. That could be in a different city (me since the state I lived in was huge), or a different state, or even a different country.

IMO, it sucks to start over, but doubly so in your 50s (I'm 55). But, if you don't have much tying you to this area, like HS kids whom a move would be difficult for, with the DH's background, I'd look into jobs in other countries since OP can work anywhere.

I guess I'm projecting because if I could get a job in Spain, for example, I'd move there in a heartbeat right now. But my kids are in college, so it would be easier for us.

I appreciate the empathy but moving jobs and locations when you are 25 and have say 3 years of full time work experience is very very different