Some of these stories are long and involved, and others are just short, grim, and sad:

I left the Navy in September. Landed a job testing video games. That only lasted 3 weeks. Got a job at Hertz last month. They had to let me go. I’ve worked 5 weeks in the past 5 months. So far I’ve foreclosed on my house, moved in with my girlfriend, and sold most of my instruments to keep up with bills. I have a degree in nuclear engineering, but no one is hiring, and now the market is flooded with engineers. I have $334.16 left in my account. Rent’s due next week, that’s $250. I have some friends in the Bay Area I could stay with if things get bleak, but I don’t want to leave my girlfriend. I signed up for foodstamps yesterday, no word yet. I don’t qualify for unemployment. I’m getting tired of walking to the U-District food bank every Monday.

Have an unemployment story to share? Write to jobless@thestranger.com.

Eli Sanders was The Stranger's associate editor. His book, "While the City Slept," was a finalist for the Washington State Book Award and the Dayton Literary Peace Prize. He once did this and once won...

28 replies on “Notes from the Unemployment Line”

  1. THIS is the guy the stimulus is for. America will have to build nuclear plants for electricity, and here is the perfect example for getting public works projects going. We have the people to accomplish goals, we just need the kickstart. “Clean coal” doesn’t exist and solar and wind can’t meet demand. I’m sorry, but that’s reality.

  2. Look at what Gay Conservative blog has to say!

    http://gayconservative.org/2009/02/10/mo…

    The “change we can believe in” has become exactly what Obama swore to us it wouldn’t be: more of the same. After the immensely unpopular Bush bailout was forced on us, the Senate today passed the unbelievable pork-laden Generational Theft Act of 2009 (a.k.a. the “stimulus”). Not finished ruining America yet, Obama and financial wonderboy Tim Geithner unveiled yet ANOTHER bailout–this one to the tune of $2 trillion. You read it right, two TRILLION. As if the first one wasn’t expensive enough–$700 billion–now we’re asking for even more money?

  4. Poor guy. My sister just joined the Navy and I’m hoping she’ll be done with her 4 years and be released to a decent economy so she can find a job.

  7. 1. Don’t go all negative. 2. Thankd god for good banks, find another and take all they will give you and COOK and EAT it. 3. Barter your time, take odd jobs, community service and ANYTHING 4. Do FREE recreation, – cheap movies, parks, hiking, library, church events, etc. Entertain yourself with games, books and conversation. 5. Don’t take it as personal, you are cool, the system is broken.

    Good luck.

    In your field, why Seattle in the first place? Go to Richland, Wa.

  9. @6
    The tactic would be applying for jobs in Canada that would bring him across the border. In this guy’s case, applying for a job at any of the several enormous nuclear power plants in Ontario-I’d recommend Bruce Power in Kincardine for starters, but there are others that are closer to/practically inside Toronto. Nuclear power plants are pretty well shielded from economy blips; they are such big baseline powerplants and investments that their power contracts are longterm and unaffected by recessions. If one hired him, they would bring him over on a Visa and he could start the naturalization process if he wanted.

  12. Under NAFTA, we have an agreement with Canada that you can get a renewable one-year visa for working on the other side of the border. Here in the US it’s called a T-1 visa; I don’t know what its Canadian cousin is called.

  14. To the unemployed NukeE – sorry to hear that. But, as a mechanical engineer who’s worked as a software engineer, technical writer and auto mechanic depending on the economy, I’d advise you to learn a backup trade. You may need to move to make it happen, and go long-distance with the gf. If that doesn’t work out, then it wasn’t meant to be.

    Unless you were doing NE exclusively for the Navy (unlikely), you probably have backup skills already. Find a way to use those skills, as wishing for a new nuclear power station to open up near Seattle before the end of the month probably won’t pay off.

  15. Apply at the best three temp agencies in town and they’ll put you to work. Temp agencies always have warehouse positions to fill. At least you’re getting some income–unless you’re too proud for manual labor.

  20. @7 Not a whole lot of NEW jobs there now, but with some of that stimulus money set for nuclear/superfund clean-up that would be his best bet probably. Plus cost of living is cheap. You can still buy a house for under a 100K.

  22. @6 – if you have a professional degree of any type, or even certification, they have to let you work there under the Free trade and NAFTA treaties we signed.

    My advice stands.

    P.S.: there are professional secretaries too.

  23. @5: Um. Yeah. Definitely opportunities abound here, with no other workers, previously trained in skilled labour, desperately searching for jobs.

    “In Statistics Canada unemployment numbers released Feb. 6, Ontario shed another 36,000 manufacturing jobs in January alone — with automotive jobs taking the worst hit — as part of a total loss of 71,000 jobs. The province’s unemployment rate now sits at eight per cent.”

    I guess if you really want to come here, you can always head straight for Saskatchewan, the only province where the unemployment rate actually improved. But who wants to do that?

  24. Well this guy, who was kicked out of the navy, here in Monterey, is doing drugs every night. He forgot to mention how he txts me about him smoking tons of pot and travelling to San Fran. to get better stuff. His gf dumped him, too.

  25. Ok, “a job at Hertz last month. They had to let me go.” but you don’t qualify for unemployment. Something tells me you got fired. Anyone notice a big coincidence between these stories and the Stranger pushing for the legalization of pot addicts in our state. Sounds like The Stranger is actually responsible for a lot of these so-called stories that they refuse to fess up to.

  26. Give the guy a break! Even if he was fired – and there’s nothing to say he was – so what? He doesn’t deserve to be in the situation he’s in… And please, no one tell anyone to kill themselves – it’s not remotely funny.

    All I can say is that you are not in the same boat – as someone else pointed out, it’s the system, not you, that’s broke – and it’s happening all over the world. It’s very scary, but you will get through it. Do whatever you can for now – anything (anything legal, I mean)!! – and things will get better. I’m in a similar position, believe me!

    Good luck!!!

  27. I don’t know the guy from Monterey. Still have a girlfriend who I love. I’m not afraid of hard work. I got the job at Hertz through a temp agency, but they had to let the temps go, so no unemployment for me since I wasn’t working there long enough. I’m not a pot head. I’m not going to kill myself. Thanks to those with the kind words and advice. For the rest, I don’t brake for j walkers, so cross where you please.

Comments are closed.