Can the homeless become self-sufficient?
- From: paul.taylor2007@xxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 09 Oct 2007 16:33:51 -0700
I'm seeking concrete, practical advice regarding an unusual job-
seeking problem. (Note: this is NOT a resume or work-wanted ad.)
For the last several years, until a few weeks ago, I was homeless and
unemployed. Now I have a little money, a motel room (rented by the
month), a cellphone and a bus pass (transportation around the city).
I have no criminal background and no substance abuse problems (past or
present); I also have no tattoos. I am well-groomed, nicely dressed,
clean-cut, personable, have good communication skills (verbal and
written), and would tend to make a good impression at a glance.
What I don't have is anything to put in my "recent job history"
category on job applications, and no personal street addresses or
telephone numbers (that is, no previous, recent addresses and
telephone numbers), and no personal references other than relatives
(and only one of those).
At first, it seemed to me that my best chance was to contact some
local agencies with experience getting jobs for the homeless (even
though I am not currently homeless), with the idea of getting
referrals and introductions from them to companies that hire people
with my background, so that I could be honest on the applications and
the (potential) employers would be tolerant of the glaring background
omissions. I have talked to individuals at St. Joseph the Worker and
at St. Vincent de Paul, and contacted other agencies as well, but,
gallingly, these agencies deny having lists of such employers, and
offer only general assistance such as help in creating a resume,
access to phones to call potential employers, bus tickets, access to
newspapers, and online access. I have nothing to put on a resume, and
already have online access, a phone, etc.. I have spoken to so-called
job-developers there, and the only advice they have to offer consists
of vague platitudes and general, common-sense advice, such as
"emphasize the positives", "have a positive attitude at interviews",
"don't smoke just before going to an interview (if you smoke)", "be
punctual", "fill out lots of applications", "don't get discouraged"
and other banalities. (Naturally, I know to be on time and not to be
a slob, etc. -- I'm not an idiot.)
I also don't have anything in the way of formal education or
vocational training -- nothing beyond a GED, and no special skills or
talents other than writing (which I do well, but which is unlikely to
land me a job).
As for state job-placement assistance, it simply doesn't exist in
Arizona, so far as I can tell. One would think that with all the talk
about self-sufficiency from the private and public sector, getting a
simple list of employers who hire the homeless or formerly (recently)
homeless would be a simple, no-cost solution which everyone would jump
at the chance of providing. But no. I am told to read newspaper ads
and online job ads of a general sort, and encouraged to fill-out
applications and create a resume, without anything concrete to put on
either. It's obvious that is a recipe for failure where the general
employer is concerned, since many will immediately throw-away any
application not completely and adequately filled-in, and I have no
chance to even reach the interview stage to make a personal
impression.
The alternative is scarcely more attractive, but it seems the only
option available to me: fabricate an entire personal background
history and work history for the last several years. The problem, of
course, is that none of this would be verifiable. Still, I can use
all the help I can get addressing the technical aspects of faking a
job-history, etc..
Please do not suggest filing for unemployment benefits (you can't
qualify for it unless you've been working, and even if I could qualify
for it and it was enough to support me, it wouldn't be more than
temporary assistance). (Note: for what it's worth, I have never
collected public assistance, never panhandled, and never supported
myself by illegal means.) What I need right now are concrete,
practical suggestions that will get me over the hurdle of having
nothing real or verifiable to put on job applications. In order to
make this work, I also need a job that is reasonably close by (by city
bus) and something that will pay a living wage.
Note that past experience has taught me that sales jobs, though among
the easiest to obtain, simply aren't a reliable, sustainable way for
me to earn a living, so don't suggest XYZ telemarketer as an easy
hire.
Feel free to repost this to other newsgroups, websites, and so forth
-- with attribution so that I can be contacted with advice, please. I
will be checking for replies in the newsgroups using Google Groups,
and in email. I looked for Usenet newsgroups for which this content
would be appropriate, but almost every newsgroup with the name "jobs"
in it either consists of ads or weird, off-topic posts (e.g., "How
gravity works"). So, my apologies if this newsgroup isn't ideal, but
I had to start somewhere. Again, you would think that there would be
plenty of newsgroups where individuals discuss their job-hunting
experiences, tips and tricks, and so forth, but no.
Paul Taylor
paul.taylor2007@xxxxxxxxx
.
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