Getting from College to Career–Successfully

I have a question that I feel should be addressed for Americans. I have been unemployed for two years, working on my education, and unable to find a job that will allow me to get out of mom’s house and let me support myself, pay bills, rent, child support, etc… The problem, in my opinion is that I lost my drivers license due to DUI’s, I understand the punishment and consequences for my poor choices, however, how do you find work when you have to use public transportation? I do not live in a major city. This is not a small problem or is it just me that is in this postion, hundreds if not thousands of ammericans are with out a car to get to networking events, to put a face to your resume, when local jobs don’t pan out what are we to do? I have turned away jobs because I can’t get to them for even an interview and employers have called to set up an interview and I have even turned them down beacuse they ask do you have a drivers license? To help paint a better picture, I do not have a social network of friends where I am living so setting up a car pool is not an option. I keep pushing on but I am almost at the point where giving up is the best choice for my kids and family to not have to depend on me any more. Do you have any suggestions?

Dear Ms Johnson,
Does it looks professional to have a copy of resume and/or an outlined of the questions that my employer may ask in front of me during the interview so, I could recall or refresh my memory? Is it also a good idea to have my outlined questions out in front of me which I will ask the employer by the end of the interview?

To the Governor of California,
I am currently receiving unemployment due to the City Of Exeters budget cuts and I lost my part time job as a Crime Scene Investigator and Property/Evidence Officer. I have retained my Reserve Law Enforcement status but sadly, no pay. I am required, per POST standards to volunteer 16 hours a month as a Reserve Police Officer.
On my recent unemployment status sheet that I fill out every 2 weeks, I wrote that I volunteered……and that was enough for my benefits to be denied and I had to go through a telephonic interview to reestablish my eligibility. I do not understand this but I have a solution that I would like for you and our legislative body to consider: if you collect unemployment benefits or collect welfare, you must volunteer 8 hours a month (minimum).
Because of my volunteering at the Tulare County Sheriff Dept, I am being considered for a job there (I have my final interview tomorrow). I would never have been in the position to apply for this job if I had not volunteered there. I started at the Exeter Police Dept as a volunteer and then it became a well paying part time job. Again, I would not have obtained the job if I had not been a volunteer. As I think back on my career, I started teaching with my school district because I volunteered there as a “Student Teacher”. I was a college intern for credits at the Anaheim Police Dept when I was offered the chance to become a Reserve Officer (which was a volunteer job) and then I was offered a full time police officer position which I worked as for 10 years. All of these job opportunities were a direct result from starting out as a volunteer.
Please consider a volunteer requirement for unemployment benefits. Imagine the results!
Libraries could increase their hours, Schools would have parents in the classroom or on the playground, tutors for students, crossing guards, assistance in hospitals and elder care facilities, public works would have people to assist in graffiti control and maintaining parks, campgrounds would be clean, freeways would be free of trash. And you would not have to worry about insurance: people could refuse to volunteer but they would have reduced benefits that would then pay for any liability issues that the law must abide by.
Please consider this option as it would put many Californians back to work and give people who receive benefits dignity and not just a hand out…..
Thank you kindly,
KT Thompson Bowers

Hi Tory-I’m writing in regards work at home employment — I’ve been looking at this type of work for around 3 years. As far as I can tell they’re nothing but scams. Seriously–I would love to use my administrative assistant skills to work for someone at home. Please do you have any leads….for real work at home employment?? I feel we should not have to pay to work. Do you have any leads on virtual assistant jobs- are there any? Thanks so much. I’m ’48′ – worked full-time for 20 yrs. for a large Boston Co. as an Executive Asst. and Employment Asst. – since have been a stay at home mom much longer than I expected and now I’m in this position and getting rather worried about positions calling/not calling me. Because of age? Time out of work? Thanks again! Cheryl.