User Post: How I survived a layoff

While there's been recent talk that America seems to be heading for another recession, and despite recent job growth there are still many who are still on the unemployment line, I wonder how these people who've thrown up their hands saying "There are no jobs out there!" would account for me.

Two years ago I was laid off from my previous job. The company needed to cut back so it closed some of its branch locations in different states, one of them being the one I worked at.

Was it devastating? Yes. It was. I had invested three years of my life in that company, working my way up from the bottom to a decent salary, benefits and seniority. And all of a sudden the company took it all away from me. The only decent thing they did was help us file our unemployment claims.

After about a week of moping around my apartment over my losing my job, I came to the realization that the only thing that was going to get me out of my rut was to get another job.

My job search took me three months. And I'm not going to lie to you. It wasn't easy. I was filling out applications and sending resumes and going to interviews and had nothing happen after that.

But then fortunately I found my present job through word of mouth. I got hired because of my experience in that field. I started at the bottom working part time. And after nine months of sacrificing, being there every day on time and focusing on what I had to do there, my status was elevated to full time. And I now enjoy a salary at the same amount I was earning at my last job.

If I were to give any advice, it would simply be that you've got to do what you have to do to get your bills paid and put food on your family's table. You have to do what it takes to survive.

Not every job is going to be your dream job. This job I have now isn't my dream job, nor was my last one. I personally don't think there is such a thing as a dream job or else everyone would be working it. What it is is a paycheck, and that's what matters right now.

The government can only do so much when it comes to job creation. It's not supposed to be a provider for you and your family. That's your responsibility, and you've got to face up to it.