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I've always been a fairly optimistic person. I just go about life assuming no matter what happens, things will work out in the end. So when I recently started noticing signs that things were starting to get a little better "out there" (financially), I thought it might be my imagination.

When I mentioned it to my husband, who's more of a glass-half-empty guy, he said I was dreaming. But evidently I'm not the only one.

• The Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index recently reported its highest level in almost three years. The Comfort Index is a measure of how people feel about three things: the economy, their own finances, and their willingness to buy things. No one's exactly jumping for joy, but we're inching back toward our comfort zones.
   
• A recent Gallup Poll asked job seekers if they believed they'd have a job within the next four weeks: 62% of those who'd been looking for 10 weeks or less said 'yes'! Longer-term job seekers weren't feeling the optimism quite so strongly: Only 33% of people whose job search had lasted 11 weeks or longer thought they'd be hired within four weeks. 

So how do you feel about your job search prospects?

Please answer the Pongo Poll question in the left margin, and then feel free to leave a comment below to elaborate or vent. (Be sure to mention how long you've been looking for a job). 

RELATED LINKS
March is Optimism Month: Be Positive!
10 Inspiring Quotations for the Discouraged Job Seeker
Feeling Rejected? 7 Tips to Take Back Your Happy Place

I am pretty discouraged because of reports in the newsmedia that Corporate America will not interview candidates who have been long-term unemployed [even those of us through no fault of our own]. Even if they are not so blatent in writing it in the position announcement, I can tell you that there are positions that I have applied for that I know I am being "weeded out" because of my long-term unemployment. Personally, I do wish employers would be upfront - we're not going to consider the long-term unemployed. That way, I wouldn't waste my time applying for a job that my resume is going to hit the round file. It would be more efficient for both sides. And, I would also let my voice be heard by no longer purchasing their products or services.

I did everything right - I studied hard in high school, went to a great state school, got good grades, worked hard, sucked up, got promoted a few times, earned a good amount of $, fancy titles and then, one day, boom!

Now, because of my long-term unemployment, I am branded an "Untouchable."

So, yes, I'm pretty frustrated and discouraged. The government may print the unemployment numbers getting better...I suspect, the numbers are getting better because the long-term unemployed are just giving up, dropping out of actively looking or have exhausted their unemployment benefits.

God Bless President Obama for extending Unemployment Benefits.

@Anonymous in Atlanta

I suspect there aren't nearly as many businesses automatically screening out unemployed candidates as the sensationalizing media would have us believe. It simply doesn't make good business sense.

I've spoken to some business owners who actively seek unemployed candidates, almost as a backlash. But as always, I think most employers just want to hire the person with right combination of qualifications and fit, regardless of their current employment status.

I don't pay much attention to the unemployment numbers either. I pay attention to the fact that I'm starting to see "Sold" stickers on real estate signs again, a few more new cars driving around, and more people in the mall parking lots. If people are buying again, businesses will eventually need to hire again to meet the increased demand.

In the meantime... yeah, it still sucks. But the pendulum will swing back.

Thanks for your comment! Good luck

Julie

P.S. If you're a Pongo subscriber and you need some resume tips, our Customer Support team is really knowledgeable and helpful! Give them a call or an email -- their contact info is at the top of the page!

Well I seem to make it to a certain level in the interview chain but when it comes to the top I'm rejected...and I know it's because of my age and the fact that I have been unemployed for over 2 years-very discouraging. And I don't see it getting any better. As my husband says, pretty soon I'll be saying, "...do you want fries with that?"

For me, I went back to school. I researched the career prospects and chose Cardoivascular Technology. I just graduated and I can't even get a call back because I don't have work experience related to my new degree. Now what?

@Jennifer,

It really depends on your GEO location. You might have to relocate. My brother's wife used her military surgical technician experience to find a job in Denver. They had to move from California to Denver.

Your medical degree is valuable. However, you need to find a position that will train you to gain the experience. It used to be that experience was secondary to education. Now the two reversed.

It is possible for you to work another medical job while you find a volunteer or even a part time position related to your cardio degree. You would be a good candidate to work on a CCU unit.

You could consider building a website to help others while also making revenue in result. I hope everything works out for you. Good luck!