( – promoted by buhdydharma )
Crossposted at Daily Kos
Because of extenuating circumstances, I now find myself without housing. I will be leaving NY-19 (upstate NY) and goig back to New York City to be staying with friends for the time being, but I would like to solicit your help.
Problems such as poverty, unemployment and homelessness seem distant and something that doesn’t hit as close to home until they become your problems. With that in mind, I would like to ask for your help in caring for societies less fortunate going into this holiday season, as many of us will nnot be sitting down to Thanksgiving dinner in our own homes with our own families. Many will be going without this Thanksgiving and during the upcoming holiday’s, now more than ever, and I now count myself among them. Therefore, if you can give to the less fortunate, I implore you to do so, but first I ask you to help others even less fortunate than I before I dare to ask you for anything for myself.
Please donate to coalitionforthehomeless.org if you can, anything you can give is very appreciated.
As for myself, I will explain below the fold.
Regarding my own situation, there is only one thing I will be asking for, and that is a job.
I am NOT asking for money. I have too much pride to solicit in such a manner, and would prefer to earn my own way. That is why I have included the link above, because there are many less fortunate tha I who can NOT earn a living. YOu dollars are better spent there. I am capable of earing a living, quite capable, but I have struggled so to find employment that I ca live on in the last few months, and I would much prefer the kind of help that will allow me to earn my own way.
Simply put, I need a job. If anybody knows where I can get one in New York City as soon as possible, any help you can proviide will be greatly appreciated and reciprocated as much and soon as I am able to.
The type of work does not matter. I can do just about anything. Admittedly, I lack experience, but I am very capable, a quick learner, and a generally fun person to be around. I am honest (a bit too honest) and capable of selling just about anything. I am pretty much the best person anyone could hire. If you know of any place in the Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn areas that are hiring, please let me know of it in the comments below, and any other advice or wisdom that you can lend will also be gladly accepted.
In our two-income, low wage society, that are many people who are “Middle class” that are flat out struggling to get by, if not barely hanging on. I use the quotation marks because I do not believe there is a middle class anymore, there are simply haves and havenots. Among the havenots there are those who have some more than others, but everyone who may be considered a havenot is missing something and struggling in some way because of it. The haves do not stuggle. That is the difference. Imagine how many people are struggling on some level financially in some way and count that against the few who might be considered haves and you can see just how vast the poor victims of the class war really count in numbers. I now find myself, undoubtably, worse of than I was a year ago, 5 years ago, ten years and more. Our dual income society means that a single, semi skilled worker such as myself can not survive alone, thus the room-mates and the debt. Many people fall in love and stay together and get by just barely in the dual income society, others stay together out of necessity, because the struggle alone is too great. Others get roommates to get by. Somehow, they get by. But for many Americans, being single and broke means there are even less chance, less opportunity, less of everything in a county where everything goes up in price but your wages and it often takes two incomes to keep afloat one household. This MUST be addressed if the mythological middle class unicorn is ever to be realized again.
But I digress, it is a fools errand to search for meaning in the eye of the tornado. Better to look for cover, and work at as soon as possible how to survive while you are putting back together your house. I am putting back together my house, as our whole nation is, now that the storm has come.
For me, the storm has finally come. I will weather it, but I am not ashamed to say I could use a little help, for me and the many others like me. If you are capable of helping me or anyone else like me it is very appreciated, and, whether you know it or not, it is gratly appreciated, more than you will ever know.
Thank you,
MoT
P.S. ~ I am catching a train soon. I’ll try to stick around in the comments for a bit, but when I go I’ll only have my cellphone to look at the toobz, and the reception goes in and out. I will check the comments when I can, and try to respond to as many as possible.
Cheers
Update: Thanks for the love and advice to all. I have to run now, but I’ll try to keep up with the comments as cell phone coverage permits, and when I get back online later tonight I will do my best to retrun comments to everyone.
Cheers, and thanks. We are all in this together, now more than ever.
Peace.
Also crossposted at The Progressive Electorate.com
86 comments
Skip to comment form
Author
any and all help finding a gig in NYC or just plain old advice is appreciated.
You should apply at Talking Points Memo (link to Jobs page). You would be an excellent fit there. Even if you just get an internship – they would probably hire you afterwards.
Good Luck buddy!
that totally sucks, MoT. Jesse.
We just cant have this at all. And what if you DO go get a full time job? will we lose you in bloggyland?? oh noez!
I know it’s probably no help at all for the immediate, but yesterday I had a brilliant idea for YOU, and I posted in your essay here about it, and was joking around with TheMomCat.
Radio, internet radio, like Diane/WWL has on Fridays.
What if you got with your Progressive Electorate chum and did something like that? I know it would probably not provide a living but it might get you by while you pound pavement. There’d be some work involved to promote it and solicit “Donations” but it seems like a good idea to me, for real. You are already well known and much loved at GOS and those folks might go for it, to support your efforts. They already pay BillinPM but thats for blogging. This would be different. It has potential, I think, for you.
OTOH maybe Im nuts.
and what kind of work you want, MoT, but NightProwlKitty is in NYC, and maybe she has some ideas or pointers for you?
NPK?? You around?
Anyone else in NYC?
…
Best wishes, man…
http://newyork.craigslist.org/
Another Online writing gig…
You could be a Guide or Contributing Writer at About.com
They are always looking for people who are experts about specific topics. Base pay is $675/mo. with incentives for pageview growth. Check the list of topics they are currently looking for. If you don’t fit one you can propose your own – as long as it isn’t already taken.
as long as I have a roof, you do too. I mean it.
Work is thin in MI, too, but there’s always something. I know people.
You have my cell number.
L,
d
Greenpeace is looking for an online organizer.
Check the NOI jobs listings and Idealist for progressive/left leaning/green employers.
There is a steady stream of “online organizer” and other paid writing positions posted on the NOI job list which are based mostly in DC but there are some in NYC. Also, I think recently Firedoglake and HuffPo were both looking for people.
You also might want to consider volunteering at Democracy Now. they are also based in NYC (they recently moved offices so check their web page for the new location). Good way to network and get your skills known and out there.
teach.
That’s just one listing.
Private tutoring in NYC is big business. I know private SAT tutors (for instance) who make $200/hr+.
Of course, these folks have been doing it a while, but its usually not hard to get started with a company and build up a reputation.
You should definitely give it a look.
I empathize with you so greatly — I’ve had friends making good money, lose their jobs, now some are facing loss of their homes, etc. and I feel utterly powerless, other than to be of the best moral support I can be. As you say, we all struggle — some a little less than others, but we do struggle. Yes, there is NO so-called “middle-class” existent in this country anymore — it was happening over time, but the gas peddle was pushed to the floor in the past eight plus years to “git rid” of us!
I know nothing about the New York area, as I live in the Midwest, and only passed through New York, a few times. Here is Yahoo’s website: Hot Jobs! I have no idea how much it’s worth at all, but it might not hurt to take a look.
If I “bump” into something that seems more promising, I will send you an e-mail.
Keep an upper, MoT — I’ve been there, too!
will result in some new doors being opened for you.
I reside in the Pacific Northwest, so I’m probably further removed from the New York City area than most others posting on this site.
From what I recall about NYC, it seems that there are many unusual, niche-type jobs in that area.
Writing would seem to be your calling, however, if you need a few extra bucks to keep the wolf away from the door, there are some personal services jobs that I understand are fairly well compensated in NYC, such as dogwalking, housesitting (which at least provides a roof over one’s head), running errands for someone who might be wealthy but homebound, for example.
There are likely students at schools and colleges who may have some physical limitations (such as blindness, paralysis, etc.), who might need someone who can take notes for them during classes, read certain assignments out loud, etc.
A few months ago, there were on-call openings at a local state vocational/technical school for note takers. The hours were sporadic and the pay not all that great, but it might be a possibility. The school’s bookstore also hires additional temporary help during the beginning of each quarter to help with the increased workload.
I had a classmate many years ago who worked at a local mortuary while he was attending college, and was provided with his own apartment. His primary responsibilities were to be on the premises and take phone calls during the nighttime hours. Some people might not mind this kind of work, but, at least in my case, I’d need to be in pretty dire straits to consider such a possibility.
Although many positions have already been filled, working for the Census Bureau might also be a possibility.
I’m not sure if any of these might work for you, but thinking outside the box may be necessary at least for a while until you can find a job where your considerable talents can be put to their very best use.
Wishing you all the very best.
curmudgeon
I’ve had to drop out of the IT program I was in to seek certification driving forklifts just so I can get a job.
The funniest part of it, was that the counselor wanted me to check into things I already tried, ie, staffing agencies. After making $150k/yr, there isn’t a staffing agency out there that will touch me.
Will be up, way up. Temporary help will be hired.
Can you stand up? Can you walk? Can you be polite? Can you be interested in other people? – because you can’t really fake that 100%, and wealthy/rich people do want their servants to be pleasant if not interesting. OK, sometimes they want them to blend into the woodwork, but to do that, you need the “polite but silent” skill.
Alternatively.
I don’t know squat about cities that big, but try to find an entrepeneur, preferably one whose business would peak during the holidays. All entrepeneurs have peaks and most have valleys of busy-ness. FInd a way to network yourself into a network of entrepeneurs. Offer to be available to help them when busy. What will your job be? Whatever they need done.
Filing, walk the dog, sort tax piles, run products to FedEx or UPS, or… who cares, it pays, and it helps them. And you might get called back during the next busy peak, or for the next big project, if you are a good fit for that person.
I’ll tell you a way to make a living, that I’ve seen a need for dozens of times. Go to some sort of convention that has lots of booths. Home Show, Boat Show, Sci-Fi convention, anything at all. In advance scope out a few nearby businesses with good food. Get their take-out menus. Then go in, offer to various people working at the booths to go get food for them. Trust me… unless there’s a rule of “no outside food” brought in this will work. Even then, you could meet people outside the door of the place to deliver.
Have you read this book?
http://www.amazon.com/Raised-M…
I’m totally serious, get that book at library, or used, very cheap, and read it. It is SO positive, and you need that stuff going in your brain right now.
I think it has the scenario in it I’m thinking of, or maybe it was one of Ziglar’s books. E me for the incident, if you’d like to hear it.
There has to be some niche, some service people need that you can create a service, and sell into that niche, or something that someone’s selling that needs extra help at this point in time. (Holidays.) If you can sell anything, perhaps you can sell an employer on the idea that YOU can sell more of their stuff, if they put you in contact with the public and their products.
Suggest volunteering with Habitat for Humanity — for the contacts for other jobs. See if they have a warehouse.
Best of success to you!
and skills. Your a really good talented creative writer. You have impressed me with how in a relatively short time you have become a prominent voice on the net who seems able to advocate and your radio segment makes me think you can work across media formats. You are also good at self promotion, as your very personable, and politically (on a person to person level) adept.
Circumstances like yous and others in your situation are overwhelming and you tend to go into survival mode which limits your ability to see the road less traveled. When younger I moved to LA because there was work for artists I had a place to live and I was in dire straights as far as money went. I ended up taking the route of waitressing the fall back for creatives in LA. I also had a partner to help cover the rent. I took some classes in graphic design at LA city collage and eventually stared taking classes at Otis Parsons an art school.
This hooked me up to other working artists and most importantly taught me how to find work creatively and outside the box. I used their job board and actually went to other art schools around the area and used there job boards also. I had some weird jobs but eventually found a good position as a assistant to an album cover designer. I did everything from production to answering the phone. He gave me the design projects he hated mainly country western,lol.
I recommend that while in survival mode you take what you can find but keep looking where your heart and talent lies. You already have a niche, my mentor in LA once said to find work in art, think of it like a keyhole and you just keep inserting keys until you find one that opens the door.
I wish you well and know somehow that you will not only survive but be able to contribute to what you love and do well. NY seems like a really intense place to be in times like these but maybe it’s better to be in the fire rather then stuck in a place with no options. If it gets real bad please there don’t feel weird about asking the community for more tangible help.
You obviously have considerable right-brain skills, but if you also do well with left brain tasks, this might help you to survive during the transition.
There are at least a couple of national chains that specialize in income tax preparation who offer low-cost classes, and for students who demonstrate sufficient aptitude, offer jobs to those individuals.
A number of years ago, I did this as a strategy to supplement the income from my full-time job and was a few days from starting part-time when I received a great job offer in another city. Since they were a chain, I had the option of working there are well, but didn’t want to take on two new jobs at the same time.
I checked into it about a year ago for a friend and it seems that this option is still available, although the pay is not all that great.
Even though I took the income tax course over thirty years ago, I have always been able to do my own income tax ever since, and have recovered my initial investment many times over. If need be, I would take a refresher course and seriously pursue this option.
On another tack, if you have musical ability, sometimes there are opportunities to perform for weddings, funerals, etc. and although most churches have their own musicians, wedding chapels and/or funeral homes might be a possibility. There are also soloists and dance schools who need musicians from time to time.
Again, wishing you the very best!
a garden in the middle of a gawddam drought. Here’s to some blessed rain. Love ya, dude.
and I wish I knew what to tell you.
Don’t be afraid to lean on your friends. I know you already are, and I know it’s absolutely awful to do that, but I think most people understand what’s going on right now.
If I had a way, I’d help you out, but I can barely survive myself right now, and I’m 47 and have a family.
At least you’re young and can crash on friend’s sofas and the like!
When you look back on this, it won’t seem so bad. It really won’t.
Just don’t blame yourself for it, and keep your chin up.
It’s not your fault, and doesn’t reflect on YOU. Not one bit. You are not a “________”, you are you.
(I’ve always hated how in our culture people equate what you do with what you “are”. If I was ever on the Letterman show, for instance, and I stood up and Letterman asked me what I did, I sure wouldn’t tell him my job. The job is irrelevant. The person is what counts. The job is just a way to pay the damn bills).
I thought you did, but now I don’t see it.
Detroit is booming as far as film production work. It’s one of the reasons we’re all unemployed out here in Los Angeles. I heard they’re pretty much pulling people off the street, people with zero experience, to work on movies there.
If you find yourself there, you should go for that. Just offer to be a PA (production assistant), and see if you can get on anything, even for a day. Usually one day leads to the next day and so on.
but please contact me via my Daily Kos log in page at ezdidit at nyc dot rr dot com.
I know you need a job and will take almost anything, but wouldn’t it make this even more fun if you told us what you dreamed of doing, what would really light you up, and we in turn could support you to get that? I’d be totally delighted to hear your secret work dreams, aspirations, and I’d try to do what I could to help you get it, and and I’m sure everyone else here would also. Make sense??
teaching positions available. Some only require a BA or BS degree. In L.A., there are usally jobs in the tough areas of the city, but they pay around $200 a day. Probably the same is true of NYC. My son did this once when he was out of work, but in San Diego County. His BA was sufficient for teaching, but he made only $100 a day.
You might also consider checking out English as a Second Language Schools. Sometimes they don’t require certificates. Public Libraries also often have job listings that are up to date.
I know I get real stressed out when my son, who is well educated with a great resume, is out of a job. I wish you the best, hang in there, things will get better.
u sure i can’t send you a few bucks? u gonna be ok?
MoT’s friend alpolitics at progressive electorate posted this diary at orange with links to his site where he has a DONATE button there. He will be sure funds get to MoT directly.
because companies will need holiday help. have you ever been a cater waiter? catering companies are always busy from the first week of december through the 20th. what about macy’s? barnes & noble? have you looked at craig’s list? what about signing up with temp agencies? try glocap. also look at the website for the ladders – company that has a job board for positions $100k and over, styled after hotjobs. they have a large community (customer service) department and i don’t believe you have to have a college degree to be hired – just be articulate and get along with others. you also do not have to dress up to go into the office – kind of like a college campus. if the website does not say they need people, call the hr department anyway and/or email a resume to them. it’s a good working environment. a few years ago i temped there in the summer, working for the ceo, and i can think of much worse places to work.
if worst comes to worse, take one of those jobs handing out flyers – anything just to bring in some cash and make it easier to get through each day. i would also consider whole foods, even though i am boycotting them. sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do.
when you have yourself in a more secure place, i hope you will strongly consider pursuing a b.a. you might be able to get where you want to go without it, but it will be much easier when you have one. as i’ve mentioned before, you can get student loans and financial aid and manage to go to school in nyc. i know, i’m in a program at fit with tons of kids who are doing it right now. some of them are immigrants and do not have families to rely on either. my russian friend parks cars on weekends – you do what you have to.
because companies will need holiday help. have you ever been a cater waiter? catering companies are always busy from the first week of december through the 20th. what about macy’s? barnes & noble? have you looked at craig’s list? what about signing up with temp agencies? try glocap. also look at the website for the ladders – company that has a job board for positions $100k and over, styled after hotjobs. they have a large community (customer service) department and i don’t believe you have to have a college degree to be hired – just be articulate and get along with others. you also do not have to dress up to go into the office – kind of like a college campus. if the website does not say they need people, call the hr department anyway and/or email a resume to them. it’s a good working environment. a few years ago i temped there in the summer, working for the ceo, and i can think of much worse places to work.
if worst comes to worse, take one of those jobs handing out flyers – anything just to bring in some cash and make it easier to get through each day. i would also consider whole foods, even though i am boycotting them. sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do.
when you have yourself in a more secure place, i hope you will strongly consider pursuing a b.a. you might be able to get where you want to go without it, but it will be much easier when you have one. as i’ve mentioned before, you can get student loans and financial aid and manage to go to school in nyc. i know, i’m in a program at fit with tons of kids who are doing it right now. some of them are immigrants and do not have families to rely on either. my russian friend parks cars on weekends – you do what you have to.