Job Discussion Forums

[Tarkus]

I am a single, 48 year-old male in excellent health with a valid passport, birth certificate and Social Security Card, and who has undergone a TNAC(Truth National Agency Certification) Investigation and was cleared as being safe to work around both adults and children. In other words, there are no felonies or drug convictions on my record, and proof of this is available.
This was the result of my all too brief employment at the navy base.
What would be the use in posting a resume?
I have held three jobs these last seven years, none of which lasted longer than five months.
Before that I spent eleven years being homeless as a result of being unwilling and unable to tolerate any more medication.
Violent seizures would occur about every three months. Luckily there were no serious injuries as a result.
At age 40 the seizures stopped.
I do have some proficiency with computers, and am a First Dan in Tang-Soo-Doo.
Admittedly this is what might be called a "chequered past", and most potential employers shy away from this.
Also my funds are very limited, in other words nonexistent.
I have my own separate place and work for my parents doing all sorts of handy man type work.
The saying "beggars cannot be choosers" seems appropriate.
I will take a job anywhere as long as its not the Middle East(I would prefer to remain in the living condition. Thank you).
"Why would anyone want to leave such a cushy situation? Your parents aren't very demanding employers, are they?"
No, they're not, but they also seem to be totally unable to accept the fact that this is the year 2007, not 1950. For weeks at a time they're the only people I have any actual contact with other than a group I play bridge with once a week.
Obviously the air fare would have to be paid back, and am hoping to find an employer willing to pay it, and let me work it off, but do such employers exist?
Any and all suggestions will be most welcome!

[tedkarma]

You don't say anything about your qualifications - do you have degree? Any training?

You also don't say anything about what you would like to do. Can we assume teaching English?

AND - where would you like to go? Tis a big world out there.

Can't really help you much unless you address those issues first.

[SocratesSon2]

Well first of all what medication, was that for your seizures?

If the seizures stopped when you were 40, and the meds were for that, why haven't you worked steady since then?

As for whether or not you can get work here? Let me ask you a few questions. Are you white? Do you have a pulse? Can you speak coherently?

If the answer to all of the above is yes then you are 100% qualified to teach here. What are you worried about?

[Tarkus]

(Thought I had already posted a reply, but it does not seem to have stuck, or maybe it was a case of hitting the wrong button. Once more with feeling.)

tedkarma, you're right it is a big world out there.
As far as previous employment, most of my work has been painting, landscaping, and building maintenance, and have never been afraid of manual labor.
My guess would be that my ability to teach English would be better than most regardless of certifications or the lack thereof.
Why? The method of teaching the alphabet, then how the letters sound, followed by the vowels ,blends, and dipthongs, worked extremely well in elementary school back in the 60's, so its at least possible that this method would work for anyone else.
And then there's the fact that I like people and would greatly enjoy human contact.
As for location? Any remote village in Asia on or near the coast with a tropical or subtropical climate would be great! And the more remote, the better.
Granted, the usual amenities such as a hot shower and hot coffee may not always be there, if they are there at all, but eleven years of homelessness taught me to do without.
Socratessone2, I have worked off and on for this lady who owns a business park, but during the winter things really slow down.
If I have been without seizures for seven years without taking anymedication, then why can't I get a job? Does the name "Fox News" mean anything to you?
With my own eyes after reciting the details of some heinous sex crime, Shepherd Smith practically jumped up and down shouting,"A single male! A single male!".
Six airlines have a policy of making sure that no man traveling alone is ever allowed to sit next to a child.
The hysteria is beyond belief, and the George Edenfield(you can google his name) case has only served to make things worse.
I can and would be more than happy to fulfill any long term contract in order to pay off the debt incurred by air fare and the cost of getting certified.
The next step is to find someone willing to do that and/or work out an acceptable arrangement, and this is the purpose of this thread.

[Glenski]

[SocratesSon2]

I would ignore Glenski, he is speaking more about how things "should" be then how they actually are.

I do however find your thoughts a bit naive to say the least. Truth is being taught back in the sixties is not going to give you any special insight into how to teach Chinese to speak English. If you have no prior teaching experience, you have a lot of studying to do. If your intelligent and resourceful you should be able to find all you need to prepare yourself.

I don't get what being single and 48 has to do with not having a job. Are you saying people will not hire you because they find a single man of your age strange to the point of paranoia? While America has indeed gone down hill, I don't know if it is that bad yet. It sounds more like an excuse for deeper more personal reason you may not wish to discuss or face. I say more power to you, those are your issues, and personal indeed. However if you come here expect to be asked such questions, as posing the questions you have gives people a certain right to ask such questions of you.

Excuses aside though, you may fit in well in China, hard to say really. However it's not so difficult really. Not if your a novice anyway. I tend to take teaching seriously, and will spend a great deal of time and thought preparing. There are two kinds of teachers here. Those who can teach, and those who can not. Both do equally well, often with those who can not teach so well doing better. Looks and charisma, as well as how good you are at making friends with the Chinese you work with, have a lot to do with it.

If you want to come I say go ahead. I'm not going to try too hard to discourage you, preach at you about qualifications and such. That kind of talk is not realistic to the present situation. Good luck.

[Glenski]

[SocratesSon2]

I was simply speaking of china, as was the OP.

[Tarkus]

Socratesson2, my knowledge if far too lacking to ignore anybody.
To answer your question, Glenski, no I do not have a Bachelor's Degree.
Socatesson2, how do you explain the fact that that two acquaintances were hired who both had convictions for drug arrests by Wal-Mart and Publix, I have no convictions, yet cannot even make it to the interview stage.
Could I have tried harder? Probably, but like anyone else, being told,"No" can get pretty old in a hurry, or worse, when the lady doesn't even look at you as you hand in your completed application, is a pretty sure sign that you are not going to get the job.
Also, personnel managers are concerned about what other people in the company think, especially their bosses.
"Hey, why do you want to hire this guy? This other guy has a wife and kids. He should be the one to get the job."
Also, it helps to belong to a church, or have family that is in the military, because of the navy base.
I don't belong to a church and have no family in the military.
If he wanted to and because he works for them, my brother could probably get me a job for the city or county, but he does not.
You're probably right about having to throw out what I know, or simply think I know, and have to completely start over again from scratch, but that is easily done.
As for my "appeal" or "charisma", how could anyone assess that other than actually meeting me in real life?
My parents live right next door to my brother and his kids, so its not as if they're being abandoned, and my parents love their grandchildren.
Teaching English In China? Sounds good regardless of the radical alteration in my lifestyle and living conditions along with probably having everything I know or thought I knew thrown out the window, but learning new things makes life fun and interesting.
If I sold everything I owned, the cash might come to seven or eight hundred dollars.
The car is not mine to sell. In any case its a fifteen year old Mercury Tracer that leaks oil like a sieve.
I should spend more time clicking on those links in Tedkharma's post, but it seems there is always money involved, and my only real assets are myself, my labor, and the fact that my health is excellent.

[Glenski]

[SocratesSon2]

Whats your point?

[MGreen]

Use a recruiter! I hate to say it or even recommend it, but in your situation I would go through a recruiter. I think that's your best bet in gettting someone else to foot the bill given your qualifications and skills.

[Glenski]

Socrates,
The "point" is that you were wrong in saying the OP was speaking of China.

MGreen,
Don't recruiters charge a few hundred dollars (something Tarkus barely has)?

[MO39]

[Tarkus]

My likes and dislikes are irrelevant.
Anyone making the first offer that appears to have at least a semblance of being both reasonable and legitimate will get an acceptance, and while my enthusiasm for the Middle East is not all that high, I will not rule it out.
MO39, how does one get in touch with a recruiter in China?
Is there some sort of listing for them?
For what its worth, I also like like to ride a unicycle, and even have a "giraffe", which is the term for a unicycle with a raised seat and a chain.
The seat is five feet above ground.
Is there any chance of earning money somewhere doing that?
Look, I am desperate, and am not ashamed to admit it.