Ron* is one of the 30+ scholarship applicants we have received since launching Allies to the Out-of-Work. He's consumed by fear and feels like he's failed his family by being unemployed. Harnessing the power of the micro-fundraising site, Indiegogo.com, we launched a campaign to raise $10,000 that will give 100 long-term unemployed people a full scholarship to our Job Search Accelerator Program (JSAP). This program is helping hundreds of people find work. However, it’s not something we can give away for free. So, we are hoping to get donations from those of you out there who:
A) Have been out of work recently and know how hard the job search really is.
B) Know somebody long-term unemployed and want to sponsor them.
C) Care about getting Americans back to work and on their feet.
Find out how you can be an ally to the out-of-work. You can learn more about the program (and donate) by click the botton below: DONATE NOW ► For the next 3 weeks, we will share stories of those who have applied for a scholarship (see the application form here), so you can see how important it is that we get them the help they want and deserve, but can’t afford. Meet Ron: Q: What’s the hardest part about unemployed long-term?A: Long-term unemployment has hurt my attitude. I feel like I have failed my family and like I will never, ever dig myself out of this debt-trap or have enough to retire. Every opportunity seems increasingly futile and overwhelming as each new technique you learn brings zero results and just tells you, "you'll never learn enough to get people to even acknowledge you." With dying motivation and without the structure created by obligations, self-discipline deteriorates to self-condemnation and despair. Sleep eludes. You keep going because you have to, but you feel like a zombie.Q: What have you been doing to look for work so far?A: I've learned to write a value-oriented resume, create a value statement, tailored my resume and cover letter for each position, signed up for announcements or job searches on employers' career sites, studied new skills, found new titles that match my skills, learned more about networking (and gotten no further than that than with the other methods), volunteered, posted helpful information and comments on my blog, GooglePlus, LinkedIn, and Facebook, expanded my network, tried (unsuccessfully) to create a contact/employer/position database.Q: Why do you feel our Job Search Accelerator Program can help you?A: I hope the program shows me a system that works, gets me to start following the system, and helps me better discipline my time.CommentsOut of the last 39 months, I've worked 15, and that was only 30 hours/week. However, the P/T temp job ended in November, so I might not qualify. And in another month, I may be living out of my car.
