Stories of the Unemployed

The average unemployed American now spends 35 weeks job-hunting, an amount almost double what it's been at any point before the Great Recession. And one thing that everyone agrees on: Even though more and more companies are hiring, people who have been unemployed for six months or more aren't getting those...

In the movie "Tokyo Sonata," a midlevel manager loses his job, but too ashamed to tell his family, hides the fact by waking up every morning, putting on a suit and going to job interviews instead. In the real life story of Martyn Goddard, a discount store worker loses his job, but too ashamed to tell his...

There's nothing like a 90-minute session with a resume maven to point out how little you know about your own accomplishments-or how lame you look on paper. I knew I needed help, but when Miriam Salpeter, a job and social media coach, began her critique, my head started spinning.

In most offices, if a worker repeatedly made sexual remarks and grabbed young females who were under...

In an investigation of a grocery store theft, police in Newberry Township, Pa., tracked down the home of 39-year-old Chad David Ryan. When they arrived, Ryan was unpacking several hundred dollars worth of stolen food, reports the York Daily Record. He then confessed to a string of armed robberies, showed...

I'd be lying if I said that I'm not worried about my age -- 51 -- being a problem in my job hunt, especially after working independently for more than a decade. But I just can't believe I'm doomed because of it. I have friends who've switched jobs, acquired new skill sets, and launched satisfying careers after...

Could I really find a job if I had a better Twitter bio? Or beefed up my Facebook presence? I have to admit I hoped the answer was no. I've largely avoided Facebook and Twitter even though I've had accounts for years. Here's why: I never know what to say. I'm uncomfortable being so public. I'm not...

Walmart's plan to hire more than 100,000 veterans comes with a major catch: Only those who have been honorably discharged on or after the plan's announcement on Jan. 15 will be eligible. (The official launch date is Memorial Day.) Which means that veterans who left service yesterday, or last week, will not be...

Gail Belsky is blogging for AOL Jobs about her quest to find a new job -- and reinvent her career. She will be posting every Monday. In the meantime, feel free to share your suggestions, thoughts and ideas in the comments section below. As part of my attempt to reinvent my career, I had my first consult with...