If I lose my job ...

[Jes]

My employment record pretty much goes something like this:

1. 18 Yrs. Old - Bank Teller; Abandoned job after nine months (I was a kid who didn't know any better)
2. 18 Yrs. - Temp Filing Clerk; Completed two-week assignment, then got offered job #3
3. 18 - 21 Yrs. - Bank Teller; Left on a very positive note to pursue higher education and try an opportunity as a legal assistant
4. 21 Yrs. - Legal Assistant; Resigned (effective immediately) after one month because the responsibility was more than I could handle during school
5. 21 - 23 Yrs. - Private Music Instructor; Dropped out of school during this time (wrong major) and eventually went out of business on account of the economy
6. 22 Yrs. - Co-Owned/Managed Successful eBay Business; Sold my stake after six months---too much stress
7. 23 Yrs. - Temp Data Entry Clerk; Resigned (effective immediately) after several weeks due to lack of transportation (car died, no bus routes)
8. 23 Yrs. - Present (24 Yrs.) - Temp Financial Analyst; I may get fired soon for medical reasons (OCD getting in the way of work)

Given my location (just outside NYC) and my history, do you think it will be difficult for me to find new work if I am laid off? By new work, I mean anything that will pay the rent---even retail.

[uberinquisitive]

You can ALWAYS find work - if you're willing to do most anything, no matter how "menial."

Can you move back with your parents?

What are you doing to keep your OCD is check?

[wolverine]

Emphasis the positives, not the negatives. When you state why you quit or stopped doing certain things, mention the reasons - no transport (hire car?), focused on study, medical issues (now resolved! -- important or they might think it'll carry on. if it's not resolved, don't apply for positions it will majorly effect). These are all reasonable reasons for not continuing. On the other side, look what you've achieved! You worked for 3 years 18-21 and left on a very positive note. You ran an music business and then an Ebay business! That's nothing small! It shows you know how to handle business stuff.

Work on your OCD. Work on finding something you're interested in, not that will just pay the bills. If you're interested in it, go back to uni, it'll do wonders for your resume! (Maybe try to get into a course where you can then get paid work experience, or even a scholarship from a company?).

Good luck!


Wolverine

[Jason S]

Your challenge finding work won't be location, and won't be your history, per se. It'll be the reasons you left your previous jobs: you abandoned one because you didn't know better; you gave up a successful online business because of the stress; you left another because it was more than you could handle.

When the going gets rough, you seem to abandon ship rather than try to find a way to work things out. THAT is what potential employers will be concerned about.

[ken nubo]

You can get a retail job anywhere dude. Given your past experience, getting a retail job shouldn't be a problem.

BTW, save as much money as you can for cushion in case you get fire :s

[BetterDaysTVnet]

hello, PM me, I do the same that you do now, only independetly, I'll try to see how I can assist you.

[BetterDaysTVnet]

get out of corporate america

[trader342]

Judging from your credentials I'm not worried about you OP, not only can you survive in the 'white collar' world, but it seems you are very easily adaptable in any context. Seems like even if you were a garbage man you would own your own garbage company in no time at all.

OCD is actually a good thing when it comes to work, but as you know it is about keeping it in check. I would hire an OCD employee any day, because their upside is huge. The downside of course is health, but you need to find a working environment where your employer can work with that instead of against, together to nurture your health instead of hold it back, to both work toward making life better.