Mom can't find work in this economy, please help

[MichiganMat]

Hey all-

Im putting out a call for advice because we are out of ideas and this board has always comes through for me. My mom is in her mid-50s and has been working as a union electrician for the better part of 20 years now but she just can't find work. The jobs are not coming in, union or not, and she's out of ideas. She's been looking all through northern california for work for the past 6 months and nothing has turned up.

She's got almost a years worth of savings to live off of but the everyday grind of driving far away, interviewing, and ultimately being rejected is wearing her thin. What does one do in this economy?

I would love, LOVE, some advice to give her but Im out of ideas. If anyone has any ideas on what to do in this economy, please chime in, we really need it.

Best,

mat

[Porsche-O-Phile]

1. Get the hell out of Michigan (if she's there) or Kalifornia (if she's in CA as you suggest). There is NO CONSTRUCTION in Kalifornia. Opportunities are far better elsewhere. CA is dying and it's not turning around anytime soon. It's overbuilt and way over capacity in EVERYTHING. If you want to make any kind of money in CA doing construction, become a demolition contractor because eventually they're going to start knocking stuff down as note-holders continue to be bled dry by their vacant properties sucking the life out of them and they realize it's cheaper to hold a vacant lot than a decaying building.

2. Get the hell out of the union and become an entepreneur.

I'll stop there for risk of getting political. I wish her luck and future success.

[DanielDudley]

I would say she needs to make any kind of income right now.

[RoninLB]

if she's a licensed electrician I'd tell her to learn to service and install AC units

then make the rounds in her town with her new card and tell every store that she'll repair, replace, and service their refrig units 24/7

even a jerk will figure out that you won't have to call an AC guy and an electrician to do an immediate install etc

then you sometimes take the broken free unit home to repair and sell it used to the next guy

[vash]

PM sent

[Racerbvd]

I thought your buddy obama was going to get her a job

[RPKESQ]

How about a mobile small appliance repair service. Reusing, recycling is big now, so be sure to work that angle. Most parts diagrams are online now and so is parts ordering.