Dear John: I have an idea on how to pay the government workers who are working during the shutdown.
Why not get a consortium of banks together to loan the wage funds to these workers? These workers are guaranteed to get paid when the shutdown ends. These loans would have zero risk.
They [would be] backed by the full faith and credit of the US government. Where am I going wrong? E.W.
Dear E.W.: As much as I believe in the humanitarianism of banks, they don’t loan out money for free. So why would they go along with this?
Even if these government workers were given 1 percent loans, someone would have to pay that 1 percent. Who would do that? The government, which means taxpayers? Would the banks eat the 1 percent, even though the money given in those loans wouldn’t be available to them for real loans?
It’s good that you are thinking creatively, but I just don’t see this happening.
Dear John: I saw your column regarding M.H., who has been out of work for 10 years.
I can look at and redo his résumé for free. There are ways to wordsmith a résumé to hide age and build on past job experiences.
Also, tell M.H. to go to the library and get a book called “60 Seconds and You’re Hired” by Robin Ryan.
I have over 25 years of business-development experience, am disabled from a car accident and am totally bored. So I’d be happy to help! K.F.
Dear K.F. Thank you very much. I will pass your information on to the man who is having trouble not only finding work but also even getting interviews.
The problem is obvious: After 10 years of unemployment, he has probably lost his confidence, and employers are wondering why the guy can’t find something.
Sometimes people just need a nudge, and you might be the start of M.H. getting his footing back.
But readers, is there anyone out there who is looking to fill a position with someone who will obviously be grateful and I suspect will work incredibly hard?
Dear John: I hope that you will share this information with M.H. and anyone else looking for a job.
They may want to consider signing up with a temp service. Not all jobs are temporary. With so many people looking for a reason to sue when they get fired, it is no surprise that some companies don’t want to directly hire.
My godchild signed up with a temp service, with no experience and right out of college. He hasn’t been out of work since — eight years so far. My older, semiretired friend gets jobs as a substitute teacher through a temp service rather than dealing with several individual schools.
Years ago, I went through a temp service before a company hired me permanently.
Some of the jobs are actually temporary, but some can lead to permanent positions. L.N.
Dear L.N. Thanks for the great advice.
