MinnEcon Blog

Work. Found.

Some found their dream job. Others found just enough work to get by for now.

We checked in recently with folks in MPR's Public Insight Network who told us in the past they were searching for work. An earlier map showed those who told us they were still looking.

Some of it's great news.

Phil Soucheray, a Network source from Eagan, told us he'd landed a job as an internal communications writer for a major company.

This is a great fit for me. At age 55, the process of getting the job was challenging. I relied heavily on my contacts in my network...I also know that it required a certain level of "campaigning" through that network...It took several months of effort. But it has certainly been worth it.

We asked him and others about the experience of searching. Soucheray told us, "One of the biggest (surprises) was that, while age seemed to be a factor, I was able to land the position without having to do something to hide mine (e.g. hair coloring).

Others told us they found work but still needed to keep searching.

Beth Jensen, a Network source from North St. Paul, told us she'd landed a temp job but planned to start looking again.

In my extended family we had four people get laid off and all were college educated. I also think that emailing or job websites didn't help at all. I'd look and look and all of the jobs were sales related. I had much better luck with the smaller websites, nonprofit job searching sites.

"For many people my current job would still put me in the ranks of the unemployed," said Stephen Cheesebrow of St. Paul. His new title: Househusband.

"I have a number of friends, who at first giggled at the idea, have now found themselves in the same situation that I am in," he adds.

Believe me, Stephen, anyone doing that job knows how hard it is.