I lost my job of eleven years back in June 2009. I managed to get a seasonal position that year, but when that ended in January 2010, I couldn't find paying work (and yes, I tried McDonald's and WalMart and all of those jobs I couldn't afford to take). After a year-long job training course in 2011, I spent the last several months seeking work in my new field.
Today, I landed a job. It's in my new field, which is great, it has benefits and a 401k, and the pay is pretty good. I'm a little nervous because this is usually a job that requires experience, but HR says that they've had success with students from my school when they've taken this position, so they're willing to take the risk.
Wow. It's just been so long since I've had a real job, I don't know what to do with myself. Sure, I'll miss the daily episodes of Bonanza, but I'm really excited to do something productive.