A friend of mine from church answered my request on LinkedIn, yesterday.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with LinkedIn, it’s basically a business version of facebook, where you can link in with others in your industry, or to those in others, which becomes very beneficial, in the event you ever find yourself out of a job, as your resume is right there on your profile.

This friend of mine from chuch suddenly finds himself out of a job, through an unexpected termination from a national company, after 26 years.

That seems to be happening more and more to people in our age group, 50 and above..

It is hard enough to find a job, when you are young. When you are, ummm, more experienced, shall we say, it’s dadgum near impossible.

Per thefiscaltimes.com:

In the past, more senior folks would typically seek out more senior positions, but today that’s not always the case. A 2009 CareerBuilder report found that 63 percent of workers aged 55 and older who’d been laid off had applied for jobs more junior than the ones they’d previously held. One out of every four companies surveyed received applications for entry-level jobs from workers over the age of 50, and an additional 11 percent got them from retirees. Moreover, in a 2011 CareerBuilder study, 75 percent of employers said they would consider overqualified candidates. “We’re now seeing people at all ages and life stages tweaking or changing careers throughout their lives, often repeatedly,” says Alboher.

I know what I am writing about, my friends. You see, from January 2011 – June 2012, I toiled away at a government internship,where I was employed (Praise God), but hopelessly underpaid.

Unfortunately, this scenario called “underemployment” will happen even more with the Advent of Obamacare.

Papa John’s Pizza announced earlier this week that they were going to lay off folks and cut others to part-time, in our to get out of having to comply with Government-ordered Health Insurance.

From the way the Liberals have carried on about it, you would have though that Papa John himself , lined all his employees up against a wall and pulled the trigger.

You see, instead of Obama’s brilliantly-conceived National Health System stimulating America’s Economy, as Nancy Pelosi and her gang of Professional Politicians promised us,  it will actually help to destroy it.

And that’s one area, Barack Hussein Obama needs no help in. Look at the damage to our economy he has done already…and the damage he is about to do to our pocket books.

Gerri Willis of Fox Business Channel reports

The president is convinced Americans need to pay more in taxes. Here’s what he said yesterday.

“I think everybody out there understood that was an important debate and the majority of voters agreed with me. By the way, more voters agreed with me on this issue than voted for me! So we’ve got a clear majority of the American people who recognize if we’re gonna be serious about deficit reduction we gotta do it in a balanced way.”

But let me tell you, come January 1, you’re probably not going to be happy with the amount of taxes you’re paying. That’s because it’s not just Federal taxes that you pay.

A middle class taxpayer pays 25% percent of their income in Federal Income Tax. Sounds, ok?

Then there is the Federal Social Security and Medicare payroll tax of 13.3%. You pick up 5.65% while you’re employer pays 7.65%. Add them up and that’s 38.3% of middle class family incomes going to Uncle Sam. But we aren’t done, not by a long shot.

According to the Tax Foundation, the average state’s income tax rate on the middle class is 4.82%. Of course, some states have it and some don’t, but we’re taking an average here.

Now the total: 43.12% of middle class income to taxes.

Oh, and I almost forgot, unless congress makes a move, Federal Income taxes go to 28% for middle income folks next year as the Bush tax cuts expire.

Yeah, Barry. Let’s tax the wealthy some more. That ought to encourage them to expand their businesses and hire more Americans.

My wife, Morgan Fairchild…Yeah…that’s the ticket!

So, what is the solution for those of us in our 50s, who are walked off the plank of the U.S.S. Employment, into the icy, black waters of a strange new business world?

Part of the secret is, to constantly re-invent yourself. Learn new skills. Become familiar with the New Technology.

I did, through that government internship. Now, I’m gainfully employed as a Vice-President of Marketing, using my skills in the Social Media to benefit the corporation I work for.

Most Corporations, while stating that they are impressed by your past accomplishments, want to know what you will do for them now and in the future, if you’re hired.

Here’s a tip: If you do not know how to use a Desktop Computer, learn how to…quickly.

Even Used Car Salesmen have to be able to enter numbers in the Company Database.

And, above all, do not lose hope.

Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.

Dale Carnegie

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (NLT)

Jeremiah 29:11

Until he comes,

KJ