The pic on my diary is mine, taken 6 blocks from my home. I’ve been out of work since September.
UPDATE: After multiple requests and offers. I have set up a GoFund fundraiser for myself to help pay rent and expenses while I am looking for a job. Here is the link to my GoFundMe:
Need help to survive the holidays, please
Or you can send me funds via PayPal. My email address is jerichozwilson@gmail.com
If my memory serves me well, we are allowed 1 diary like this per month at most. I can’t remember the last time I posted a diary like this on DailyKos. But I’m very worried and more than a little scared so I figured it was worth a try. I have read since I was in my early twenties that when you are looking for a job, you should tell everyone. So that’s what I’m doing.
I live in Los Angeles—technically Hollywood. But if you walked out of my building, turned left and walked half a block across the street, you would be in West Hollywood. I’ve been working as a Coordinator or Executive Assistant in the entertainment industry since 2004. I just paid my rent and once that check clears, I’ll have less than $1,000 in my checking account. And that was after transferring all the funds in my savings account.
I do not own a car, but I have a bus pass (called a TAP card on L.A. Metro). I can commute to Burbank, Pasadena, Glendale, Studio City, Westwood, Santa Monica, DTLA and even the LAX area.
Backstory: I will not be bashing anyone in this diary. My last job ended after my boss told me he didn’t think we were a “match” (after 5 months on the job). I took the job contingent that in a few years he would be open to possibly helping me transition to a creative assistant or writing assistant role. I regret my decision because I left a very stable job at another studio and took a leap of faith hoping and praying it would work out. Though I would like to stay in my industry, I’m open to changing fields.
Again, I am not bashing anyone—just giving everyone here insight into what happened and my thought process. Now, I’m running out of money. I was not terminated; I voluntarily resigned. I’ve never been fired and it was very important to me not to have a termination on my record. Of course, that makes being eligible for unemployment highly unlikely. I did reach out to my last employer to tell them I’d like to submit a claim for unemployment, but wanted to know if they would contest it. I let them know it’s something I would only do until I found my next job. I’m waiting for an email to find out if the corporate office will oppose it or not.
In the meantime, I’m applying for jobs on LinkedIn and other sites, plus posting on Facebook and reaching out to friends. I’ve also reached out to friends in Hollywood. Now I’m adding DailyKos to the mix. FYI—all my experience has been on the corporate side (Television and Human Resources mostly, but also Legal and Finance). I’ve never worked in Production as it’s not the most stable source of work dependent on shows and films when they’re in production—but I’m absolutely open to it.
Though of course I would like to stay in my industry that I’ve loved and worked in for the past 18 years, I know I have to be flexible and open to other fields. I know not everyone on DK lives in L.A. But I’ve got 30 days until the rent is due again—and I know I can’t wait until the last minute to ask for help. I need to stay on top of things and ask for help finding a job right now.
I am determined not to set up a GoFundMe. I just want to find a job and work. I’m in decent health (HIV+, asymptomatic) outside of high blood pressure. If people are willing and able, I won’t decline offers of funds.
I am on PayPal and Venmo or able to accept funds via Zelle. But again, that is NOT what this diary is for and not what I am asking for. Still, I cannot be too proud to accept any and all help that might be out there.
Geographically, I realize posting this diary is probably a huge longshot as the DK community is a national group and not centered in SoCal or L.A. But I’m truly desperate and determined not to lose my rent-controlled apartment of 14 years. I’ve been homeless years ago before I got clean & sober (got almost 5 years now) and I will do whatever it takes to save myself and preserve my home. I cannot and will not go back.
Please message me on DK via Kosmail if you have questions or want contact info. I’ll be happy to email my resume to anyone who can help me find work.
Doing this is taking a risk. I hope it gets a good response. If you’ve read through all of this? Thank you.
UPDATE: I’ve had a few people offer to send me funds via PayPal. Please message me on Kosmail if you’d like my email address to look me up. And thank you to anyone at all who is trying to help me. I cannot thank you enough.