Last year, I was wrongfully terminated from my job. I knew it should NEVER have happened, but I'm actually glad because they were inflexible and I could not be open to other opportunities in town. However, I've been having the worst time finding a job. I tried applying for a resort theater, but they turned me down after the all-too-common nowadays difficult application. (The same goes for a theater at the local college.) I've found problems with temp agencies as I do not have much experience in an office job despite trying to get certified as well as how badly the one I am signed to has NOT provided a job for me in the time I've been listed there. Even menial jobs (And I've had 10+ years in retail, which should count for something) aren't asking me for job interviews and it's getting me frustrated I have to keep saying something and it goes unanswered.

If any of you are in the same situation or have been, what are you doing? I need to get out of it as I'm losing unemployment benefits and I'm unable to finance myself to properly get started.

I was laid off frpm my pt job since late aug, but did get a paid extra role in an indie and a paid regular role for another project, and a 1 week temp job back in september.

Did you apply unemployment when you first lost your job?even pt jobs are hard to find. I'm starting to look outside the retail industry (not food, except for starbucks).

I did, but now I'm losing it. The worst part is, I live about an hour and a half from Chicago, and I never did submit my info to that extras company. I would LOVE to be paid for this, but I'm stuck with my parents and they're not really coming around to this very quickly.

There's always working for yourself.
Have you ever considered putting up an ad for say
Housesitting or Dogwalking or Cleaning Homes/babysitting (on weekends only) just a suggestion. By the way, the Airlines are always hiring (the larger ones anyway)

This happens many times that we don't get the job which we were hoping for and then even after trying for crappy jobs still no luck. You need to figure out which companies to apply for, prioritize them and then try, just remember that never ever give up on it.

Submit yourself for those extra roles in Chicago. The pay will be decent, and you will probably get free meals. You might also get to know some people in the biz and make lasting connections while on set. Here in NYC, I do know people who are currently stuck living in the 'burbs and make a similar commute into Manhattan for acting gigs.

Have you been looking for jobs in Chicago at all? An hour and a half commute is not that bad; I don't see what's so impossible about that. There are thousands of people who commute to Manhattan every single day with much longer commutes from PA, CT, upsate NY, and western NJ. There was a time when I was commuting to NYC from PA every day for a 9am-6pm office job, and it was 2 to 2.5 hrs each way.

Having the same problem. Haven't had a steady job since I finished a show in November. I've been doing temp work but the pay is abysmal and the work sucks.

I've just started getting help from the Actors' Fund in NYC. They have an office in Chicago if you want check them out. They offer financial assistance and counseling; and they have a work program in NYC and LA, to help actors find sideline jobs and career counseling...not sure if they have one in Chicago. But it's worth looking into.

Good luck!

http://www.actorsfund.org/serv...rs-fund-work-program

http://findlocal.chicagotribun...d-of-america-chicago