In August of 2012, I lost my job as a Sales Operations Manager.  I thought this will be like the other three times I've lost a job due to downsizing, and I'll find another one quickly.  It's now almost six months later, and I've yet to find a job.  I've had a few interviews and have received several phone calls from recruiters, but none so far have panned out.  Working in Ohio my entire life, I've realized that when you are employed by a business, you can be eliminated in a moment's notice without warning or even a plausible reason. 

I would like to leave the state, however, ties to my family and a special circumstance mortgage prevent me from doing so.  It's entirely too frustrating for me to understand how a person with fifteen years professional marketing and business management experience, and a Bachelor of Arts degree can spend almost six months searching for a job without landing one.  I'm marketable, darn't!  Or, so, at least I've been told.

Ohio is one of the highest foreclosure states, and one of the top states for unemployment.  In fact, as of November, 2012 1 in every 458 housing units are in foreclosure (national average is 1 in every 728).  Pretty grim.  I am grappling with the possibility of losing my home, however, the State of Ohio currently has a program called Restoring Stability, A Save the Dream Ohio Initiative (https://www.restoringstability.org/)  for those home owners struggling to pay thier mortgage do to unemployment, underemployment, or other extenuating circumstances.  My friend mentioned this program to me in November of 2012.  Before this, I had no idea it existed. 

I am hoping that the State will come through and help to save my home.  In the mean time, I am feverishly searching for a job, and relying on my faith (and my wonderful husband) to get me through.  Job loss and stress over not being able to pay my mortgage are two pretty big rocks to climb, and I hope that those suffering from one or both circumstances find my blog helpful, even if it is to know someone else is going through the same tribulations.