NY unemployment benefits ending soon - zero job offers after 4 months of interviews

I hear you. Its brutal out there. I've been looking since March and finally landed something last week but its a temp position paying way less than I was making before. The competition for every single job is insane right now. Have you tried amazon warehouse jobs? They usually hire pretty quick and the pay isnt terrible for a stopgap.

After 2 months of getting nowhere with ny unemployment phone lines and email support, I tried this service called Claimyr. They basically call and wait on hold for you, then connect you to a live agent when someone picks up. Talking to a real person finally got my benefits extended by 13 weeks! Best money I ever spent to avoid losing my apartment. Check out their process here: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE

Have you tried doing gig work? DoorDash, Instacart, etc? It's not great money but it can help bridge the gap. I've been doing that on weekends while still collecting partial unemployment and job hunting during the week.

This whole system is broken. Companies are "hiring" but not actually hiring. They post jobs, collect applications, do interviews, then decide they don't have budget or hire internally. Meanwhile NY unemployment acts like there are plenty of jobs out there. Then the benefits run out and we're all supposed to what...starve? 😤

Check if you qualify for SNAP benefits (food stamps). That can at least help with groceries while you figure out the rest. Also look into local food pantries - they're not just for homeless people, they're for exactly situations like yours.

You might qualify for an extension! I was in the same spot 2 months ago and found out there's a 13-week extension available if you meet certain criteria. The problem is you HAVE to talk to someone on the phone to get it approved. I spent 3 weeks trying to get through the phone lines with no luck. Finally found Claimyr (claimyr.com) which is this service that calls unemployment for you and connects you when they reach a human. Got through to an agent in about an hour who reviewed my case and approved my extension on the spot. My payments started again the next week. The unemployment office never tells you about these extensions - you have to specifically ask. Other things to try: - Check with your utility companies about hardship programs - Apply for SNAP benefits - Look into rental assistance programs - Consider temp agencies that can place you quickly - Ask about deferring student loans if you have them The job market is brutal right now but don't give up. And definitely try to get an agent on the phone about extensions before your benefits run out.

Temp agencies saved me when I was in your shoes. They can usually place you within days, not weeks or months. The pay often sucks and benefits are non-existent, but it's money coming in while you continue looking for something permanent.

Anyone notice how the job market is supposedly "hot" according to the news but everyone here is struggling to find work? Make it make sense 🤔

have u tried reaching out to previous employers? sometimes they might have positions open up they havent posted yet. thats how i got back in after being on ny unemployment for 5 months

sell stuff on ebay or facebook marketplace. i made almost $1100 last month selling things from my apartment i dont need/use anymore. its not a long term solution but can help get you thru a few more weeks

Did you check if you're eligible for any extensions? NY sometimes has extended benefits periods during times of high unemployment. You have to call them to find out though - the website is useless.

When my benefits ran out last year I started doing odd jobs on TaskRabbit - furniture assembly, helping people move, etc. Made decent money and it was flexible enough that I could still go to interviews. Just an idea!