58 Year Old Recovered Addict Carpenter Seeks Work Advice And Counseling

by Pete
(San Diego, CA, USA)

I am a 58-year-old male who has been married for 38 years. I have 2 grown kids and 3 grandkids.

My wife works in an elementary school cafeteria.

I have been a carpenter for over 30 years. I also worked as a "Benefits Coordinator" for 10 years for a contractors association.

It was during the time that I worked for the contractors association that I developed an alcohol and drug addiction.

The high pressures of the job and the fact that addiction runs in my family eventually led to me getting fired from the job.

I ended up in a hospital for people addicted to drugs and being suicidal. That was in February of 2003 and I have been clean and sober ever since.

My clean date is February 25 2003. Needless to say, I have had a hard time getting work because of my history.

Because of my history and this recession that never seems to end, I have had a very hard time finding work. I am behind on most of my bills and I don't see an end in sight.

I still have a roof over my head but if this keeps up much longer, I won't be able to pay my mortgage any more. Bill collectors are constantly calling and I'm running out of excuses why I can't seem to pay on time.

I do side jobs, small jobs whenever I can. But lately they are fewer and farther apart.

I have countless applications sent out and I make phone calls all the time but nowadays it seems no one is hiring, especially when you are 58 years old and competing with 20-30 year olds looking for work.

It doesn't help that my old company that fired me for "misconduct" is a very bad black mark on my resume.

I don't blame them for their attitude towards me, because it was all my fault. In fact, most of the time I won't put them down on my employment history because it automatically disqualifies me.

I don't want a handout. I guess I just need work, maybe some advice and/or counseling. If there were some sort of assistance to get me by temporarily, that would be a big help.

I would like to do Remodel/Room Addition work as a General Contractor. I have the experience as a worker and a crew leader. I just don't have the money to get started again.