Highlights:

I have lived long enough to understand that the best time of your life is just after you realize that it’s not all about you. I have been a mother for six years and instead of pouring myself into their every need, I have learned that taking care of myself is the surest way of showing them how to take care of themselves as they grow and learn. My dream job is to become an Obstetrical Nurse. I am only one year away from becoming an LPN, which is one year away from being an RN. I came to this decision after I went through the experience of child birth myself. I found that there was a number of nurses lacking the compassion and tender care that is missing in people today. I feel like I am the kind of nurturing person that could help new mothers feel settled and hopeful before taking their precious baby’s home. - Susan Herrera

Cooking, cleaning, babies crying. Ever since I’ve been little all I’ve wanted to be is a housewife. I love the idea of staying home with your kids and think being a mom is an extremely important full time job in itself. It’s such a silly dream job to have, but is realistic for me. I love the idea of being able to wear aprons all day and not having to rely on someone else to watch my children. I also love mysteries so I guess a dream dream job would be to be a spy like Nancy Drew! I’m going to school to become a teacher however I still hope to become a housewife once I’m married with children! It’s what I think about when I’m overwhelmed with school. - Kellie Conklin

In the mid-‘80s, I attended several science fiction conventions with presentations by various studio publicists. In the days before the internet and Powerpoint, they gave updates on current movie and television projects complete with slide shows and sometimes behind-the-scenes video and film clips. I thought that would be the coolest job in the world, and I still do. I have gotten close – I worked for the Sci-Fi Channel when it was in development and I was able to attend some science fiction conventions as a presenter. I now work as the Marketing and Public Relations Director for a community theatre, but I still dream of working in the bright lights of Hollywood. - Auriette

Contest winner:  Amber Gibson

My dream job would be to travel the world as a freelance journalist and food critic. I would go on adventures to remote places in the world and try the most exotic and bizarre foods that nobody has ever heard of. I would have my work published in Travel + Leisure, AFAR, and National Geographic for starters. Occasionally I would even be invited to appear as a travel and food expert on shows on the Travel Channel or Food Network. Maybe i would get to be a recurring guest judge on Iron Chef! Eventually, I would become a B-list celebrity and be invited to dance in Dancing With the Stars and I would of course, win!

Have you ever felt like you do not belong in your current position?  What do you really want to do in your life?  Submit a short description of at least 100 words what your dream job is for a chance to win $15 cash or a $15 Amazon gift certificate.    Here are the ways you can enter:

1) Submit your entry as a comment on this post.

2) Write your entry as a post on your own blog and link here.  Old blog posts on the  same topic are welcome.

3) Send your entry by email to ineedajobnownet@gmail.com with the subject “My dream job”

All entries are  due by 11:59PM Pacific Time on 12/27/2009 and one winner will be chosen on 12/30/2009

Happy writing!

Official Rules:

No purchase necessary and no entry fee is required.  All entries must be original works written in English.  Plagiarized material will be rejected.  To be eligible, works must be at least 200 words typewritten on the topic “What is your dream job?”.   Entrant will retain all rights to their work but agree to let I Need A Job Now publish their entries in part or in full on the website.  The contest is open to all who have access to a valid email account.  Entries must be received by 11:59PM Pacific Time on 12/27/2009 and will be judged by an independent panel of judges.   There will be one winner and  the prize is $15 cash delivered by Paypal or a $15 Amazon.com gift certificate.   The winner will be announced on 12/30/2009 on the website I Need A Job Now at http://ineedajobnow.net

Initial jobless claims rise 17,000 to 474,000

GOP’s Job Creation Plan

Need a job? CEO Obama still seems like a strong employer - Jobs are in Washington D.C.

Nation’s job picture improving, but not for young adults and college graduates

The Homeless are Where Jobs Vanish

Obama pushes new stimulus

Job openings edge down as employers hold back.

California Failures:

Forecasters see high California Unemployment until 2012

Aging computer system holds up unemployment checks to 117,000 Californians

Unemployment Rate Unexpectedly Drops

Staffing Stocks Up on Drop in Unemployment Rate

Unemployment Leaves Experts Optimistic

Great FAQ about unemployment benefits from the New York Times:

Answers about unemployment benefits: Part I

Answers about unemployment benefits: Part II

This means that those states that now have more than 8.5% unemployment will extend benefits by 13 weeks.  States and territories affected are: Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. The states are: Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Washington, Wisconsin and West Virginia.

The First Step to Your Dream Job - Are you really satisfied with what you have now?

Where to find the fattest paychecks - Is it time to relocate?

US Banks shelling out big bucks again - I guess the bailouts are really helping them out

Buy American protectionism hurts American workers - Protectionism never wins.

California extended unemployment benefits

Florida extended unemployment benefits

Kentucky extended unemployment benefits

Illinois extended unemployment benefits

Indiana extended unemployment benefits

Michigan extended unemployment benefits

North Carolina  extended unemployment benefits

Ohio extended unemployment benefits

Oregon extended unemployment benefits

Rhode Island extended unemployment benefits

South Carolina extended unemployment benefits

Tennessee extended unemployment benefits

Companies in the U.S. cut an estimated 742,000 workers in March, pointing to no relief in sight for the labor market amid the longest recession in seven decades, a private report based on payroll data showed today.

The drop in the ADP Employer Services gauge was larger than economists forecast and the most since records began in 2001. February’s reading was revised to show cut of 706,000 workers, up from a previous estimate of 697,000.

From the San Francisco Chronicle:

The bill, which passed on a 38-0 vote, would allow the state to draw up to $3 billion in stimulus money. Schwarzenegger is expected to sign it soon.

California is among more than a dozen high-unemployment states that need to make changes in its unemployment insurance system to qualify for the additional federal money.

The bill extends the maximum time Californians can receive benefits from 59 weeks to 79 weeks.

From Washington Post:

The Bureau of Labor Statistics said the jobless rate rose from 7.6 percent in January to 8.1 percent in February, the highest rate in more than 25 years. An estimated 12.5 million Americans were unemployed in February, the data show, an increase of 851,000 since January. More than 4.4 million people have lost their jobs since the recession began in December 2007, U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis said.

From MarketWatch:

The consensus of private forecasters is for the unemployment rate to get close to 9% next year, with some forecasters looking for a 10% rate. The Federal Reserve doesn’t expect the unemployment rate to fall below 7% until 2011.

If you still have a job right now, you are still in the majority.  There are companies still hiring out there, but if you are unemployed you need to somehow beat the competition.