Originally Posted by Skippy

I had a rather frustrating and unproductive interview with an employment agency this morning. However, I could probably have left with a job shoveling gravel into a ditch for a gas pipeline company if I wanted to. I didn't because the state of Nevada is willing to pay me the equivalent of $10/hr to do essentially nothing (aka "unemployment compensation") and the pipeline job pays $10.88/hr. I don't think an 88 cent raise is adequate for me to go from doing nothing to genuinely busting my butt. OTOH, if I didn't have unemployment, I would have jumped on it.

Then I went over to an HVAC company and applied for a fleet mechanic position. I told them I'd do it for twelve an hour.

BTW, I have a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering.