Kevin Gowen wrote:

> Eric Takabayashi wrote:
> > Kevin Gowen wrote:
> >
> >> Oh man, another person who swallowed the "education is the key to
> >> employment" hook. Let me get this straight: After six months of
> >> unemployment, a person decides to worsen their financial condition by
> >> purchasing education?
> >
> > As you pointed out to me, education or those little pieces of paper
> > may be necessary to do what you want to do. You can't become a
> > registered nurse off the street.
>
> That's true, but if you apply that reasoning to John's hypothetical, you are
> describing a wholesale change of career.

Sure. That is precisely what I would do if I lost my job or did not like my
job. If I stay in Japan, I'd like to be a cook or farmer. If I go home, I'd
study to be a nurse. None of those would cost an outrageous amount.

> A construction worker who has been
> out of work for six months doesn't decide to go to nursing school.

They sure can if they have savings or some means of support. Luckily John and I
are not unemployed construction workers.

Ah. Just remembered. One Document '03 I saw was how elderly homeless men in
Japan were getting off the streets: they studied at school to become certified
home helpers for other elderly people. The salary was only 150,000 yen a month,
but it was better than being unemployed or homeless. I do not remember how they
funded their education, but believe it was not a handout, scholarship or loan.

> It is not
> particularly wise for a person who has been unemployed for six months to
> incur the cost of education,

But it was a real good idea for me to save my money while I enjoy a surplus for
me to pay for education and living expenses for a family of four, for at least
two years.

> unless they were unable to work in their
> previous career

Or were tired of it, or found a new career which had much more opportunity or a
better salary, like nursing would be for me, or were plain more interesting or
satisfying like farming or cooking would be for me.

> or any other career that would not require further
> education.
>
> >> Try jobs that don't require resumes, like retail outlets, convenience
> >> stores, and so forth.
> >
> > Or he could do what you said you did.
>
> What did I say I did? I say so many things, you see.

You didn't list your advanced degree, I believe it was.

> > It's not useful experience, but
> > my resume is much too long to fit on the suggested single page. I
> > would cut mine down to two or three jobs or references.
>
> That's what most people would do. References should be on a separate page,
> though.

The letters of reference are.