What to do when a layoff seems like the end of the world

Marcus Tolero is about to graduate.  Again.

He was full of hope after graduating with a BA in journalism from San Francisco State University in 2003, landing a full-time job at a community newspaper after a three-month internship.

That led to another internship at one of his city’s most prominent, glossy magazines, then a full-time public relations job at a small, boutique firm.

Tolero was pursuing his passion — writing — and polishing skills, such as fact-checking.

Then the 2008 recession hit; the p.r. firm lost clients; and Tolero was among a few young workers laid off.

“Everything got turned upside down,” he recalls. “It was the first time I had been laid off in my life.”

It was such a blow, Tolero acknowledges now it was difficult to know what to do, when unemployment was climbing in San Francisco.  All his friends had jobs, were getting married, and starting families.

He was 28.

“I took a year off,”  says Tolero, now 31. “I surfed and biked, stayed healthy and active.

“Financially, I knew I had to start over again. But I just didn’t want to go back … that was the toughest part.”

Tolero spent so much time searching for work, and tapping social media, that he took a lesson from former client, digg.com.

“They were doing some really cool stuff — they were pioneers in social media — and I was looking at all these websites, to see how they function,” Tolero says. “That’s how I decided to go back to school.”

Tolero registered at City College for a certificate in web design, plunging into a field he admits was daunting.

“It was a big leap,” he recalls. “I was nervous. Could I do it? It was something I’d never done.”

While other friends were enjoying the gains of early careers, Tolero started over again, learning humbly how to be a returning student.

“I had to make a lot of sacrifices, financially and time-wise,” he says. “But my mentality was so much different. At 18, you don’t really know what you want to do. You’re at school for the scene.

“But this time, I knew I wasn’t there to party. My mentality was much different. I don’t consider myself a computer whiz. I never knew how to design anything.”

Tolero’s answer to this struggle?  “If you’re faced with something tough, you just have to do it. I’m studying really hard.”

He’ll graduate this spring with a two-year certificate in web design and multi-media graphics, in a city where dot.com jobs have led the surge in end-of-recession employment.  San Francisco’s “beta city” economy is known for such successes as Wikipedia, Twitter, craigslist and Salesforce.

“It’s exciting, but a little nerve-wracking. I’m wondering how I’ll do, up against the guy who comes out here from Harvard with a (web design) degree,” Tolero says.  “I’m optimistic because everything is mobile — there’s such a big demand for mobile applications.

“There are definitely more opportunities in the Bay Area now. A lot of companies are looking for designers for mobile (apps), and the Bay Area is in the forefront of technology and social media.”

Tolero says his post-B.A. years have taught him to be flexible and network more, and keep building marketable skills.

“I’m still debating whether to go for more training after I graduate. Am I qualified enough? You never stop learning,” he says, with enthusiasm.

“I’m having a lot more success networking — more than I did the first time at school — and I’m hoping, I would love to, get a job in a small design studio, an intimate studio where you have a little bit more on your plate.  I want to be able to design a website, from functionality to typography …

“I pride myself on my work ethic,” Tolero emphasizes. “If I don’t understand something, I’ll try to figure it out myself. If I have a deadline, I’ll work hard to finish it early, then I’ll refine it, do the follow-up.”

Tolero’s networking already has paid off in a pre-graduation community project that has big potential beyond San Francisco.

It’s called Chinese Whispers, about disenfranchised workers who built the railroads that spurred American industrialization, and were a huge, yet unrecognized part of the Gold Rush that transformed San Francisco.

Something like young workers just getting their start in San Francisco — a city so rich, the average annual income is estimated at $115,000.

“I’m not overly optimistic,” Tolero insists. “After everything that’s happened to me, professionally, I would say I’m optimistic, with some skepticism.”

His goal, after a second graduation?

“Just get a job.”

Hoover Wind on working retail, getting film degree, working at non-profit

I was laid off in ’08 from a retail store where I know my work suffered from my anxiety of having just graduated with a degree in film without any connections to that industry.

As much as I loathe the retail system (it’s wrong to mistreat and belittle people simply because they’re serving you), I don’t blame Wall St., Obama, the banks, etc. for my unemployment.

I was messed up, and trying to get myself together, after graduating, and the end of a toxic relationship.

I try to be a moderate, but after two years of collecting unemployment while I tried to stay afloat, I have to say thanks to the state.

And thanks to all my friends, who were helping me, because they’re taxpayers too — as they were all too eager to remind me.

The job search was muddled, clumsy and never all that comfortable.

Sometimes, I would wear a shirt and tie, and show up for interviews that were nothing more than promotional seminars that took two-hour intervals out of my life.

Other times, I would go to some business student’s start-up; get a vague description of the job, and a vague description of why I’d be suitable.  They wouldn’t seriously consider me for the job, but everyone was polite enough to through the motions.

After awhile, I realized I was not only resting on my laurels (which were nowhere near strong enough for leaning), but I was trying to find suitable work in an area in which I had no interest or skills.

I knew I could write.

I knew I could write, direct, and act, but my skills seemed so anemic, I never bothered to pursue a career in the entertainment industry.

I finally took an internship at a film production company in Philadelphia.  I learned various skills about being assertive and polite with people on the phone, networking, data entry, promotions, merchandise distribution, and DVD copying.

It was character building, and I got to live in an actual city.  (I live near Atlanta, Georgia.)

However, I was painfully lonely, never felt connected to anything, and acquired the general malaise of my old paying job.

I currently freelance for my family’s non-profit, no one hungry, and I do things I could never do in retail or as an intern.

I collect food from the market; take it to our house for sorting; then deliver it to churches, food banks and food co-ops, for women, children and families in transition.

I’m proud that we move a ton of food a week.  I’m the only paid worker (part-time), among a dozen volunteers.

I work as many hours as I want, but I also try to work as many hours as I can, because it never feels like an assignment or a mandate.  It’s just something I should be doing anyway.

Sometimes, I have to make small talk with people, and sometimes I have to play a Honda Civic-sized game of Tetris by figuring out how to get x amount of food in my car.

But it’s always rewarding, because I believe in the cause for which I’m working.  I mostly interact with my family and friends, and I always feel pride in what I do.

My real goal is to be paid to be funny in any capacity and in any medium.

In the meantime, I’m hoping to work full-time at no one hungry or for a company of equal purpose, friendliness and organization.