Where are you at ?(what's you're JOB now) GRRRRR...

for me you are taking it the wrong way because of pride... lol... of course it would be normal for friends to ask that question especially if you were not seeing each other for a long time... others may ask about your love life and etc.. the best thing to do is to cutback pride then be honest and learn to be humble..

May i give you some phrases to make them go away, sweetie? Don't they have their own lives to worry about? Idiots. You will have more friends in life, not those kind that keeps on biting yours butt. Now, ignore them and do what you want not what they want you to do. TATA.

Don't get me wrong, LK. But I don't mind asking or being asked by those questions since it's very normal to be asked something like that. Though it will always be up to you on how you will take it (the questions). Maybe you are just not in the mood at that time. Or just to evade more questions, might as well answer it in a way where you could place an end. If I am not in the mood to answer or if I don't feel/like the person who's asking, I usually give answers like example, "Hey, Totally. How are you. Where are you working?" me: "In a working place (and try to match it with an expression like either you're tired or bored or not in the mood expression)" LOL It works everytime. Though I know it's a little rude but if I don't like the person who's asking, I never give good answers. And it's my life anyway. That person can she say whatever she wants. And chill, LK. I know you are secured with yourself and you're a good guy. If somehow you could be the subject of gossip as you fear, then you are REALLY something because they're talking about you. Chill, Big brother. Smile now.

This is a typical way of Asian greetings. Not satisfied with how are you, they add something else to make it more polite, maybe. Being jobless is no sin and does no harm to others either. Don't be tempted to say you are jobless but you should try to upgrade yourself and say you are your own boss. This might give them some kind of satisfactory answer and will not spiral into a grapevine gossip.

oh letran do not let it get to you., There are thousands of others in the same boat and feeling that same anguish and pain,Thoughtless people just do not have the sensitivity of a goat. The last thing a person who has been jobless for a long time wants to hear is are you still jobless? How stupid can one get? If you had a job you would be happy and smiling and already have told this person about the new job. I saw my own son go through this and he just got a job after a whole year and a half. I think its harder for a man as they all sort of characterize themselves'by their jobs. so when they do not any longer have a job, they feel lost, am I right? Beating yourself up Letran is not going to help, you need to be kinder to yourself.You come over to me as a very intelligent , sensitive person who may be expecting too much from yourself. Relax and one fine day soon you will land a great, super duper job. just wait a nd see.' hugs from hatley.

Hi, Knight. :) Why the animosity, dear? Are you trying to pick up a fight with somebody?LOL Kidding aside, I am one of those unemployed but I'm not jobless. Matter of fact, I got more jobs on hand than the rest of the world (so I guess) being a mother, a wife and a daughter (forget the other roles I play). It is annoying (at first) that an acquaintance back from jurassic world would suddenly surprise you with such question , especially when it seems to that person that you got more chances of getting a better job than him/her back then.But I get used to it. They are just too curious to know what has become of you, I think, it is not to gossip but to compare with themselves.Wanting to know if you have make it out there and if he has gone farther than what you have. I think we all have that kind of mindset. correct me if I am wrong.:( Well, other than telling them that I am a wife and a mother, I don't owe them any further explanation. No matter what I say, they will still think and believe what they want. So useless to really take this thing too seriously. As for you, Knight. You know yourself better than anyone else does. So don't let such questions or people get into your nerves. Have a lovely evening, dear.:)

Not really. But somehow that question give a bad impact as well... but maybe it is depending to the tone of voice, there are some friends of mine who sound so concern when sent me some message and asked me the same question... I even asked that too my friends as well, but there is no sound of making you self pity, but purely query and concern...

I hate that question too. But sometimes, we can't avoid asking about jobs because it's one of the main topic of conversation especially "having a small talk". But don't you worry about being jobless. Just tell him the truth. He might recommend you to someone and that would be a big help, right? Chill. Everybody knows that it isn't easy to find a job nowadays.

When somebody asks me a nosy question that I don't feel like answering, I just look at them & smile then say "Why do you want to know???" Most of the time that puts them on the defensive & you can skip answering their question. So you don't have to lie & for the ones you don't mind answering, you can always say "I'm a self-employed researcher I'm currently under contract to a company in the U.S. I work out of my house & boy is it nice not to have to leave home. I just LOVE it!!!." That's truly NOT a lie!!! You do research for your discussions here. You are self-employed. myLot is a company in the U.S. You do work for yourself. You do enjoy myLot & it is nice to not have to go out. Most people don't care any more about what job you have than they do as to how you are...they are just making polite conversation & probably aren't really wanting a reply!!!

I don’t have a job outside of what I do at home with my writing, MyLot and other sites and this kind of thing is not usually considered ‘real’ work. In my case I often get asked what kind of work I do and I reply with, “I do writing online” which is true and I generally get a ‘please explain’ look and then I am usually judged as someone who wastes time on the Internet. I don’t much care what people think of me but it is annoying; I’ve had friends make comments about the fact that my husband must earn a lot (I wish!) because I don’t work. Don’t ever feel ashamed of who you are and what you do or don’t do. I would just answer truthfully and let go of the judgement...The question may not always have ill intent.

hello Letran, Uhmnn,i remember my cousin who works abroad asking me same question(ugh,i cares nah?..) She asks me this question "hi coz,i thought you're in London right now" I answered "oh,why should i care going there and work hard when i m receiving my allotment from my mom " Who wants to stay home doing nothing ok? I know my networking is not doing good due to this global crisis,and my perfume business is just enough to cover up our monthly expenses (not to mention educational expenses) Thanks to my mom who is always there to rescue me (that gives our cousins envy..oh my,she's our mom anyway ) Well,why they can't mind their business alone?

I don't know if its a cultural thing, but Filipinos sure know how to stick their noses into other people's business - and for what? Just to have something to gossip on. I am sometimes guilty of that, not knowing how to greet someone whom you have not seen for a long time, I fall on the old reliable "how are you and where do you work?" I never thought it could touch a raw nerve. Why not think of either a ridiculous or vague answer to questions that you frequently have to field? Like, yeah, I'm an online writer and I am here looking for a story. Or I was checking up on PNoy's accomplishments - I am his boss, did you know? Or say something to shut them up - why are you going to give me a job right now? On the other hand, you can look at these times as networking opportunities or opportunities to renew friendship. Ask them how they are and then turn around and gossip about them too.

Sometimes people usually ask this with no ill intentions but sometimes they do too. I'm a bit like you Letran, I'm still in college while my colleagues are working and earning now. Before in every reunion I don't show up because I really don't want to encounter such questions but I'm not that insecure though. I just don't like answering such questions and see the look in their faces after giving my answer. Now I do show up every time there is some gathering of friends and I say I work online and if ever I graduate soon I'll work both offline and online and you know what they suddenly become the most interested people eager to know how to earn online and I just say "If you don't have much time for it just don't bother for it will not make you rich" while giving a teaser of my earnings online I feel its not too late for me landing a job when I graduate and I know it is not too late for you too my friend. If you need some support in boosting your self esteem and eradicating the shyness in you we all are here to give our 2 cents and help you through everything. I'm not shy but I'm afraid employers might reject me because of my age, before, but now I don't care I will find myself a good paying job and that's it I don't care even if I'm underemployed what matters is I can sustain for myself and my future family. We shouldn't let our weaknesses hinder us in something we want to do. Screw the people who always tries to undermine you. Think of them as someone you can overcome and the next time you see them you might be richer than them

Filipinos have that attitude of being so indifferent especially if they see that you are penniless or jobless. I can feel that humilation too because I'm jobless too. But what we do to that is just to ignore them. Stay as what you are are and please, please find a job,,,,,

I don't answer friends who have nothing better to do. I don't ask people what they are doing, rather I wait for them to open up. If I were you, I would not be bothered by people who ask me theses type of questions. I don't know what kind of job you are looking for, but I'm sure you will find a job that will suit you soon.

LOL I soo know what you mean. Perhaps if I ask a peso every time someone would ask me that, Id probably be rich right now. Just a recent graduate myself, most peers, past teachers/professors, and parents' friends would ask me how I am, where I am at right now, and the bottom line: where am I working. Personally, I really dont know how to answer that with all seriousness. I mean I do have work without pay because we have a business. Im not really employed in the truest sense of the word, but Im also not unemployed. So with that, whenever someone asks me that Million Dollar question, I just say ("jan lang po gilid") "just there on the side". That could roughly mean anywhere, everywhere or nowhere. Of course I say that with a bit of humor and a toothy smile. My teachers would just laugh at my quip. My peers would jokingly say "Me too!", and parent's friends would just laugh out loud. That's just how I handle my complicated (un)employment status, I guess.^_^

Maybe Letran it's just a matter of interpretation, it depends upon who's the person asking. Others whom you think are good friends may not mean anything, mind you they too are jobless and thinking you might be able to help them in your job assuming your working. Although there are really other persons who would like to know your status to compare with them. Old acquaintances also asked me that question knowing how active and productive I was before with real estate business. I simply replied as "I'm now working part time, if there are friends and relatives who's interested to buy, then I go to work, if none I just stay at home". So that would answer them and stop asking.

Well it shouldn't embarrass you to say that you're unemployed, although the person should be embarrassed for ASKING in the FIRST PLACE. With all of the economic hardship we've had recently..They could at least ask HOW ARE YOU? or HOW IS LIFE? instead of such a prying question. Of course if it's a traditional custom to say this, then it probably won't change.

I also hate that way of greeting people but I am also guilty of that sometimes, but my question would go something like this, "Where are you based now?" We just want to know how people are, have they moved, or what keeps them busy now? I think to some it is kinda insulting or too intruding. Asking people where they work can be rude. And who says that everybody has to be other people's slaves or workers? We can be our own boss, so if someone will ask you where you work, just say at home, you work at home. More and more people are doing home-based jobs now in the comforts of their homes. You don't have to be a slave to the clock or to anyone.

Oh how I know this feeling well, as this is the first time I have ever been unemployed, and well you know all the friends disappeared also, so fortunately I suppose I do not have to answer to any of them. I do several online activities that earn me a few bucks and I also do integrity shopping so if I am asked if I am employed I suppose I can say I do independent sporadic contracting work. So there you can use this too.