Mary Ann Downs of St. Louis insists on remaining positive, even as she continues to weather a jobs market that has taken its toll on her career in recent years.

Downs, 54, worked more than 20 years for a company that provided business printing and mail services -- until it closed in August 2007. After a brief period of unemployment, she found another full-time job in the printing industry but was laid off in early 2010 after that company acquired another firm and reorganized.

As she continues her search for a new career, Downs works part time at a retail store and takes on other temporary jobs, including a four-month stint with the U.S. Census Bureau last year. Since January, she's had a short-term callback from her old company and has served as a "tax season" administrative assistant with an accounting firm.

While the St. Louis economy continues to slowly dust itself off, Downs is still living in the aftermath of the Great Recession -- one of the region's laid-off white-collar workers who have taken "survival jobs" that are well below their skill levels, at wages that are far less than they used to make.

While some may view this type of employment -- or underemployment -- solely as a means of bringing in a few dollars or stretching eligibility for unemployment benefits, Downs considers it a part of her overall jobs search strategy: To keep on working, even if the jobs are temporary and for less pay, because it's one more way of networking -- of meeting people and staying in the game.

And these days, she says, employers seem to be putting a lot of weight on the referrals made by their current employees.

"It seems there are more jobs postings, but in some ways all the rules have changed," Downs said. "I really feel that something's going to come through for me and when it does, it will be through networking. Because my background does not fit with what a lot of companies are looking for."

Because Downs has worked for smaller companies -- under 150 employees -- she offers a wide array of experience and qualifications: supply-chain and account management, customer service, computer software implementation, employee supervision. Just about any aspect of business management a company might need. But she admits it is tough to translate all of her different experiences into rigid online applications, and her bachelor's degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia is in an unrelated field: food systems management.

"The printing industry is changing, but it's not growing, so I'm not targeting the printing industry," she said. "And it's hard because my experience is broad, and trying to change industries is not easy."

Because she believes her employment experience isn't a fit for corporate America, she is concentrating on small businesses. She took the job with the accounting firm -- even though she was overqualified for the position -- partly because she was advised to contact CPA firms because they know local businesses that are hiring.

"It's a great way to get to know people," she said.

The Value of Networking

Downs believes that it is vital to keep a positive attitude, and she advises out-of-work St. Louisans to take advantage of the employment resources that are available, including various networking organizations. Downs participates in various groups, including GO! Network and Businesspersons Between Jobs.

Still, she can relate to people who are uncomfortable about networking.

"I didn't want to have to look for a job again. It's hard to get out there," she said. "It's scary. Particularly, if you are in a field where you tend to be more isolated --like the IT [informational technology] person who's been sitting in a cubicle for 10 years. It's very difficult for them to make this switch and all of a sudden go out and start meeting with people who aren't IT people."

Downs says that people who are in the same employment boat don't make judgments.

"There are people out there who are still embarrassed not to have a job, and they don't want to ask for anything because they're embarrassed that they lost their job -- even though it was through no fault of their own," she said. "And that's pretty sad. There are people out there who do not tap into the services that are available."

Downs says that job seekers need to look for additional resources targeted at their skills level and not rely on the Missouri Career Centers, which are overwhelmed.

"They can't be everything to everybody," she said. "And they have to help somebody who doesn't know how to use a computer and someone who has a master's degree and has been working in the computer industry for 20 years. In a sense, their services are more tailored to the person who doesn't know how to use a computer."

Falling out of the Middle Class?

Downs said she attended a panel discussion that helped her put the current employment world into perspective. A human resources professional referred to periods of employment as the time spent between job searches.

"In this economy, you really can't count on a job," she said. "No matter what position you eventually attain, you can't expect that it's always going to be there."

Downs, who is single, said that she has managed financially so far, partly because of the equity in her home. She hasn't had to tap into her 401k, but she said her finances have grown increasingly tight.

In her retail job, Downs said she sees signs that the middle-class lifestyle still exists for many Americans.

"I see a lot of young mothers coming in with young children, and they're spending money. I'm not saying they're not watching their pennies, but they're not as pinched as I've felt at times," she said. "There are still people out there who are making good money. This recession hit different people in different ways, and, obviously, there are many people who are affected. But when you consider that the unemployment is rate 9 percent there is still a good percentage of people who are employed. And in many ways this hasn't touched them."

Looking back on her career path, Downs said she wonders what would have happened had she made different choices. Her job, after all, was in one of the many industries that has been hard hit by the advances of technology.

For now, though, she keeps working. Where some might see a survival job, she sees opportunity.

"Hopefully it will work out," she said. "It has to be an opportunity. I have no choice."{jcomments on}