Linda Briones

* Age: 42

* City: Wheat Ridge

* Most recent job: Five years as operations manager for an automotive supply company

* Unemployed: One month

* Looking for: “I’ve looked at jobs from management to clerical. I’m interested in anything in administration, for a company or in government.

* Thoughts from the front lines: “I’m shocked. It’s very difficult this time. I’ve applied for around 100 jobs and I’ve gotten one call back. There are positions available out there but the employers are being inundated by résumés.

“The hardest part of being unemployed? It’s meeting the daily finances. It takes a long time for unemployment benefits to kick in. I worry about losing my house — my daughter and grandson live with me.”

* Job-hunting advice: “Be as patient as you can. Apply everywhere, even if it’s below your pay scale. Always have a good attitude.”

Mark Martin

* Age: 41

* City: Arvada

* Most recent job: Self-employed as a carpenter for the past 12 years.

* Unemployed: Since October

* Looking for: Construction work

* Thoughts from the front lines: “When new-home construction work fell off so much, I couldn’t afford the liability insurance any more that you have to have. I’m taking classes in business communications and trying to learn a new industry, something that can be steady. I’m living with my parents now so my expenses are less.

“The worst part of all this is the stress of applying for jobs. It’s much harder work looking for work than actually working. There’s also not the security of a paycheck. I’ve been working at fast food places. I fear becoming a burden.”

Michael Grimes

* Age: 30

* City: Englewood

* Most recent job: Cook in El Paso, Texas

* Unemployed: Since moving to Denver to be with girlfriend Shannon Thill

* Looking for: Cooking, warehouse, customer service

* Thoughts from the front lines: “I had to open my own business because there was no work. I haven’t even tried to get unemployment. They’re supposed to help me pay for a forklift license, get another trade.”

Tim Wynne

* Age: 42

* City: Denver

* Most recent job: Gutter installer/metal fabricator for seven years with same company

* Unemployed: Since the middle of January. “I was very shocked. They laid off everybody except one crew — from 60-something people to three or four.”

* Thoughts from the front lines: “It’s terrible. I filed all this stuff on the Internet and nobody could call me and tell me I did it wrong. I just found out by not getting money.

“It’s terrible for construction right now. It’s just awful. There’s just no work. I’ve talked to companies that cut their people’s wages to keep them on and they still had to lay them off.”

Jon Greca

* Age: 63

* City: Denver, recently moved from South Carolina

* Most recent job: Contract administrator on large construction projects, most recently a power plant

* Unemployed: Since May 3

* Looking for: Contract administration

* Thoughts from the front lines: “They started putting the projects on hold. (Workforce Development), they got somebody with a 20-year career, they don’t want to cross you over to something else. They’re kind enough to let me come in and use the computers.

“Right now, we’re not even getting interviews.”

Maxine Martin

* Age: 59

* City: Lakewood

* Most recent job: Medical sales for Hollister Inc.

* Unemployed: Since Jan. 6.

* Looking for: Medical sales

* Thoughts from the front lines: “I haven’t gotten unemployment since 1982. I applied online, and you have to come in here.

“My husband is a teacher. He teaches art at Green Mountain High School. They did say medical and teaching are the two safe things.

“I’d like to do the same thing. I have several headhunters. There’s some jobs, but there’s so many applicants for each, even with 22 years’ experience, it’s hit or miss. I tried to get a job at Starbucks or Great Harvest. They’re all in a freeze.”

Mark Jaeb

* Age: 52

* City: Longmont

* Unemployed: Two months

* Previous position: 20 years as a project manager in commercial construction and development

* Looking for: Construction management opportunities in Colorado but also in Arizona, Idaho, Wyoming and California. Also considering financial services, and marketing and sales of products and services.

* Thoughts from the front lines: “The credit crisis stopped most of our projects. The company laid off 70 percent of office support staff abruptly with no notice. I didn’t expect to be part of that group.

“The competition is extreme. There’s very little acknowledgement of my résumés and cover letters even being received. Employers are getting so many applications that it takes a long time to filter through them and respond.

“Being unemployed can make you question your worth. It’s frustrating and aggravating looking for a job, but compared to the alternative it’s not that difficult.”

Richard Maes

* Age: 50

* City: Longmont

* Unemployed: Since early December

* Previous position: An electrician building commuter trains in Fort Lupton. Before that a commercial electrician for 25 years.

* Looking for: “Electrician work, but I’ll take anything. I’ll do handyman work. I will wash dishes at a restaurant like I did when I was a kid.”

* Thoughts from the front lines: “I love to work. I’ve always worked. I need to pay my bills and take care of my family. It’s really tough. I’ve contacted contractors, but they’re laying off. They accept résumés, but there’s no jobs.”

“It’s a scary feeling, very insecure. You just have to hope things turn around. Thank God my wife’s still working.”

Hugh Borders

* Age: “60 plus”

* City: Longmont

* How long unemployed: Six months out of the past year

* Previous position: “I’ve been a carpenter on commercial buildings for 20 years. For 20 years before that I did residential carpentry.”

* Thoughts from the front lines: “I’m a union carpenter. I’m looking for commercial carpenter jobs and maintenance jobs for cities, counties and the state.”

* Comments: “It’s terrible. I’m a workin’ man. That’s what I know. I want to — I gotta work. My wife is disabled and she can’t work. I don’t have a trust fund. If I don’t find work by the end of the month I’ll have to spend half my unemployment check for COBRA medical insurance. And now I’ve been on hold on this phone for two hours and 36 minutes trying to talk to someone at unemployment. It’s asinine.”

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