Nov. 6 (Bloomberg) -- Barbara Kilfoil of Keyport, New Jersey, who lost her job as a legal secretary in March, said she is “shocked” by the length of her search for a new position. Kilfoil, 58, is among the unemployed interviewed today, after the U.S. Labor Department announced that the jobless rate jumped to 10.2 percent in October and payrolls declined by 190,000.

“I never expected to be unemployed this long,” Kilfoil said. “I’m a single lady without children. To think of people who have children and are losing their homes is a very sorrowful thought. I’m holding on to my home barely, some way, somehow. It’s getting harder as the months progress. Eventually I will take anything in the job market that brings in a decent amount of money.”

Following is a compilation of the observations of some others who have lost their jobs since the recession began in December 2007.

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Jason McKinnon of San Francisco, a 34-year-old video-game software analyst, has been unemployed since April and plans to take night classes at City College of San Francisco. Last month, he ran out of unemployment benefits, which brought in about $1,400 a month.

“I’m feeling like there’s less jobs out there and more qualified people. So I’m thinking I need to be more qualified.”

“I’m feeling positive, but it’s just going to be slow. The situation we’ve gotten ourselves into is not going to change overnight.”

“It seems things will always right themselves, eventually.”

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Beth Rubin, 41, lost her job as a receptionist at a law firm in Southfield, Michigan, in October. The resident of Ferndale, Michigan, said businesses are closing in the Detroit suburb, including the local bookstore and her family’s print shop. She is selling her furniture and plans to move to Georgia, where the prospects may be better.

“It’s heartbreaking -- really, really sad -- because I’ve been here my whole life and never ever seen it this bad here. And I’m not hopeful for the people who live here in Michigan.”

“I have my resume on Craigslist and I’m trying really hard to get noticed from people in Atlanta.”

“I’m not seeing any improvement at all.”

“I’ve got a place to stay. I’m not worried about finding work down there. I have office experience and I know I can find a job anywhere. What worries me most is being able to adjust. I’ve been in Michigan and have to go to a new state.”

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Larry Reyna of San Jose, California, 27, lost his job fixing air-conditioning systems and heating units in December 2008 and has not worked full-time since then.

“Personally, it’s been really slow. There’s no chance for people like me to get started in business. It’s very hard to find anything.”

“I’m confident. I know I’ll find something, even if I have to go work at a grocery store.”

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Derek Green, 29, a carpet installer from Clermont, Florida, hasn’t worked full-time for two months.

“It’s very unusual to be out of work this long. The job I had before was for six years and I was never out of work for more than a month since high school.”

“You can’t be picky right now. Before I liked to stay in retail and I really enjoyed that. But as things are going right now, I just need a job in general just to eat.”

“It seems now that it’s more rare that you get a follow-up phone call. I try not to worry about it too much and stress myself out. My main goal is to get to the Army at the beginning of next year because that seems like more of a long-term plan.”

To contact the reporter on this story: Vivien Lou Chen in San Francisco at vchen1@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: November 6, 2009 17:27 EST