Things are like this all over. But what I would suggest is this: Does he have another skill he can build upon and market? I just accidently fell into a gig as a freelance journalist. There's an online news agency that buys my articles and I don't need to travel. I do it all from my laptop, just reading the news and then writing smart-aleck opinion pieces about them. I basically do op-ed pieces. It doesn't pay a lot, but it's money and it spends. Now I fell into this totally by accident, but it was because I can write snarky political satire. So, what I'm saying is he should think outside the box and find other talents he's got and go after those markets.
You have to go into places and ask for a job whether they've got an ad out or not. Most jobs I've gotten weren't advertising when I went in. If you know 50% of what the job entails, you probably know 50% of what the people working there already know, dig what I'm saying? Just go in there like you own the place confident you can do the job. Make sure everything on the job app is perfect. One job I had, one of my duties was proof-reading the job apps. Spelling errors and omissions were an automatic discard.
Do your own thing. If people use firewood, cut firewood and sell it. If you can write, look into online writing or editing gigs. It doesn't pay much, but it's something. Now I went to a high school welding program way back in the 1980s. The only place I got market that skill at was this fly-by-night outfit that was making knock-offs of Nautilis exercise machines. But then I got tired of the drama in there and took a job with a defense contractor running parts. Then went in the army, got out from there and was driving a lumber truck in L.A. Then drove a tow truck on police rotation doing impounds, cleaning up wrecks, and so on. Then did electric tool repair, then generator repair, then worked into being a purchasing agent. My last job was selling raw silver and turquoise at this place that sells that. I knew nothing about it but taught myself all about it and knew more than the other employees by the end. You can sell ice in the Artic Circle if you know how to sell. Now I do this freelance journalism gig and all I have to do is read the news and lambast the appropriate parties. Is it perfect? No. But it's something and I just marketed a skill I had.
Don't get locked into doing one thing and become attached to that, even if that was your training. Adapt and move in new directions when that skill isn't in demand. Hey, it might come in handy in the future. But for now, find something else. That's why the queen is the most valuable piece on the chessboard. She can move in any direction. Hard to capture her. Find the biggest employers in town and I guarantee you they've got a couple slackers in there they're getting ready to fire. Be that guy that comes in and fills out the job app asking for a job without waiting for the ad to appear in the paper. You just need to know the basics of what they do in there unless it's a job that requires certs or licenses.
Just tell yourself you can do it and you can. With God, all things are possible.
