Chronicles of the Unemployed
The unemployed's perspective
The one thing in life I consider my biggest setback is not having a good job - or the lack of it. I've always wondered how it feels to wake-up every morning eager to get to work with a spring in my steps. I've always thought that I'm worth more than the compensation I had received in my past employments. Let me count the ways and blow my horn: intellectual, multi-talented, hard worker, team-player, nice personality, spiritual, and easy on the eye too (uhurrmmnn!). And yet, I can't count the days and nights I looked up the sky and cried to God, "Why can't I get a good job?" or "Why can't I get a job?" All I wanted is to do an excellent job on any task I am assigned, and get recognition for it. But why oh why can't I find my dream job! Does it ever exist?
We have been enduring economic turmoil for many years now. Everyone is wondering when will it ever end. There's no relief on sight. Experts say that the current economy has never been seen in the history of mankind. The government tried what they could to boost the economy based on US history, but we keep falling back to square one. The deficit is now in trillions. The experts have proven that they aren't experts at all. Three years ago, economic experts predicted that our economy has no choice but to improve in the next two years based on the logistics. Three years have passed and the economy is barely budging. In fairness to the incumbents - they tried. But not enough. I got excited with the holiday pentup spending activities only to be doused back to reality by gloomy economic forecast. More layoffs ahead from big companies, and government budget cuts including education, which killed my chances for getting hired as substitute teacher. Yes, I've been applying everywhere.
Early on, I was told that good things happen to good people. Church sermons perpetrate this belief. As a result, I felt guilty on every little mischief I committed. Growing up, I was guilt ridden in many ways like: not going to church, telling "white" lies, covering up for somebody, negative wishful thinking, etc. Now that I'm approaching my retirement years, my perspective has changed (I'm a slow learner in this aspect). For one thing, the world won't be an interesting place to live if everything is predictable. Good things don't always happen to good people (hello!), just like bad things don't always happen to bad people. Otherwise, what we consider terrorists would have been caught by now and rendered capital punishment. Then we wouldn't have to worry about homeland security, that's if we live in a perfect world, which doesn't exist.
Just five years ago, $10/hr seemed real low for an administrative position. Nowadays, professionals and college graduates with bachelor's degree would kill to get paid that much. Oh how times have changed. I just finished my stint with one of the biggest retail stores in the US, and I was shocked to find out that for $9.25/hr, I was the highest paid seasonal employee. Why was I paid that "high?" Oh, I just have over 30 years experience in sales. Yap! 30 + years in sales experience armed with bachelor's degree and management and business ownership to boot. And all I could settle for is $9.25/hr. I thought the interviewer lied to me when I was told their most experienced employee is not even making close to $10/hr, which I was trying to negotiate. I also realized they never intended to keep me because I was too expensive. No wonder I was asked how my husband's job is. Do I hear "What we're you doing there?" I want a job - period! And oh, I couldn't even get a job as Medical Assistant (I graduated last year) even with a "Valedictorian" attached to my credential. Oh well, at least it gave me a bragging right. It's the most expensive bragging right I ever had in my life.
Let's face it; if it's tough for new college graduates to get a job - what more for people approaching senior years, or you maybe there already, with long list of credentials. There's just not enough jobs to get around with. On the bright side, as of 1/2011, the employment rate has dropped by .5% - yeeyy! Let's keep our fingers crossed that the drop will become drastic in the nearest future. Hang in there!
If you have any similar story.....please feel free to share.
