By the third week of my new found unemployment I have succumb
to the realization of numerous unspoken facts.
The first realization thrust upon me is that the system is set up to
keep you from lying, however, built inherently into the situation is the
mounting pressure to lie.
1) The Truth Takes Time.
Now, I know this doesn’t sound quite right
but hear me out. The first thing unemployment
requires is that you look for at least 5 jobs a week. Easy enough, right? Not, really.
Because to enable you to do this properly I keep a journal of what jobs,
when, where and all that stuff. This is
because you are actually 2-3 weeks behind when filling out you claim
information. I don’t know about anyone
else but I know I can’t remember all the information that well weeks later. I mean what if the State actually checks up
on me then I am guilty of fraud.
Here in lies the problem, the State doesn’t
ask for much info. So you could pretty
much say anything and save allot of time not searching and writing it down, writing
all the cover letters and following up on the longshot job you are applying for
because you are still hopeful.
2) The Truth Hurts Your Chances.
This again goes against my ethics. I was raised and still believe that telling
the truth is the best thing you can do.
The truth will set you free. Of
course it also can make you overqualified to be underemployed. And this is the real problem you start to
find about the third week of looking for a job.
If you have a good resume, good references and an overall good job
record you are inherently screwed in the present economy, short of having an “in”
on a job. This is because you start
applying for jobs that pay more than unemployment does but do not cover you
monthly bills. You are seeking to be underemployed
just to keep the mortgage and car payments a float.
The truth is that by seeking to be
underemployed you are actually overqualified and thus your chances are
dramatically hurt. Employers know that
you can get something better and will most likely leave; it’s just a matter of
time. So the situation pressures you to
lie on your resume or application. The
only reason you are seeking to be underemployed is the people more qualified
for higher positions are taking the job that you are actually perfectly
qualified for. And thus the vicious
circle perpetuates cycle of carnage against the human psyche.
3) The Truth Will Be Rejected.
By the third week I have started to
actually receive my unemployment check.
WOW! I have never found myself so
excited to make lower than minimum wage before.
Now if only the other assistance
would kick in. Oh ya, I sent it all in
and they don’t believe me and want more verification. If I would have lied I would already be
eating steak every night with free health care.
But of course I didn’t lie, and I only want the assistance actually
really help my family temporarily.
Somewhere around the 20th day
the depression/frustration set in. The
lie/truth of the situation being that I cannot provide for my family. The longer I am unemployed, the stronger the
feeling grows inside. Festering, causing
a caustic attitude to everything I do and say.
It comes out sometimes at when I least expect it. I am so very grateful that my wife has been
very understanding. Lately she is the
one who takes the brunt of the emotions since we are both home together so much
now.
Thanksgiving came and went. And while I had a good time with all the family
being together I still felt like a hypocrite for I am not very thankful this
year. Christmas came and went, and even
watching my granddaughter and her happiness of the magic of Christmas for one
of her age does not overcome the disease growing inside of me caused by the brokenness
of the situation. I know people who use
the system and are doing better than I who have no intention of getting a
job. But I won’t lie on the application
and the gov’t tends not to reward people for the truth. I guess that has always been my problem. I tell people what they need to hear and not
what they want to hear. I just don’t
have it in me to follow the impulse of the system.
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