A Quiz for the Unemployed

[donkeyjon]

I've actually stopped arguing online about unemployment, because it is obvious that the economy is pretty bad right now, and even skilled positions are difficult to come by. If you are in the construction or manufacturing industries, it's even worse. As such, if you are currently unemployed or underemployed, this will simply be another bit of

Comments

[uberreiniger]

I actually wanted to get out of the theatre major at K-State quite persistently. And the K-State theatre faculty regularly made it clear that that was a completely understandable decision for any theatre major to make... if you were a QUITTER. Unfortunately, not finishing what I start is something I can't stand so I fell for it hook line and sinker. Fortunately I'm willing to work at a low-paying job that undervalues me until I can afford to get to grad school for a degree that's useful and that I might even enjoy having.

[donkeyjon]

I think of you all the time when a post full of people on the political cartoon comm talk about how there simply aren't any jobs and they need to extend their unemployment. You were literally at a point where you had nothing, and you've been working your ass off to try to improve your situation, and these guys are basically using their unemployment as an excuse to smoke pot and bitch about the government

[uberreiniger]

Even busting my ass to find a job it still took me five months to find a job. That's about how long it took Lesley when the company she was working for closed last year too, so there is justifiable frustration for job seekers out there. But I really can't stand anyone who would have the unmitigated temerity to pass over a job because it's "beneath them." I sure wish I had the luxury of having jobs be "beneath me." Today I went and applied for a job that pays nine dollars an hour because it's a step up for me. Do the same or shut up and let me do it in peace on my own.

[rustie25]

Get a special education degree and you will never be unemployed...:) Focus on an endorsement in behavior disorders and you could do absolutely nothing in your job and they wont fire you because there is nobody to replace you! :) Not that I do nothing in my job, but I am just saying...
Do NOT get a teaching certificate in Social Studies or English...we are letting them go left and right.

That is what *I* know about employment!

[mela_chan]

I am getting sick of people whining about being unemployed. Eric showed me an interview with someone who does hiring, where they basically said that they're now not considering anyone who has been unemployed for six months. Because it's almost always possible for someone to get a job doing menial work, and those who are willing to work are the ones companies want to hire. I wish that people in America would, as you pointed out, be willing to be under-employed. Or heck, maybe look out for the other guy and be willing, as a company, to take a pay cut until things get better and maybe everyone can keep their jobs (or at least fewer people would be fired). I have a friend whose husband won't go find a job because he gets more in unemployment benefits than he would from any job he could find. And while it would suck for his family if he wasn't bringing in money, he does have skills to find and hold a job.

[anonymous]

I don't understand why sacrificing your hopes and dreams and innermost desires in order to make a quick buck should be upheld as a noble thing to do.

I understand that I could study English/History/Art in my free time. But if I have a learning disability that prevents me from majoring in anything math-heavy, and if the thought of studying business makes my very soul cringe, what's the best choice for me? Should I spend four years or more of my life killing myself, trying to study something I absolutely hate? something that left me in tears at the end of every class because I didn't "get it" and I couldn't "do it" and I wasn't "cut out" for it? Because it's "more useful?" Or should I study something that actually nourishes my spirit and makes me feel like I'm a human being?

[donkeyjon]

I have absolutely no problem with you following your dreams, as long as you realize that doing so means you must accept the consequences. I have several friends who are born teachers. They live for the opportunity to work with and lead children to knowledge. They understand that this means they simply will never make good money. They understand that the choice they made to teach was a choice to sacrifice that money for living a fulfilled life. Most importantly, they understand that it means they can't drive the new car, enjoy extravagant vacations, etc. that others might have. They don't think it's somehow unfair that those who made the opposite choice are able to do so.