I was laid off from my job as a website writer in January, so I have returned to freelance status. My newest venture is a column about the psychology of unemployment. It is published in a blog-cafeteria called The Examiner.
Here is part of the first story, comparing the laid-off generation to Woodstock, only humongously bigger.
Back in his office, as he filled a cardboard box with his things, tearful employees lined up to wish him well, and to offer suggestions for finding a great new job in the month of March, 2009.
"They seemed so innocent to me, suggesting there were jobs out there" Joe said. "And the only thing separating them from me was a five minute conversation."
March was the fifth tsunami month in a row. Almost 2 million people have been shaken out of the drawer of employment. The streets are full of them now, they are a city unto themselves, four TIMES bigger than Woodstock, and growing by the day. No one expects the shakeout to ease until the end of the year, at least.
In this column I am going to be telling people's stories about what getting laid off feels like, how they dealt with their emotions, what the odds really are of finding a job in the near future, and what resources are useful and which ones are not.
If you are out of work, or considering becoming out of work, or know someone who needs commiseration, dark humor, or any other form of stimulation, please give them, or yourself, this link:
I will only add that I make about two cents every time someone visits, so, on the off-chance that you are not compelled by weird stories of people who lose their jobs, you would be helping an American down on his luck.
Thank you and be off with you!