Could job insecurity make us more compassionate?
Tags: economy, job search, jobless, laid off, unemployed, unemployment
Remember when the phrase “the war on talent” meant you might actually have some clout out there? When you could negotiate terms of a job offer and a compensation agreement?
Now that unemployment numbers have brought about a major cease-fire, the best and brightest are no longer hard to find behind enemy lines. They’re gathered in Starbucks armchairs across the continent, laptops in hand, browsing the net and revising resumes while they seek the intangible comfort of like-minded companionship.
The shift in power is a humbling feeling. I used to feel I had something to offer. I still do, it’s just that so do hundreds of others like me.
I used to be able to walk into an interview with confidence. Now I’m hoping no one will smell my fear.
I used to answer interview questions from a position of equality. Now I see those holding the hiring reins as people who have the power to decide my future.
It makes me feel small. And I have to admit, I feel like I’ve come down in stature in the world. My new-age thinking tries to cling to the idea of inner strength. But it keeps getting drowned out by thoughts of my uncertain future.
At the same time, I’ve recognized that what I’m going through isn’t all bad.
It’s making me a more compassionate person. It’s knocked me off my comfortable white-collar middle-class pedestal. While I never had a sense of entitlement — I’ve had to work hard as a single mother — I always thought I would ‘be alright’.
Perhaps the change we’re experiencing could be a great leveling process. Perhaps millions of unemployed will blur the lines between us and them. Perhaps those still with jobs but watching their backs realize there’s less and less difference between themselves and someone collecting unemployment insurance.
Could we perhaps develop a more compassionate society? I want to hope so, because the opposite could be just as true if people start to see every fellow job-applicant or job-holder as a threat while guarding closely what we have or want.
So in the meantime, I’ll look at my experience through the value it’s given me — and the new eyes I’m seeing through.
Tags: economy, job search, jobless, laid off, unemployed, unemployment
Justgot Canned said:
Feb 17, 09 at 5:50 pmYou know , years ago it was just myself and my then 1 year old little boy. His father took off cleaned out our bank account and never looked back. I was devastated and scared too death about how I was going to survive. Fear can be a great motivator..I never sat on my ass though.. I put my self through college waiting tables on the night shift at Denny’s. My Tuition and expenses were killing me and after more than a few nights of eating nothing but a couple of slices of toast and just cooking food for my son. I broke down and applied for foodstamps. I felt lower than low..but at least I would not go hungry.
Whenever I would start to feel hoity toity, I remember that Karma can have a funny way of delivering a humbling smack down to those who’s britches get a bit too big.
I might end up back down on the bottom and on welfare but I’ve been there before and once you hit the bottom all you can go is up!
Karol Frame said:
Mar 10, 09 at 10:20 amSometimes, we don’t prepare for what might happen. Sometimes it takes a lay-off or being fired to make us realize that this is what we need to see ourselves in a different light.
I know for me, I have become more humble, more compassionate of others, but I also realize it changed my way of thinking about myself. I was angry and upset at losing my job,but it wasn’t my fault. I blame those who did this to our society. It tried to make me doubt my abilities, my self-worth.
I am a mother and wife, worked long hours, and I didn’t realize that I was missing out on things that should have meant and were more important to me. Although I was devestated and hurt by this, Angry, too, I know that this crisis has made me a better person. I haven’t applied for food stamps or any assistance. I know I am doing what I can not to, and that others worse off than us need it.In the mean time,I have been living off a small unemployment check and what we have in savings. I am seperated from my husband, temporarily,who just now got hired with a company putting in D—– Tv out west. He will be back intime to see our youngest graduate high school, and help with the move out there. So it will be a matter of time before he can send money home to help. But I am not discouraged that we will be back on our feet, even though, it will be sometime before that happens.
I try and keep my spirits up. When I first applied for unemployment, I felt like I had hit the very bottom of the pot. I had never been in this position before. But I am coping. I have simplified my life, thrown out things I didn’t need or use anymore, given things to charity, sold a few things, and tried to keep my sanity. Thank God for family and friends and blogs like this because the more I expressed how I was feeling, the more emotionally stronger I have become. I am not a spring chicken anymore. I have raised three beautiful children, lived a life full of experience, and starting over hasn’t become so scary. I know I can do it. I will do it. I keep my hope, my faith up and believe in what I say. I look at this as a learning experience and I am stronger than I realized. While I may have felt down and out, cried with worry, and felt lost, I have seen some good come out it. I have seen others in my position cope in different ways, some bitter and cold hearted. I was and determined not to be one of those of those people. I will still help my neighbor, still smile, and still be the person I want my children to be. Someone who cares, and goes that extra mile. I realize that no matter how bad things are, there is always someone else who has it worse, and I won’t add to the misery.
If I had advice for anyone, it would be to hold onto what is dear to your heart. Materialistic things can be replaced. Love ones can’t, and find the priorities in your life. It makes life a little easier. It may not take away the pain and worry but it helps me get through the days that don’t go well. I try to see the good side. I don’t regret how this has turned out. I look forward to starting over, and next time, I won’t be that workacoholic, and I won’t miss out what my family means to me. They are what keeps me going.
Emotions run high when crisis like this come about. I may not of contributed to this crisis but I am coping the best way I know how. I have gooten my priorities straight. I am stronger, mentally, emotionally, and most days, I am happier than having the stress of the job. I still have stress but this time, it is due to packing, waiting for graduating. And when someone tells me I am overqualified for this or that or someone else was hired before me, the rejection doesn’t sting like it use to. Like, I said it it just a matter of time before I will be in the workforce again. I have at least learned to be patient now.