Stop the squabbling

If you’ve ever held a job that you thought would make a good career, only to lose that job to ‘downsizing,’ the economy, outsourcing your part of the organization overseas, or because your position is being abolished and absorbed into others, you just haven’t lived. If you’re lucky, you get two weeks’ severance pay, a pat on the back, and a guarantee that you’ll receive a wonderful letter of recommendation. If you’re not that lucky, you get called in on a Friday afternoon, told to clean out your desk, locker, or work space, and get off the premises.

Admittedly, I was ‘fired’ in 1974. I’d only been doing this particular job for about twelve years before the new administration decided that the position should be abolished. And yes, I was thanked for my service, guaranteed that letter of recommendation, but surprisingly, I was given three months’ severance and an office at an off-site location where I could read want ads and write letters applying for this position or that.

A couple of things I learned right off the bat about applying for a job in higher education. Never believe that an ad posted in The Chronicle of Higher Education is a real job. Colleges and Universities and probably most organizations are forced to cover their collective asses by posting positions that are open in their companies. In other words, any want ad may not be what it appears. I know of one case in Pennsylvania where a friend of mine was asked to take a highly qualified applicant to lunch. “Throughout the meal, I wanted to scream at this guy, you’re not getting the job. It’s an inside deal. Even though the guy who’s getting the job is far less qualified, you’re a friggin’ token.” He told me this year after I had gotten another job, but I already knew it. I’d been on an interview for a job at a college in Upstate New York; went through the round of interviews, and was told, in confidence by the president, that he did not want a woman in the position – pretty heavy admission when you think about it. His assistant, a woman, was not present at the time. It turned out that they (a) hired a woman, and (b) that she was a friend of the president’s assistant.

The jobs for which I was applying all reported directly to a senior vice president or to the president of the organization. It didn’t take long before the first question I asked was, “Is this interview a formality to satisfy federal employment laws or is this an actual position?” The second question was, “How many internal candidates to you have applying for this position?” If they hemmed and hawed in answering, I thanked them for their time and left. In one case, I asked the president, in front of all of his direct reports, “Is your board of governance aware of what you’re telling me?” His answer was that no, the trustees were not aware. He then questioned why I would ask. Here’s my answer: “Because if they did, I would question how seriously they take their responsibility…and if I were on your board, I’d question having you in your position as president. Thank you gentlemen, I can let myself out.” And I did…without looking back. It was quite clear that they were looking to hire a hatchet man because they didn’t have the courage to do their own house cleaning.

The portrait I’m trying to paint is that of a person searching for a job and winding up as a viable candidate but the job is already taken; your candidacy is merely a formality or of being interviewed for a position that is nothing like the ad described. Week after week, month after month, this goes on, and each week, you make the ‘walk of shame’ to the unemployment office to tell them, “No, I haven’t found anything yet,” and to get your check. You want to work, although I suppose there are some who don’t. You’re embarrassed by your inability to find a job; you know there has to be something out there for you. You may even be told that you’re one out of three, one out of four, one out of two, and in my case, one out of one…I actually went on a cold call, told them what they needed, and they turned around and hired someone else! That is not what you would call a confidence-builder.

Each week, you go to unemployment. Each week, you become more desperate; each week, your depression grows. If you smoke, you smoke more; if you drink, you drink more. The more you smoke or drink, the faster the money goes and the deeper becomes your depression. After a while you either begin applying for jobs you know you won’t get or you stop looking quite so hard. You might even take a part-time job in the local supermarket or in a warehouse. You question yourself as you’ve never done before. It’s one of the worst feelings you’ve ever had. How do you tell your kids they can no longer play soccer or take piano lessons or this or that? How do you say that you no longer have cable in the house because you can’t afford it?

If you’ve worked for any length of time and suddenly find yourself on the sidewalk, it’s horrible. I rather doubt that there is a US Congressman or Senator who knows this feeling. They can’t understand what it’s like. As a consequence, they become piddling little children when it comes time to extending federal unemployment benefits for those who have yet to find jobs. I was fired the week before Christmas 1974. I went back to full-time employment on January 3^rd, 1978. Count ‘em up; that’s three fucking years that I did not work at a full-time position or in my field! I was one of the lucky ones. I found a job that gave me tremendous satisfaction for the next 20 years, and it was in my field. The day that I went off unemployment was a day that I felt reborn. I’m willing to bet there are nearly a million people out there who want the chance to feel the same way. Instead, they are dependent on a group of 535 squabbling children in Washington, D.C. to help them continue their search. Sure, there are hundreds, maybe thousands who love suckling on the government teat. Maybe they aren’t getting caught because unemployment offices are short on staff…hey, there’s some job creation for you.

Congress, the unemployed don’t want your help; they need your help. The authorization has begun its path through the Senate. Keep pushing. Don’t let the Tea Party idiots and others stop extension from passing the House. Most Americans are happy to work. Give them that opportunity, please.