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what would you do differently?
i've been out of work since june 30th. as i look back over the past two and a half months, i realized the errors
of my ways. these are things i'd change should this ever occur again: i'd sign up at more than one temp
agency ( pinning my hopes on one of the bigger ones netted one assignment in all that time ) i'd have my
resume ready sooner ( it took two days to prepare it and update it ) i'd have more funds stashed away as
living expenses ( i've pretty much blown thru my savings ) i'd have networked better ( letting everyone know
i was available and looking for work ) i'd be smarter about job scams in the want ads ( wasting time on that
outfit in florida who seem to post a reply with a different contact name ) now i ask,what have you learned?
these are the things i did right: i went to the community center and took advantage of their free high speed
DSL computers to send out resumes, i used the online tutorials to brush up on my skills ( Quickbooks.
Microsoft Word etc ) i didnt stay home and watch soap operas and games shows daily, i signed up for
unemployment benefits immediately. still i wonder, could i have done more? if so,what?
its been YEARS since i've been out of work so all this is pretty new to me again.
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That's probably the most important question
It takes a lot of courage and honesty to ask that question because it implies that you know that you didn't do everything correctly.
Personally, I think I've done almost everything right after getting the axe: Applied for unemployment the next day (and was rejected), structured my days, got out there, worked the network, hustled for cash, applied for real jobs... the only thing I might have done differently is not getting axed in the first place... either that or going out with a bigger bang.
What I did was truly stupid -- said something other than "Yes, sir," to a billionaire. Instead of cracking a stupid joke, I would have said something like, "What's it like getting your ass kissed everywhere you go?" Either that, or I just would have said, "Yes, sir," like everybody else.
Oh well. No looking back now. The job sucked anyway, and the writing was on the wall -- the industry's tanking. Someday when that guy's bankrupt and I'm back on top, I'll laugh in his face. It still sucked getting fired, though, especially after having made millions for that asshole.
When life hands you sh*t, make fertilizer.
Out of work
I have not been able to find a decent steady job since July of 2006. I had throat cancer and went in for treatment. Up until that time I worked steady. After treatment I found it hard to cover the long absence in my work history and also found that companies do not want to employ a 57 year old cancer survivor. I have used up the small amount of retirement money I had put away and now I am looking at the welfare line.
I am a computer technician and I am also looking at the possibility of fixing computers on the side. Got nothing else to lose.
By the way if anyone looks on Craigslist for jobs, there are so many phony ads that it is pathetic.
Be careful who you give your information to. If you send out an inquiry and get an automatic response, it is a phony. Do not sign up because you will only get calls from credit companies and online colleges. They figure if you are unemployed you need more schooling and credit counseling.
Don't just look at the welfare line...
... jump in and take it. Hell, you paid into it. Don't be too proud to take out of it when you need it. That's what it's there for.
You're right about all the phony ads on Craigslist. A lot of companies put ads there when they have no intention of hiring anybody from the outside just to comply with Affirmative Action and other laws. Even so, there are still a lot of legitimate ads there. It's a resource worth using, but you really have to get out there in the real world.
When life hands you sh*t, make fertilizer.
What this clown would do differently...
I would have bitched to management (CHO-Chief Happiness Officer) about my personal problems (just like my limp ex-coworkers used to do) instead of discussing the REAL PROBLEMS of why the work wasn't getting processed or money wasn't coming in. I would have used the toxic office/harrassment and the "open door policy" crap just my limp ex-coworkers used to do in order NOT to do my work. I should have cried more, feigned stress attacks due to uncontrolled spending...I should have LIED, just like my limp ex-coworkers, deflecting bad performance to: "it's not MYYYY fault"!!!!! because the blame game worked for them and it was all Bullarchy!!! I should have never been so concerned about the company!!! and pointing out WHY they were losing money! I should have talked more, screwed off, emailed my friends all day, surf Overstock.com while the cancer patients & marrow donors got bills they were told they would never see!!! I'm learnin' one clown at at time....
I sooo feel you!
I once got canned for actually trying to add value to the business and telling uncomfortable truths. It's still the right thing to do so I do it. If they fire me, it's their loss, and their business will go down the tubes as a result.
Someday I want to start a company that rewards ass kicking and punishes ass kissing. We will dominate!!!
I find your bitterness delightful and delicious, by the way.
When life hands you sh*t, make fertilizer.