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July 22, 2003
Makes me appreciate the job I have
One of the more depressing experiences in these times is to run into someone you know who has been unemployed for a long time. It's great to see them, but it's hard to know what to even say, considering their situation, and that I have a good, stable job, and they haven't been able to even get an interview in months.
Today we hired as a temporary a guy I've known for almost 10 years. He was an early customer of mine at inQuo, and when I started at UEN I was happy to run into him still working on the U campus. About a year ago, he was laid off, and still has not been able to find a job.
During the 90's, I was able to direct a lot of between-job friends to new jobs. Now, it's rare to hear of an opening of any kind, much less one that fits someone I know. Running into a friend who has been unemployed for a long time, while I still have a fun, rewarding, successful job that is probably not going away anytime soon--it's an uncomfortable situation. Especially when it's at my office where I see them.
I'm glad that the situation this time is that he is working for us, even though it's only temporary. At least we are able to help his employment situation somewhat.
I talked to another friend this evening, that I have known even longer, and worked with several times. His company has weathered the economic storm pretty well through conservative financial management, and is now in a good position to help with the increase in security problems everyone is experiencing. We were both fortunate to have left the last job we had (where we worked together) before things got bad, and ended up in stable jobs.
However I may feel about what I have to deal with at work day to day, I have to be thankful that I have a workplace at all.
Posted by pete at July 22, 2003 10:57 PM
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