Last week, “Sven,” a 34-year-old former Microsoft contract worker, was in a bad way. A week later he still hasn’t found work, but it sounds like he’s greatly decreased the amount of time he’s spending on the couch.
Monday was a fairly busy day for me: I got out of bed at 7:30 a.m., did my usual puttering online while waking up, then stretched out and went for a jog around Capitol Hill. (I’m starting Couch to 5k; I’m enjoying it a lot, and hope to actually run a 5k by next year.) Then, back to my apartment for a shower, cleaning my kitchen, and leftovers of last night’s dinner for lunch. I had an interview at 3:15 p.m., so after I searched the usual job-boards and checked in with a few temp agencies on any progress, I shaved and dressed, and then headed over to the Eastside.
I was interviewing at Microsoft again; I seem to get an interview request for an open contract position there about once a week. Of course, it’s not the only place that I’m looking, but my placement agencies have been pretty aggressive in trying to get me placed there again. To tell the truth, I hope that I end up getting placed there again. I really enjoyed the culture when I worked there. I felt I was surrounded by extremely knowledgeable folks that trusted you to get your job done with very little hand-holding. I saw in that a level of trust that I didn’t always get in some other jobs I’ve had.
As far as past interviews at Microsoft, I’ve been getting positive feedback, which helps to soften the blow of not actually being hired for the open positions. Whereas before I would have complained (“If they liked my personality so much, why didn’t they hire me?”), now I take the feedback for what it is and build on it.
Of course, it helps that I’m in a better emotional place than I was a few months ago. I’m very lucky that I have good friends that can spend time with me, and keep me focused on what I need to do. They offer encouragement and company when I need both, and I’m thankful for that. One of them has even offered to teach me to cook better. As silly as this might seem, it’s helping me a lot: I have a sense of accomplishment when I put together a meal on my own, and I’m also eating better in general. Another friend asked me to work with him at his woodshop on a project for a local restaurant. I met some new folks and helped them finish a task that would have taken too long to do by themselves.
I’m also doing some things on my own that I used to enjoy. I’ve started volunteering at the Historic University Theatre for Wing-It Productions, selling tickets at the box-office and selling concessions. On a whim, I auditioned for a quizmaster position for an upcoming trivia night coming to a Seattle bar in the near future. I’m also seriously considering volunteering for SIFF when it comes back around in the spring. My main goal of getting a job hasn’t changed, but I’m don’t have employment so tightly wrapped to my self-esteem as I once did. I think I’m better for it.
Have an unemployment story to share? Write to jobless@thestranger.com.
Cut your douchey half-goatee or whatever the fuck that horribly ugly style of facial hair is called and you might actually get a job for real adults!
He should be lucky he’s getting feedback from the interviews he didn’t get a job offer for. I’ve interviewed there in the past and you’d be lucky if you could get feedback from at least one hiring manager that rejected you.
One thing about hateful trolls – they’re fast off the mark. Must be one of the advantages of having a day largely free of meaningful human interaction.
This post is a snapshot of how to bootstrap yourself. Exercise, spending time with friends in meaningful pursuits, learning new things and volunteering.
Awesome. If even a few percent of us affected by this economy respond in this way, we will be much stronger for it.
@1 – Aaaah, no dick monday is obviously over.
Anyway. Kudos on the jogging! When I was unemployed last summer, I said I wanted to do the things that I didn’t have time for when working, so I too started jogging. It got me out of bed early (since running in the summer in FL after 9am sucks), so I got a chance to check Craigslist early in the day, which meant I got a job within 5 weeks.
And it won’t be a year before you run a 5k, it’ll only be a few months. Once you make it your first mile, it gets a lot easier from there.
What kind of lardass can’t run 5 fukkin k.
@5 Those with god-sized huge genetals can’t run a5K.
bye bye small pee pee Fortuna. Run run run!
I may not reach the bottom, but I’ll knock the hell outa the sides! Seriously though, this sack of dough reminds me of that Wu-tang song, where they all be “You couldn’t punch ya way out a wet paper bag, wif scissors in ya hands.”