Life Unemployed -- The Competition

You know its not easy finding a job. But it keeps you focused as you try to escape the depression, anger and annoyances of losing a job. You send the grievance letters in, hoping for some sympathy only to receive back a letter stating its your own damn fault they fired you. You sit at home wondering where you're going to get the money to pay the bills if you can't qualify for the unemployment insurance benefits let alone the Cobra health insurance which barely helps the situation because you have to pay them to cover any health expenses.

After exchanging professionally hateful letters back and forth I finally received unemployment insurance. But its harder to find a job than it is to keep a job. The battle wages on as I try to claim the comphensation I was never given while I worked there.

But while looking for a job, I'm now realizing who I'm competing with for even a grill position at the local fast food joint. And it is scary that these are the people getting the job before I do.

Okay. You know when you go to job fairs, seminars and even job orientation sessions you're supposed to dress professionally as if you want the job? What ever happened to a nice skirt, dress or business suit? The first week after snapping out of my depression, I broke out my best outfit and fixed my hair. Even brushed my teeth for the second time and tossed a breath mint in my mouth as my resume's were printing in my office. I went to the job fair thinking everyone had done the same until I arrived and felt overly dressed as I watched men walking past with their pants down by their knees and girls dressed as if they were auditioning for a part in a music video.

This is what I am now competing with. Whatever happened to dressing for success? I don't think I even have the body to squeeze into a pair of jeans two sizes too small, a blouse that is way too revealing. Whatever happened to light jewelry like simple finger rings? I looked around and all I could see were ridiculous body piercings such as diamond studded nose, tongue, brow and lip rings that clinked when they talked. I hated standing there wondering what else could have been pierced ... no ... more like afraid to think of what else they could have pierced. It was disturbing. When they smiled you can see the diamond studded gold caps covering their teeth. There was one girl I was in line with who even though was a respectful and nice young lady to talk to. She had so many diamond studded gold capped teeth on her lower jaw that it stuck out like one of those cartoon bulldogs. When she spoke saliva flew everywhere ... and that's just one of many young women I had to stand in line with.

The young men and even a few elderly looking adult men wore the baggy jeans that sagged behind their knees. If you were lucky they wore boxer shorts and if not you would stand in line trying not to stare at the butt crack or the barely legible tatoo right above it. You had to watch how close you were standing to them so you didn't get stepped on or kicked by their oversized sneakers that pretty much flopped when they walked and you didn't want to accidentally step on the laces that dragged behind them. The only thing secured on their persons is the do rag and their baseball caps turned backwards.

It's kind of sad and scary that this is what I'm competing with. The younger next-generation.