Takin' the Blog for a Walk
Join Waukesha resident Brien Lee and his blog, Sir Fido, as they explore the city and report on the interesting things they find.
Email Brien at howlinblog@yahoo.com.
four months and 39 blogs ago . . .
Friday the 13th was a lucky day for me. I found work and it's here in Waukesha. It's a decent job with a good company. Now here's the other half of the story.
I spent nearly half my life at my previous job.
Spent half of spring and half of summer looking for work.
Thought it would take half as long to find a job.
Over 50 total applications; half done before first unemployment check, my first ever.
Four months unemployed; half that receiving umemployment insurance.
Unemployment checks were half what I was earning, and half what we need to pay bills on time.
The new job pays half what I originally requested when beginning the job hunt, and is less than unemployment pays.
34 resumes / applications sent via email; half that done in person.
Had half the experience / skills some of the companies I applied to were requiring or requesting.
Broke is a good motivator: Applied for more jobs, eight, the week we ran out of money than any other week. Previously, if I'd found half as many jobs to apply I'd think it a good week.
Most people receiving unemployment checks are required to contact at least two employers each week. The company hiring me, ODW Logistics, was the eigth company I applied to in one week.
I interviewed with 13% of the companies I applied to, not counting the Quad group interview or the company in West Allis I drove to only to be told they "forgot" to cancel.
Workforce Development, with tons of workshops, labs, resources, along with the best counselors was the biggest help to me. I had not even done my first resume before going there.
While I enjoyed the extra time off to fix things up around here, there's only so many times you can mow the lawn and clean the carpets. I don't care what they say, there's no way you can spend 40 hours a week looking for work.
Among people I had contact with were those out of work a year or two. I was determined to not be one of those people.
At Workforce I learned to not take a job unless we could afford to pay bills with it. I did break that rule, but I felt it better to be working than not. Besides, unemployment checks don't come with benefits. I can continue to look for other work, and keep applying for unemployment as long as I'm making less than the $388.00 a week. It's three days less a week I can volunteer with the Food Pantry, but I'll be gaining skills and job continuity.
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