Yesterday I had the chance to relive an experience that I had not had since leaving college - the Job Fair. I had forgotten what a cattle call this type of event can be. In past posts I have outlined the unemployment experience as that of the hunter of the Newjita (see Phase 4) and of the dejected and unwanted stuff on the bottom of a shoe (see Phase 11).
So, arriving earlier than I thought necessary, I found myself leaning against the wall of the building, waiting with the growing mass of people to get into the facility. As I was aimlessly spinning through songs on my MP3 player, I discovered quite hilariously, at the lyrics from the old classic T.V. theme song ‘Rawhide’ was the perfect way to frame the day. So, here we go.
Keep moving, moving, moving
Though they're disapproving
Keep them doggies moving
Starting with the setting for the event, let’s just say that putting several thousand unemployed job seekers together is a challenge, but they put us at the county fairgrounds! It should be noted, that they did not put us in the snazzy new downtown facility, or the downtown convention center – both of which would have handled the crowd. No. We were put where they put the cattle and hogs and other such critters. So, there I stand with the other ‘cattle’ being herded into lines, separated by those with ‘golden-tickets’ (they get to go in first) and the rest of us, waiting, waiting.
Suddenly, a shadow passes over me, cast by something high up in the sky. A buzzard. Yes, a real actual BUZZARD! No. Not one, but a half dozen, circling over the crowd of ‘cattle’ down below. My mind began to spin images of the lot of us unemployed masses, laying bloated in the morning sun, with Buzzards plucking at our eyes… I couldn’t help but laugh – some of my fellow cattle looked at me, when I did, “What’s he got to be laughing about?” their eyes seemed to say.
Don't try to understand 'em
Just rope, throw and brand 'em
Soon we'll be living high and wide
Standing in line, waiting, waiting, it seems that about half the time spent job seeking is spent waiting – I look around at my herd mates trying to get a sense of the ‘typical’ unemployed person. In a sense, where do ‘I’ fit in to the picture. The picture is not as I had expected. About as many men as women, people of all races, and, by overheard conversations, a whole variety of backgrounds, education levels and work experience. What was troubling was the number of people my age (46) or older, many, many people I would have considered of retirement age at least. This last group, I discovered, have been forced back into the workforce out of need, not because they want to work. Many coming back out of retirement to work, just to get by.
I know I have had my stereotypes regarding what it means to be unemployed, but one thing that jumped out to me was the presumption of poverty, and need. I NEED a job, I do NOT need any of the following (all of which were offered as we stood in line) : Section 8 housing, reduced rent apartments, free child care, food stamps, Goodwill clothing coupons. I’m not there…yet. I felt prejudged, again. All I need is a job.
Move 'em on, head' em up
Head 'em up, move' em on
Move 'em on, head' em up
Moooo! Maaaaa! I push and shove, ever so kindly into the gaping building, very much akin to a slaughter house. I stop at the front table to get registered (branded?) and move maze like among over 100 booths, all hopeful of, of, something. An interview? A job offer? A modicum of victory over the beast of unemployment? The reality of the event is not quite what I had expected. In fact in many ways was very disappointed. Calling the event a ‘Job-Fair’ was humorous at best, a bad joke at worst.
Let me say here that I do not fault the idea and effort of the hosts of the event, but with over 100 booths there were less than a dozen actually offering jobs. For the most part the booths filled with actual employers all made rather loud proclamations like this, "Look, people, I am not a hiring agent. In fact we do not have any openings at this time. But, please take this application, fill it out and turn it in with your resume, and we will get back to you." WHAT? Then why the heck are we HERE? Why the heck are YOU HERE!!!
I would have THOUGHT that in order to be part of a JOB-FAIR you (as a company) should be REQUIRED to be HIRING!!!!! Is that too much to ask? And, it just gets better, there must have been a dozen insurance companies on hand - selling their wares as much as looking for employees. Schools, training centers and a host of new junior colleges were also recruiting students (though NOT, I might add offering free education, or training). As you can imagine this was a ripe crowd for the military to recruit and I saw everyone but the Marines and the Navy - not much help to the bulk of us over 42 (the cut-off age for military service, as I discovered).
Cut 'em out, ride 'em in
Ride 'em in, cut 'em out
Call 'em out, ride 'em in
Rawhide
The other busy booths were not busy because they offered work, but because they had tables full of cool swag, and chocolate - we are human anyway and like free and food no matter what the excuse for drawing us cattle in!
As I wandered here and there, I suddenly realized that my chances of ending the day with a job were about as good as had I stayed at home and surfed the job boards on the net, which oddly enough is where nearly all the businesses at the fair were directing us anyhow... "Well, we don't have a listing of current openings, but if you go to our web site....."
Then why the hell have a job fair!
Rolling, rolling, rolling
Rolling, rolling, rolling
Rolling, rolling, rolling
Rolling, rolling, rolling
After the first couple of hours of smiles and handshakes, resumes proffered, business cards accepted and swag collection. I sat down at one of the central tables where all my other cattle-friends sat dutifully scratching out over and over again; name, address, education, employment history, references…yadda, yadda, yadda. I sat there looking at the stack of similar papers in front of me and realized that the event should have been called the ‘Green-Job-Hunt’ instead of a ‘Job Fair’ because all the event seemed to do was gather companies and the unemployed, in one location, dump us together and simply exchange the same info that we would do if we were to go door to door.
When I gave into the reality that I would leave the event just as unemployed as I had entered I began to listen and observe the experience of the others in the hall. Some comments amazed and shocked me…
Woman: “Shoot! I quit my last job ‘cause I had to drive like 20 minutes.”
Man: “I’m not taking any job that don’t pay $20 an hour, at least.”
Woman: “Man, my old boss made me work ‘till 3:00! He knows I had kids to pick up! I can’t work to no 4:30. And I ain’t paying no babysitter.”
Man: “Man, I want to apply for at least 60 jobs today, I don’t care if my fingers fall off from writing.”
Woman: “I’ll apply for anything. I’ll start right now if you want me to.”
Man: “I’m a 25 year pipe-fitter. I ain’t working at no Wendy’s.”
Woman: “I’m only here because my Momma’s gonna kick me and my kids out of her house if I don’t a a job. That just ain’t right.”
Man: “If I don’t get a job soon. I think I’ll start drinking ‘till I run out of money.”
Amen, brother! Pour me one too….
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