Well, I’m nearing the end of Day One here in the dark dungeon of unemployment doom! The fact that it’s almost 1am on a Wednesday morning as I sit here writing my blog illustrates a very basic, but very clear picture of how unemployment changes everyday life in the simplest of ways.
My last job had the benefit of flexi-time and as an early-riser, I preferred to be up at around 6:45am, arriving at my desk to read through e-mails with a hot cup of the good stuff well before 8am. This also meant I could avoid the rush-hour traffic, bag a half-decent parking spot and have a quiet hour to rifle through some paperwork before the rest of the team arrived! The added benefit of this was the bonus of being out of the building and on the way to the gym by 4:05pm!
To service this schedule, I’d usually be tucked-up in bed by 9:30, perhaps reading a book or watching a bit of TV for a further hour or so. By 11pm at the latest, it would be lights out and now look at me: I’m like some soppy-song-listening, coffee-slurping insomniac, listening to the ‘pop ballads’ playlist on my iPod as the midnight news filters through on my laptop.
Somehow, the nocturnal side of you engages when you don’t have to get up for work. Similarly, just as you wouldn’t go to bed early on a Friday or Saturday night, the mischievous youngster inside of you wants to stay up that little bit later just incase anything exciting happens after dark!
Before I update you on today’s progress, let me fill you in on my personal circumstances since I was officially made redundant…
Like many contracts these days, my position as a Project Assistant was always on a fixed term contract and this ceased on the 31st of December 2010. Of course, it was my hope that by working hard and creating a good impression, the position might be extended way beyond that period. Moreover, I hoped that even if the worst should happen and the position become defunct, I would have proved myself an invaluable cog in the machinery of the department and secure an alternative function. As the 2010 election approached however, it quickly became apparent that there would be some drastic changes within local government - whoever stepped in at Number 10. (Typical I thought! All these years of trying to land a council job to gain a bit of job security …and I wind up stepping into one of the most vulnerable sectors!)
As the year progressed, I was very careful about taking leave and only used around 20% of my allowance, which included my summer holiday. As a result of this, I was able to take the period between Christmas and New Year off work as paid leave and I still had enough holidays owed to collect an extra week’s wages. Flexi-time and TOIL built up meant that although my last day of employment was not until New Years Eve, my final day in the office was the 23rd of December.
Having always been a pretty organised individual, my presents and gifts had long-since been purchased and wrapped-up and therefore, it was a pleasant relief that I could enjoy Christmas with my family, have a few beers with friends and relax with my girlfriend without the stresses and strains of looking for work.
The Christmas period came and went and with the ‘extra’ bank holidays, it wasn’t my first official day of unemployment until today. How strange it was to see Facebook updates on Monday evening, the 3rd of January that people were “dreading going back to work”. …“Lucky you” I thought!
Most of the kids were still off school today and as the roads weren’t as cluttered as they might have been, it didn’t quite feel like society had stormed off into the distance, leaving me behind in a puff of smoke. …not just yet anyway.
Day One was a fairly significant day in the life of Jason Taylor. I’m quite proud to say that I’ve worked since leaving school and of course, I’ve always contributed toward the system as a result of this. I’ve had some great care from the NHS over the years, particularly as a youngster where I received some excellent treatment and three skin grafts following a bad burn injury. In recent years, I’ve received key-hole surgery and some excellent physiotherapy following a number of knee injuries. Other than that, I feel I haven’t taken a penny ‘out of the system’, but today…I applied online for Jobseekers allowance.
Despite being ‘in between jobs’ for two periods in the past, my pride restrained me from seeking financial help...even when the weeks turned in to months. I’m also ashamed to admit that I thought that I was ‘better than signing on the dole’. But as my Mother quite rightly said to me, there’s no shame in claiming what you’re rightfully entitled to and so, I filled out the form earlier today. It's true that only a fool would ever refuse a helping hand. Still …I have this overriding sense of underachievement and failure eating away at me.
I later received an e-mail explaining that my local Job Centre plus will be in touch over the next 48 hours to arrange a Jobseeker Interview, so it's a case of 'watch this space' to see what happens next. In the meantime, I'll continue searching for work and will fill you in on the details in my next blog. There’s one thing that’s for sure…the only way from here is up!
Many blessings to you all,
Jason
FOOTNOTE
I posted a link to my first blog on my Facebook page and really enjoyed reading through your comments on there. Please feel free to add your feedback here on blogspot as it means such a lot to know people are actually reading it...and hopefully, us unemployed bums will continue to re-motivate each other and use your thoughts as inspiration!
Reading your blog for the first time this eve after a recommendation from a mutual friend. I have recently been through a similar situation with my post being made redundant at the NHS.... fortunately I was successful in securing a new job on started on the 4th Jan...
ReplyDeleteEnjoying reading your blog and can relate to the feelings I was having! Good luck on the job search.