The joys of unemployment

"When you take a look in the mirror three or four years down-the-line, where do you see yourself?", a careers lecturer once asked me. And not knowing what the future had instore for me I replied, "working hard, earning a reasonable living, "and quite whittingly, "taking over the world", in a true narcissistic fashion.

Flash forward three or four years and what is the outcome? Well lets just say I haven't taken over the world, not earning a reasonable living - try none at all - but still have a strong desire to work hard when given the opportunity.

See at the moment I'm unemployed, I was made redundant from my job in November where I worked as an editorial assistant for almost a year and then from a company where I worked as a customer service consultant for approximately seven weeks.

Such a change of direction huh? But believe me it was not my doing, had to find a job and it was the only one available, so I took it, remember you have to do what you got to do to get by - unfortunately it isn't going the same way now. Times are tough for most households and with the blue and yellow army looking to wield their axes at our purse strings, I can only assume that things are going to get worse and many people's futures will be effected, not just my own.

But is it wrong for me to ask to be treated like a human being and not another statistic? Or am I looking at an eutopian fantasy that will not come true?

My gripe at the moment is that I spent six years of my life going to get educated at university and college and when I go to places to see about jobs, I simply do not get listened to. It's like they have their own interior motives and you are simply a pawn in their game of lets see who can get the biggest bonus this quarter by putting people into jobs that are not suited to the individual.

Ok, ok, ok, not all places are like that and I may be coming across as somewhat arrogant and as if I see myself as 'Damien-Almighty', who is above mere mortals. But honestly and sincerely I don't.

At this moment of time I feel low, useless and quite embarassed at the situation I find myself in and just want to get out of the rut, I'm 26-years-old, two degrees behind me and living on Job Seekers Allowance. So I can relate to the story I read in the paper today that most young people who are unemployed feel like taking their own lives because of the emotional impact of losing work.

I am honest, hard working and like most young people simply looking for a chance to fulfill their potential. Moreover I want to be treated like a human being, times are tough I know, and that businesses need to cut costings here and there, but a simple email saying you weren't successful for a job you applied for isn't asking for much, is it now?