Denied

After dropping off The Kid at school today, I ventured outside my hole to see what was happening in the job world around me.

What did I learn? I learned that things are bad when even Target doesn’t want you. Fucking Target, for Chrissakes. More in a bit.

But my first stop today wasn’t at a potential employer. Rather, it was to my local GameStop where I sold my Nintendo DS which, quite honestly, hasn’t been doing much of anything but collecting dust bunnies for a few years. I figured since I wasn’t using the thing I might as well get rid of it. (And besides, Ann still has hers if the mood to play one ever strikes me.)

Here’s where another does of reality kicked me in the nads.

After the sub-adult behind the counter entered all of my information in the computer, inspected the unit and took my thumbprint, I was given a quote for my DS: $32 USD cash or, if I wanted to get 20% more, opt for store credit. What a punch in the gut that was but because I don’t intend on buying any games in the immediate future, I shamefully accepted the cash and used $20 of it to fill my gas tank.

From there, this former proofreader/writer made his way to Papa John’s for an application. I will fill it out and return it tomorrow. Just about a mile north is my former place of employment, Target. I worked there from 1991-1993 before I left to become a Wal-Martian, where I was promoted from hourly to Photo Lab Manager after six months.

I walked in and headed for the Guest Service counter, waited my turn, and asked for an application.

The girl that helped me told me that they don’t have paper applications but instead, job seekers could use the kiosk around the corner to apply for a position. Upon given those instructions, the other woman behind the counter intervened.

“Oh, we’re not hiring right now,” she said matter-of-factly.

“But he can still submit an application,” the first girl said.

“I know, but we’re not not hiring right now.” She held up and pointed to some Excel worksheet that made more sense to her than it did to me and continued to explain. “You can fill out an application but there are no openings. We will start calling people in June, maybe.”

While she was pontificating about the store not hiring, I began to angrily yet calmly protest.

“Okay, fine,” I said as I started to make my way to the door, waving all the way. “Thank you. Okay. Fine. Great. Thanks.” I left without bothering to apply–what would be the point?

You know, in these fucked-up times we live in, it’s one thing to know that your company is not hiring but to throw it in the face of somebody–a former Target employee, no less–was about the lowest you could get. Seriously, a week ago I was making at least three times what Guest Service Lady is, and here I am trying to get a glimmer of hope with something and instead I leave a bloodied pulp.

Welcome to 2009, I guess.

If it’s any consolation, I also got an assload of paperwork from EDD today, including my weekly unemployment benefit estimate. Hopefully my severance pay will be coming soon so I can have that little bit of security as well. Until then, I’m still wandering aimlessly and hoping for the best.

On the schedule tomorrow: a local career fair. Hopefully it will be worth the effort. It better be–I’m wearing a damned tie, and that only happens when someone gets married or dies. After that, I intend to come home and seriously consider some kind of home-based business. I have no idea what kind but as I was telling Ann, I’ve had some time to think during this first week of being a jobless slob in which I feel like a total fuck-up. What it came down to was this: opportunities to do your own thing don’t present themselves very often. And right now, I have more than enough time to figure something out.

I’m outta here. Lots of paperwork to fill out and applications to submit (online).

By the way, no callbacks for anything as of today’s post. Fantastic.

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Now playing: The Alan Parsons Project – Time
via FoxyTunes

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