I mentioned about completing this before, but I want to reiterate: iMatchSkills was a waste of time. Pure and simple. The process takes about an hour to complete and at the end of it, I was left with nothing useful.
They have you fill out so much incredibly detailed information that ultimately does you no favors. Of course, my background is such that I don't really have a lot of options in the fields I wish to pursue (see music/starving artist). But the fact that they have categories in acting and music leads you to believe maybe, just maybe, they have something for me.
There was section after section of these skills I had to fill out. Under acting: "Can apply voice projection skills" or "Can interpret scripts".
Under music: "Can apply music theory"
It was a little ridiculous.
After I was done, it showed me a list of merely 16 job openings. Some were misspelled or labeled in that helpful kind of way "Customer Service." Not mentioned where the place is or how much compensation was or what the hell the place was even called.
I'll fare much better on Craigslist, thanks very much.
I also found out that my checks from unemployment will be less than previously expected. They take out (of course, how could I not think they would) taxes, which wittles my 220 down to 185. I now am around 240 under as far as handling my bills go. This doesn't even account for gas.
However, a bit of silver lining: Apparently, I can still have a part time job and earn up to 84 dollars a week and still receive benefits. I imagine this is gross earnings. So I could work one day a week and still get that 185 dollars. After about 20% of taxes that would still be around 60 bucks. Add that to my current amount: 245. And that takes care of my bills for the month and leaves me 200 bucks for food.
Interesting. Oh wait, gas. Damnit!
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Waiting for my check...
I recently finished the iMatchSkills program for the unemployment office. It was a required step in order to get me the money I need. It was quite the long process and ultimately, it really got me nowhere. The jobs that were posted were pretty lame and not very recently updated.
Of course, it was all retail jobs, something I'm looking to avoid if at all possible.
Bruce from unemployment called around a week ago to figure out why exactly I was fired. I told him what I know and he seemed satisfied with that.
I've been sent quite a bit of mail from the Oregon Employment Agency and most of it is filler. I feel like I've completed everything I need to do now. Now it's just a matter of keeping up with the weekly claims and getting my check.
It's not a difficult process, but it is a little stressful to make sure everything you want to do is taken care of.
Of course, it was all retail jobs, something I'm looking to avoid if at all possible.
Bruce from unemployment called around a week ago to figure out why exactly I was fired. I told him what I know and he seemed satisfied with that.
I've been sent quite a bit of mail from the Oregon Employment Agency and most of it is filler. I feel like I've completed everything I need to do now. Now it's just a matter of keeping up with the weekly claims and getting my check.
It's not a difficult process, but it is a little stressful to make sure everything you want to do is taken care of.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Even the end has a start: Days 1-6
Well, it's almost been a week since I lost my job at Stuff. It's been a really crazy week:
I've filed for food stamps, unemployment, my computer died, and my mother went to the hospital.
It's been a little surreal.
I wanted to start this blog to showcase what exactly happens to a person after they are let go at a menial retail job and thrust into the cruel, high-unemployment/low-sympathy world.
Day Zero: June 4th (Friday)
---------------
I walk into work, lunch in hand, ready to face another 8 hours of retail hell. 15 minutes later, walking out into the rain, having shook the hands of a few of my fellow employees: nice working with you, God, man, I'm sorry, it was a pleasure having you around, sorry about all this.
Reasons didn't really abound in my dismissal: needed to work with customers more and less on the tasks. You know, the tasks that, I don't know, run the store?
We have so many employees and yet we aren't given an option to fill our duty and let those who can better attend to customers do their work. I would have loved a position in the backroom selling things on eBay or pulling items to be sold on the floor. I wasn't given an option. They didn't inform me of anything I needed to do to increase my stock in the company. The so-called Work Improvement Programs were only instated for those consistently late to work. Instead, I was handed a check from a trembling hand and given a lackluster response to the ultimate question: Why?
I went back to my place and was consoled for awhile by my amazing girlfriend who, only a year ago, was given the same treatment at the same job. We now had a common enemy. My resolve, however, was to move on and not let it get me down. Instead, I saw it as an opportunity. An opportunity only afforded to me by all that money taken out of mine and every worker in Oregon's paycheck. I could pursue what I wanted to. Take on unpaid internships that were now miraculously paid. Take a few weeks to visit friends, family. Be free of the 40-hour prison at least for a little while.
The sad thought of not being in a place that I was for almost 4 years is hard to shake. It's a feeling that might take a little bit of time and effort to breakthrough.
For the next two days, I tried to distract myself and looked forward to signing up for all the programs I could on Monday.
Day 3
-------
I took the trip to Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS), which thankfully was not very far away. I've heard horror stories from others about the kind of clientele these places inhibit. I found it to be quite inviting. It could be that others went to the downtown location which I imagine would be a little seedier. I took a number, took some forms and tried to fill them out to the best of my ability.
Strangely, they couple the services together in one building for food stamps, state medical insurance and child services. There was a row of Disney movies you could put on for your child while you did the necessary duties to get what you needed to survive.
The wait wasn't too long and I came up with forms in hand. I could tell they were used to people not doing it right. She went through and highlighted whatever I needed to change and parts I didn't know I had to fill out. She then asked me to make an appointment for the next day to do what she called an "intake". It was basically the interview. Make sure about all the information I put in the forms and send me on my way with a card.
I also filed for unemployment which was much more of a hassle. I tried to do it online first but I couldn't find the right page to file. The oregon.gov site is a bit clunky and many of the links led to dead ends. I decided to go the old-fashioned way and use the telephone system. This was a bad choice. Every menu option was explained in such high detail it would take you forever to make any progress. Instead of shortening Personal Identification Number they would say it complete everytime: "Decide on a Personal Identification Number that you would like to use to access your Oregon Unemployment Insurance file claim. This Personal Identification Number is secret and you should not give your Personal Identification Number to anyone. Use a Personal Indentification Number that you will remember and be sure not to use the last 4 numbers of your social security number as your Personal...." well you get the picture.
This was repeated with other long terms like the aforementioned "Oregon Unemployment Insurance".
Eventually, my phone decided it didn't want to let me push any number buttons anymore and I had to give it up and try the online way once again.
This time, I was able to find a new claim form much more easily.
Got 75% through the process when it decided Google Chrome was incompatible browser for one page.
Tried to continue on Internet explorer (an evidently more supported but lamer browser) but they made me start all over again. This time, things went smoothly.
According to the site, I had to wait a while to claim my week. Yeah, every week you have to show that you are actively looking for work and if so, but no dice, you get your paycheck. I'm not even sure how long the form is, since I can't access it yet.
Day 4
------
My appointment was set for 3:45 and I arrived right on time. I didn't know exactly where to go, so I did that awkward thing where you move subtlety towards the counter in front of numbered ticket holders and hope someone notices you. "Oh I have an appointment and I don't know if..." "Just get a number and maybe they will call your name before that."
So I sat and looked around: guy with his head on the table looking dejected, hispanic woman with two kids, a couple of friends apparently both getting food stamps that day. The disney video viewing room lay vacant.
They called my name and I was led into a little room. For a moment, I expected they would ask me to remove my pants and cough soon.
They asked only a few questions; it was a rather easy procedure, all told. Because my unemployment hadn't kicked in (I assumed) I would be getting 160 now and perhaps closer to 200 next month on the 5th (according to my SS#). According to estimates online, that was about 100 bucks more than I expected. I hope that when unemployment goes into effect that number won't go down a large amount.
My card was processed and suddenly, I had money for food.
Day 6
------
Called into the Unemployment agency to see what was happening with my claim. After waiting 15 minutes for someone to answer the phone and listening to the same 15 second clip of hold music (with some jazz fusion elements) someone finally answered. Her voice was fast and whispered. Hilariously, it very reminiscent of those NPR women in the SNL skits involving Schwetty balls and the like. She told me that because I was discharged I would have to likely wait 3 weeks for them to "judicate". She wanted to make sure I wasn't fired because I, I dunno, painted curse words on the parking lot or something.
Apparently, I still get back pay for the weeks I will claim that will have no compensation at this time. Here's hoping Hal doesn't suddenly decide to dispute my claim.
A bit of a setback, but hopefully everything from this point will go smoothly. I have a bit of money to last me a few weeks, at least.
I will attempt to write this blog consistently as events happen. I hope that I will be given a chance to pursue some of those dreams that have been in the back of my mind since time forgotten.
Here's hoping the government can make those dreams come true in a way I never expected to use.
I've filed for food stamps, unemployment, my computer died, and my mother went to the hospital.
It's been a little surreal.
I wanted to start this blog to showcase what exactly happens to a person after they are let go at a menial retail job and thrust into the cruel, high-unemployment/low-sympathy world.
Day Zero: June 4th (Friday)
---------------
I walk into work, lunch in hand, ready to face another 8 hours of retail hell. 15 minutes later, walking out into the rain, having shook the hands of a few of my fellow employees: nice working with you, God, man, I'm sorry, it was a pleasure having you around, sorry about all this.
Reasons didn't really abound in my dismissal: needed to work with customers more and less on the tasks. You know, the tasks that, I don't know, run the store?
We have so many employees and yet we aren't given an option to fill our duty and let those who can better attend to customers do their work. I would have loved a position in the backroom selling things on eBay or pulling items to be sold on the floor. I wasn't given an option. They didn't inform me of anything I needed to do to increase my stock in the company. The so-called Work Improvement Programs were only instated for those consistently late to work. Instead, I was handed a check from a trembling hand and given a lackluster response to the ultimate question: Why?
I went back to my place and was consoled for awhile by my amazing girlfriend who, only a year ago, was given the same treatment at the same job. We now had a common enemy. My resolve, however, was to move on and not let it get me down. Instead, I saw it as an opportunity. An opportunity only afforded to me by all that money taken out of mine and every worker in Oregon's paycheck. I could pursue what I wanted to. Take on unpaid internships that were now miraculously paid. Take a few weeks to visit friends, family. Be free of the 40-hour prison at least for a little while.
The sad thought of not being in a place that I was for almost 4 years is hard to shake. It's a feeling that might take a little bit of time and effort to breakthrough.
For the next two days, I tried to distract myself and looked forward to signing up for all the programs I could on Monday.
Day 3
-------
I took the trip to Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS), which thankfully was not very far away. I've heard horror stories from others about the kind of clientele these places inhibit. I found it to be quite inviting. It could be that others went to the downtown location which I imagine would be a little seedier. I took a number, took some forms and tried to fill them out to the best of my ability.
Strangely, they couple the services together in one building for food stamps, state medical insurance and child services. There was a row of Disney movies you could put on for your child while you did the necessary duties to get what you needed to survive.
The wait wasn't too long and I came up with forms in hand. I could tell they were used to people not doing it right. She went through and highlighted whatever I needed to change and parts I didn't know I had to fill out. She then asked me to make an appointment for the next day to do what she called an "intake". It was basically the interview. Make sure about all the information I put in the forms and send me on my way with a card.
I also filed for unemployment which was much more of a hassle. I tried to do it online first but I couldn't find the right page to file. The oregon.gov site is a bit clunky and many of the links led to dead ends. I decided to go the old-fashioned way and use the telephone system. This was a bad choice. Every menu option was explained in such high detail it would take you forever to make any progress. Instead of shortening Personal Identification Number they would say it complete everytime: "Decide on a Personal Identification Number that you would like to use to access your Oregon Unemployment Insurance file claim. This Personal Identification Number is secret and you should not give your Personal Identification Number to anyone. Use a Personal Indentification Number that you will remember and be sure not to use the last 4 numbers of your social security number as your Personal...." well you get the picture.
This was repeated with other long terms like the aforementioned "Oregon Unemployment Insurance".
Eventually, my phone decided it didn't want to let me push any number buttons anymore and I had to give it up and try the online way once again.
This time, I was able to find a new claim form much more easily.
Got 75% through the process when it decided Google Chrome was incompatible browser for one page.
Tried to continue on Internet explorer (an evidently more supported but lamer browser) but they made me start all over again. This time, things went smoothly.
According to the site, I had to wait a while to claim my week. Yeah, every week you have to show that you are actively looking for work and if so, but no dice, you get your paycheck. I'm not even sure how long the form is, since I can't access it yet.
Day 4
------
My appointment was set for 3:45 and I arrived right on time. I didn't know exactly where to go, so I did that awkward thing where you move subtlety towards the counter in front of numbered ticket holders and hope someone notices you. "Oh I have an appointment and I don't know if..." "Just get a number and maybe they will call your name before that."
So I sat and looked around: guy with his head on the table looking dejected, hispanic woman with two kids, a couple of friends apparently both getting food stamps that day. The disney video viewing room lay vacant.
They called my name and I was led into a little room. For a moment, I expected they would ask me to remove my pants and cough soon.
They asked only a few questions; it was a rather easy procedure, all told. Because my unemployment hadn't kicked in (I assumed) I would be getting 160 now and perhaps closer to 200 next month on the 5th (according to my SS#). According to estimates online, that was about 100 bucks more than I expected. I hope that when unemployment goes into effect that number won't go down a large amount.
My card was processed and suddenly, I had money for food.
Day 6
------
Called into the Unemployment agency to see what was happening with my claim. After waiting 15 minutes for someone to answer the phone and listening to the same 15 second clip of hold music (with some jazz fusion elements) someone finally answered. Her voice was fast and whispered. Hilariously, it very reminiscent of those NPR women in the SNL skits involving Schwetty balls and the like. She told me that because I was discharged I would have to likely wait 3 weeks for them to "judicate". She wanted to make sure I wasn't fired because I, I dunno, painted curse words on the parking lot or something.
Apparently, I still get back pay for the weeks I will claim that will have no compensation at this time. Here's hoping Hal doesn't suddenly decide to dispute my claim.
A bit of a setback, but hopefully everything from this point will go smoothly. I have a bit of money to last me a few weeks, at least.
I will attempt to write this blog consistently as events happen. I hope that I will be given a chance to pursue some of those dreams that have been in the back of my mind since time forgotten.
Here's hoping the government can make those dreams come true in a way I never expected to use.
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