Employers Wonder: "Is Something Wrong With You?"
Being one of the longer-term unemployed is especially dangerous: the longer one is without a job, the harder it is to get one.
With the release of new employment numbers on Friday March 4th, we at FrumForum decided that it was time to listen to the voices of the young as they face the challenges of this economic crisis. Over the next days, in an exclusive series, we will be featuring a number of their first-person stories in this space. If their experience is yours, we welcome you to join the conversation at Editor@FrumForum.com.
Click here for David Frum’s introduction to this series.
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Enthusiastic, positive, & hopeful are often the words I used to describe myself. But the word that most describes me best for almost 7 months is... “unemployed.” The latest data states the unemployment rate in Ohio is 9.6%, which is being heralded as an improvement by the media. That means there are over 567,000 people across the state of Ohio who share my situation.
At seven months, I have joined the ranks of the longer-term unemployed. It’s an especially dangerous label, because unemployment builds on itself: The longer one is without a job, the harder it becomes to get one. Potential employers wonder: Is something wrong with you? Why didn’t somebody else already hire you? Are you lazy? Flawed in some unobvious but lethal way?
The job crisis in Ohio hits even those who have stayed in work, like my sister. Until recently, she owned her own beauty shop. Out of work people cannot afford to get their hair and nails done. The beauty shop is now closed.
I have been active in conservative Republican politics since 1994. I have volunteered on scores of campaigns. I have previously been employed by former Ohio Governor Taft’s office and former Ohio Secretary of State Blackwell’s office. My proudest moment as a Republican came when I joined a group that met George W. Bush inside the Oval Office in September 2006. I'd organized a visit to Washington for an Ohio resident, Matthew Drake, who was severely injured in Iraq at the age of 21. Matthew was the only survivor out of five after a suicide car bomber collided with their truck. Karl Rove invited us to breakfast in the West Wing, and the president graciously posed for photographs with us.
I remain a committed Republican, an unusual point of view for an African-American in Ohio. But I still believe that the individual makes the difference for himself or herself. I have volunteered with local community groups, trying to aid those who face even tougher challenges than I do.
Sitting around doing nothing, feeling sorry for yourself accomplishes absolutely zilch. Keeping a positive attitude, helps reassure me that things have to get better from here.
Richard Fair is an out of work Republican staffer. He has been active in conservative Republican politics for almost 20 years. Born and raised in Toledo, Ohio, Richard is married with two teen age daughters. He is heavily involved with children’s health related issues because his youngest child suffers from a life threatening illness. He can be reached at RichardFair1@live.com.
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