A teenager in Indiana has gained notoriety for having walked six miles in the ice and snow to interview for a minimum wage job. On top of that, the boy has suffered plenty of adversity in his short lifetime. His mom died recently, and he got his GED after dropping out of high school. You can read about him here: http://www.courierpress.com/news/2013/feb/28/teens-job-search-leads-unexpected-results/
I can’t help but wonder if situations like this were more commonplace a couple of generations ago. Culturally, I think we Americans have grown accustomed to a certain set of expectations when it comes to our jobs. Our cities are built for cars, and the climate here is generally a lot colder than that of some developing nations, where it is probably very common to walk what we would consider long distances in warmer weather to get to work. Most of my jobs have included a first day taken up with conversations with a human resources representative about insurance benefits, vacation time and where to air grievances if I feel I’m being picked on, discriminated against, or if my workload seems too heavy. I wonder if my grandparents had any experiences like that.
Even in the direst of straits when I’ve been unemployed with a wife and 3 kids to support, I’ve still been able to drive around in an air-conditioned car to look for a job that paid no less than a few bucks above minimum. Sure, I’ve had to lower my expectations a bit from my ideal job, but all in all I’m relatively satisfied with the standard of living I enjoy as an underemployed American. I’ve had plenty to eat, a roof over my head, clothes on my back and some really good times with my family.
Maybe I don’t have to walk six miles in the snow and settle for minimum wage, but I’m sure there are some things I could give up, at least on a temporary basis, if I was in the midst of a fruitless 2-year-long job search.
What could you give up for a job? Your own parking space? Your own office? A six-figure salary? Two weeks of vacation? A living wage? Insurance benefits? Would you take the bus?
Mar 1, 2013
How Far Would You Walk for a Job Interview?
Posted on 10:32 AM by Unknown
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