This isn’t a post announcing retirement following a long career at some organization. It is acknowledgement of where I am today, along with thousands of others, and how memories of September 11, 2001 intertwine our job search.
First, I honor the memory of the 2,977 people who died because of that terrorist attack, people trapped in the collapsing World Trade Towers, first responders and many more people who later contracted fatal illnesses from inhaling the toxic fumes from the jet fuel and rubble.
The grief that their loved ones and this nation endure even a quarter-century later is magnitudes larger than the anguish felt today by the people who woke up jobless. But our anguish is real too.
For me, my career history has repeated itself, which makes this 9/11 remembrance even more disturbing.
The U.S. and global economies were struggling in the early months of 2001. In August 2001, I was laid off from a marketing communications position after just eight months. The company felt the effects of a contracting economy and jettisoned me and some others to stay afloat.
Three weeks later, I sat in a coffee shop with other unemployed members of my church, having formed a job group to encourage and support each other. A news report came over a radio playing in the coffee shop. A plane had just crashed into one of the World Trade Towers.
When one of the members of the job group tried to hush our discussion to listen, I said, “That is truly sad, and I hope that not too many people died. But we have to focus on getting jobs!”
I thought some inexperienced or impaired pilot of a small plane had accidentally hit the tower. To me at that moment, fear of unpaid bills and the needs of my young family seemed more urgent than the death of a pilot.
Boy, was I wrong!
As the enormity of the terrorist attacks hit us, we quickly returned to our homes and families. As the government shut down all air traffic, I knew it was just the beginning of a major economic shutdown.
Boy, was I right!
Employees, concerned about the uncertainties of the world in general and the economy in particular, put their heads down and were grateful to be working. Employers, trying to weather the new realities of a contracting economy and the possibility of widespread military conflict, slowed hiring.
For unemployed workers, job openings were scarce and competition was intense. I walked through a nearly three-year period of unemployment followed by underemployment—taking low-wage positions to make some money.
9-11 and my employment situation intertwined again in 2017. Read more. Today, I’m nearing the end of unemployment payments. Since my most recent contract communications role ended in March, I’ve applied for dozens of positions and continue to network. One difference from 2001 is that I’m 25 years older and have to demonstrate that the skills and experience I’ve gained outweigh any negatives because of my age.
Boy, has that been a hard sell!
I haven’t received a single interview since March, let alone a job offer.
In the aftermath of 9-11, our nation demonstrated resilience and determination to defeat the forces that were working for our destruction. I think one way I can honor the sacrifices of the heroes from that day is to fight my personal fears and keep moving forward to find the job that will help me support my family and contribute to our economy.
