having to ask my folks for money. My mom gives me a couple of dollars now and then, but stand having me around the house all almost she can’t day. I’ve given up looking for a job. I look at the paper everyday, but really tired of I’m going through the want ads. There are at least fifty people for every job. I was interested in becoming a receptionist for a dentist or a doctor because I like meeting people, but take any job that came along. People ask me why now I’d I move to California or maybe Houston, but I really want to leave my don’t don’t family and my friends. Anyway, be scared of living all alone in a strange I’d place.” George Hartman is 54. Until last year he was a foreman at an automobile plant in Michigan. He had worked for the same company since he graduated from high school. He had a good job and a comfortable life. When the company cut back production last year, George was laid off. you know. I feel old, but it easy to start looking for a “It’s funny, don’t isn’t job at my age. been turned down so many times that now afraid of I’ve I’m applying for a job. All the interviewers are twenty years younger than me. You see, interested in learning a new skill, but nobody wants to train me. I can I’m see their point of view, you have to retire in a few years. just that know, I’ll It’s tired of sitting around the house. worked hard for over thirty-five …well, I’m I’ve years, and now terrified of having nothing to do. When I was still with U.S. I’m Motors I was bored with doing the same thing day after day, but now enjoy I’d having a job again-any job. not just the money. still on unemployment, It’s I’m and my wife has a good job. She makes more money than I ever did, but we have to be careful with expenses, and so given up smoking. But I’ve we’re getting along. No, not just the money. I need to get out more and it’s feel… useful, you know. Yeah, I guess I want to feel useful.”
having to ask my folks for money. My mom gives me a couple of dollars now and then, but she can’t stand having me around the house all day. I’ve almost given up looking for a job. I look at the paper everyday, but I’m really tired of going through the want ads. There are at least fifty people for every job. I was interested in becoming a receptionist for a dentist or a doctor because I like meeting people, but now I’d take any job that came along. People ask me why I don’t move to California or maybe Houston, but I really don’t want to leave my family and my friends. Anyway, I’d be scared of living all alone in a strange place.” George Hartman is 54. Until last year he was a foreman at an automobile plant in Michigan. He had worked for the same company since he graduated from high school. He had a good job and a comfortable life. When the company cut back production last year, George was laid off. “It’s funny, you know. I don’t feel old, but it isn’t easy to start looking for a job at my age. I’ve been turned down so many times that now I’m afraid of applying for a job. All the interviewers are twenty years younger than me. You see, I’m interested in learning a new skill, but nobody wants to train me. I can see their point of view, you know, I’ll have to retire in a few years. It’s just that …well, I’m tired of sitting around the house. I’ve worked hard for over thirty-five years, and now I’m terrified of having nothing to do. When I was still with U.S. Motors I was bored with doing the same thing day after day, but now I’d enjoy having a job again-any job. It’s not just the money. I’m still on unemployment, and my wife has a good job. She makes more money than I ever did, but we have to be careful with expenses, and so I’ve given up smoking. But we’re getting along. No, it’s not just the money. I need to get out more and feel… useful, you know. Yeah, I guess I want to feel useful.”