What I learned from unemployment

This post is part of the latest group writing project at Middle Zone Musings. The topic is simply “What have you learned from …” and it has to be something to do with work.

First, some background: After I graduated with an IT degree in 1999, I got myself a full-time programming job at a good company, only to be shown the door after a year. I thought I would find another job quickly, but this was at the beginning of the IT crash of that time and what looked like a temporary setback turned into a long and drawn-out struggle.

I did not work at all for several months as I tried to find more IT work. When it wasn’t forthcoming I got myself a temporary position selling security systems door-to-door while still looking for a suitable IT position. I also got my friend, my brother and my sister jobs doing the door-to-door thing.

After two months, the company collapsed and we all lost money; me, my sister, my friend, my brother. It was my brother’s first job and he never got paid a cent.

I quickly found another security systems sales job, but they shut their office two months later. I next found work at a local take-away doing delivery driving. While working there, I decided to return to study, having given up on IT work. I got accepted into the Diploma of Education.

That lasted a year, but it soon became apparent that I wasn’t cut out for high school teaching and I ended up failing the course. Then an opportunity came up to become a courier driver, which I took up, borrowing money to buy a panel van for that purpose.

That decision proved disastrous, pushing me to the brink of bankruptcy by the time I quit. I ended up writing off my van in an accident, in which I fortunately was not injured.

Finally, after a few months, I landed a well-paying job, and then another nine months later, where I am still working today.

Whew!

Now, what did I learn from all that? Not nothing, hopefully. Here are some lessons to draw on from my experience:

1. Study will only get you so far

Degrees and good marks are nowhere near as important as we were told at school. While studying and good academic results may get you a good job, any subsequent success will only come as a result of your own initiative and other factors.

2. Money isn’t everything

Choosing a job or business opportunity based solely on how much money you will make from it is a bad idea. Better to choose one based on other factors, such as skills development and personal development, as promised financial gains can prove illusory.

3. The sun doesn’t shine forever

Each of us will go through good times and bad times throughout our lives, but the tendency is to assume that good times will last forever. Instead, it is wise to prepare for the bad times when the times are still good. That way, you will be better prepared and a lot less stressed when the cycle of life turns.

4. Never compromise your integrity

When you compromise your integrity, you compromise your reputation with others. Better to find an opportunity that does not require you to compromise your ideals. As in point #2, promised financial gains may prove illusory anyway. Over the long term, honesty in financial affairs tends to bring wealth, as those who would do business with you know you can be trusted.

But am I living out these lessons? That’s a topic for another post.