I was talking to another George last night. (Don't worry, George, this one was human. No competition.) He hadn't been around for a few months. I guessed depression and I was right.
He's trying to get back into the job market and failing - but always only just. "'The other guy only had one point more,' they tell me as if that's an encouragement.'
It's so hard for those who have gone through a down time for any reason to get back into work. I'm not sure what his story is but he's intelligent, clean (this is in Zac's so not a given), smart, funny, and I'm sure would be an asset to any organisation.
There was another lady there too. I thought she was a first timer but she asked me if I still had contact with the people of Linden Church. It's always puzzling when people recognise you and you have no idea who they are. I usually assume it's through prison but I only go into men's prisons so that was a no.
Bit like the woman at an event I attended recently. She clearly knew me and we managed to have a reasonable conversation without her working out that I was clueless as to her identity.
10 comments:
I so dislike those conversations in which I have to pretend I remember someone. While I often remember a face, I rarely remember how I know someone.
I had that recently. Someone rushed up to me at the petrol station and asked me how I was and how the kids are doing. I didn't have a clue who she was, but I think I managed to get away with it!
That's the thing about moving 3500 miles away from where you've always lived. I don't know an soul. If I run into someone who seems familiar, it's because they remind me of someone else. I don't have to pretend to know them. It was a problem before I moved, but not any more.
Yes, throughout my career I always seemed to be everybody's favourite second choice too. It's very frustrating. I hope he perseveres, because the job market is a numbers game and eventually a first choice will turn down the job and then woohoo! it's our turn, baby!
People sometimes say hello to me in the street and I have no idea who they are. Presumably someone who lives nearby, sees me a lot and treats me as an old friend. Perhaps they should have helpful badges - "Pete Grommet, 16 Acacia Park". Then I could say "Hi Pete, how are you doing?"
Since we all sometimes wonder who our assailant is, I see nothing wrong with cocking one's head, quizzically, and asking, "Who are you?" It's simple, then, to fake embarrassment at having experienced a senior moment.
Once in a while, it is useful to come in second. When a head-hunter wanted to put me in contact with a company (40 years ago!) of whom I'd never heard, in talking with a work friend, I learned that a fellow who worked across town from us had been made an offer by that company - and the salary that had been offered which was about twice what I was making. When I met with the company, they offered me only 3/4 of what they had offered the fellow across town, so I turned it down. They came back with a much better offer plus bonus, which I accepted. The fellow across town had a PhD while I had not finished mine; so, I willingly agreed that he would have been worth a little more than would I. It was a great match and I stayed with that company for nine years.
Cop Car
As long as I don't have to introduce the 'uhm - who are you again' person to someone, I can get through idle chit-chat without names. Though there has been a time or two when, after walking away, I think - I'm pretty sure I have never seen that person before ever!
One of my problems is that i may recognise a face and finally remember that she works at the checkout at the supermarket and is not someone I actually know.
As so many of us have this problem maybe we should all wear badges all the time ... but i'm glad I'm not alone.
That sometimes happens to me when the parent of a former student starts chatting in the grocery store or wherever. I don't have a clue as to who she is or who her kids are but I seem to manage by asking how the "kids" are doing. Then I get a clue!
I am sure this awkward situation has been faced by everyone at some point in time, where the other person knows you but we have no idea who they are and where we have met. Thank you Liz for sharing one such experience of yours and it was interesting to read. Hope George finds a good restart to his career soon and comes out of his depression soon.
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