Comic Relief: Job-Seeking Humor – Volume 2
May 24, 2010 at 12:01 am 10 comments
A few weeks ago, I took a break from my usual “advice for job-seekers” mission, and offered up a blog of pure humor. [“Comic Relief: Job-Seeking Humor.”] To my great surprise, that blog received a record number of hits (over 2,500 views within the first 36 hours!) as well as a huge number of comments. Readers seemed to really appreciate the welcome shot of comic relief from their daily job-seeking grind that Monday morning. So with that reaction in mind, I’d like to revisit that same theme and offer up this second edition of comic relief for job-seekers.
Now again, I fully realize that being unemployed is generally not a laughing matter. However, much like “gallows humor,” the intention of “job-seeking humor” is quite simple: to lift the spirits of people who are in an otherwise depressing situation. I’m a firm believer that maintaining a sense of humor is a key component to positive mental health. And I’m a still a tough critic when it comes to job-seeking humor. I figure, if it makes me laugh out loud, it’s worth sharing here!
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In the category of Videos, I came across the following hysterical animated piece called “The Unemployment Game Show.” Funny and sad at the same time, this 2-minute video pokes fun at how those official government unemployment statistics are arrived at, and how inaccurate they may be:
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In the category of Cartoons, here are more miscellaneous funnies – all on the theme of interviewing – that I couldn’t fit into any other blog articles, but I think are hilarious nevertheless … and deserve to be shared here:
And one more, just for the IT people …
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Finally, in the category of “Reality Humor,” the following “Job Application” was an internet hoax that went viral a couple of years ago and became somewhat of an Urban Legend. It was circulated (without credit) under the guise of being an actual job application submitted to a McDonald’s in Florida by a 17 year old boy. The story was that McDonald’s actually hired the boy because his application was so “honest and funny.” The actual truth is that it was a totally fictitious parody piece created by a writer named Greg Bulmash who was frustrated with his own job-seeking process! Real or fake, it’s still very funny:
SEX: Not yet. Still waiting for the right person.
DESIRED POSITION: Reclining. Ha ha. But seriously, whatever’s available. If I was in a position to be picky, I wouldn’t be applying here in the first place.
DESIRED SALARY: $185,000 a year plus stock options and a Michael Ovitz style severance package. If that’s not possible, make an offer and we can haggle.
EDUCATION: Yes.
LAST POSITION HELD: Target for middle-management hostility.
SALARY: Less than I’m worth.
MOST NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT: My incredible collection of stolen pens and post-it notes.
REASON FOR LEAVING: It sucked.
HOURS AVAILABLE TO WORK: Any.
PREFERRED HOURS: 1:30-3:30 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday.
DO YOU HAVE ANY SPECIAL SKILLS?: Yes, but they’re better suited to a more intimate environment.
MAY WE CONTACT YOUR CURRENT EMPLOYER?: If I had one, would I be here?
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN CONVICTED OF A FELONY?: Is “felony” sex with a cat? Because if it is . . . no.
DO YOU HAVE ANY PHYSICAL CONDITIONS THAT WOULD PROHIBIT YOU FROM LIFTING UP TO 50 LBS?: Of what?
DO YOU HAVE A CAR?: I think the more appropriate question here would be “do you have a car that runs?”
HAVE YOU RECEIVED ANY SPECIAL AWARDS OR RECOGNITION?: I may already be a winner of the Publishers Clearinghouse Sweepstakes.
DO YOU SMOKE?: Only when set on fire.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE DOING IN FIVE YEARS?: Living in Bimini with a fabulously wealthy supermodel who thinks I’m the greatest thing since sliced bread. Actually, I’d like to be doing that now.
DO YOU CERTIFY THAT THE ABOVE IS TRUE AND COMPLETE TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE?: No, but I dare you to prove otherwise.
SIGN HERE: Scorpio with Libra rising.
Entry filed under: Advice for Job Seekers. Tags: Humor, job-seekers, unemployment.
10 Comments Add your own
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1. Michael Kusuplos | May 24, 2010 at 1:18 pm
Michael:
Thanks for putting this together for us. Given the current hiring
situation, really is nice to just have a smile on your face for
even a brief momment!
2. Eric L. Girven | May 24, 2010 at 2:19 pm
The video is keenly provocative. Is it possible that the United States unemployment rate could actually be twice what is being reported by mainstream print and television news services?
3. Michael Kusuplos | May 24, 2010 at 3:37 pm
Eric:
This is happening. There are many individuals that have just
given up looking!
Would not be surprised to see the actual unemployment / underemployment rate to be at the 17% rate suggested in the video.
4. Prakash | May 24, 2010 at 6:46 pm
Interesting and amusing stuff.
U sure cheered me up and had me laughing away to some of the stuff in there. Thanks for those cheerful & hilarious articles, videos & cartoons.
5. Jennifer Perry | May 26, 2010 at 1:00 pm
Yes, thank you for these. The job hunt can be so demoralizing and depressing, especially if we’re already doing everything that every expert has told us is the thing to do now. Sometimes we just need to know that someone understands, really understands, and can make us actually smile and laugh.
I began writing about my job interviews. Here are a few.
http://memoirsofamisanthrope.blogspot.com
6. Suzanne Benet | May 27, 2010 at 10:25 am
Love it!
Finding the humor, however, black gets me through the day or more importantly, through this terrible job search process.
7. Sheila Giano | May 29, 2010 at 7:56 pm
Loved it – they say the truth hurt but a good laugh heals. Thanks
8. Sheba Marx | June 4, 2010 at 6:03 pm
Humor is a must. Thanks for the video and cartoons. Enjoyed them. My attempts at unemployment humor can be found at unemployedmarx.blogspot.com
9. Sheba Marx | July 7, 2010 at 9:26 am
Needed that. Thanks. The other day, I received a rejection e-mail for a job I didn’t apply for. No kidding. I’m sure I win a prize for that one.
10. Eva Wong | September 7, 2010 at 7:27 pm
Thanks for sharing, this is great! Being unemployed is definitely no fun, but bringing some levity into the situation helps to put things in perspective. Thanks for reminding people how to laugh. We just need to think of this transition period as an adventure that one day down the line, we can all really have a good laugh about. Good luck to everyone with their search!