Interview with Mr. May, Financial Planner
Q. Mr. May, is it possible for a person to emerge unscathed from a long period of being out of job?
A. I'd say unscathed would be too optimistic.
Butit's certainly possible to plan ahead and to survive a period of unemployment without deep emotional and psychological scars.
Especially in this recession, the whole concept of long-term job security — whether it be in government, the auto industry or whatever — is changing. People seem more aware that if they're laid off they may not get called back.
Q. What's the most painful part of unemployment?
A. For most people, it's psychological and emotional stress. There are four stages that people seem to go through when they lose a job.
The first usually is panic: «What am I going to do financially, personally?» Second is guilt: «I'm not worth anything. My coworkers are still there and I'm not. 'Something must be wrong with me.» The third step, Usually, is to turn it outward and say, «Aha! It wasn't me, it was that guy!» You externalize the blame and really get angry at the world, your boss or whomever.
It's not until the last stage, which is renewed self-confidence and determination, that you are in a frame of mind to convince someone to hire you. That, in the end, is what all the career books and counseling sessions really do: They build you back up, convince you that it wasn't anything personal.
Q. Just how can someone cope with psychological stress?
A. The main thing is to realize that you're not alone, that this is not a unique situation. I liken it to divorce and death. It's in that magnitude of psychological, emotional trauma.
You should be willing to ask for help and to communicate with others. A lot of strong-willed people never do. They even hide it from family and friends to the extent that they fake going to work in the morning. Sometimes it's weeks before they are found out because they won't admit it to themselves and their world.
I. Read the article and translate it.
II. Answer the following questions:
1. What effect may a long period of unemployment produce?
2. What stages of psychological state does a person out of work go through?
3. Why do some people conceal their unemployment from their close relatives?
4. Do you consider Mr. May's advice helpful?
5. How would you react in a similar situation?
WORD STUDY
I. Give Russian equivalents for:
a dominant driving force;
a tribal setting;
human beings;
self-esteem;
a set of needs;
to be satisfied;
to receive support;
release of potential;
management process;
experience;
well-being;
main concern;
to carry out experiments;
self-training;
to overcome stress situations.
Sport in Russia
Sport has always been popular in our country. There are different sporting societies and clubs in Russia. Many of them take part in different international tournaments and are known all over the world. A great number of world records have been set by Russian sportsmen: gymnasts, weightlifters, tennis players, swimmers, figure skaters, runners, high jumpers. Our sportsmen take part in the Olympic Games and always win a lot of gold, silver and bronze medals.
Millions of people watch figure skating competitions, hockey and football matches, car races, tennis tournaments and other sports events. Certainly watching sports events and going in for sports are two different things.
In the past it was never admitted that professional sport existed in our country. The official point of view was that our sport was totally amateur. Now everybody knows that sport can be a profession and a business.
But sport can be fun as well. Besides, it helps to stay in good shape, to keep fit and to be healthy.
Doing sports is becoming more and more popular. Some people do it occasionally — swimming in summer, skiing or skating in winter — but many people go in for sports on a more regular basis. They try to find time to go to a swimming pool or a gym at least once a week for aerobics or yoga classes, body building or just work-out on a treadmill. Some people jog every morning, some play tennis.
For those who can afford it there are clubs where they give lessons of scuba diving or riding. In spring and summer young people put on their rollerskates and skate in the streets and parks.
