Commentary: What's Wrong with You?

By Paul Spitale

Buffalo, NY – "What's wrong with you?"

That's what people ask me at job interviews, at networking events, at job fairs I even get it from friends and family.

"There must be something wrong with you. You're so marketable." I guess so. Why can't I get a job? Well, technically, I have six right now as well as my own business; all part-time. I substitute teach in four districts and teach at two after school programs four days a week. But I don't have the job I want. The benefits, the security.

Okay, I know we're in a recession with a jobless recovery going on, but people less qualified than me are getting jobs. And that's good for them, but what's wrong with me?

"I'm an unemployed teacher," I tell people. It's taken me a while to admit the unemployed' part. About two years to be more precise. When I used to tell people, "I'm a teacher." It would inevitably be followed up with "Oh! Where do you teach?" Now I thought I'd save them the breath, and me the trouble of explaining my situation.

People are always nice in trying to suggest my next move: "You should get your Masters degree." "Got it." "How bout your certification?" "Got two." "Maybe if you had some experience." "Three years, out-of-state. My third year I was Department chairman. I moved back to be with family."

I figure it's okay to admit I was a little homesick. A little more humility can't hurt.

"Oh There must be something wrong?"

I guess. But what?

What if I can't get a job because of the way I look? The way I act? The way I dress? The way I smile? That can't be it.

What about the fact that I'm a musician and an actor? Should I take that off my resume? Is the Renaissance man really dead?!

I don't know.

Maybe there's nothing wrong with me. Maybe I chose the one field that's saturated with applicants. Maybe America doesn't need any more teachers.

Who knows?

Maybe it's all the volunteer work I do that's holding me back. Habitat for Humanity? Building houses for the homeless? What was I thinking, right? Or the Thanksgiving Giving Fund; providing meals for the less fortunate? Crazy, huh? Or coaching developmentally disabled kids how to paddle a canoe? Now I just sound like a pompous jerk... hey...wait a minute.

Listener-Commentator Paul Spitale tells us he found work soon after recording this piece. He's now a temporary ninth grade English teacher at Tonawanda High School.