June
[Job hunting]
BLUE SUIT BLUES
Have you noticed that many young women in new dark blue
suits have suddenly appeared in great numbers on streets and
at stations recently ? They all look the same. Their uniform
is a white blouse often with a bow tie and dark blue
tight-skirt-suit. They have a black shoulder bag and hold a
sky blue envelope covered with vinyl, use natural make up
and light coloured nail polish, wear medium heel pumps, no
earrings and rings. Who are they ? Why do they dress such a
way ?
They are hunters. They are job hunting after graduating from thier college or university. They are on the way to visit a company where they want to work. So they look nervous but patient. They never take off their jackets even when it's a very hot day, because it is armour for them.
Offically, companies agree with not to have contact with prospective employees before August. If they follow this rule, students can study calmly and companies avoid the ploblem of a few big or popular companies getting excellent students early on. In reality, companies want good recruits, so they accept private visits from students. Students often meet a worker who went to the same college and a person in charge of personnel administration. Actually, it becames a first interview.
Students usually start job hunting seriously after the summer vacation, but since the recession, many companies don't want to employ women, so women students start visiting companies earlier. Many companies say that they don't mind what clothes the students wear. But fear makes women students timid, so they choose the safest clothes. Sameness is safe. Their hunt continues until they get a catch. It is called NAITEI (unofficial offer of employment). After that, students take an perfunctory exam and companies decide offically to employ them.
It's a hard fight. In school, women students often get better marks than men students, they feel equal to men students and they are proud of themselves, but when they visit campanies, they feel a hard wall of discrimination against women. They are easily beaten down, but I hope they act up a good fight and become less timid. Without their courage, the situation won't change.
(25th June 1994)
They are hunters. They are job hunting after graduating from thier college or university. They are on the way to visit a company where they want to work. So they look nervous but patient. They never take off their jackets even when it's a very hot day, because it is armour for them.
Offically, companies agree with not to have contact with prospective employees before August. If they follow this rule, students can study calmly and companies avoid the ploblem of a few big or popular companies getting excellent students early on. In reality, companies want good recruits, so they accept private visits from students. Students often meet a worker who went to the same college and a person in charge of personnel administration. Actually, it becames a first interview.
Students usually start job hunting seriously after the summer vacation, but since the recession, many companies don't want to employ women, so women students start visiting companies earlier. Many companies say that they don't mind what clothes the students wear. But fear makes women students timid, so they choose the safest clothes. Sameness is safe. Their hunt continues until they get a catch. It is called NAITEI (unofficial offer of employment). After that, students take an perfunctory exam and companies decide offically to employ them.
It's a hard fight. In school, women students often get better marks than men students, they feel equal to men students and they are proud of themselves, but when they visit campanies, they feel a hard wall of discrimination against women. They are easily beaten down, but I hope they act up a good fight and become less timid. Without their courage, the situation won't change.
(25th June 1994)