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We Are Forty and We Did Get Jobs

C. B. Thompson and M. L. Wise

J. B. Lippincott Company, New York, 1938

Dedication

Calvin Miles Thompson

Frank John Wise

And to

All who get and all who give jobs

Preface

 In the winter and early spring of 1938 we embarked on a unique hunt for jobs.  It was our individual revolt against the hopelessness surrounding the whole employment situation.  The experiences and findings were considered of sufficient significance by the editors of The Saturday Evening Post to warrant publication in an article entitled: “We Are Forth and We Did Get Jobs.” We launched the treaties innocently enough, feeling that we had something heartening to report to people who were unemployed.  But we did not realize that we had struck a fundamental principle until several days after the appearance of the article.

The came the deluge.  The telephone and doorbell vied with each other in ringing, while the postman came loaded with letters of inquiry at each new mail.

“…a wonderful tonic! I have already sent five copies to friends who have been discouraged and am…

sure it will give them a different outlook on life.  Why don’t you write more on this subject?”

“I would like to see some further writing along these lines.  Take for instance the home employment problem, minus the sentiment and prejudice.”

“The article revives hope.  Why not talk on the radio to the many depressed people who would get a new desire to start over, armed with determination to succeed?”

“I haven’t equaled what I could do….I need to catch fire from your ideas.”

“I am a widow in my forties, with growing girls….What I bring to you is the problem of how to augment my salary.”

“…and why don’t you go into the advising business? I brought you my trouble, didn’t I?”

“Do you think it possible for me to create a job for myself?  Could you suggest how to go about it, and perhaps tell me what to say?”

“I have a number of merchandising ideas which I think could make money for a department store.  How would you market such suggestions?”

“I am not quite twenty-one…can you think of avenues for me and other who don’t think the world owes us a living?”

“What would you recommend as the next move for…

a keen-minded woman of forty with a background in legal research?”

“Your article renewed my courage…Could you give me any more suggestions?

“I am considered too young!…and on the brink of complete discouragement I turn to you.”

“I am a well educated man beyond forty with several degrees and languages to my credit…suggest some type of work which you think I could do, and some method of obtaining it.”

“…and I now have to face the world at sixty.  Will you tell me how we of our generation can get jobs?”

“You could certainly launch a super-employment agency. Why don’t you do it?”

“…it would be fine if the Chamber of Commerce organizations, business concerns and churches could have this article for distribution in pamphlet form.”

“Why don’t you write in similar manner for us who are in our forties but who are tied to home with families?”

“You ladies succeeded…can you help me in my problem?”

“It seems to me you could do big things in the way of placing people through a very different sort of employment agency. Have you though of doing this?”

“Now I am fifty-three and discarded…life saving put into investments which failed…can type, write good letters…act as companion-secretary to semi-invalid person…I should need just a living wage. If you would show me the way…”

“How shall I live?…What shall I do next? I know I must recreate myself from within, but like someone very ill I turn to you.”

“…and what you have said should be broadcast over every radio in America.”

“Inspired me with courage…a college bred woman who want to aid her husband…What suggestions might you have here?”

“What do you suggest for the woman past forty whose background and experience has been very average?”

“…look upon this inspiration and informative writing as the “Emily Post” of “Positions Wanted.” As a matter of fact why don’t you bring out your experiences and beliefs in book form?”

“To my jobless companion your narrative brought a shot of new courage, plus a hatful of specific ideas for improving his approach to the five or six business connections he is working on.

“…and what your wrote brought me right up against the job of licking my attitude of defeat.”

“I hope that your article will not die but will live again in book form.”

To every problem that was presented we gave our best thought and made full reply. But each new inquiry force home the realization that there was real demand for the many details available on our whys and wherefores of getting jobs.  In a sense, this book is the answer.

It need hardly be said that though events are real, all names used are fictitious.

The chronicle cannot possible be told without special mention of Will Thompson, whose constant editorial assistance has greatly aided in the preparation of this volume.

The Authors