Gene Nicolson: Being unemployed is hard, but not working is even worse

Jobs like mowing lawns can keep you active between jobs. Photo / Getty Images

I recently started working with Len Brown on the Auckland Council. Actually, it's a short-term contract as a library assistant but hey, it's six degrees of separation.

For seven-and-a-half years I tutored employment skills, then was made redundant. Ironic. The Government funding stopped and so did my job. I thought surely a person with my education, work experience and upbeat approach would get another job, locally.

I'm middle-aged, so I wasn't looking at moving into a completely new career.

I initially avoided registering for the dole because, one, I thought a job would soon come along (I held out for 10 weeks); two, I couldn't be bothered with the paperwork and revealing my personal details (a 50-page application form); and three, I was embarrassed I'd bump into former students still without work (I did).

After spending the day tutoring Work and Income clients, when they turned up, I went home feeling I'd contributed to society. I could then "chillax", eat, drink, be merry, sleep, and the next morning return to pass on the benefit of my wisdom to the beneficiaries. That was until I. Became. One. Of. Them.

Actor Leslie Nielsen was right: "Doing nothing is very hard to do ... you never know when you're finished." So I kept active. I walked (for free), cycled (with friends), recycled (old teaching notes) and volunteered (children's after-school programme). There were also days when I drifted along in a mental wasteland. For almost three months I had no paid work.

It took nine months to find my current role with Len. My first paying gig was on election day, issuing and counting votes, although I take no responsibility for the current Government.

I've never considered myself a practical chap, yet I found myself doing stuff. Like weeding, mowing lawns, digging holes, building retainer walls, laying pavers, directing traffic. Using equipment like a weed-eater, a compacter and post hole borer. Fortunately I had a break from this hard labour with adult literacy tutoring on Tuesday afternoons.

There's something about working. It's not just the money. My library pay is 20 per cent less than tutoring employment skills. But employees rank their pay packet below factors such as recognition and praise, respect and trust, a sense of achievement, opportunities for growth.

That's why I took on those hands-on tasks. I also did them because I could. Working was about getting up, getting moving, getting involved. It was about hanging in there until I could find employment more suited to me.

• Gene Nicolson, of Warkworth, has previously been a teacher, administrator, youth worker, sales representative and a bank officer.