[ WP ] Imagine a world where dating and job hunting are switched . Dating now involves sending emails and resumes , while people seeking employment frequent the hottest clubs .

Jerry sat slouched on the chair. Faded fabric over worn down padding. This chair had been sat on once to many times several years ago, and now it was doing all it could to not fall apart. Jerry waited as he had done once a fortnight for the last six months. Being unemployed had sucked. Before this, he had a nice job with reasonable pay, but for the most part he had survived so far thanks only to his savings, which were slowly trickling down to nothing. 
 
 `` Jerry Simpkins'' a voice cried out. It was one of the many job advisors that worked within the benefits office. Hearing his name Jerry approached the desk of the adviser. In front of him sat a middle aged woman, who looked like she had n't smiled in a month, and knowing the way the unemployment office could be, and the kind of people who worked in it, she probably had n't. The smell of an old perfume wafted into Jerry's nose, and he could only assume it was from her. 
 
 `` So Jerry, how's it going?'' she asked, in a bored tone as she took a quick glance over his paperwork. 
 
 `` Well,'' Jerry said trying to smile, `` I've been doing all I can. I've spent a lot of time in clubs and bars, and just recently I've had wingmen start to tell me about some openings their friends have.'' 
 
 `` Uh-huh,'' the woman said, her eyes still looking at the paperwork, `` It says you spent Thursday morning in a cafe with an employer, how did that go?'' 
 
 Jerry blushed, `` It... could have gone better,'' he admitted, `` I mean it started okay, I think.'' 
 
 `` What happened?'' the lady said. Jerry could tell just be looking she was expected the worst. 
 
 `` Well, we started chatting, and it was going great, we talked about what sort of music we liked, and how we both enjoyed walking our dogs, when he mentioned that he worked for a childcare company.'' 
 
 `` And let me guess,'' she said, `` You do n't want a working relationship that involves looking after other peoples kids?'' 
 
 `` Well, no, not really.'' 
 
 `` Jerry,'' she says in a condescending tone, `` You ca n't write off an employment opportunity just because it's not a hundred percent what your ideal is.'' 
 
 `` But I was an accountant before.'' 
 
 `` And that's over now,'' she scowls, `` And like it or not, you ca n't get that back. Your previous employer has already moved on, it's time you did too.'' She flipped through some books on her table, before she showed Jerry several recruiters and trying to set them up together. 
 
 Jerry passed on each of them, which only mad the lady more annoyed. `` Jerry, it's been six months. We need to be serious now. You ca n't still be longing for your old job. There are plenty of other jobs out there, you just need to stop being so picky.'' 
 
 `` I know,'' Jerry sighed, `` It's just, well, I loved that job. I loved coming in every morning to the piles of paperwork, I loved seeing all the account details, I loved how it felt to be so completely engrossed in the bookkeeping.'' 
 
 The woman sighed, `` Jerry, I have a duty to see that you do your best to find employment. That is my job. But I ca n't help you if you wont help yourself.'' 
 
 `` So what do you suggest?'' 
 
 `` Well,'' the lady says, going into a pre-rehearsed script that she had delivered a hundred times already, `` We can send you on a training session for now. There's some dance classes we can put you on.'' 
 
 `` Dance classes?'' Jerry exclaimed in frustration? `` I'm forty four. I've been dancing and partying for nearly twenty years! I'm not some unemployed fresh out of school loser, do you think I could've even been an accountant if I did n't know how to dance?'' 
 
 `` Mr Simpkins,'' the employment officer said harshly, `` It does n't matter what you think, it is policy. You have been unemployed for half a year, thus you must start taking courses.'' 
 
 `` But they're redundant for me.'' 
 
 `` Look Mr Simpkins, I really do n't care if you do or do n't go. But if you want to keep claiming benefits you will attend any dance lessons, rock climbing, or one night stands the employment office sends you on. Do you understand?'' 
 
 Jerry sighed. `` Fine.'' He rolled his eyes. Dance classes. He could see it now, it would be a complete waste of time, him and a bunch of idiots fresh out of school, all learning the basics of what rhythm was, and how to move in time with music. It would be patronising at best, and more than likely show him nothing he did n't already know, wasting time he could better spend hanging out in a nightclub. 
 
 Walking out, Jerry sent a text to his wife. `` They want me to take dance classes, how stupid is that?'' 
 
 Thirty seconds later he got a reply, `` I'm writing a sympathetic TPS report for you. Come back home soon, we can synergise a team project when you're back.''
