Ah, bureaucracy how I love thee

WARNING! Few curse words might be detected!

So...I'm still unemployed and as such I am qualified to apply for unemployment benefits from Finland, now that I'm actually IN Finland. The process is as follows: You go to the local (un)employment agency, either in person or online, and register as unemployed job seeker. Did that yesterday. Then you go over to get an official statement saying that you qualify to apply for unemployment. After that you apply in another agency for the benefits...

I went to the local unemployment agency today to get my statement. I was assisted by this woman who was so fed up with her job and had absolutely no interest. This is how the conversation went.
Me: graduated from MSU 2009...student visa granted 1 year of practical training which I was unable to find....been looking for a job since May 2009...was not under US social security....only allowed to work in my filed of study....

She looks at my information that I submitted yesterday. You're still part of the Engineering Union unemployment fund? No. What is your profession? I guess I'd be an Environmental Engineer. You are looking in the environmental field I see? Yes. Would you be willing to do other jobs? I guess I would. Have you considered more education? NO, I JUST GRADUATED WITH A MASTERS A YEAR AGO, I HAVE LOANS AND BILLS TO PAY!

Are you fucking kidding me???? more education? What am I supposed to do, go a to a frigging secretary school or something?


Then we get to the part of discussing my job search while in USA... she proceeds to tell me that I will be facing a 2 month wait on my unemployment benefits since I cannot proof that I was job searching while there. I asked her how am I supposed to proof that? as far as I understand I was not allowed to register in a local governmental/state unemployment agency just because I was not under their social security and I was not allowed to do just any job...I was there on a student visa and under the regulation I am not supposed to be a burden to the US. And I bet if would have frustrated the hell out of me! I said I had been job searching full time but from job sites and through my networking... apparently that's not enough because I have no official letter proving anything! Then she asks me if I have had a child during the past year because that way I could proof that I was not able to work! What an ASSHOLE! First of all, they don't have 9 month maternity leave like we do so having a child doesn't proof anything. Second of all, are you gonna make me feel bad about not foreseeing this and not having a child just so that I can proof something to you and your stupid rules? F U!

I need to come up with a letter from my former boss at MSU stating my employment time, duties, salary, hours, reason for terminating my employment etc...then I need to get a letter from the school stating that I studied and graduated there.

I also did my unemployment benefit application on the website of this other agency...after all the questions that I answered I still need to get a letter from my school stating the hours I worked per week and how much I earned each week from the year that I worked for MSU global ed. so I sent a letter to the payroll person who I dealt with while there. I have a feeling he is so busy that he won't have time to do this for me. And this information needs to be at the agency by the end of the month.

I have a meeting with the unemployment agency next Wednesday the 25th so I hope my former boss and the advisor have sent me the letters by then.

Bureaucracy...what a beautiful thing. I am gonna plead my case with everybody because there's nothing I can do about immigration regulations... Some things should be evaluated case-by-case basis. Right now it would be easier if I could just find a job and not have to worry about this bullshit. Nothing is ever easy.

UPDATE: My former boss at MSU said she will write me this letter. Payroll on the other hand...I sent him a letter telling him I was an international student at MSU between May 2008 and May 2009 and that I was applying for unemployment benefits from MY HOME COUNTRY. Gave him all the information needed in the letter...he forwards the e-mail to his colleague who sent me an e-mail: As a student worker at MSU you are not eligible for unemployment benefits. I KNOW! I am NOt applying for american benefits though am I?!?!?! How about you READ the e-mail before you answer...

I need a drink!