Bait and Switch

Barbara Ehrenreich intended Bait and Switch to be a follow-up to her Nickel and Dimed, except that she’d try out a mid-level corporate career instead of menial labor. However, despite being intelligent and educated, she didn’t receive an offer, or even an interview for a salaried position. Instead, she wrote about her unsuccessful efforts, along with the harrowing job market that people without specialized skills face.

Ehrenreich was very naive at first, being surprised, for example, at the detrimental impact of having gaps in your resume. However, her depiction highlights how difficult it can be for many people to find employment, since none of the fellow job seekers managed to find decent careers. Bait and Switch was less compelling than Nickel and Dimed, partially because a stymied job search isn’t exciting and partially because I’ve known several people who’ve struggled with periods of unemployment. Still, it’s a quick and easy read that emphasizes how tough the American economic system is for large segments of society.