Did you try to collect unemployment insurance after losing a job?

A friend of mine was fired last week and is struggling with collecting unemployment insurance. In our State you have to apply in person, fill out all kinds of forms, and get interviewed by a case worker.

Anyway she went down to the unemployment office and was shocked how tacky it was. It was in a bad neighborhood and shares a building with the welfare office. She go all kinds of cat calls by the crowd hanging out in the hall and quickly drove away. She forced her self to come back the next day and found the office jammed with all these crazy looking people. She kept telling her self, "I am not like these people, I have a Masters Degree and have worked in fancy offices with professional people"

After two hours she was still waiting and decided to come back later. But as yet she can not get the courage to come back. Was it as bad for you?

In most cities there are more than one office to file for unemployment. She should check to see if there is an office in a surrounding suburb that she could go to. After the initial interview, you can usually do most of the follow ups on the phone or on the web.
My suggestion would be to just bite the bullet and get to the office early in the AM. Most of the crazies and lazies arent up when the office first opens so she will have less to deal with. At this point even with advanced degrees and great work experience, she is in the same boat as the other people in the office. She is unemployed and needs to apply for benefits. While it may be a blow to your pride and a new experience for most of us, its a requirement to obtain benefits. Its only one day in her life so I'd just get it over with. If she's really hesitant, she can always take a friend along to keep her company and give her moral support.