Unemployed
November 16, 2007 2:46 pm Work it
I had been at work for about 30 minutes this morning when the company CEO and HR lady walked in my office and shut the door. I knew what was coming. Well, I knew some of what was coming. I knew the company is going through major changes and several of my friends have already been laid off. I knew that my boss has been whittling my project list down to almost nothing over the past 3 weeks. I knew that with nothing for me to do, there’s no reason to keep me around. I didn’t know that meant TODAY!
I shan’t say a bad thing about that company. I worked there for 6 years. I loved what I did, had uber-flexibility with my schedule, was able to bring my kids to work if necessary (heck, I even took my dog in one day) and, hopefully, made some lasting friendships with my former coworkers. I understand that there was no longer a need for my position and I hold no ill feelings toward them. Plus, they compensated me nicely, so there’s that.
I don’t like the idea of being unemployed, however. I don’t like this sense of failure having gotten “laid off”. I don’t like thinking that maybe if I were a little smarter or knew how to do this or had learned how to do that, I could have kept my job. I don’t like knowing that we still have two house payments to make, dozens of bills to pay, Christmas just around the corner and just one income. I don’t like the idea of having to go “out there” and sell myself on my accomplishments, without a college degree. I don’t like feeling…scared.
RSS
McWholesome :
Date: November 16, 2007 @ 3:01 pm
I hear ya on the no college degree thing. Unfortunately(sp?) companies look at that before they look at experience.. Very sad that it works that way.
But things will work themselves out, most likely sooner than later. Just keep on trucking. I’ll keep my eyes and ears open for ya!
Kellyn :
Date: November 16, 2007 @ 3:56 pm
I am so sorry. It is hard when it happens, but remember that you are good at what you do, and you can make some company very lucky to have you. Good luck!!!!
Bill :
Date: November 16, 2007 @ 11:41 pm
Since 2002 I’ve been laid-off, fired, I left a job for another job, then got fired from that job and am now in a job that drives me utterly nuts. This will work out for you. Things just have a way of working out for good people. Degrees are nothing but pieces of paper. I’ve got one and it has done nothing for me. My brother and sister are going though the same thing right now. Terrible time to lose a job though. Sounds like you got a little severance though so that’s nice. Hey…good luck. Really. I know how hard it is looking for a job.
Mrs. Schmitty :
Date: November 18, 2007 @ 8:59 am
I’m so sorry to hear about your job. Good luck to you in finding another job.
McGeeky :
Date: November 18, 2007 @ 6:14 pm
Well, at least you have more time to blog now. Seeing how I am also (still) unemployed, I have more time to read you. So if you would be so kind as to post daily it would be much appreciated. *nods*
Jennifer :
Date: November 18, 2007 @ 10:50 pm
Kim, I am so sorry. You have always been extremely talented at what you do, and I know you’ll be able to find another job in no time! The best part about what you do, is that you can work from home, so the companies out there that are hiring can be anywhere!!!
Tracy :
Date: November 19, 2007 @ 7:13 am
I hear ya! I’m also with you on the degree thing…. I don’t have one (half of one- does that count for anything?), only a buttload of experience. Working for myself is best as I sell myself with what I do, not what I look like on paper.
My only advice: don’t worry. It’s a waste of valuable time and energy. Everything will work out because you will make it so. “He suffers more than is necessary, who suffers before it is necessary.” Seneca The Younger (From O Magazine- clipped it out a couple of months ago when I needed a ‘worry buster’).
Keep the faith.
Deb (Missives From Suburbia) :
Date: November 19, 2007 @ 9:04 pm
Awww… I’m sorry, hon. What crappy timing!
Don't Eat My Buchela! :
Date: November 20, 2007 @ 8:39 pm
Came here through blogrush. Losing your job really sucks. I hope you can get a new one soon. It is unfortunate that experience doesn’t count as much as a degree in many companies. I hope you will find the one that sees it differently.
Shea :
Date: November 21, 2007 @ 2:01 pm
As someone who went through the same exact thing at the same exact place and didn’t get a lick of severance… I feel for ya. The immediate sense is panic. My first thought was, “well, I guess I could get a job at Target if I absolutely have to.” But then I realized that unemployment paid better than that… Nonetheless, you will be able to work it out. And now you have more time to do it in.
And since I now work in my PJs, we could totally do lunch at anytime.
BusyDad :
Date: November 23, 2007 @ 11:39 am
Best of luck with your job search and I hope it all turns out for the better! And yes, that Ben 10 movie was on our family’s countdown calendar as well. We spent Thanksgiving in Northern CA (about a 9 hour drive usually) and our ETA was about 1 hour into the movie — stress! Luckily I did some crafty navigating and avoided all traffic areas. We made it to our destination a half hour before the movie began. A victory for dad!
McGeeky :
Date: November 30, 2007 @ 10:53 am
Hey, I wanna do lunch with you and Shea, too. Mebbe we could call McWholesome, McGleamy and McSpeedy and just make it a “people formerly known as co-workers” party.