h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

OK, well I haven't posted one of these "serious" journals in a while now. I prefer to make revelations regarding my personal live in venues where I have a little more privacy. But as long as I don't volunteer too much, this is probably the best way to get this off my chest.

Last Wednesday, after a little over five years as a full-time employee (and six months prior to that as a contract employee), my employer "eliminated" my position and terminated my employment.

I have to say it came as quite a shock. This is the time of year we normally get our annual review, and mine have always been outstanding. My boss was really nice to work with, largely left me to my own devices and was happy with me. Apparently this is just one of several "cost-saving" measures and I was unlucky enough to be in one of the positions they felt was most expendable at this point.

My search for new employment has already commenced. I did get one call back yesterday, and was told I'd hear from someone today to schedule an interview, but that second call never came. I have my former boss, at least three former colleagues, and a supplier contact, who are happy to provide glowing recommendations/ references. There is a severance agreement which will continue my salary for ten weeks after my vacation time is used up, which should get me through to early June, at which point I receive a lump sum payout for my bonus and some additional unused vacation time. After the salary continuation ends, I will be eligible to apply for unemployment, and my former employer has no plans to contest that application. My insurance will continue as long as I remain on the payroll, as well.

After that... well, K and I had been saving, as you know, in hopes of purchasing a house. Obviously we will be putting those plans on hold indefinitely. We've saved an amount equal to about twice what my gross pay was last year. So worst case scenario, even if I don't find another job before severance ends, while I hate to dip into savings too much, at least we have something to fall back on. And my dad wouldn't let us starve or wind up in a cardboard shanty or anything like that.

My biggest worries right now are long-term unemployment, or having no choice but to accept a massive income reduction if/when I do find work.

Just wanted to let anyone who was interested know, that's what's been going on with me recently.

That's a nasty shock. with your job hunt.

Thanks for that, Happy Nerd.

And with that... so many of my hootoo friends have moved on so this probably won't be read much (though a few have reached out off hootoo and that's nice!). I think I'm just going to remove this from my conversation list and get on with it.

It's a bummer, PC. And unfortunately there's a lot of it about at the moment. I hope you find something else soon - at least you're parting with them on good terms, which is never a bad thing when you're looking for a new job.

Good luck!

Thanks, KB. We'll see what comes up. I did meet with my old recruiter today to re-test on various office software, typing, etc. They needed new tax forms and stuff too since it had been so long.

I'm not ready to accept actual temp gigs yet- not till my severance runs out anyway, and definitely nothing that pays less than unemployment once I can file for that. I need to call the Department of Employment Security tomorrow and see when I can start claiming- while I am told severance doesn't count against, I read something that indicated that depends on how its paid.

Again... while I may need to do some adjusting in the long-term, which sucks, I won't starve in the near future. Hopefully something comes along soon. Geez, if had any inclination that they were scaling back, I'd have found some way to take on other work so they got rid of someone else instead.

And yes, while I was very upset (and still am), I didn't burn any bridges behind me. At the very least, I want the good references and recommendations. Someday down the road there may be a suitable opening there again and staying on good terms with my old boss and colleagues could mean an offer to return in the future (I wouldn't rule it out).

Let's hope they soon see the error of their ways!

I won't count on that- someone in a similar position gave notice last week, and they already found a replacement for her, so I don't imagine they'd ever entertain the idea of calling me back.

For the time being, I ride it out. Companies aren't offering what I was being paid for the work I did, so it'll be difficult to convince prospective employers I'm not "overqualified" for the work I'm applying for (and at a significant decrease in pay), but a lot of openings for similar positions also entail a lot of responsibilities for which I'm either not qualified, or not really "wired". If you know what I mean.

Anyway, for the time being all I can do is keep at it, and hope for the best. I former colleague who left the company last year found me via an employment site and sent me a nice written reference to go with the one from my old boss. We'll see if those help.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

Best of luck in finding a new job, PC.

Hi Pcandy, thinking of you. I'm doing pretty well. I'm having fun clicker training Remy.

Thanks, everyone. Still nothing, but I have a couple more months before severance pay stops coming, I'm collecting unemployment, and sooner or later something has got to give. It's a numbers game, so if I try enough leads one of them is bound to work out eventually. I'll be really disappointed if we have to dip into our savings much, but I guess things like this are what savings are for anyway.

Update:

I've found a position, a contract-to-hire position through a staffing agency. It's been my experience that many employers, especially firms in the Loop, work through agencies to screen potential applicants rather than posting want ads and then going through the vetting process on their own. So I tapped a few agencies and came up with this. It's similar work to what I did before, probably a bit heavier workload and for just about 25% less pay, but them's the breaks. I'm not too concerned about the position not leading to a permanent offer, as long as I settle in all right.

Supposed to start the middle of next week- was going to be this coming Monday, but they're bringing in more than one person and want to train us at the same time. Makes sense to me.

Everyone keep fingers crossed that it'll go full time soon (so I can get holiday pay, and the occasional vacation day off, etc).

Another announcement is forthcoming, but I won't be posting any spoilers. I'll most likely leave a new journal entry when the time comes.

One other thing... not that I've been posting real actively around hootoo for a while (just haven't had anything to add, really), but I most likely will not be posting from work much, not like I could at the old place for the last couple of years or so, so I'll probably be back to checking in at weekends for the most part. I will be watching everyone's journals and will respond as best I can.

Ooooh, good luck!

Yes, good luck!

I'm more than a little intrigued by this other pending announcement you speak of, too!

Thanks!

I should have an update with regard to the second item within the next couple of months. But I'll probably post back to this thread to let everyone know how I like the new gig.

I don't know how long I'll be in training, or anything like that, but I hope I'll settle in nicely. Not nervous yet- just anxious to be back to work again. And I keep reminding myself that although I really liked my old boss, and was reasonably happy at the old job, there were plenty of things which drove me nuts as well, so I shouldn't focus on what I've lost, but rather on the new, exciting opportunity.