We interrupt this program

[cmdr_zoom]

I lost my job today.

I suppose that technically, I lost it sometime earlier this week, when the decision was made. I found out last night, apparently by asking the right question; I'm glad I at least had that much warning, so I could talk to people and get some of the meltdown out of the way, and then go in today with a to-do list. I still ended up going through a lot of tissue.

My job got eliminated, or became redundant. When the senior attorney in the suite retired as of Jan 1, my boss moved up to the front office. Another secretary was already working for the retiring attorney and the other one up front. So the decision was made, not easily I'm told (and a complete surprise to her until this morning), to have her keep doing that.

I've been given a month's pay as severance, plus the half-month I'd worked (half of which was vacation), and I should be able to collect unemployment. I also have some savings, about another month's pay. I'm glad I didn't buy myself a monitor or anything like that over the holidays.

Twelve years, seven months. My first "real" job after college. On one level, it's just business; but on another, it's like a breakup. I tend to pick people and attach myself to them (which you can see in my recent writing, among other places); as I told my boss, one of my biggest fears about this is that I won't find anyone as nice to work for as he was.

I've got the weekend to try to recover and get my feet under me, and on Monday or Tuesday I'll start looking. For now, some words that seem even more appropriate than they did last year about this time:

"Well. Here I am."

Comments

[silrayan.livejournal.com]

Damn, that really sucks, I'm sorry. It seems like many of my friends are getting laid off :/ I wish you lots of luck in finding a new job quickly though!!!

[cmdr-zoom.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

[miladycarol.livejournal.com]

Oh! *rushes to hug you*

It is like ending a relationship. Even though I separated from my job of 10 years because I was leaving the state, I still had pains and sadness. It's difficult. I'm going to send you "perfect job" energy for the coming search. If I can help, please let me know.

[cmdr-zoom.livejournal.com]

Thanks.
I read your post last night, but wanted to save this for today when it was official. I remember thinking, "One more thing for the list..."

[miladycarol.livejournal.com]

We should drown ourselves in unfiltered apple juice and chocolate cake for an evening.

Z_gryphon has a point. If you can, I would ask your boss for a written letter of recommendation right now to keep on file. I'd also ask if he knows anyone to whom he might refer you. That's an excellent place to start. The best jobs I've ever had were because somebody knew somebody. I don't have any connections with lawyers in town, though I wish I did. It would probably cost less for our business documentation and legalese consulting. *sighs*

If you need someone to look over your new resumé, I offer my services. Not that I'm a professional, I just know how to spell, do a bit of graphics layout and I know what I look for when I hire people to work for me.

[cmdr-zoom.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a plan.

I asked; he said he didn't know of anyone. Ditto the secretary who's taking over (a good friend, despite how all this went down).

I've got a very raw resume up now, somewhere, as the result of the unemployment application/job search process. I'll be in touch with you (and maybe others) about polishing it.

[gwyd.livejournal.com]

O'm so sorry. I hope this works out for you.

[jengagne.livejournal.com]

I'm good at resume polishing... I'd be happy to help any way I can. Email me at jen@beware-of-art.com and I'll do what I can.

I suggest tuning the resume to better match whatever ad you're applying for.

I hope bigger and better and more stable things appear forthwith on your job horizons.

[dr4b]

Wow, crazy. 12 years. I can't even imagine working at a place longer than 2 years these days.

Good luck...

[cmdr-zoom.livejournal.com]

That's the sort of thing I'm afraid of. I'm a hobbit at heart; I like(d) my comfortable rut.

[cathaus.livejournal.com]

I understand the hobbit part... been at my job for 8 years. So sorry to hear about this! Good luck in finding a new good job.

[z-gryphon.livejournal.com]

Accursed legal profession! Sheesh. The least the guy could've done is tap the old-boy network to see if somebody else in the local law-hive needed a hand.

Still, you've got qualifications, and you've certainly got résumé-apparent stability. None of that "sooo, I see you never keep a job more than fourteen months. How much heroin do you shoot a week?" action I used to get when was hunting in the private sector.

[cmdr-zoom.livejournal.com]

See above. (Heh, "law-hive." There's an image.)

Yup; I hope "loyal worker" counts for something. And my sympathies to you, as always.

[z-gryphon.livejournal.com]

No sympathies necessary; I was being snarky about old job-hunting follies, and saying I don't think you'll have much trouble, that's all. :)

[chadu.livejournal.com]

Craptastic.

Keep your chin up, mang.

Luck!

CU

[cmdr-zoom.livejournal.com]

Yup.
Trying to.
Um, good luck I hope...

[gridlore.livejournal.com]

Want me to whack'em, boss?

Seriously, while this sucks, you can say that you weren't fired for cause, and probably wring some good letters of recomendation out of your soon-to-be former employers.

But now, do what I'm always incapable of doing - take some time for a pity party.

[cmdr-zoom.livejournal.com]

That's the plan.
(The recommendation and accepting pity, not the hit.)

[zonereyrie.livejournal.com]

Wow, 12, nearly 13, years - that's how long ago I graduated college, 1994. The longest I've worked in one place is a bit over 4 years - and that'd be my current job. After I graduated I think it was - 6 weeks, 10 months, 2 years 6 months, 1 year 11 months, 1 year 3 months, 3 months, 16 months unemployed - then here for 4 years 2 months.

I could see that being really rough. Leaving most of my old jobs was hard, even those I really wanted out of had good points and good people.

But, as Gryph said, you should have a good resume showing stability and it sounds like good references.

[cmdr-zoom.livejournal.com]

Like I said, pretty much my first real job ('91 here). Before that I'd done the classics: paper route, fast food (Wendy's), and a year or two at a gas station alone on graveyard shift. Plenty of time to myself, but not so good for interacting with friends on a normal schedule, and damaging to my self esteem (college graduate in a Chevron uniform...)

I wanted office work - real clothes, regular hours, decent pay - and I busted my ass looking for it. And then I got real lucky with bosses.

[biomekanic.livejournal.com]

Holy Hell!

I had no idea, I stopped to pick up your machine, asked if you were there and was told you had gone home.

You need a ride to interviews, ask.

I don't know if it would be your thing, but Royal Carribean is hiring last I heard.

[cmdr-zoom.livejournal.com]

Not telling you was deliberate. I knew when I asked you to do it last night. I figured you didn't need that tsuris/complication.
(You did get the computer, yes?)

[biomekanic.livejournal.com]

It's in the trunk.

[ninjakitten]

Oh, =man=! I am so sorry to hear this!

Fingers crossed for you. May they call tomorrow and say "turns out my friend X needs someone just like you for twice what I was paying you..."

[kireishojo.livejournal.com]

wow. that sucks. well i know you have the ability to find a job just as good and i'll be rooting for ya. if you need the classified me and the boyo get the paper and i'll gladly bring them to game or tea or whatnot.

[pjack.livejournal.com]

Yay! Oh, wait, you liked your job. Dang! My sympathies.

The Library is hiring! It would be my Dream Job if I could afford to work part time. Sounds like it might be a really good fit for you. The best part is the health care coverage - damn hard to find in a part-time job.

(In case the above link doesn't work, you can get to the job posting from the City of Eugene Home Page. Just click on "Human Resources" and "New/Current Jobs".)

[deromilly.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry to hear it. But you know, you were woefully underpaid for what you did... even in that town. (Take that from someone who was in the profession in the same town, and also woefully underpaid.) Think of this as the opportunity of a lifetime. I know you're a hobbit who's just been turned out of a nice comfy hole, but you're stronger than you think you are.

You've got the experience in the field, and shouldn't have a problem tracking down another position that will soon become as comfy as the last. Really. :P

Hugs