I have worked for the same company for nearly nine years. Today it ended.
Earlier today, I was just fine. Now, It's finally sinking in. I'm unemployed. This is more of a personal diary so please excuse my ramblings.
I got an email very late last night requesting a conference call for today at noon with all the members of my team. I've never met my bosses in person, as I work(ed) remotely as a technical support operator. The company, which will remain unnamed, is based in NYC and I'm in Minnesota. All I have known of my bosses over the years is their voices, and their email signatures, so it is no insult that I received the news via a conference call.
I worked for only $9 per hour with no benefits, but it was a good gig until recently. I started out as a tutor, as I am a licensed teacher. Mgmt found out that I had some technical chops and offered me a position in an online technical support department. I have worked with the same people ever since then. Anyone who has ever worked in technical support knows how high the turnover rate is, especially those that do tier 1 support. To say that my group never gained a new member in the 5 1/2 years that I did that job, says a LOT about the fine folks I worked with. It has been so stressful as of late, that relationships between workers as been severely affected. I probably won't talk to one member of my group ever again, because things got so nasty. But still... we hung in there together for nearly six years, and survived six different bosses!!
About a month ago, two things happened. We saw a dramatic increase in the number of calls we were taking and we were simultaneously cut in hours. We no longer worked in pairs to take care of the queue and worked our shifts alone. Lately, I have been conducting 3 or 4 + chat sessions at the same time, just to manage the volume. The stress was immense. For the most part, I used to be able to do other things while I worked. I could help my son with his homework. I could make dinner, and I could manage the house in between calls. During the past few months, I'd sit down in front of my laptop and wouldn't get up again for 11 hours because I was taking so many freaking calls.
So... I guess I'm relieved that the stress of the job will be gone. Now begins the stress of the job search. I'm going to try to diversify and get my fingers into several pies. I can tutor. I can do voice-overs. I can write copy. I can edit. I can blog. What I can't seem to do at the moment, is think. I'm feeling numb. Why? I knew it was coming!
Right now, I just need to find my self-esteem. I seem to have lost it over the past month. I sure as hell hope that it isn't with those WMDs or I'll never get a new job!
UPDATE: I can't keep up! Thank you so much for your good wishes, comments and the rec list. I'm trying to get caught up with comments but you guys are just. too. freaking. awesome!