Hi there fellow Kossacks.
For the last year and a half I have seen and read many diaries written by fellow Kossacks whom had just lost their jobs.
The horror stories of how terrible the job market is in this country have been scary and sobering.
When I read those stories and felt the shock, shame, and embarrassment of those recently unemployed, what I really hoped is that I would never have to write an "I just lost my job" diary, but today that day has come, and I would like to share my story with you.
I had been employed for over 4 years with a high-end cabinet company as a Project Manager.
Today I was told the words which keep going through my head:
"We are making changes. We have decided to release you effective today.
I'll need your keys, your Blackberry, and your parking pass."
I'm still a little in shock. I had hoped that I had endured the worst already, but I know that our company is still struggling to be profitable, so I guess I have to say I'm sad but not entirely caught off guard.
I took the news calmly. I told my manager that I have enjoyed my time with the company and that I really wanted to go out on a positive note.
In fact, when the economy started going sour and my coworkers were laid off one by one, I decided at that point that if I were next, I wasn't going to make any scenes. I hate to burn bridges. I also had no desire to make an ass of myself.
I was able to say goodbye to most of my coworkers. Two of them cried.
My manager even got a little misty herself.
I felt at least some consolation that they were sad to see me go.
The truth is, I was really beginning to become unhappy there.
It wasn't always that way.
I was doing my job and most of someone else's at the time and felt I was now doing a job for which I was not hired and that no longer matched my skill set. That's not to say I'm glad to be gone, its just that once upon a time, I was happy in this job. Then the economy tanked, and things began to change.
For the first three years, I loved my job. Then the cutbacks came.
So long company credit card. No more traveling out of state to oversee our kitchen and closet installations.
Then the layoffs came.
Our administrator was first. Then 2 sales people were let go.
After that, our Customer Service Manager was shown the door.
Next, all of us began to take on the responsibilities of our former fellow employees. I got to do most of our former Customer Service Manager's job plus my own job. Things got stressful. Then there was an ownership change, and the cuts were more drastic. Every penny was being watched.
Today my position was eliminated.
I suspect my duties will be divided among the salespeople, and all of their jobs will be that much harder.
I don't blame my employer for cutting back. Hell, we're losing money.
Our industry depends on a stable real estate market, and thanks to the banksters, our real estate market is solidly in the tank and likely to stay there for awhile.
I am not angry at having lost my job, but I do have to say that I'm disappointed.
I really loved my job. I got to oversee some really great projects.
I went up in some of Chicago's most prestigious buildings and worked with some of the best known architects and designers in the country. Some of them are known worldwide.
What I do wonder at this point is, will my next job be this good?
I have to admit that I feel a tinge of fear at my prospects, even though I have a wealth of skills and experience.
A few of my former coworkers are still unemployed.
Some of them have changed careers entirely.
A few have been offered only part-time work.
In light of those realities, I have formulated a plan and set some goals for the transition period I am in now.
Here they are:
- Get up every day as if I'm going to work.
- Plan my days: schedule time for my job search every weekday.
- Get in better shape physically. I have 30 pounds I could do without. Losing weight is good for my health and will build self-confidence, which I could really use right now.
- Quit smoking. I don't need to spend $7.00 a pack to destroy my health. (See #3)
- Do some volunteer work. There are some great opportunities to help others who are struggling in these hard times, and right now I have the time to do that. Helping someone else will also help me not to get into a pity party.
- Network, network, network! Call every possible contact I have and put the word out that I am looking. You never know who else may also be looking right now. Also, I may find a lead or two for a friend or coworker who is in the market for a job. (See #5)
- Take time to think and dream. I put this in just for fun, but really this could be a great time to think about what I want to do with my life and to put myself in a place where I can do it.
- Have hope. No matter how long this transition takes, and it could take a while, have hope that things will work out for the better. I was looking for a job when I found this one. Now it's time to look again.
Speaking of hopes, I have some more of those.
I hope that my next job is in a growing field, ie: green energy, conservation, green building. I have a passion for green houses and hope to build one of my own someday.
I hope that the Obama Administration takes more aggressive action toward job creation than it has been lately. I know, I know, the stimulus helped, but we were also told that it would likely not be enough to right the economy and restore the millions of jobs that have been lost in the last 2 years. Indeed, it wasn't enough and it cannot provide the millions of jobs that are needed. My being laid off is just one more sign that our economy is not well.
My hope is that more action is taken to create jobs, and soon.
Lastly, I hope for the millions of other Americans who are without gainful work that their job searches will end well. I know that I'm not alone in this.
There are millions of people in America today who are in situations far more desperate than the one I find myself in today. Fortunately for me, my wife has a stable job working for a local school district. She is tenured and earns a good salary. Between that and unemployment we will be able to eat and pay our rent.
I even have offers already from contractors I have worked with to work on the side for cash. I plan to take them up on those offers.
As I said, I'm not alone in this, and that's why I've decided to share this important event here.
For 2 years now, I have enjoyed being part of this community.
I have laughed, I have cried, I have burned in outrage and jumped with joy with all of you.
You're my peeps. Who better to share this life-changing event with?
So, wish me luck, will you?
I'll gladly accept any words of encouragement or job search tips you have to offer.
In conclusion, I am full of many thoughts and emotions today.
Surprise, sadness, a little anxiety, but also hope for the future and change for the better. I think that I really have to think that way.
There just isn't time for me to wallow in self-pity or get into useless and misplaced anger.
The future is here now. So today, I gather up my courage, make new plans, and prepare to move on.