Failures are finger posts on the road to achievement.
—C.S. Lewis
Jumping Into the First Thing Offered (Part I)
So, after my month of not working, I took the first job offered to me.
I took a job with a trucking company. A job hiring truck drivers. I didn’t know what the hell I was doing.
It wasn’t an easy job. We had too many restrictions on what would qualify a driver as fit for the company. Plus, our job was made even more difficult because we had a hiring quota. We had to hire some many people in so many areas.
On top of all this, it was apparently a “Christian” place of business. This made it awkward for me. Everybody was always talking about church and talking about praying for eachother. I just didn’t fit in.
Alice came to the fork in the road. “Which road do I take?”, she asked. “Where do you want to go?”, responded the Cheshire Cat. “I don’t know.”, Alice answered. “Then,” said the cat, “it doesn’t matter.
—Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll
A Bad Decision (Part I)
Due to my unexplained fear of being on unemployment, I took one of the first jobs offered to me.
I was offered a job hiring truck drivers for a trucking company.
The reason it was a mistake, or a bad decision, was because three or four months later, I would be laid off from this position and have to draw unemployment at a lower amount than I would have if I would have just taken my time and not rushed into a job that paid way less than my pricing analyst position.
But we will get into that layoff later.
We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same.
—Carlos Castenada
Being Unemployed (Part II)
I started getting restless after the first couple of weeks of unemployment. But as planned I held off the job search for a month. Or at least, for about a month. Then I started to get paranoid about having no job and being on unemployment.
I am not sure why I was so nervous about being on unemployment. It could have been that I was leery of accepting help from the government based on the stigma of being on unemployment, or I didn’t want to admit that I may not be able to find gainful employment in a timely manner.
If you don’t get lost, there is a chance you may never be found.
—Unknown
Being Unemployed (Part I)
For the first month of my unemployment I thought I would take some time to relax. I was burned out from the pricing analyst position, and I had a severance package to fall back on, so I decided that I would try to chill and not jump on the job search right away.
I figured I could take this time to get some stuff done around the house. I thought maybe I would read some new books or start writing. Maybe I could use the time to organize my iTunes library. Or better yet, figure out what I really wanted to do with my life and what type of job would really make me happy.
You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You’re on your own, and you know what you know. And you are the guy who’ll decide where to go.
—Dr. Suess
Exit from My First Real Job
In September of 2009, I was laid off from my Pricing Analyst position.
It was a Monday. I had just returned from a week vacation of camping in the Rocky Mountain National Park. Quite possibly, one of the best vacation of my life.
While in Colorado, a colleague of mine called to inform me that they had laid a few people off. He said he thought I was in the clear.
Here’s the thing: By this time, I was well aware of the layoffs before they even started. The rumor had been circulating for sometime now. I was also well aware of the fact that I was on the chopping block; my ever so clever boss left an email open to his supervisor stating that he wanted me gone.
But, the call from my fellow employee gave me a little hope that my position was safe.
Hope for the best, but expect the worst.
I walk into work Monday morning, unsure of what lay ahead of me. No more than a minute at my desk, when the assistant manager tells me I am needed in the “Big” boss’ office. Right away, I knew what was about to happen.
This was the first time I had ever been laid off or let go from a job. It was also the first time I had a severance package when leaving a position. That severance package can sure soften the blow.
They offered a transition coach to help me get my resume together and to get tips on searching for a job during the recession. A little helpful but at the time, utterly useless.
When I called my wife to tell her what happened, she said that it was good because I had become so fed up and unhappy there.
