First off, so it doesn't get buried & forgotten - the link to "Proove You Groove" has been updated & should work now.
So...
My second moment of clarity in the past two months has been met with a second kick in the face. The first, if you recall, was when I'd decided that staying with my former employer was a position of power from which I could launch "Plan B" (the future career exploration). And then I was laid off.
This most recent one was laid out in detail in check-in #6. Clarity that I should stick to my bread & butter, and do GIS Specialist work for a local government. And I was really excited about the resume that I'd sent off for a job in a SW Metro county. Well, I got a letter on Tuesday informing me that I was not among those selected to interview. Oof. Beyond bad; this could either be an indictment of my actual qualifications, or an indication of the overwhelming number of people out there trying to get jobs in this field. I had a day where I was nearly literally reeling. The pressure is on - Sharon & I have done the numbers, and it wouldn't make sense for her to go back to work part-time (e.g. in the job she used to have) before Rose gets into Kindergarten. Full day daycare for Rose and extended day for Lucy would add up to about $900/month. Then, by the time you figure in less meals from scratch, car upkeep & gas, etc. etc.; it really doesn't make sense. It's really all on me - which means I have to make a living wage for a family of four.
Luckily, I still have two career counselors in my camp, and they've got me going crazy in the networking thing; I've actually got an informational interview set up today with the guy that manages the GIS operation at that county job, to kind of get a sense of what the deal was, and his insight on how to approach working in the public sector. I'm going to a GIS job fair next week, and will be starting a process of getting involved in local user groups, including one that has membership from throughout Hennepin County. See if there's a way I can, during my unemployment, offer up my help on any collaborative projects across government agencies & get to know people, etc. Not sure if anything can &/or will come of any of that - but something kind of has to.
One of those weird things. I look at where I'm at, career-wise (kind of feeling like I'm almost back to square one), and just think: "How did it come to this?" 16 years out of college. I got these two beautiful little girls, that are completely unaware of my stress, and our overall situation. With one person in our household working, we need to gross 45k, minimum, to make our ends meet. That's with about zero eating out, not having one of our two 12+ year old cars die, etc. And what if that opportunity simply isn't there for me? I mean, I don't take the care to put this into actual words very often, but there's people losing their homes left and right; people that can't find jobs; 20 million kids living in poverty - at what point - how many months from now in fruitless job searching would my family get to some kind of crazy breaking point where there is earth-shattering changes to our lives and lifestyle. Cashing in of 401k. Losing of the house. Living in a shelter. Sounds crazy and insane, but my sense is these sorts of things cascade quickly and you can go from Point A to Point X in an awful hurry. In any event, all manner of craziness enters one's mind late at night, when one is exhausted. And when craziness enters one's mind, one doesn't sleep well, which leads to more exhaustion. Rinse, cycle, repeat.
skip to main |
skip to sidebar
- Dan
- Father, musician, trail runner, reader, geographer, craft beer aficionado, meditator.
On the Bookstand
In the DVD Player
The Roll
-
-
Three Day Weekend14 years ago
-
King New Year 201214 years ago
-
-
Perfect Things.17 years ago
Posts
5 comments:
Shit man. I certainly feel pretty confident in your ability to get a job before the shit really hits the fan, but I can certainly understand the anxiety caused by not knowing for sure. And compounded by the dependent situation....
My workplace has now been decimated by layoffs. I don't have much to say about it in a blog post, but we've shed more than 40% and when you start with only 30 or so, all of those people have a face and a story that you know pretty well. And unfortunately, my employer is in no position to offer much in the way of severance, so they're all reliant on unemployment at this point. Things are grim.
My job remains secure for the foreseeable future, but I definitely feel the weight of things pressing down like I have not before.
If you fell like talking, I'm home alone Friday night for a beer and a chat if you're so inclined.
cunal: sounds naughty...
Shit, man, is right. I'm sorry your company has been hit like that, as well. All my friends seem to have been insulated from the economy (job-wise) in their own little ways. That absolutely cannot be fun to be around there. Holy crap.
I may just call tonight, while you're there alone. But absolutely, if I interrupt any masturbation, just let me know and we can talk another time.
What I mean to say is that all my friends seem to have been insulated up to this point - and then, bam.
And Gibbs - I realize that we're all still acting like you've got a permanent job, and you don't yet. But I am a lot more confident in your ability to get a job than Mixx is in mine, even.
I'll be quick.
meneudge: Menudo brand fudge
"...this could either be an indictment of my actual qualifications, or an indication of the overwhelming number of people out there trying to get jobs in this field."
It's the latter, I'm certain. More people looking for work.
I continue to read your updates and hope, and pray. I think you are some discance from the doom scenario you describe... I truly believe you will avoid that outcome.
Government employees in Iowa face an uncertain year coming up. On the plus side, my department hired 15 or so people just last year; coupling that with my seven-year history with my department, and I'm hoping I'm "safe" just in terms of my time here. That said, if people continue to leave (and one did just this week), my duties will be stretched to the absolute maximum. Mix that with the campus rumor mill: the word "layoff" is now spoken out in the open. Most of us prefer the "F" word... furloughs, which I would warmly welcome. Then there's the grandstanding state politicians. The house republincans has gone out of their way to cast all government employees as negative, non-job holders, and have proposed that we take a large reduction in salary.
At least this weekend I can catch up on some library books.
Post a Comment