Cha-Ching
The right phone call finally came: I got the job.
Whew.
I’ve been un- or under-employed for 10 months now. I was fine with it the first few months; I had a nice fat severance check, I had Unemployment Insurance, I had plenty of free time… The livin’ was easy. But then the Unemployment ran out. And then the fat severance check got skinny. And then there just wasn’t any money going into the household budget from me, period.
I sent out dozens of resumes and only landed one quarter-decent job, the DWP training job I’m now leaving, the one where I only work 3 days a week for far less money than I’m worth and on a 1099 basis so I’m responsible for my own payroll taxes, which just lowers my hourly rate that much more. It barely pays what Unemployment paid, and I don’t even want to think about the taxes I’m going to owe on it. It pays so badly, I feel like I’m moving backwards when I go in to work.
I finally wised up and realized that my resume sucked, so I revised it and sent out dozens more. I finally started getting interviews from the new resume, but they all yielded interview shuffle type results: We like you, we’ll call you … and then they never did. I was pulling my hair out — and I’m bald already.
It was really depressing. Beth worked really hard to be upbeat and cool about it, but my mood and our money woes were really starting to get to her. I think this may have been harder on her than it was on me. Maybe.
But… Whew. Finally, a new job. A real job. A job that I think I’ll like. A road job again, but only 50% travel and I’ll be home on weekends, so I think it’ll be okay.
And on top of all that new-job frosting, there’s a nice big, fat, red cherry on top with sprinkles: Mo’ Money. It pays–
(Well, hmm… I was going to include the double-digit percentage increase here, but I think that might not be wise. So let’s just say…)
–“a lot” more than my last “real” job from 10 months ago did.
Whew.
Congratulations on the job Chuck.
Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Congratulations Chuck!
As a veteran of several ‘downsizings’ in my career, you don’t have to draw me a picture to help me understand the hit your self esteem takes when you are J.O.B. Negative. I know it will sound sexist as hell to say this, but for some reason men define themselves much more closely with what they do during the work day than women… which makes it doubly depressing when what we’re doing during the day is sending out resumes and watching the soaps.
Before anyone flames me, consider the following illustrative examples:
1. At a dinner party you meet a nice couple. In the course of conversation it comes up that the wife isn’t working. You think to yourself ‘She is so lucky that her husband makes enough to allow her be a stay-at-home mom!’
2. At a dinner party you meet a nice couple. In the course of conversation it comes up that the husband isn’t working. You think to yourself ‘How sad that she has to support her husband. I hope he finds work soon!’
Maybe I’m projecting… but culturally there is a difference.
I’m just glad to hear you not only found a good job, but that it is in your field and pays nicely. That’s the employment trifecta!
Congrats to you. I’m hoping your good luck travels east towards me this week. Fingers crossed here.
Congratulations. From someone who himself was “under-employed” up until about a month ago, I completely understand. Now if only those lottery numbers would hit….
Congrats Chuck! I know how it feels too. I’ve been there.
As it stands, my desk was recently moved so that my computer monitor faces OUT onto a major throughfare. My blogging time is practically nil, now, except what I do at home.
I’m looking for a new job for this reason. Is your company hiring any IT Managers??? ;)
Glad to hear about the new job.
See, good thing come to good people! I’m way happy for all of you… yay!!! :)
Congrats, Chuck! Glad to hear it! WooHoo!