Jump to content

Rub dirt on it and take a lap... Part 2


rockpile

Recommended Posts

A summary from January (edited only for brevity):

 

Last Monday when I got to work, I was called in to see my supervisor. Turns out that to ring in the new year, corporate decided to shed a few pounds. So my department of eight is now a department of two, and I am no longer employed.

 

I am in no immediate need, which means I am blessed. But, for the first time in almost 27 years with the same company, I got up in the morning on a work day and had no place to go.

 

"You load sixteen tons, and what do you get?

Another day older and deeper in debt.

Saint Peter, don't you call me, 'cause I can't go;

I owe my soul to the company store... "

Merle Travis

 

Well.....

 

I have been very busy since January 15th:

 

created a resume

revised it 25 times

sent it to friends to rip it apart and return with friendly advice

revised it 25 more times

created a web page

never felt sorry for myself

attended one job fair

signed up with three recruiters

tried to keep a positive attitude (sometimes wore an eminence front)

read everything I could get my hands on (looking for work has changed a bit since 1980)

networked

blogged

kept the negative vibes at bay

signed up for unemployment

practiced living on an austerity budget

got one interview with a globally recognized corporation

got called back for a second interview

asked the right questions

gave the right answers

left the interview knowing if it was right they would call

they did

received an offer today

accepted the offer verbally pending documentation

took a reasonable pay cut (I was WAY overpaid at the old job)

 

On April 9th, I start my career over.

It is exciting.

I am a professional again.

I am scared shitless!

 

(drum roll please)

 

Rockpile: Quality Systems Engineer

for "a diversified technology company that concentrates its efforts on high-impact growth opportunities"

 

woo :worthy:

bring it!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 40
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

You know, I couldn't be happier for you. And I understand your being scared schitless. For all the years I spent in theater auditioning for roles, the one thing I never got used to was winning a role, getting excited, and then suddenly thinking "Holy crap. I actually have to perform now."

 

You'll be fine, Rock. Karma doesn't !@#$ with good people.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Way to go Rock, back in the saddle again!

 

Didn't you also take a fancy schmancy vacation somewhere in there?

 

No. I took two! :worthy:

 

One was already prepaid - a week in Puerto Vallarta, MX.

 

The other was a weekend trip to CT, and we stayed with my daughter, Babyrock.

 

The nice thing is that I banked all my unemployment, and did not use all my severance!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks, "Mahk". :worthy:

 

I was an actor too! Before every interview, I took a deep breath and said, "It's show time!"

 

They said I interview well. <_<

 

You know, I couldn't be happier for you. And I understand your being scared schitless. For all the years I spent in theater auditioning for roles, the one thing I never got used to was winning a role, getting excited, and then suddenly thinking "Holy crap. I actually have to perform now."

 

You'll be fine, Rock. Karma doesn't !@#$ with good people.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Congrats Rock ! So what is your new career if you don't mind sharing ?

 

Quality Systems Engineer:

 

Make sure processes exist, are used, are adequate, and controlled and maintained on a master electronic library.

 

Plan, schedule, perform ISO 9000 audits.

 

Conduct training classes.

 

Track defects and find out why a product was returned.

 

Lead product and process teams.

 

Project management.

 

Someone else does the engineering part, I just bring people on board the "crazy train".

 

The nice thing is that I get to start over with a clean slate at an entirely new company. I start at the "old" company on April 6, 1980, taking warehouse orders, and worked into professional responsibilities. Some of the "teeny little minds" who were managers, could never get past the image of "that long haired guy unloading trucks" out of their heads, when I was putting multi-million dollar proposals for service logistics on the table a decade later. ;)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

×
×
  • Create New...