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Unemployed Day Four.....

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W

William

Darth Vader
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.....and I am bored. My last day was Friday, April 4.

The weekend passed well enough, helped by beautiful weather. Saturday I got out early and drove out into the countryside (ostensibly to take pictures of barns, instead I took moody still lifes of old tractors at an implement shop in Somonauk). Sunday was weird, because I usually worked, but I still had grocery shopping and cleaning to do (which I usually do on Saturday, see above). Got out with the camera, and did a little recreational window shopping.

Monday it hit me. It was a weekday and I didnt have to go to work. I drove past, they were open, I was not there. I didn't have to get up at 5:30, didn't have to run payroll reports and do cash reconciliation, didn't have to crack open the Monday shipment of magazines and set aside a copy of <span style="font-style: italic">Motor Sport</span> for myself. I had errands to run, and still got out with the camera for a bit, and surfed the interweb at my parents place (I do not currently have net access at home).

And today just stank. It's been raining all day, and I've had a nagging headache for most of it. I went to the gym early (normal for Tuesdays, as I used to work a late shift), had lunch, and checked emails before my usual ETD for work. And....
nothing. Nowhere to go. I ended up at Starbucks for a while to see my friend Mike and to read for a bit. Had dinner, and now I'm at Caribou using their free wi-fi.

It's not that I have nothing to do. I have to be out of my apartment by the 30th, so I need to find a storage facility for my furniture. I should start the packing and cleaning process. I should start transporting my magazine collection to my folks' basement. I obviously need to find new employment.

Now, the situation at my former workplace was pretty bad. Corporate is having problems, which filter down to the workers. Our particular store was bad as well-poorly run, and everyone was generally unhappy. I'm glad I don't have to be there, and I sleep far better. It's not that I miss work. I miss <span style="font-style: italic">working</span>.

Sorry for the ramble. Been a weird month or so.

-Wm.
 
I kinda hear ya William. Changes here too, but definatly no down time for me. I need a change from the same politics that keep swirling round at the dealership. Looking forward to the changup coming.
Here to true hope that somthing just for you comes your way.
There's gotta be somthing out there. Keep us posted.
 
I'm hunting as well.
 
William - a rotten patch you're going through, for sure.

What volunteer work are you doing while you're looking for a job?

Tom
 
Good luck to you, William. Being out of work, weather by choice or not, can be complicated emotionally. I was out for about 6 months (early 2003) after being laid off from my last job. It was a bad time to be looking for IT work, and I got zero results or leads until the very end of that period. I really struggled with it, even though I was happy to be gone from that organization.

My wife never really understood my frame of mind until she spent 1.5 years out of work a bit later on. It can be rough, but it pretty much always gets better. For me, the job I found at the end of that period has been wonderful -- 5 years on and I still like going to work.

It is difficult to be out and looking, no two ways about it. Keep up your spirits, and keep us informed.
 
Hey William, what's your field? What's your training/education? Is your resume updated? Have you talked with any headhunters?
 
I'm doing laundry today, so at least my time is occupied a bit.

Dave Richards said:
Hey William, what's your field? What's your training/education? Is your resume updated? Have you talked with any headhunters?
Click to expand...

I don't really have a field. My educational background was in English with a bias towards writing. I never got a writing job (there just weren't many when I graduated). I ended up in a retail chain, as the office manager for the past five years. I handled all payroll issues, HR and audit, as well as just making sure the office end ran (you know, making sure we didn't run out of toner, etc.). I wouldn't mind being an office manager/admin. in a non-retial setting, but I'm finding that many employers can't get their heads around the fact that I worked in a store for a long time. Effectively it was time wasted. I will most likely have to go take classes on something to try and change jobs (which I don't have the money for, and I'm very reluctant to hit my parents up for, even though they offered).

-Wm.
 
William

Sorry to hear of your misfortune. I am working on trying to save an Admin Asst Job here as I type. She has been here a while, works well, and near that unemployable age.

It is not fair, she doesn't make much and the big just get bigger.

One door closes another BETTER one opens.

Also get a resume together, 5 yrs as a retail office manager is a good start.

Pat
 
William - are you still thinking of moving to Los Angeles?

Tom
 
Hey William,

If you're looking to stay in Chicagoland, I can get your resume to the HR dept here at my job. Great place to work. PM me for details.
 
"I'm finding that many employers can't get their heads around the fact that I worked in a store for a long time. Effectively it was time wasted"

No. Don't ever discount any employment experience. Prospective employers should value the fact that you had this time with one company. If they don't, you don't want to work for them. I sense your kinda young, so don't get discouraged and believe me, you will look back on this experience someday and just have a good laugh!

all the best,

fja
 
Been there, done that, got TWO T shirts. Last time was about 2 1/2 years ago, and at age 50 that's quite a blow, not to mention having to overcome the age bias (believe me, it exists). What I finally did was get in touch with a "temp agency" that actually does "temp-to hire" also. Got placed as a CSR with a small, growing company, and after 2 1/2 years am now a Senior Account Manager, overseeing about $2M in customer accounts. The secret is don't give up, and until you get hired, your job is to find a job!
 
NutmegCT said:
William - are you still thinking of moving to Los Angeles?

Tom
Click to expand...

Oh, I'm <span style="font-style: italic">always</span>thnking about that! But a couple of issues popped up, most importantly regarding money. Staying in Chicagoland isn't a horrible thing, but I've got the itch to be somewheres else. Pity, because I did see loads of openings in the payroll/admin sort of area, as well as customer service (even though I'm sort of trying to avoid that, CS being effectively what I did at Borders, and it having burned me out a bit).

-Wm.
 
ObiRichKanobi said:
Been there, done that, got TWO T shirts. Last time was about 2 1/2 years ago, and at age 50 that's quite a blow, not to mention having to overcome the age bias (believe me, it exists).
Click to expand...

I remember that. Funnily enough, at my old job, we tried to hire people in that age bracket, for all sorts of positions. I've never understood the age bias-my experience is that my coworkers over 40 tend to be better tempered, far more reliable, and just nicer to work with.

Ive been unemployed before, but I was well younger and it was by choice.

-Wm.
 
William heed the BCF'ers advice...I been at it for 40 years an it doesn't get any easier.....like I tell my son who is in college:

IT AIN't JUST WHAT YOU KNOW BUT ALSO WHO YOU KNOW!

Be sure to touch base with friends, family, old friends and associates...over the years most of my leads and opportunities came through contacts...
 
fja said:
If they don't, you don't want to work for them.
Click to expand...

:thumbsup:


Some will see it, some will not. At this point in your existence my "take" is for you to pick ~where~ you wanna live, THEN hunt for opportunities. This place (the "lower 48") is homogenious for the most part, and picking a CLIMATE you like is what should be your Prime Directive now. After that, a job is next. There will never be a time where talent, drive and ability aren't recognized. You just have to find THAT business or opportunity wherever you decide to settle. You have family who're GOLDEN! Sign a contract with 'em to re-emburse their dedication to your decision. And honor it.

Just some random thoughts. :wink:
 
I forgot to add something:

<span style="font-weight: bold"> <span style="color: #FF0000">Thanks for the kind words! It sure helps! </span> </span>

-Wm.
 
"We're all in this together!"

:laugh:
 
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