I’ve decided to write a blog post a day about being laid off until I have another job. So here goes.
The day didn’t start out too well; I was kind of hung over from Hopworks, I had a head ache, was pretty tired, and once again, I had nothing to do at work. After about an hour of checking email and Facebook and more email and more Facebook, 4 of my coworkers got called into the Boss’ office. Hm. That can’t be good. Why am I not included in this meeting?
Then I got called in. By myself. Very not good. Close the door, he said. Way not good. I didn’t sit down.
I always thought of myself as the last person they would fire. I was valuable, I was flexible, I have been there a long time. Apparently I was wrong.
They had to lay off 6 people, about 1/3 of the total employees. And I was one of them.
I just stood there. I had no emotion. I remember nodding my head. He seemed like maybe he was genuinely upset. It didn’t really matter one way or the other to me, I just wanted to pack up my crap and leave. Everyone was standing around looking sorrowfully at me, offering to help, but I just wanted them to leave me alone to pack up my stuff.
I think maybe the universe heard me. I kept saying I was in a rut, needed change, and I was starting to look around for a new job. So the universe said “you’re moving WAY too slow girl, time for you to MOVE ON!” I’m actually pretty excited to do something new, I think I kind of needed this. It just sucks it has to happen when NO ONE is hiring.
It helps that 1) I recently paid of my credit card and saved up some money 2) I don’t have a mortgage and live in the cheapest apartment known to man 3) I don’t have children 4) I’m in good health and 5) I have an amazing and wonderful group of friends and contacts. Oh, and I’m talented and smart and young. With experience. That helps.
I’m staying on the bright side here; I am considering using this opportunity to start my own business. I am still going to look for jobs, but I’m going to see if I can grow my freelancing into a viable source of income, or potentially get a part-time job that pays my rent with freelancing on top of that. Who knows?
Generally recessions are when new and innovative business ventures occur, and I certainly intend to be a part of that. So I am onwards and upwards to new adventures; I will not be laying low for long! I already have 2 meetings set up next week to discuss possibilities.
So F U recession! Ain’t no unemployment gonna keep me down! Plus I can ride my bike 8 hours a day, yippee!
