Working through the To-Do List

Cleaned out the refrigerator today during a break from job hunting.  Usual stuff mostly, things that had passed their expiration dates; things that had gone bad; and one bowl of something that was completely unidentifiable.  Good to have the space.

Skills navigating Byzantine Systems

I may add this to my resume.  I look at a variety of job search websites and the complexity can be astonishing.  I can only assume that the people who develop these site (and a great deal of other websites as well) never use the sites they develop.

Two Weeks +

I applied for 14 jobs last week and filed my first unemployment claim.  A few of the jobs may have promise.  Things have really changed since I last mounted a full scale job search.  Everything is online now.  I wonder what employers would do if you sent them an actual paper resume and cover letter.

There are advantages to both.  With the seeming simplicity of the online search and respond, it allows you to apply for nearly any job with little or no cost.  No skin in the game.  I am sure that this increases the number of applicants for a particular job which decreases the chances of getting an interview.  There is only a finite amount of time an employer has to devote to screening applicants, divide that number by a greater number of applicants and less time per applicant.

With having to send paper to everyone, there is an actual cost involved.  For example, I applied for a job in Antarctica.  When I applied, I doubted that I had much chance of getting the job (I have already been rejected).  I would not have applied if I had had to go to the time and expense of sending a resume.   This would have saved both me and the company time and money.

One Week

Staying busy contacting people and have a few leads on short term positions, nothing permanent.  I think the economy has to improve considerably for anything long term to open up.  I am going to spend tomorrow volunteering with Hillcrest Transitional Housing.  Cotton needs some help with handyman stuff.

A Day of Mild Indignation

I visited the advising office at community college today.  I may be a bit of a college snob, having already completed a four-year engineering degree, but I think that i am beginning to understand why the nontraditional students always seemed to have a chip on their shoulder.

The clerk at the advising desk, who's good it was to watch you type your student number into a computer and talk down to you was a man of about 60 and on oxygen.  I am not sure why they hire someone for the job of watching people do what the person behind the desk could more efficiently do and then bitch at them when it is not done correctly, but such is the way of community college.  After a wait of about 20 minutes, I got in to see the advisor who was pleasant and helpful.  It was refreshing not to be talked down to.

Staying Busy

Last night I sent an e-mail out to about 300 people with my new contact information.  About 20 bounced back, most from others who were in a similar situation I suppose.  I told Tanya that I could name a half dozen or so people who had been laid off and everyone that I know could also.  The problem is that no one  talks.  I wanted to blast everyone that I had worked with and let them know in case someone knew someone or something.

The results were that I ended up with a couple of leads and a number of good wishes.  Err on the side of openness.  Secrecy yields few benefits, ask Nixon.

So I spent today working on a project for a client and e-mailing with another and setting up meetings with others who could help me.

Thoughts on May 4th

All Things Considered on NPR had a interesting discussion on their May 4th show.  May 4th is the 40th anniversary of the Kent State shootings.  And for those keeping score, April 20 was the 40th anniversary of the fire at the Kansas Union.  (As an aside, my friend Beth Lindquist was quoted in the UDK article commemorating the anniversary, here's the link to the article http://www.kansan.com/news/2010/apr/20/generation-ablaze/.)  Callers uniformly reported a generational divide.  Older persons, supported the Guard.  One woman said that was when she realized that her parents were no longer there to protect her.

It is unfathomable to me that our government turned its guns on its own citizens and people supported the act.  These shooting were probably as close as our government has gotten to Nazi Germany or Stalinist Russia (and thankfully it wasn't that close.)

I bring this up because there is a lot of inflammatory rhetoric used these days.  I often hear the tactics of one side or the other referred to as Nazi, or compared to the SS or jack-booted thugs.  We need to use these references more sparingly.  My wife descends from Jews who fled Nazi Germany prior to World War II, comparing every small injustice to Nazism makes the Nazis seem less like cold-blooded murders of millions and psychopaths and more like playground bullies.

Those Three Days

Saturday, Sunday and Monday -- the first three days of May.  I started my leave by making a list of things to get done in the time that I will be off of work, some related to finding a job or new career, others not.

In order to make this experience meaningful, it will be necessary to occupy the mind and body.  Saturday was not much different than any other Saturday.  Tanya and I went to the Farmer's Market and got some eggs from Karin and a few other things.  The rest of the day was spent putzing around, doing laundry and fixing things.

Sunday, Tanya left for Chicago with Sherry.  I took her to the airport around 7a.  Normally, I would stop on the way home and have breakfast somewhere like the Corner Cafe or IHOP.  In light of my recent layoff, I went home and had breakfast there.  Tanya suggested that I fix the country cured ham hanging in the basement while she was in Chicago.  In her opinion, country cured ham tastes like a pig jockstrap after he's run a marathon.

Sunday also brought a response to a resume that I sent out on Saturday.  An industrial metal fabricator called.  He may want me to come in in the coming week.  I am not sure how well I fit with what they are looking for.  I think there is a possibility of some contract work though.

I spoke to Mike, a former coworker now on his own, about his work and where he is seeing opportunity.  We may be able to work together on some projects depending on what either of us can turn up.

Monday was the first real day without a job.  I have only been laid off once before -- in 1992.  I saw it coming then too.  I was offered another job the afternoon, after being laid off that morning. So, it's really been since 1990, 20 years, since I haven't known where or when my next paycheck was coming.  I am strangely serene about it, with a feeling that things will work out.  We have plans (predating the layoff) for a trip to Ghana in July.  If I don't work before then, we should be able to make it.

Finally got motivated to shower and dress around 9:30a.  Picked up Coco (son's dog)at my ex-wife's house and took her to the vet.  Then had lunch at 5 Guys,   The afternoon was spent at Longview Community College taking the Compass test.  They were very impressed with my math prowess and I did well in all subjects.

Daniel wanted to come to dinner and have leftover ham, so he did.  Picked up Tanya at the airport.

The Layoff

First, I should say that I saw this one coming. In fact, the night before it happened I told Tanya that I thought it might happen the next day. She says that I value being right over most everything else. I do not completely agree with her, it is just one of the things that I do well.

When you are expecting something and prepared for it, it is easy to take the news well. I showed no emotion and even joked with (now) former colleagues on the way out. My regret is that, in some ways, I may have shown them more warmth on the way out than I had when I worked with them.

The how really didn't matter, Tanya and I were ready to begin the next chapter in our lives. We are still not certain where that will lead but are considering many options including, starting my own business, looking for a new job, and returning to school. More on all of those to follow.