May 10, 2008
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Well, it’s been a while since I’ve written anything, but I’ve been busy. My last day at my job with Software Spectrum was April 30th. Our new parent company, Insight, decided to move all of the legal function to its corporate HQ in Tempe, AZ. Since I have no interest in living in Tempe, I’m officially out of a job. Which is not as bad as it sounds – I had lots of notice and a nice severance package, so I have plenty of time to search for something I’d really like, although I’ll be on a tighter than usual budget until I land something new. And I’m hardly alone – fewer than six of our executive level people have survived the purge this year. So, anyway, I’m out of work and searching for the next adventure.
Part of the severance package is outplacement assistance from a company that specializes in “career transition” (whether looking for a new job or for a new career), and I went to their orientation session just out of curiosity. They’ve got a very systematic method for helping you determine what you’d like to do in your next job and teaching you how to *productively* search for a new one. I’m going to work my way through their program and see what happens. In the meantime, I’m working on enjoying some time off (which is hard for me because I can’t remember the last time I had any significant time off), getting some stuff done around the house, and discovering things to do in this town that can be done during normal working hours of the week. I’ve been amazed how many people are out there not working during the day. I shouldn’t be, because lots of people work shifts, but I just haven’t thought much about it these last several years.
Taking care of MCC’s girl dog this weekend, as well as my maybe-sick boy cat (bladder infection). It’s just *so* much fun getting a pill down boy cat’s throat! The girl dog is much easier!
Comments (7)
Good luck and have a nice “vacation”.
Good luck on your search! Enjoy the time off : )
When I pill my cats I get an old towel and swaddle them very tightly. If you can, swaddle them so the back legs are stretched out instead of bunched up and the front paws are down by their sides. You still have to wrestle the head, neck and teeth, but at least it gets the paws and back legs out of the way.
What’s the name of the outplacement firm? When I was laid off by NiSource back in 2000, they sent me to one as well, and the info I got from there was just incredible. It does turn your job search into an almost full-time job, tho, but it helps you get a better job in doing so.
And yet….despite all the data and statistics and techniques they pushed, every job I’ve gotten since then in my field (not counting when I worked for my brother) was from plain ol’ answering ads online or in the paper. Go figure.
Enjoy your time off.
I’m sure you’ll land on your feet
Huggsss
The outplacement firm is Lee Hecht Harrison. I imagine I’ll get my next job through one of my network, but I’m liking the self-assessment, what-do-I-really-want-to-do-when-I-grow-up tools they offer. A little self-examination never hurts!