I Woke Up Laid-Off

Not since 1972 had I been unemployed. It had been so long I never really thought about the possibility or the repercussions. During that time, I had changed jobs for better opportunities, but never left one until the next one was lined up.

In January I woke up to a lay-off caused by the struggling economy. I worked for a debt financed company who had performed well until the poor housing market gave cause for home builders and landscapers to reduce their needs. No sour grapes. Executive management had to make some ugly decisions. Decisions that affected several middle managers and technical people.

Since I had changed jobs occasionally in the past, searching for a job wasn't entirely foreign. I had a reasonably current resume that just needed some polish. Whatever! Did you know that there isn't two placement professionals on the face of the earth who agree on the proper format for a resume. They can't agree on the format, the number of pages, the content, the depth, they can't agree on anything. These are the people who are supposed to be providing guidance and assistance to help grab a lifeline so you can eat and pay bills! Your primary focus when looking for a job is to put your best foot forward. Make a crisp impression. Show a potential employer that your skills are sharp and honed. Meanwhile, Mickey and Minnie supposedly know the employment business, but can't provide you with coherent counseling.

Now I have two resumes, a one page sketch and a two+ page, slightly more complete, version. I have no idea which one to present to prospective employers. Mickey says the short one is crisp and to the point. He says that employers won't read past the first page. Minnie says the long one provides the reader with a clearer picture about capabilities and experience. Employers want to see the results of your efforts. I agree with both of them. Their stories sound logical. However, their indecision doesn't help me decide how to look crisp and polished. It's a shame my utilities and mortgage may go unpaid because I gave the short resume to an employer who wanted a long one.

I don't mind being unemployed. It messes with my retirement plan, but I will recover from that in short order. The kids are grown so our expenses are small. We don't spend alot of money for anything. Our cars are in good shape and paid for. We don't need alot of anything to be satisfied. Since we had decided to retire early we had cut back on spending to save for our retirement home. Exercising frugality is a responsible way to live. So many things are purchased because we think we need them. We even reduced our grocery bill by buying wisely. Less prepared food and more fresh. Take the time to cook rather than warm a prepared package. After all, that's why we collected all those cookbooks, isn't it? There are some great recipes in those books.

Actually, an unexpected challenge like this helps build character. It causes you to look inward and resconsider personal philosophies. The narrative you have developed around your value to society needs adjustment occasionally. Nothing provides the tools to accomplish that adjustment like a healthy serving of humble pie. Nothing provides more clarity to your sense of personal value than to be in a situation where what you have to contribute is not needed. The wisdom to be gained from this is not to beat yourself up over decisions you have made in the past, but instead, honestly evaluate your worth and reinvent yourself in a direction where your contribution is needed.

Till Later