Just in Time...

A good friend once told me "You'll go back to work when someone wants you to go to work for them, not when you want to go back to work." I am struck by how simple and straightforward that sounds, but it is also very profound.  I can do the footwork of looking for a job -- take the outplacement workshops, write and revise my resume, send my resume to every job lead that comes my way--and it still is out of my hands whether I get a job today (or not).  A prospective employer will review my resume for my qualifications and salary requirements. then determine whether the job requirements (and the budget) are a good fit. This follows the Golden Rule: "Those that have the gold make the rules."

So heeding that Golden Rule, I set modest expections for myself when I went on two sets of  interviews before Christmas --  I also hedged my bets by submitting resumes expressing my qualifications for other full-time positions. Then came the waiting part as companies take the traditional holiday break when companies shut down  between Christmas and New Year.

Then, something wonderfully special happened. During the break, I was contacted to interview for two other jobs the week after New Years Day. On the day of the first interview, I accepted a job offer  from one of the companies that already interviewed me in December (almost two months to the day after I was laid off). I am now in the middle of  my second week at my new job.

As I have had time to ponder the past layoffs  I've endured, I realized that somehow all of my needs were being provided. While I was hounded by Doom and Gloom (those self-centered fears of losing what I have or not getting what I want), I still managed to keep a roof over my head, clothes on my back, and food on the table.

So, at this point, I need to acknowledge who my real Employer is, and I just need to perform the footwork laid before me.

Best wishes for a prosperous and joyful New Year.