I'm going through changes again....
Seems like every few years I have to deal with major changes. I really envy people who can stay in one place for 20 years or work for the same outfit from high school to graduation. I was starting to develop the hubris that maybe I'd be one of them after all. But that bubble's been popped (for now).
Right now I'm looking for a new job again. The Government needed to save some mone so they moved some Government Employees around and looked for contractors to bump out of a job. I got picked to be replaced with two Government people and Presto! My old job vanished practically overnight. Now I'm finding that my contractor company hasn't picked me up yet on any new contracts. I shoulda seen it coming but somehow I didn't. I was given a whole two weeks notice. So from a fairly comfortable job with people I was comfortable with doing things I was comfortable doing I'm "out here" looking for a new job.
I've been too proud to talk about it. It seems more personal than personal business. I like most males, define my self-worth around my work. But here I am looking for work and I really don't have the time or the energy to pontificate about grandiose issues. Time for Daimoku and introspection -- and a little self-examination.
All I can think is;
I gotta get me a Job!!!
Suggestions are welcome....
PS Thanks for all the encouragement. (See comments).
Posted by cholte at March 23, 2005 06:54 PMCongratulations, Chris!
I just changed jobs a month or so ago; I got tired of reading negative newspaper articles about my employer on a daily basis, as well as a number of other factors prompted me to make the move. My new employer is not *politically sensitive*, and I think the change was a move towards "Right Livelihood" for me.
All in all, it's a good thing; shakes you out of some ruts you may not even have noticed, and makes you rethink and rework all your habits (or at least it did so for me).
Good luck and great fortune in your search!
Namaste, Engyo Mike Barrett
Posted by: Engyo Mike Barrett at March 24, 2005 08:31 AMI will send some prayers that you find the perfect job to express your many talents.
(((((((((mettawaves)))))))))
robin
Chris, I don't have any advice, other than the obvious - chant a lot - but I do have some experience in this area. After 9/11 I came home from over two years working in Spain to find myself downsized into the unemployment lines. It was tough. At first we weren't sure we could make it even a couple of months.
In the event, I took odd jobs, contract work and so forth here and there, got out my old tools and did some set construction, handyman work, whatever, all of this while continuing to send out resumes and contacting folks in my industry, looking for a position in what I am best at doing. For a while there I couldn't find a thing, since my industry, which is entertainment related (theme parks, museum exhibits, etc.) took quite a hit, post 9/11. During that period I earned less than 20% of what I had been earning before.
I went through an executive training thing, the kind you pay for, and I don't recommend that. I listed myself with various placement groups, and finally one of those paid off and led to the job I have now. I am making about 30% less than previously, but still, it's good work and I like it, and I am now a fully vested employee.
Altogether I went 17 months without a regular job. Dana did well with her work, fortunately, and we didn't really suffer much. Fewer meals at nice restaurants and other belt-tightening measures, but nothing major.
I should note that there were some really good things that happened. Most important was spending some wonderful time with my wife and little girl.. Dana was really supportive, even though I know she was terribly worried. She stayed positive, and that helped a lot. And Brenna, who was in First-Second grade in school during that period, was a joy. I walked her to school most mornings and home after, and spent the kind of time I usually couldn't spend when I was working 50-60 hour weeks and driving 2-3 hours a day. I'm back to that schedule now, but those times with Brenna and Dana are precious memories.
So I guess I do have some advice: carry on, and cherish what you have. Do anything. Work when you can and keep your mind and options open. Maybe it's time to change careers. Maybe not. Just don't sit around doing nothing. Do something, always.
And chant a lot. Good luck, my friend.
Cheers!
Andy
Posted by: Andy Hanlen at March 25, 2005 02:00 PMChris:
I suggest that you take stock in yourself and carve out a new career in freelance writing or a full time writing gig. I make my living as a professional writer and I make a damn good living at it. Employers can fire you on a whim or you can get downsized, but when you work for yourself, doing what you love, life is great.
I suggest you check out this site and track down the thousands of paying markets for good writers like yourself. I hope this helps:
http://www.fundsforwriters.com/
Charles
Posted by: Charles at March 25, 2005 04:08 PMHi Chris,
I don't mean to unreasonably contradict and incite confusion about the advice you have just received to "chant a lot" about your job situation, but in my 17 years of practice I have come to see that suggestion, although very common and well meant, as yet another painful austerity. What has helped me so much and what I offer to you is to chant the quantity of daimoku that feels right to you. I used to think I had to chant hours upon hours of daimoku to feel like I qualified for or was worthy of the result or the "life condition" I sought. Now see that belief was soul-crushing and unfounded. Daimoku is very powerful and unconditional, and a little does go a long way. With this realization, I feel much more joy in chanting, instead of the dread that came from an obligatory, superstitious approach.
I know that the time spent in chanting is a very personal decision and I'm speaking only from my experience. If you truly love and have the time for a huge daily diet of chanting, go for it. But I will submit that we humans have a way of imposing austerities upon ourselves that cut the life off from true creativity and the freedom to craft the lives we want. I think if your approach to the practice honors your authenticity, you'll do very well and get a wonderful job that will last the years, if that's what you want.
My prayers will also be with you.
Gabrielle
Thanks for all the advice. I especially like the advice to become a freelance writer. I'll check out the URL -- it would be nice to get paid to do something I love to do anyway. I love the IT field too and I value the steady paycheck even at the cost of having to deal with people under trying circumstances.
And as to the chanting a lot. I think I need the chanting as much to stay calm and focused as for any magical mystical qualities it might have; I find I'm incredibly tense with the prospect of no regular paycheck. I'm getting on the nerves of my loved ones, I'm wanting to bite heads off, that sort of thing. Chanting should help with that. Plus as directed prayer and meditation it should help me summon up the "inner resources" I need to work through these situations.
Definately chanting is no austerity for me. It is as natural as drinking coffee. And indeed sometimes I have to stop myself or I find myself chanting softly in the company of strangers or in other situations when silence might be more appropriate. The daimoku is a Universal language.
Chris
Posted by: Chris at March 29, 2005 10:22 PMHi Chris,
I won’t endeavor to give you advice on chanting, but I would like to take the opportunity to concur with Gabrielle—it’s the quality, not the quantity.
I have only been in the job market for about eleven years. Prior to that I was always self-employed and an employer in some small business or another. I became an employee to facilitate raising five nieces and nephews when my first-born was 18 months old, after my sister was killed in an accident at her work.
As you are painfully aware at this time, there is no such thing as job security. I spent the first 7 years of my time as an employee grossly under paid, believing that my efforts and accomplishments at work would be recognized and rewarded. Wrong. They were recognized but unrewarded, so a year after I was refused a letter of reference because the company did not want me to leave, I quit. That day I was offered (yes, I said “offered”) a raise to stay, and fired the day that the project was substantially completed. It was completed way, way ahead of schedule, the company made big bucks, and I got a termination notice stating:
“You are hereby given notice that effective this date 4-17-01 your services will no longer be required for the following reason (s):
_____Absenteeism _____ Unsatisfactory work performance
_____Lack of work _____ Quit
___x__Other (Please specify): Employee’s demand for minimum rate of pay for which
he would continue to work for (company) does not meet
(company’s) current profile for skill of employee”
So much for rewards. While peers, project managers and sub-contractors, held me in the highest regard I could not get a single reference because of the threat of retribution from my employer to anyone that did. An example I was—his form of wage control.
I took three months off and went to every practice and every Little League baseball game with my boys—games I never got to attend before because of my 60 to 80 hour work/commute week. (My oldest son’s team won their Inter-league championship that year—it was a great time for us.)
My next job was with a much more considerate employer, with improved monetary rewards. Things got slow, I was one of the last to be laid off, and six months later I was called back again, with a twist. They had a project of me to run, a start date, and I gave my current employer two weeks notice. After they had me committed, I had effectively quit my job, they decided to re-negotiate the terms of my employment. We settled on a salary and benefit package, and I asked what the plans were when I completed the project. I was told that the company had me slated to take over a job in progress, 2 ½ hour commute each way, no compensation for travel and because I would be just “finishing up” there would be a reduction in my pay.
I asked the project manager, “Do you remember telling me that there were certain requirements that you expected of me, or the marriage wouldn’t last?. To which he replied “Yes”, and I said, “To tell you the truth, the way I see it, if you don’t like the sex, there’s no point in getting married.” I called the employer I had given notice to a week earlier, and have just completed one year with them.
The people I am working with are great. My salary is excellent, and the company is expanding. But still, I remain aware that there is no such thing as job security.
What I have noticed is that some times when it seems like karma is kicking you in the ass, its kicking you in a better direction. If things go sour, it’s back to self-employment for me.
Congratulations and happy hunting.
Sincerely, chikushonin
PS: “I like most males, define my self-worth around my work.” I think the difference is whether you live for work, or work for a living.
I came to suspect some time ago that life could be characterized as a never-ending succession of varying janitorial tasks. Granted, some are more enjoyable than others.
Gabrielle wrote (above):
"I don't mean to unreasonably contradict and incite confusion about the advice you have just received to "chant a lot" about your job situation, but in my 17 years of practice I have come to see that suggestion, although very common and well meant, as yet another painful austerity. What has helped me so much and what I offer to you is to chant the quantity of daimoku that feels right to you."
I agree entirely. I am guilty of the "chant a lot" advice above, and Gabrielle wisely clarifies that. I would not presume to say how much is enough, or "a lot," and I like Nichiren's suggestion that we chant "to our heart's content."
Sorry for any confusion, and thanks, Gabrielle!
Andy
Posted by: Andy Hanlen at March 31, 2005 03:52 PM