Thursday, April 30, 2009

Outplacement: Training for the dislocated

Today I attended the first of two sessions to help me find a job. I learned so much it was overwhelming. Today we talked about our commercials (who we are, what we do), writing resumes, and the importance of networking. We also talked about the new buzz word for those of us laid off, riffed, unemployed: we are now officially called, the dislocated. Who knew?

Resumes: View these as your marketing brochures. These should not be detailed but concise, using the terms that the prospective employer uses in their job descriptions. You have about 15 seconds to sell yourself as a viable candidate for this job in a competitive environment.

Interestingly the facilitator did agree that even though companies won't admit it, there is ageism in the work place. He suggested no more then 10 years of employment listed. School dates should not have dates graduated. Get your foot in the door.

When in the door, be passionate about what you do; be energetic and confident. Believe in yourself.

I felt energized when I left because the best part was being with former colleagues and realizing that the feelings I have experience are not unique. I hope to join with them in sharing information and helping each other. These are mostly people I did not get to work with directly but knew of. Now I know them and they are terrific! Good people lose jobs. It's the world we live in.

It is time to move on. I got my approval for unemployment today. A whopping $380 per week paid bi-weekly. Hey, its something and I can collect it until I get my Social Security then I will be restricted on income. Both Social Security and unemployment are taxable.

My brother is coming in from Florida tomorrow for my other brother's son's wedding on Saturday. Busy weekend (great!). Next week I buckle down and get my resume done and start networking to look for jobs!

More to come.................................................

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Yeah, American Idol is on Tonight; refuge

I go back home late today. I want to stay at my daughter's today to help as there is no air conditioning and the temperature is in the 90's. We made due last night and it is cooler this morning but will be hot again today. What happened to Spring? The air conditioner man is coming today.

Starting to feel myself more and more. The number of people who have stopped by my blog and left wonderful comments has made me feel like I am not alone. I can't thank all of you enough.

And, tonight is American Idol and Biggest Loser. I will tape one and watch the other though since I don't have to get up early tomorrow, I can watch both! They are helpful in not having to deal with my reality....even though they are known as reality shows. Who knew?

Tomorrow, food shopping, house cleaning, redoing my resume and talking to the 401K people. I have to decide whether to start drawing on this pittance in my retirement fund and what the ramifications are.

Nice to know its there even though its small.

Whoops, my granddaughter is up calling for me...more to come.

Monday, April 27, 2009

Life and Death

It was a beautiful weekend in Baltimore. The sun was shining. We had a great weekend. I got to see all my grandchildren because I also went to Hanover PA to visit my son, daughter in law and my granddaughter, Cassidy. She just turned 1 yr old and is walking while holding on. Playing, laughing and a real joy.

Then came back to my daughter's with her 2 bundles of joy. Their dog Jake is dying a very slow death. That is the worst part of the weekend.

It's hard to let go if a dog that has been part of the family for over 17 years. But he can't walk anymore, can't hear, can't eat or drink and is having respiratory problems. Today we are taking him to the vet to help him by letting him go. Very sad. My daughter is struggling with the decision but the dog has no life and is in pain and moans constantly.

I realized that letting go for the dog is like letting go of a portion of one's life. Being laid off is like a death of sorts also. I don't mean to be dramatic but it is letting go of a significant portion of one's life; a profession by which one is known to a certain group of people. For me, it's something that has defined a portion of my life.

Yet, I know that by giving the dog an end, we bring him peace and solitude. We need to let go and move on. Isn't that true of all aspects of life and living?

And so, we all must move on....even me.

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Blackberry only works if you get email

One of the nice things the company I used to work for did was to allow those of us provided work cell phones with Blackberry components, was to keep them though we had to transfer them to personal use. I did. I love my little phone/blackberry whatever. However, I just realized that when you don't work, you don't get as many emails. And, I was addicted to my email.

I am a Type A personality: always doing, going, finding things to do, people to meet, places to go. The quiet (if you can call staying at your daughters with a baby and a 2 year old quiet) is getting to me. I cannot find a place to call me own and feel very, very....I don't know what I feel to be honest.

I wear no make up and sometimes scare myself when I see myself in the mirror. Who is this person? Not me, that's for sure.

Trying to deal and sort out all the issues related to unemployment sucks. I feel my motivation for doing things has left me. I need to get myself together. Next week I go back home and hope to start exercising again to push me to the point where I can take care of me.

Today it's supposed to be in the 80's. I am going to visit my son in Hanover Pa and looking forward to it. Other then this, not sure what I will do. But maybe I expect too much of myself now. Maybe I need to just chill out and stop over thinking things. Should I be defined by my work side? Gosh I hope not. I am hope I am more then a marketing, communications, branding, health care former nurse person.

I am a mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, friend, and??? Not sure what the question marks mean. But maybe they mean everything happens for a reason and maybe this is the time to reflect on me to find out who I am and what I want to be......I do know I want to have fun again. So I have to strive for that....more to come.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Reality is setting in....getting laid off, new start

Here's what strikes me as I head into the end of the first week of being laid off: there aren't as many emails or anything work related to do. Too damn quiet. Except, that is, for my 2 grandchildren. I am staying at my daughter's since she just delivered a new baby girl, a real sweetie. And, her big sister, 2 plus yrs old and a complete singer, dancer and actress. She is a real comedienne. They, and my children, fill the days with complete joy. But I have certain things I must take care of.....all work or unemployment related.

So all toll I have 9 weeks of severance and accrued vacation to come. Have not started looking for work yet, will leave that for next week. Now, its about looking at expenses and starting to think about the future.

Today, I switched my phone and Internet to Comcast, the triple deal special though I already have them for my cable provider. Fios is in my area and is really giving Comcast a run for their money. I used that in my negotiation with Comcast. I asked them what they were going to do to keep me as a customer and it worked. They beat Fios. Best part: I am saving $70 per month for the first 6 months and $50 per month thereafter. Just basic cable, no frills. But I love my cable shows: HGTV, Food Network, Project Runway is coming back on Lifetime...gotta have my cable.

But for those of us in the unemployment with no choice mode, rule number 1 should be negotiate to get the best deals and look at what you absolutely must have/keep. It's a buyer's market and no one should be afraid to try to get the best deal possible.

Before LO (layoff), I had already made changes in the house to cut costs: energy efficient windows, those funny looking light bulbs, unplugging everything that is not in use as energy is still drained even if you don't use an appliance and am happy to report that I have saved over $100 per month!

But I also have to think about income. So I called social security and surprise of surprises, they were wonderful! They were easy to talk to, helpful and fast. Who knew??? What I learned was a little disappointing. I am not really of retirement age (66 for women) though I turn 65 at the end of May. Therefore, I can collect social security with restrictions on income. I will only be able to earn $1000 per month. How do they expect people to live on that? They do it to defer the age people will sign up for these benefits. I signed up anyway because I can suspend my benefits at anytime. I wonder if winning the mega millions counts? No, I have not won but did buy a ticket for tonight.

COBRA: its not bad. That is if you are not turning 65. If you are 65 and have no health insurance through work and do not get Medicare, you are penalized when you do sign up for Medicare. COBRA is not considered health insurance through work so even though it would cost me less to do COBRA then Medicare plus a Medi-Gap program, if I don't sign up for Medicare now, the penalty is hefty when I do sign up. So I signed up. But I can use COBRA till my Medicare kicks in. My health insurance is paid till the end of April so guess what I did? I made all my medical appointments for next week. HA! At least I can get everything I need done before any other insurance kicks in. Not all doctors accept Medicare for payment. My own doctor does not. Not fun. More on this in upcoming blog.

Not seeing the people you worked with is really tough. Today I had lunch with 2 dear friends I made at work and that really lifted my spirits.

I find myself going through periods of sadness and anger. And as one who had the "personification of procrastination" written under her name in the college yearbook, I always looked for ways to put off what I didn't care to do, until tomorrow (ah, Scarlett O'Hara). Since the LO, I struggle to deal with the issues at hand even more so. Particularly the job market and income. I know the job market is not good; and at my age, its a disaster. That's when the anger sets in. A 401K that sucks and the thought that I would work for 3 more years at the company that set me free is almost too much to think about.

And, I think about me and how I really never felt quite comfortable that I would make it to retirement at this company. You know, I actually had 2 cell phones: 1 was the company cell and 1 was my personal cell. I never merged them. Interesting huh? I guess rule number two is listen to your gut. Your instincts are always better guides to what you should or should not do.

My former company did provide outplacement service and next Thursday and Friday I will be there. That's a good service to have where they look at your resume and help you update it; work on cover letters, review the job market and interviewing. I am looking forward to it and will be happy to share what I learn here. Hopefully, I will find some motivation there also since that is what is missing the most right now.

I guess this blog is not the most optimistic, tempered or not but it will get better....it will...maybe tomorrow.

Sunday, April 19, 2009

The first blog...starting over

Today, with the help of my online friend, Ronni Bennett of Time Goes By, I begin a new blogging life. On income tax day I was laid off of work, one of 100 good people who tried their best to help a company be the best it could be. Unfortunately, none of us could predict what the last 8 years of the Bush administration would create: a horrific economy. Many companies, such as the one I worked for, were forced to lay off good people. And, if the truth be told, I knew it was coming.

Last December/January, there was a restructuring of the organization advertising department. I never really considered myself an advertiser but a marketer, a strategic thinker and doer, and communications. I was no longer leading an exceptional team of professionals. Instead I was to report to the head of brand management. Part of me was very excited at the prospect of doing what I was hired to do initially. Part of me knew this was the beginning of the end. How did I know? Easy, I worked in health care marketing, an aspect not easily accepted or understood by most. For years our team struggled with gaining internal acceptance of what our health programs were or did to promote the lifestyle of active, independent older adults. Perhaps it was my failure. Perhaps it was others' inability to see health as something more then doctors, or any medical intervention. Whatever the issue, the point was from this point on, I felt as though I could not make an impact on what I believed was the single most important factor that differentiated this company from other wanna be companies.


This was the 3rd layoff of 2009 for this organization. This one was quieter, though the rumors were alive and well. As I reflect now, I wonder what the leadership was thinking? surely they must have known employees heard the rumblings. Then it came. I got called to come in since I was to be at a conference. Though I had expected this, when I got the call, I really was stunned. I made it easy for my boss and others. After all the bottom line is that the company has to do what needs to be done to survive in this economy as it serves many lives and does a damn good job of serving others. I will pray for them and my coworkers.

What I miss the most is the people with whom I worked. I know each of us has our own lives and keeping in touch will be difficult for some. For me, I begin a new at an interesting point in my life. I had thought I would retire in at least 3 years so I could get the maximum benefit from Social Security since my 401K is so down from what it was. But I got a small severance and some accrued vacation time. And there is always unemployment! Though it will be difficult, I have decided to take some time for me and think things over. You know the old saying: I don't know what I want to be when I grow up? I think this is true at any age. Maybe there is a pot of gold at the end of this rainbow.



Over the next few blogs, I will write of my experiences, my plan, and my outlook. I title the blog the tempered optimist because that is who I am. I like to think that I look at things from the best side, not the worst; yet I am tempered by life's experiences so that I do not always see only the rosy side of life. I choose to be realistic but with a positive twist. Does that make sense? Who knows? But this is the start of a new journey. I hope you will contribute thoughts, suggestions, and opinions along the way.