Life Goes On..the Next Chapter

Unless you are a good chef on Top Chef and have the weekly risk of being let go (when it should have been someone else, Robin), and maybe even if you are a Top Chef contestant, life does go on, fortunately. In addition to my Top Chef addiction, I am also addicted to Project Runway, and the Ravens football team, though wish they were doing better. Rambling? Probably, but I have time to ramble...this is my 6th month of being unemployed, which in and of itself, is a full time job.

 I am not alone...and, I have one more addiction for survival: bi-weekly "Rif" meetings with my former colleagues.

There are about 90 of us still unemployed who worked for the same company, and are in the same region geographically, who are staying connected. We have our own special group on Linked In, set up by a former employee that allows us to vent, stay connected, share tips and even job postings. And the more local of us, meet in person every 2 weeks, rotating at various Panera stores for breakfast (Panera, if you are reading this, how about discounts for the unemployed?) ..a theme that started at our former workplace....when we meet, we eat.

I am addicted to these sessions where my former colleagues, now friends, talk, share, laugh, cry, vent and give hope to each other. I don't know how I would survive without them. There is a bond that will last a lifetime. I have learned so much from all of them.

Lesson one: move on. When you get "let go" from a company, you go through a grieving process, sometimes with anger and disappointment. Sometimes the company you so admired doesn't seem to meet the same expectations in layoffs that they had when you worked for them. But it's really about you, not them.

Lesson two: make the effort to stay connected and share information. The company I worked for had a mission that included "sharing our (their) gifts with others". That meant, even helping competitors. Why? For the greater good.  It is a message I carry with me today.

Lesson three: everything happens for a reason. Yes there are regrets but learn from them to get to lesson one.

My former company recently filed for Chapter 11. And some of the former employees have not let go. They don't remember how good the company was to work for and how much they took care of the employees. Instead, they post on blogs and on news stories the negative comments that only demonstrate how disgruntled they are. Sad. And not helpful to them or the situation.

No one is perfect and neither is any business entity. But the economic downturn was and is difficult. And, many businesses did not believe it would get so bad. My advice? If you hate what happened, don't blame yourself of your company, call George Bush. Let him know.

Lesson four: get involved in something to make you feel good. Even if its joining an online community about a show you love. Stay connected and find the fun in life.

And if you are lucky enough to have children or grandchildren, enjoy the moments this time off from work affords you. Nothing makes life as good as seeing it through a child's eyes..the innocence of youth is too delicious. So I wish you well if you are struggling to find a job, know you are not alone and feel free to post your experiences here. Fortunately, life goes on.

Grey Day...Grey Me, Pun Intended

I have a full time job looking for a job. I have learned a lot in this process. It's a game....I hate games. I hate playing the game to get someone's attention but I do it because there is no other option.

Now you have to have "keywords" in your resume as most employer HR departments use technology to scan the over 100-200 resumes they get for each advertised job. I would be happy to review resumes for any company looking to fill a position. But I guess I would cost more then technology.

I have a different resume for each job applied for. Next week I am going to a job placement agency that offers retraining. Who knew? But it's all good.

I started signing up for online surveys. Mostly with Greenfield and Nielsen, two companies I trust that do not charge and do alot of online surveys. The surveys take from 3-20minutes. Sometimes you get paid a whopping $2 and sometimes you get your name placed in a sweepstakes to win up to $1000. I have never won anything so am not counting on this. But I did "make" $6 so far this week. And I also got rejected from about 100 surveys because of age or profession. Wow, a symbolic reflection of my life now?

I refuse to make more of this then it is but today is rainy and grey so rejection fits my mood and the color of my hair. But, like Scarlett O'Hara, there is always tomorrow...when I am getting my hair colored just in case....and tonight will play the Mega Millions....there is good news: Senator Reid's office is doing another conference call with some bloggers (me included) to discuss the outcome of the Senate Finance Committee's passing of a health reform bill. They may regret my participation as I am NOT happy about no public option inclusion in this bill.

And my Twittering has gotten me some contacts with media and more...and my grandkids give me more joy than anything else...so onward and upward..

more to come....................

Moving On

So today I got back to work, homework that is. I followed the guidelines given us at the outplacement sessions last week. I did my CAR: challenges, achievements and results for each of three jobs I had over the last 10 years. I dropped off the other jobs because at my age, I need to remember, this resume is my brochure, a teaser to get through the door. The more work I add to my resume, the older I will appear. So, even though I twitched from writing job withdrawl, I got my resume to 2 pages at a decent font: 12. It looks clean, neat and hopefully says enough. So off it went to the outplacement service to review, edit and format. Whew....done.

Then I went online and looked at jobs. Felt sick but applied for a couple. One is for a huge ad agency for executive account manager for a major beer company. The description says you work from home with 20% travel and the travel is local. So off my resume went (yes the unedited one except for my edits). And applied to 2 other jobs also. The truth is I don't think I qualify for any of them but will try.

Next week am going to one of the career centers to see what is available for jobs and assistance. I am still considering all options. I am a former nurse who, while working in an allied health position, has not given patient care in years. I can't do patient care in this day of techical and strong assessment skills. But I could do utilization review. There is a 3 day certification course for this and may do that. It will be boring but I will get paid and benefits.

Got my approval for unemployment which I will have to stop once my Social Security comes through as I am income restricted on this, at least till next year. I am hoping I get a job and can suspend this till next year.

And, drum roll please, today I got my Medicare card. A major benchmark in one's life. I earned it. I am still awaiting COBRA information but if that doesn't work out, will apply for a medigap or Medicare Advantage plan. Medicare does not cover everything, no matter what you hear. Not to mention, it does not cover prescriptions. I will have to get Medicare D at least for that.

Please read one of the comments from my prior post. Lisa posted a great article for us older folk who are looking for jobs. Thanks Lisa!

More to come, stay tuned....tomorrow: letting go, trials and tribulations.

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.

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.

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.