Lost a job and Got a new job, woo hoo

[masraum]

So, Last Fri morning, I and 18 other folks were told that we were almost definitely going to be let go. It was a small, oddly distributed group that included a few managers, and my old manager who was a Director is pretty sure that it was a way to save a few bucks due to a budget overrun at the end of the year. I was pretty much the star of my team, the most senior, and, I'm fairly certain, the best paid except for a new guy that's been there a few months that is in a slightly different position.

So, Friday morning we get "you're on leave, go home now". I tell some folks, "I'll update my resume and get it out to you if you know of anything."

Mon morning several folks had my resume in their inbox.

Mon afternoon, almost all of the 19 get the call "you're gone as of today."

Tue morning, 9:30am, I have an interview

Tue 10ish minutes after walking out of the interview, I get a call from one of the folks in the interview, "we're going to tell the recruiter to extend an offer to you."

This afternoon, the recruiter calls and says, fill out some paperwork and I'll have the offer letter sent out tomorrow.

I don't start until Jan 10 which means 4 weeks without pay, which really sucks, but thank goodness for savings. I'm just really stoked that from the official "you're out" to the "we want you" was less than 24 hours. I feel REALLY lucky when there are so many folks who aren't so lucky. Heck, like I said, there were 17 other people in the same boat (1 of the original 19 got to go back to work for some reason). One of the people that got let go is in a fairly entry level position (not much $$) and just (in the past month or two) moved from Houston to Delaware relocating for the company. I really feel for him.

I actually have another interview setup for a perm position with lower pay, but better benefits, and have had a few other discussions with recruiters about jobs that wouldn't have been bad if I had been desperate, but weren't exactly what I was looking for. I guess my field and Houston is a good combo right now.

My old boss is actually expecting them to let a few more folks go as soon as they get a little farther along in some projects that they are working on. I hope not for their sakes.

I had a headache and stress for about 4 days solid, but thankfully, that's pretty much cleared up.

[Rick Lee]

Congrats. I got almost as lucky about 10 yrs. ago. I had gotten a better offer from Verizon than what I was making at my then current job. I decided to take it. While driving to work, planning to give my two wks. notice, I heard on the radio that our main supplier had filed for bankruptcy. As soon as I walked in the door my boss laid me off. I said, "No prob. Can I leave now or do you want me to finish the day?" He was stunned. I had a nice four weeks until the new job started and really landed on my feet.

[Jrboulder]

Congrats!

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

Congrats. I got almost as lucky about 10 yrs. ago. I had gotten a better offer from Verizon than what I was making at my then current job. I decided to take it. While driving to work, planning to give my two wks. notice, I heard on the radio that our main supplier had filed for bankruptcy. As soon as I walked in the door my boss laid me off. I said, "No prob. Can I leave now or do you want me to finish the day?" He was stunned. I had a nice four weeks until the new job started and really landed on my feet.

Wow, how's that for timing!

I'm very excited. I got laid off in 2001 when the market crashed and tech stuff tightened way up. It wasn't any fun. I'm really glad that this is a very different experience.

[Rick Lee]

I have to say I got even luckier with my current job. I had left it in mid-2006 to go work for my buddy in subprime mortgages. I had just gotten my first good commission check around Xmas time when the industry started catching the flu. During that time my previous employer had been bought out by our biggest competitor and they my made my former boss a big boss. As soon as I started thinking I'd be laid off, I dropped my old boss an email and said we should grab lunch. He told me he needed to fill another slot like the one I left and I could have it for the asking, have all my old accounts back, a higher base salary, blah, blah. After lunch, we walked to his office, he printed out an offer letter and said to start the next week. I was wearing jeans and a fleece, never printed a resume and really landed on my feet with that one. And here I am, still working for him, working from home in gorgeous AZ.

[masraum]

Wow. I usually feel like I've got an angel on my shoulder, but reading your stories puts my fortune to shame.

[Rick Lee]

If you land on your feet right after a job loss, you DO have an angel on your shoulder. It's not the kind of problem anyone wants to have. But it can work out for the better. BTW, my buddy and former boss in the subprime job hasn't been able to hold a job down in three years. Twice he's been laid off the first week of a new job. He burned through his entire savings and 401k, lost his house and plenty of other bad things. Not everyone gets so lucky.

[pwd72s]

Glad to hear the news...yes, an angel!

[porsche4life]

There are worse times of the year to have 4wks off....

[rnln]

wow, you must be good at what you are doing. Congratulations.

[azasadny]

Fantastic! Congratulations!!

[A930Rocket]

That's great news. Congrats!

[asphaltgambler]

Sometimes the ones with the most 'luck' are the ones that work at it the hardest, the most dedicated

[Joeaksa]

Congrats. BTW, what do you do?

[KFC911]

Congrats Steve! It's no accident when things like this occur...good luck!

ps: Did a Cisco cert help...I didn't think so ?

[masraum]

Originally Posted by rnln

wow, you must be good at what you are doing. Congratulations.

Thank you, I think so. I've had 12 years to practice, and I enjoy it, so that helps.

Originally Posted by Joeaksa

Congrats. BTW, what do you do?

I'm a Network Engineer, the Cisco Systems stuff (firewalls, routers, switches), same kind of stuff as "Mikester" and a few other guys around here. Hmm, Mikester must be busy with his new gig, haven't seen him posting much.

Originally Posted by KC911

Congrats Steve! It's no accident when things like this occur...good luck!

ps: Did a Cisco cert help...I didn't think so ?

Hah, not actually. I got a few certs way, way back. I've since let them expire. A cert or two or three couldn't hurt, but they certainly aren't necessary.

I'm fortunate that despite Houston being one of the 4 largest cities in the country, the "Network" community here is small, and I know a ton of folks in it. I suspect there's not more than 2-3 degrees of separation between just about anyone in Houston that I talk to that does what I do, and someone that I know from a past job. Referrals help immensely when looking for a new job.

[BRPORSCHE]

Originally Posted by masraum

I'm fortunate that despite Houston being one of the 4 largest cities in the country, the "Network" community here is small, and I know a ton of folks in it. I suspect there's not more than 2-3 degrees of separation between just about anyone in Houston that I talk to that does what I do, and someone that I know from a past job. Referrals help immensely when looking for a new job.

You can say that again. I work in the "other" big business here in town. It is not wise to go about burning bridges.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by BRPORSCHE

You can say that again. I work in the "other" big business here in town. It is not wise to go about burning bridges.

Yeah, and a lot of my work is done for the business you're in. At a past job, your co used to be one of our customers (actually, we served a ton of the petro industry).

My new job is going to be supporting the network for one of the really big petro cos.

[stomachmonkey]

Nice.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Sometimes the ones with the most 'luck' are the ones that work at it the hardest, the most dedicated

This. If you're great at your job and people know it, you won't have trouble finding work.