Laid Off

Today was a sad day for me....and frustrating and confusing and humiliating all rolled into one. I was laid off from my job at Processes Unlimited due to "budget cuts." I was told I made more money than a lot of people so it made sense to let me go first. I had been there 13 days short of a year and it was a total shock to me. I had been working super hard, in fact, last week I had to take an extra almost full day off because I had so much overtime from working on special projects. Marketing was a busy dept. still, even with the economic slow down, since we bring in the business. I didn't specifically make sales, I did writing, photography and graphic design, but our dept. had been told we were safe from layoffs. Apparently not.

I was told at 3pm that I was being let go, got my severance pay, and was told to clean out my things and go home. My supervisor had to watch as I collected my belongings, sent out a few last emails, and tried to keep my composure. The suckiest part of it all was that they shut off my computer before I even had time to get any of my work to have for my portfolio. I'd been printing out a lot of it, but the most recent projects I worked on, which happened to be the biggest, I had no copies of and wasn't allowed to print them.

Supposedly I can say this is for the best, I was having a hard time choosing work or full-time mom or part-time work after Bailee gets here, I guess my decision was made for me. I just wish it had been closer to my due date so that I could still be getting my benefits and keep earning a paycheck until then, but I guess no one really has a choice about any part of being laid off.

I at least kept my tears to myself until I had gotten in my car and was driving out of the parking lot - I called Lee to tell him and that's when I fell apart. He was nice about the whole thing, I know, it's not my fault but I still feel like a loser for getting laid off. He met me at Lengthwise and tried to make me feel better with some fish and chips. It helped just a little bit but man, what a sucky day.

Rejected and Accepted

I didn't get the Bolthouse job I wanted. I really really really wanted it but it was not meant to be I guess. I was one of the top two candidates out of 50 so I should at least feel good about that. I am going to take some graphic design classes at Bakersfield College because I seem to always miss out on jobs when it comes to the technical side of designing, ie. direct printing, etc. So I want to prevent that in the future and learn as much as I can. As much as I hate to admit this, I should have listened to my mom when she told me before college that I should be a graphic designer and get a degree in it. I'm sure it would've been a lot more helpful than just trying to do it on my own. Although, I've done pretty well considering I had no training in it.  

I did get an offer to be an executive assistant at an advertising agency here in town, they called me today and offered the job. I would be the assistant, answering phones, filing, true, but I also get to learn all about advertising and the jobs that go with it, help with some designing and do some writing as well.  It doesn't pay that great to start, but she decided it will be full time instead of part time, right of the bat, and there's a 90 trial and then review period. So if I don't like it, I can find something else, no hard feelings.

Anyway, I'm pretty bummed about Bolthouse but I know there's something out there for me!

A Busy Life

Lately I've discovered that I've become very busy. I have been applying for jobs like crazy and finally have been hearing back from some of them. First I'd applied to be an editor of special publications for The Bakersfield Californian, but I apparently didn't have enough professional experience. They did like my writing so I am now a freelance writer/photographer for the Bakersfield Life Magazine and Kern Business magazine, my first two articles come out next month. I'll be sure to post links to them.

Then I applied to do part time graphics for Saba Ad Agency in Bakersfield, but that one I didn't get either. They said I was in the top three but they went with someone else. I also applied to be an admin assistant for another agency here in town, Heise Media Group, and have basically been offered the job. I would be the admin. asst. but also learn a ton about the advertising business, with opportunity for advancement. The only catch is that it is part time to start. I don't know the pay or how part time, 3 hrs a week or 20. It will probably be full time eventually, but that's up in the air too.

I'm also waiting to hear back from Bolthouse Farms. where I applied to be a product design person (graphics) for their food products which are mainly carrots and juices, but it would be cool to have my design featured on national products and they offer great benefits. Finally, the Californian wants a full time graphic designer for a project that will end in June and I'm waiting to hear back from them as well.

In the meantime, this week I've been subbing for 7th grade math and working on my two articles, due Friday. As soon as I finish subbing today and tomorrow I have to hurry back to Bakersfield (I sub in Wasco) to visit some art museums and artists and take some pictures. I have all my notes and info for the most part, I just have to actually do the writing.

To add to my busy schedule, I am a bridesmaid/co-maid of honor in the wedding of one of my best friends. I am really excited because the only other wedding I've really been involved in was my own. But that means a few busy weeks coming up, I helped plan one shower, attended a second and I am planning the third, which is also this weekend. Then I'm helping plan and coordinate the bachelorette party for the following weekend. The wedding is two weeks after that, in Templeton, CA.

Whew. So there's all the stuff I'm doing in the next few weeks. For someone who is unemployed at the moment, I sure have a lot to keep me busy.

A Penny for God's Thoughts....

Every time I move somewhere I obviously need to start looking for a job. Sometimes it has been pretty easy and others it has taken FOREVER. When Lee and I moved to Texas, I didn't get a full time job until almost a year after we moved there. American Eagle Outfitters doesn't count - it was fun but didn't exactly pay the bills. 

Now that we've moved back to California, it is deja vu. While I do have more connections here, so far they haven't seemed to help me a bit. I know it says in Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future," but sometimes I would love to be able to see this future and understand his plan when job hunting is so frustrating. I come across jobs I would love to do, that would be perfect for me, and I am told otherwise. Most of them want more experience in a particular area, but how do I gain experience if no one will ever give me a chance to do that? 

What is even more annoying than not getting a job, is when the employer leaves me hanging. The first job I applied for here was a producer for a local tv/news station. The interview went well, I had a ton of writing experience, which the job required, and she said she'd call me. Well a week went by, no phone call. I emailed her again to see if maybe she never got the samples I sent after the interview. No response. I called her, no response. What is wrong with people today? I know businesses are probably too busy to call all the people back who they don't want to hire, but seriously! If you say you are going to do something, at least follow through! I don't care if you don't want to hire me, just have the decency to call me back and let me know either way if that's what you say you are going to do!

For the past month I have been subbing while I wait for something else to come along. I thought it would be fun since I usually like working with kids but so far I have only had one bad class after another.  Supposedly it is good money but I'll let you know when I finally get my first check. I started in the end of Jan. and still haven't gotten a paycheck! Does anyone know why teachers only get paid once a month? That's so weird to me.

 I didn't mean to rant, I just wish I could better understand God's timing and thinking. I know he has some job out there for me but why does it have to take so long for him to show what it is?