2010 was not a bad year for me, but December did mark a period of transition from having a day job to not so much. After 12 years with the same company, being jobless was not what I expected for Christmas. I don't think I've ever had a big ego, and being laid off really damages a person's self-image despite the fact that I'm not alone in this endeavor. How many times have your heard, "It's a sign of the times." I realize now that just because a person works hard, does a good job and is swamped with work does not guarantee the job won't be cut.
I really want to use this experience to do something positive with my life. My technical skills are now outdated. I have lots of experience, but not with most of the acronyms I've seen on job postings in the past 4 weeks. Of course I can learn. But the computer industry has changed drastically in the past 15 years. How much will it change in the next 10 years? I did this once already when the railroad went through a merger and I didn't want to move to Topeka, Kansas. Do I really want to start over again in the same industry? It is where the money is if you look at careers and earnings, but I also realize there's more to life than money. I wasn't unhappy as a software engineer. I thought I was good at it, but I wouldn't say it was my passion.
So what now?
Thanks to my husband's job and his medical insurance, I do have a little time to figure out what I should do next. I'll spend some time at the workforce center and take some classes if I can. I'll figure out what my strengths are and what I want to be when I grow up.
In my spare time, I'll make more jewelry, take pictures and post some of my recent pieces.
Yes, I do know what my passion is. Whether I can make the same (or better) salary and benefits as my last job is the question.
All my best,
Laurel
No comments:
Post a Comment