Turbulence 2006 (part 3)
Filed under AFK, Writing Journal on February 22, 2006
Tagged: employment, Scroll of Cairdein
My job was only supposed to be a temporary position. We just got back from New Zealand and I had been unable to find anything in my chosen field after graduation. The placement agency had left a message on the answering machine and I called them back immediately.
Four months later, and I was faced with a choice. A permanent position with the company was available, but I had also made the final round for a technical writer position in another state. The local company made me an offer, and while it was less than I asked for, it meant not having to face leaving friends and family behind.
In less than a year, I got promoted again, but I was still making less than an entry level position in my field of study would, and my duties were slowly shifting from what I really wanted to do. I had a family to consider, however, and the job market was still lean. I stuck with it, but battled depression, and stress over our financial situation. There were plenty of days where I would rather have been somewhere else, doing something else.
I’ve spent plenty of space over the last few days bemoaning our predicament, so I’m not going to go into a bunch of details. I don’t think it’s very professional to air your grievances against former employers in such a public manner. I will say that things came to a head two weeks ago, and for the second time in the last six months, I typed up a letter of resignation. This time, after discussion with my wife, I delivered it.
My last day was Friday. I am now unemployed.
There are many things in transition right now. This decision was part impulse and part design. I was going to quit eventually, as we would be moving to go to school. This just moved up the timetable. It would still be a couple months before I started hearing back on my application, but we’d have the money from the house.
Only, we don’t.
As of today, the house is back on the market. There is still some fallout from this debacle that we have to sort through, but the buyer has decided she doesn’t want the house and we’re moving on. We’re praying the next offer comes soon, is better, and closes smoothly.
In the meantime, I’m pounding the pavement, looking for work. I also have wonderful motivation to finish “Scroll” and submit it, not to mention more time to write. In fact, I opened up the file the other night and blew through a romantic scene between the protagonist and one of his companions. It felt great. Tomorrow, I’ll do more.
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February 23rd, 2006 at 6:16 am
My thoughts are with you and your family, Kameron. Hang in there, and keep writing.
February 23rd, 2006 at 8:10 am
Well, they say God never closes one door without opening another, right? Or gives you more than you can bear. Hang in there!
(RE: the buyer backing out — do you at least get to keep her earnest deposit?)
February 23rd, 2006 at 8:58 am
Yes, we should get the earnest money, but we don’t know how soon that will get resolved.
February 23rd, 2006 at 12:47 pm
Maybe you’ll get a better offer now, since you said the appraisal came in higher than your original asking price.
And I’m glad you’re seeing this as an opportunity to write.
Adding my prayers for a quick offer.
February 23rd, 2006 at 9:56 pm
Wow! I had no idea things were so challenging. I will add my prayers to the rest. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help. I will keep my ears open down here in case you decide to try slumming on the other side of the river.
February 28th, 2006 at 2:35 pm
I left a comment on your more recent entry, but I’ll add to the commentary here. My thoughts and hopes are with you too.
I’d offer to look for a place up here in Seattle, but that would be an even tougher market. On the other hand, there’s always Boeing you could try for. Take it from me — nice place to work.
Cheers