My leap of faith: Taking control of my fate or diving off cliff

The outcome has yet to be written.

For the second time in two and a half years, I'm being faced with huge staff cuts because of tax cuts in the public sector. Last time, I hung around watching people being shuffled out the door, hoping it wasn't going to be me. I had made big contributions to the organization, my boss liked me and I was good at my job. I thought this would save me.

April 1, my boss comes to the door with a look on his face that immediately told me it was no joke. I pack a couple of boxes and am escorted out the door, my 12-year tenure there over with little fanfare.

I turned the part-time job I had into full-time over the course of about a year, and now here I am facing the situation again, this time since the CEO in the private sector mismanaged the company and pocketed millions. Now, we're facing 20% staff reductions. They asked for volunteers first and sweetened the pot. Since I'm low on the ladder, I opted to take the deal and run. A subsidized job search sounds like it could work. If you stay, chances are you'll get laid off anyway with no cushion.

I'm excited as I was no longer happy here anyway and stuck in a dead-end post. I'm also scared to death that the economy will be my downfall and I'll end up homeless and on the street.

Wish me luck.

Hope something comes your way soon

You can come live here. However, that squirrel cannot.

:hug:

or his little friend?

:rofl:

I lurves Blue-Jay and you and we have plenty of room. Series. You won't be on the street.

All I can say is :hug: Heard a report this afternoon on NPR about it. Made me very sad.

on the organization or players involved in public.

Thanks for the hug, though, I may need more later.

More hugs are waiting.

but you totally rock, and you'll land on your feet. this I know.

I totally rock!

Thanks. :-)

I'm sure you'll be OK, but if not, I doubt that anyone here is going to let you be homeless and on the street. :hug:

Is that going well for you.

Anything is better than retail. Even teaching 7th graders :D. Are you thinking about making that leap?

And retail must suck pretty bad after all the things he's told me about seventh-graders.

And a 7th-grader's worst is very, very bad. I'd feel the same way if I was him.

I teach in an inner-city magnet school, and while there are some days that I wonder how I got myself into this, there are other days that I feel very lucky. I get to see things about these kids that no one else can see. Most of these kids can be pains-in-the-ass, but they are smart, creative, caring pains-in-the-ass. I feel a huge sense of responsibility to help them communicate that side of them, so that the outside world can see how much they have to offer.

To say that I am extremely pessimistic about the economy would be an understatement. During a long drive today I was worrying about these kids, who probably have no idea what's about to hit them. I'm not the greatest teacher; not by a long shot. But I do care about these kids, even if I don't always know how to help them.

Ugh. Like I said, good luck proles. We'll all find our way through this. :-)

From how you describe it, and from my own experience, I think you made the right decision.

:pals:

--Peter

Haven't seen you around in ages. Thanks for coming out of hiding and offering a much-appreciated hug.

A friend in HR said the first and last offers are always the best and the people in the middle get screwed. I don't have nearly enough seniority to last until the bitter end. Surely in all of the Chicago area, someone will want to hire me (I'm planning on).

Hope things are better in your life. :hi:

I have a good friend in Chicago, if it's in her vein I could try to hook you up with some contact info. :hug:

I started lurking again a couple weeks ago and have even posted a few times.

On my life, I can't complain too much.

:hi:

--Peter

You'll find lots of thoughtful discourse here. :eyes:

1. You did a 12-year gig at one place. You gotta be pretty f'ing good at what you do to have that kind of run.

2. You turned a part-time deal into a full-time deal over the course of a year. That kinda reeks of talent to me.

So proles, good luck. Don't think you need it. Nothing trumps an Ace. Keep that in mind.

That's why I'm taking the gamble.

Others who are staying are over 50 and have a much more limited range of skills.

I'm usually playing it safe, opting for security above anything else. This is the riskiest thing I've ever done.