Losing my job - DJ's Blog - Operation Sports

DJ's Blog

Losing my job

Posted on December 10, 2009 at 11:29 AM.

(9)

When the news came down, I can't say I was totally shocked, but at the same time, it was still hard to take.

After five-plus years at my current job (don't want to say where but those who know me know what industry I work in), I will be out of work come Jan. 1. Cutbacks were something I knew were a distinct possibility and I knew that because of my experience, I had the potential of being let go.

I was offered a chance to stay on part-time with a pretty drastic pay cut, but that wasn't appealing to me. I will take the severance package and then if I have to, start collecting unemployment as I search for a new job.

It's a definite blow to ego, especially when you know you've worked as hard as you could and done some great things (and won a lot of awards) but at the end of the day, you're just a number in the grand scheme of things.

While this phase of my working career is over, I have no doubts that something good will come of all this. I had been talking with my wife about going back to school and, well, there's no excuse now not to do it.

I haven't searched for a job in a while and with the current state of unemployment and the economy, it is a little scary to be out there looking for work. I need to really go through my resume and update that and my reference lists, something I haven't done in a long time.

So, in the meantime, the purse-strings will have to be tightened. One expense I can't afford for a while is video games. I know I need to make due with what I have. Thankfully, I have Madden 10, NHL 10, NBA Live 10 and College Hoops 2K8 (all on 360. I also have some games on my PS2 and PSP) so I think I have all of my sports-gaming needs fulfilled with those titles.

Eating out won't be an option and I'm really going to have to start using coupons at the grocery store and take extra time to plan out weekly menus and buy only what we need to prepare said meals.

Getting this news is tough, especially with it so close to Christmas. I know I have a loving and supportive wife and family, and I will need to lean on them to get me through the difficult stretch.

Thanks to everyone at OS; this place has been a primary destination for me for a while now and it will continue to be in the future.

Comments

# 1 rudyjuly2 @ Dec 10

Wow. Sorry to hear that - especially at Christmas time. Hopefully you can find a new job fairly soon. Good luck and I hope you still have a Merry Christmas.

# 2 elgreazy1 @ Dec 10

Hey, don't stress yourself out too much. I went through the same thing in Oct 08 but to make matters worse I lost it all: house (foreclosure), lady (we broke up) and my job of 5 years. You will bounce back, and I'm sure you and your wife will get through this.

Smart move in not taking the part-time gig; my brother-in-law went this route only to have Unemployment stiff him pretty hard (ie: NO benefits). Definitely take unemployment & the severance and use it to your advantage. If you want to go back to school: DO IT! You can extend your benefits for a long time and better yourselves in the long run. This is what I'm doing: finishing up my degree so that I never have to work in a hell-hole again.

Work the system to your advantage, keep your head up, and don't let the daily stress get to you. Take it a single day at a time and realize things get better. Cut back where you can, learn to live more utilitary/efficient but without having to completley eliminate luxuries, and be less wasteful with everything. Over a year ago I would have never imagined I'd be this happy in my life and in all honesty, it was because of the sh*t storm that made me a better, strong, smarter person today.

Good luck & [insert diety here] bless!

# 3 DJ @ Dec 10

Greazy, wow didn't know you went through all that. Thanks for sharing your story and for the words of encouragement.

# 4 nolan273 @ Dec 10

I know the feeling, bro. I just took my second lay-off this year (from the same company both times) on Tuesday. But don't worry too much about it. I know from experience that you can make it through. And it doesn't really take that much 'cutting back.' You'll become more conscious of your spending, naturally, and you'll realize that a lot of the spending you did before may have been over-indulgence.

I realize it's a tough situation to go through, but you may find that it strengthens you in the long run. During the time I was laid off, may family grew closer. I was able to participate in more events than while I worked (missed a lot of softball games, school programs.) I don't know if you've got kids, but if you do, take this time to be more involved with them.

And if you want to go back to school, by all means, do it!!! Better yourself while you have this 'down-time.' Work the system, buddy!

Keep your head up, bro. You'll come out on top! As a matter of fact, it's already done! God bless.

# 5 stlstudios189 @ Dec 10

I was laid off back in 2005 the week after Thanksgiving. It is stressful but, if you cutback and keep your head up you will land on your feet. Plus you now have more time for gaming w/o a pesky job in the way.

# 6 KingV2k3 @ Dec 10

Well that stinks!

As a point of reference though, I've been out fo work for 6-12 months on a handful of occasions (I'm old, lol) and the first couple times stresses you out and then...not so much.

My advice is to stick to your guns and not settle. A short term fix is just that. If you can't imagine doing the 'next' job for a loooong time, then pass, and keep pitching for the right one.

It WILL come along.

Good luck and enjoy the freedom, you'll miss it soon enough!

# 7 DirtyJerz32 @ Dec 12

Sorry to hear about that DJW. Hope everything works out for you. Sometimes video games can be that release theat we need every once in a while.

Good luck man!

# 8 10yard-Fight @ Dec 12

hold your head man... things will work out. been there, done that, and got the t-shirt.

# 9 gotmeamodel @ Dec 12

I am sorry to hear that. I was laid off on Nov 13, 2008 and I just got another job on Monday, Dec 7, 2009. I was at my former company for 6 years and worked my way from the bottom up. So I feel your pain. It is going to be fine. I know you don't want to hear that and you can't see that now but (and I'm going to say it I don't care who it offends) through the grace of God...I was able to maintain my car, my house, and my video games. The other guy was right don’t take that part time crap….it is time for you to leave that place…and believe me you are going to find the perfect job…I did. It was tough for a while but I made it and you will too. I went on many interviews and usually made it to the second or third before I was told no. It made me feel like I was doing something wrong but I wasn’t. Those jobs just were not for me. (I knew the guy that actually got one of the jobs I interviewed for and he left a month later) But, finally after a year of being laid off and a year of tightening my belt I got the perfect job. I hope that you don’t have to wait that long but sometimes the grass is greener on the other side. It was for me.