One More Day!

Today, I found out my coworker (the only other person in my department) has submitted a request to take a vacation day on Friday, my last day.

It was approved.

I don't hold this against her, not at all. I'm sure next week and being totally on her own will be a rude awakening of sorts. Especially since she nor anyone else really knows just how many issues come up on a daily basis; issues that were not covered in training her because they are not everyday occurences.

But - Wow - anyway. So on my last day, which is also the last day of the billing period, I will do my job, her job, complete all the end of month processes, and most likely attend a goodbye party.

Good times! Except maybe not.

I had planned on doing lots of things on my last day. Important things, like removing my personal files from my computer and talking to people. : )

Lesson learned: When leaving a job, do NOT wait until the last minute to do ANYTHING. Ask for help, state the facts, and be persistent. What are they going to do - fire you?

Almost Misty...But Not Quite

Today, I sent out a "thanks! and goodbye!" type email to most of the people I work with, in my office and at our corporate office. I tried to include as many people as I could think of, even if my contact with them was only sporadic. Almost immediately after I hit the "send" button, replies started coming in from people.

Everyone was so nice. So supportive. Some of the messages were brief..."thanks and good luck to you!" and some were long, and full of specific remembrances of things done, and things said.

I almost got a little misty.

The best one was from a coworker in Atlanta. She was also a Clay fan, and she mentioned that she wouldn't know how to keep up with him now. So, I sent her a link to my newsletter. Yes, I publish a newsletter of Clay news for interested fans.

I wonder if I could put that on my resume....

Clay Aiken

A Raise Before Leaving

Today, when I logged on to my computer at work, I got a pop up message that said:

Your password will expire in 7 days! Do you want to change it now?

Well, no.

I've been busy packing boxes...3 so far, and 3 more started...and wondering what, if anything, to say (via email) to everyone I work with as a goodbye. Before I could compose anything, my manager sent out a general email to the department heads, advising them to reroute any of my correspondence to him, as I would be leaving on Friday. The final sentence of his email was:

Our sincerest thanks to Pamela for her immeasurably important contribution over the years, and the very best to her for the future!

Nice. Nicer is that he pushed through a 2% pay increase just before offering me a severance package.

Also, here's something of note. Since my entire career has been spent at this one company, I need to highlight each position on my resume. One employer, but ten different positions. Problem is, I couldn't recall when and what they all were, "official" titles that is.

I asked for my personnel folder, and was told I could copy everything for my personal use. I didn't know this; I asked as a favor, but evidently, legally, this information must be provided.

Finally, I noticed people whispering behind their hands quite often today, so I'm thinking they have planned something for Friday.

Oh lord.

Online Resume Sites

Here are some online resume help sites:

Pongo Resume
Job Web
Resume Resource

I can't vouch for any of these sites. Yet. I'll let you know though! If you know any good sites with helpful resume information, please share.

All day long I kept thinking there were things I should be doing. Things to prepare for my departure. All day long, I kept feeling that the things I was doing, "work" things, were all so irrelevent. All day long, I wanted to pack boxes, or make contact with people I know I'll never see again.

I offered myself up for training whomever will be managing my old responsibilities. Either I couldn't get an answer as to who would be taking over certain duties, or people were too busy to train when I did know who would be handling things.

Why does this bother me a little bit? A few more days and I won't have any care or concern who does what, how they do it, or if it even gets done.

This feels a little like trouble letting go. Oh boy.

Online Job Sites

On Saturday, I slept a lot. I don't know why I was so exhausted; but perhaps it was just the rainy weekend, and since I had nothing really planned anyway....

On Sunday, I checked out some different online job sites. Sites such as:

Monster
Hot Jobs
Career Builder
Triangle Jobs
NC Employment Security Commission
Page Bites

and others. Wow, there's a lot of job sites out there. It was a little overwhelming.

Maybe I should have researched resumes first. Mine hasn't been updated for about five years!

Helpful Hints

I've begun to tell people I work with that I will not be available after next week.

It's interesting how some people look at you with pity and some people look at you with envy.

One coworker asked me if I were upset, and I thought about it, and strangely enough, I am not. A little apprehensive perhaps, but not in anguish or anything.

In fact, I feel a little excited. In fact, I feel exhilerated!

Due to the constant downsizing at my company for the past few years, most of the people I worked with for any length of time are long gone. My current manager is a great guy, and I'm confident he will give me a letter of recommendation and/or a reference.

I received a phone call this afternoon from my previous manager, who has been gone for about a year. He had lots of good information and advice. For example:

1. Adjust withholding for income tax purposes, if I find a job while receiving severance pay. While each income is taxed, they are taxed seperately instead of as a total sum. He had to pay several thousand dollars in federal taxes this year.
2. Go directly to the ESC my first non working day. They have tons of information there, as well as various career counseling resources.
3. Don't be afraid to call on ALL previous and current coworkers, friends and family to be on the lookout for information. 99.9% of everyone you ask will be happy to help you.

And the best advice he gave, was something I often say as well...."Life's too short!" At this point in my life, I want to do something I enjoy. I wonder if I could just follow Clay Aiken around all summer...?

I'm still feeling more anticipation than apprehension. Good stuff.

Clay Aiken

Things to Do

Today, I tried to contact our HR department with some questions I had accumulated. Three times. Voice mail each time. So, tonight I compiled an email with my questions which I will send in tomorrow morning. That way, I'll have their answers in writing. The questions are concerning payment for unused vacation, family health (sick) and discretionary days, 401k distribution, my non compete agreement, and the calculation of the number of weeks of severance pay I will receive.

I also called the credit union and got my balance and interest payment date. I'll request a withdrawal and account closure next Friday, which will be my last day of work.

I found this list of "things to do" at About.com.

-Take personal property home, so there's no question what belongs to you or the company on your last day.
-Remove personal items (software, emails, etc.) from your PC.
-Collect current contact information from your future references, potential networking associates, and vendors and clients if appropriate.
-Get letters of recommendation.
-Compile a portfolio of your work.

So much to do, so little time now.

I also packed a box of personal items to bring home. I have lots of "stuff" in my office, accumulated for twenty eight years.



Does that about cover it? I can't think of what else I should do at this point. If anyone has any recommendations, please share.

A Brief History

I moved to NC from TN in 1978. One day, I was eating at Hector's in the mall, and met a guy who had just opened an employment agency. He needed a "secretary."

Job responsibilities included answering the phone, interviewing prospective employees and matching them to employer's needs, scheduling interviews, helping clients with their resumes and so on.

Just so happened, I was available. Never really interviewed with him for that position, he just told me to show up the next morning and he would put me to work. I did, and he did. As his agency was brand new, he was not able to pay me more than minimum wage, and he knew I wouldn't be satisfied with that for long. He was very generous in allowing me to peruse the positions as they came in, and he said I could have my pick if something looked interesting.

One job that caught my eye was as an expediter at a large distributing company. Actually, what caught my eye was not the job itself, but the pay was decent and the hours were 10 am-7pm. So, yeah. I faxed them my resume, and arranged an appointment for an interview. When I showed up for the interview, they sat me down at a desk and put me to work.

Twenty eight years and ten positions, including management, later, and here I still am.

For another two weeks anyway!

PS - The man that "hired" me left soon after and joined a commune in Washington state. Seriously!

Hey there

Welcome to my blog.

Blog Rule #1 - Start at the bottom and work your way up. You know, like reading the last page of a book first. Like reading your oldest email first. Like eating dessert before the meal.

Today, I learned that my job of over twenty years has been eliminated. As of May 1, I will be a free agent. Woohoo! I'm not disappointed....this wasn't really my dream job after all. Why did I stay here over twenty years? I have no idea.

Probably something to do with comfort zones, security and great benefits. The people were nice, but the job hasn't been rewarding or even challenging for a long time now.

So, what next? I've never had to look for a job or had a job interview. I wasn't looking for this one; didn't interview for it either and that's part of the story.

This blog is for my Mom (Hi Mom!) but mainly it's for me, because frankly, I'm a little nervous about what's "out there." Writing always seems to help me deal with things, so maybe this will be helpful.

Or not.

We'll see.