Friday, August 16, 2013

Smack, kick

I went to school early on, back when I had NO idea what I wanted to get out of my time here.  Not to mention, what I wanted to do for a living.  I simply did not understand the magnitude of the word career.

After many drunk nights, worth-while classes, some mean professors, and too many tearful moments in the bursars office, I made it out.  $62,667.94 in debt.  The worst kind of debt- uneducated debt.  I thought I would get a job, thought I would make the money to pay the loans.  Was I wrong.  I applied to jobs for 2 months and the week before the 4th of July I saw an ad on craigslist for AmeriCorps volunteers in Paterson, NJ.  I had nothing else to do, emailed a resume, and got a call.  Met with them and signed up for a year making some $300 every 2 weeks.  Thankfully, as my debt came due, my mother chipped in the $278/mo (only one was due after 6 mos of being graduated- the others a year).  2009 was a tough year- one that truly tested my notions of what adulthood would be.  That was just the beginning.

I worked in Paterson for a year, and stories of that time will be told on here.  After that I got a job in pharmaceutical customer service.  It was close, paid US dollars, and my moms friend got me an interview followed by an offer.  Of course it was $14/hr temp job- no vacation, no holidays, limited benefits.  I was thrilled. 

Fast forward 12 months of horrible phone calls, mad patients, frustrated nurses, and resentful doctors, and I wanted OUT badly.  I got a job with another division of this company.  Temp to perm with much better pay.  Ok, I thought.  Within 6 weeks I was hired on full time and worked there until I could no longer take the toxic culture of the company. 

In March of this year, I got a contractor job with a division of that huge company that makes everyones favorite baby shampoo.  It was going to be great- managers seemed great, still only an 8 minute commute and a $10k bump in pay. 

3 months later, at the end of June I was let go, being told my position was eliminated.  I could not believe it.  They flew me out to OH for training and everything- what happened?  Anyway, these questions did not last long- I was happy.  I was excited for this new path that was being carved out for me (or I was carving out for myself?).  I was done with pharma, corporate, cubicles, and wasted days.  Plus my last day was July 5th- I had a summer off- I did not think that was going to happen again until I retired.  Low and behold, we were in Montauk for the day and I check my emails while on a bike ride.  My old boss. 

Hello Tim,

I have tried calling you a couple of times – Friday late afternoon and today. Unfortunately, the answering service for the number below is way smarter than I am!

I am emailing to see if you would be interested in coming back to your roll on a full-time, temp basis. Starting as soon as next week, August 19th at the latest, and going through the end of the year.  I cannot guarantee that we would have a position for you in January 2014.

First, I hope you have found something else you enjoy.  Second, I respectfully understand if you are not interested in returning. 

If want to discuss the why’s and what’s of the change, please feel free to call me. Unfortunately, I need  to know if you are interested by early afternoon today.

Sorry for the short notice!

We stopped, we talked, we decided I would go back.  Within 24 hours and after one job offer, they changed to it to be working for another vendor (consulting company) and I would be freelance.  aka the bottom of the bottom.  I countered their offer and they would not do it. 

I was back on my path to happiness.

Oh, and J&J has been doing just fine- http://www.jnj.com/news/financial/johnson-and-johnson-reports-2013-second-quarter-results



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