Job Loss Hits Home

Every day reveals new surprises in our household.  One day, stalking.  Another day, job loss.

Dean was one of a dozen people laid off from his company yesterday.  I didn’t take it well at all.  I started sobbing, wringing my hands in agony.  I’d left work starving, but my hearty appetite disappeared as soon as he said, “I was let go.”  Luckily, he’d had half a day to digest the news.  He was positive and confident.  He promised he’d have a job within a month.

I was far from confident and even farther from being soothed.  Between fits of tears, I suggested, “Let’s just postpone the wedding.  Why spend our savings when we have no idea what the future holds.  Who knows if you’ll have a job soon.  I know many people who’ve been looking for a very long time.”

I begged him to file for unemployment right away.  I wrote down: get unemployment, cancel cable, reduce cell phone bill, sell desk, submit expense report.  I did what I could. I got on Craigslist and posted an ad for a desk we’ve been meaning to sell. Within half an hour, there was a buyer.  “She can do noon tomorrow.  That works, right?”  My mind was going a mile a minute.  I couldn’t sleep.

I wish I could have been someone who was more supportive, but I was overwhelmed by feelings of despair.

We are now up to the challenge.  I have been doling out job search advice intermittently on this blog for over a year.  This is where I can be supportive.  This is a call out to my readers and my network.  Dean is a seasoned sales executive / account manager, specializing in software sales.  I’ve seen him in action when he’s worked from home.  He is really good at what he does.   Come on, karma, let’s go.