Funemployment
Well, it's been a good stretch... 5 months exactly to be precise. It feels like an eternity and at the same time a flash in the pan. My last day of work at Stowe Land Trust was 9/30. It was a clean break, bringing my tenure to exactly seven years, and as I'd planned, giving me a few months off to work on the house, travel and spend quality time with friends and family (aka enjoy funemployment, as it's become known) before heading out west.
As it turned out, our work permits came through much earlier than expected and so a lot was crammed into a few months' time and we found ourselves flying to our new home on 11/30. This of course meant that it was time to get down to business looking for a job in our new city. And I'll be the first to admit I didn't know exactly where to start.
Quite a lot of soul searching, paired with some professional help to fine tune my resume and eventually submitting multiple resumes and cover letters ensued. I did my best to make personal contacts with other nonprofit professionals in the area. Even going so far as to inquire about volunteer positions.
I should mention that it had been 7 years since I'd even looked at or thought about my resume. Which also meant it had been 7 years since I had gone to an interview. It was a daunting process, especially not knowing anyone in the area. But I muckled my way through it, with help and support from family and friends and eventually snagged an interview.
It started with a short phone interview with HR, progressed to an in-person interview with HR and the executive director and culminated with a brief introductory session to the type of work the position would be responsible for. I was sure I bombed the last session and after not hearing anything back for a week and a half had decided that I didn't get the job.
I wrote a follow up email to HR thanking them for the opportunity and providing my updated phone number, and to my surprise received a reply asking for references. After that I received a phone call and an offer. Matt encouraged me to counter asking for more salary. There was also the issue of a planned vacation in April, which was within the three month probationary period when typically vacation is not allowed.
As I write this I'm still waiting to hear back. And to be honest I have no idea what the outcome will be. The fact that it's not what I'd call a dream job makes the thought of it falling through bearable, but honestly I'd be pretty crushed at the thought of having to continue the process of applying for jobs for who knows how long.
Don't get me wrong, the whole "doing what I want, when I want" part of unemployment is fun! It's the feeling of not contributing that gets old. Not to mention, it's always more fun to have a partner in crime when exploring a new place.
As it turned out, our work permits came through much earlier than expected and so a lot was crammed into a few months' time and we found ourselves flying to our new home on 11/30. This of course meant that it was time to get down to business looking for a job in our new city. And I'll be the first to admit I didn't know exactly where to start.
Quite a lot of soul searching, paired with some professional help to fine tune my resume and eventually submitting multiple resumes and cover letters ensued. I did my best to make personal contacts with other nonprofit professionals in the area. Even going so far as to inquire about volunteer positions.
I should mention that it had been 7 years since I'd even looked at or thought about my resume. Which also meant it had been 7 years since I had gone to an interview. It was a daunting process, especially not knowing anyone in the area. But I muckled my way through it, with help and support from family and friends and eventually snagged an interview.
It started with a short phone interview with HR, progressed to an in-person interview with HR and the executive director and culminated with a brief introductory session to the type of work the position would be responsible for. I was sure I bombed the last session and after not hearing anything back for a week and a half had decided that I didn't get the job.
I wrote a follow up email to HR thanking them for the opportunity and providing my updated phone number, and to my surprise received a reply asking for references. After that I received a phone call and an offer. Matt encouraged me to counter asking for more salary. There was also the issue of a planned vacation in April, which was within the three month probationary period when typically vacation is not allowed.
As I write this I'm still waiting to hear back. And to be honest I have no idea what the outcome will be. The fact that it's not what I'd call a dream job makes the thought of it falling through bearable, but honestly I'd be pretty crushed at the thought of having to continue the process of applying for jobs for who knows how long.
Don't get me wrong, the whole "doing what I want, when I want" part of unemployment is fun! It's the feeling of not contributing that gets old. Not to mention, it's always more fun to have a partner in crime when exploring a new place.
