I started the draft for this post on October 5th. I wasn’t sure what I would write, but figured it was time for another one of these posts. Then the next day, moments after I walked into my office at work, life as I knew it changed in an instant. The place I had worked for over 11 years, that had recently had some changes in management, needed to make some budget cuts, and decided to outsource a big portion of my position. With that decision, and outsourcing that part of my job, they opted to eliminate my position entirely. My head was spinning, the tears were flowing. The fear, shock, and hurt overtook me. Never in a million years would I have thought this day would come.
I allowed myself the day to wallow and feel sorry for myself. Because, it was huge blow, but life still had to go on and I still had a family to take care of that needed me to be strong. I repeated over and over, and truly believed, that everything happens for a reason and that what happened was necessary to get me to a better place in my professional life.
The following week I got a call for an interview from a place I had applied that day. I was so nervous. I hadn’t interviewed for a job in over a decade, and I hate interviewing. I don’t like talking about myself, or talking myself up, and most interviews include the inevitable, “Tell me about a time when you _____” question. I was excited to have an interview, but dreading it at the same time. I had also submitted resumes to a dozen other jobs, but no calls besides that one.
I was shaking from nerves while I got ready. When I got there I was escorted to the (very nice) board room to wait. My nerves had calmed some, and then the CEO came in. When he started talking, my nerves instantly went away. It didn’t feel like an interview. It felt like a conversation. The inevitable question never came, and I learned a lot about the company that I found to be very interesting. The more we talked, the more I felt like this job could be a really great fit for me. But I didn’t want to get my hopes up too high. Overall it seemed to go very well. He asked me to send him a few more references and said I’d probably be hearing from him again soon.
I left feeling good. Like, perhaps this was my next step, my next chapter. I tried to keep my expectations and my hopes in check, but it was hard. I just felt in my heart that it had gone so well and that I had a really good chance at being chosen. I knew it would probably be the following week, at best, before I heard anything, but as the first part of the week passed and I hadn’t heard anything, I started to get a little nervous. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe I was just wishful thinking.
I’ve watched countless friends and family search for months to find a job, so why would I think that I could find one in less than a month? I started to feel silly for letting my hopes gets the best of me.
Then, l got an email and was asked to come in for another meeting. My heart skipped a beat, and my hopes soared once again. At the very least it was a second round interview; at best it would end with a job offer. Just like the first interview, I felt at ease and it was easy to talk to him. And thank the stars, I was offered the job!! It was all I could do to not jump out of my chair with excitement.
As hard as it was to lose a job and a work family after so many years, I maintained my belief that everything happens for a reason, and the good Lord had something better planned for me. I know how very lucky I am that I was able to find a job – and one that I feel is a perfect fit – in under a month. I can’t wait to start this new chapter of my life with a company – and new work family – that I am so happy to be a part of.
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