If I knew all the words

Last Friday, January 29, 2010 marked one year since I was “22 and laid-off”. What a year it has been. I’ve always been told, “Life’s a roller coaster, enjoy the ride!” Although, through my eyes, this roller coaster has been nothing close to enjoyable…

Frustration is the best word to describe how I’ve felt. I understand I was 22 years-old, new into the professional world and was lucky enough to still have my parents to fall back on. But my stubbornness wouldn’t allow me to fall into bad habits. Yet, I had no choice.

Thankfully, I was not married with mouths to feed, or a mortgage to pay off. I do realize that. There are so many people in that situation. But it did affect me in both good and bad ways.

I joined this company in October 2008, after I spent my summer in Europe. I spent August and September job hunting, packing my life and moving North. After 10 interviews and hundreds of resumes and tailored cover letters, I received my first professional job.

This job was different, it wasn’t in a field I knew a lot about. I mean, how many people know about the Biotech industry? I’d never even heard the word. But I was ready to jump in and learn.

I spent three months grasping as much knowledge that I could about the industry, working in a large agency and managing client relationships. I’ve never been so eager to learn–science flew over my head in high school and I completely avoided it in college. I all of a sudden was reading about cancer cells, therapies and spitting out acronyms like it was a second language.

I learned so much from everyone I worked with, but I think I left the company with something better than industry knowledge; I left with the most valuable professional and life lessons I could have ever imagined learning in my lifetime: Nothing in life is certain, be prepared for everything.

I left the University of Oregon a naive  young journalist with this great outlook on what my professional life would turn out, and it is nothing like I imagined, but it is perfect. The professional world is fast pace, harsh and political like you could not imagine.

Being laid off is one of the most confusing feelings. You have ten different emotions flying through your head, and the questions, they could consume you for the rest of your life. Asking the “what if’s….” and “why me’s” but when it comes down to I’ve learned it’s a little bit of politics, but mostly about money.

I remember the moment after the door was closed behind me, my heart sank, I knew what was happening. I looked up and saw her talking, I couldn’t hear what she was saying, as the words came out of her mouth, “I’m sorry to tell you, we’re going to have to let you go…..” she went on and on and I couldn’t form a thought, I just wanted to leave. I went back to my cube and was met by a friend who hugged me as the frustration melted to fear mixed with anger, with a twist of terror. “I am 22 and unemployed”, I thought this had to be a sick joke, I’d just started there, three months earlier!

Out of my own pride I refused to pack my things in a box, I left with my possessions spilling out of my arms and my purse. Here I was with no job, no friends or family to comfort me, and my crumbled future in my arms.

I went home, packed a large bag and moved to Medford, Oregon to work for my family business until I found another job in Seattle. To me this was short term, I couldn’t comprehend being in Medford for more than a few weeks, if not for my pride, but for my sanity.

I made looking for a job my new job. I had friends and mentors sending me links to job positions in Seattle. I reached out to as many people as I possible could and tapped every networking opportunity available. Every waking hour was spent searching for companies I was interested in working for and writing numerous cover letters telling these employers why I’m the best fit for the position.

My desire to be back in Seattle was my pure motivation. I’d become attached to the city and my life there, I’d just gotten started and all of a sudden it was ripped away from me. I drove up from Southern Oregon to Seattle multiple times in a two month period to attend multiple marathons of interviews. Out of the 100+ resume’s I sent out, I went to at least 10 in person interviews and was offered 3 jobs.

I turned what could have been a year  or more of job searching into a two month sprint to find what is now a great job. It was tough to turn around after you’ve been laid off and your spirits are down to find the energy and will to push forward and continue to search.

Some days you want to give up, other days you come to a dead-end. But I was 22 years old, I wasn’t going to settle, I had my whole career ahead of me. When I began my search I said I wanted to stay away from health care. But I found that in those three months I had learned so much about the field, for the first time felt like I could look at a job description and say, “Hey I can do that!” So I continued to persue looking for a job that had to do with Advocacy Relations. I have passion for the experiences people have gone through, and to help tell their stories is one of the most rewarding jobs.  I found the perfect home.

Now, I’ve almost been at my new job for a year and I look back on the experiences I went through and realize it was such a great life lesson to learn at a young age.

I now know…..

• To be prepared for anything and everything

• Just because I’m a “cheaper” employee, doesn’t mean you’re not expendable; and just because you’ve been at a company for 15 years doesn’t mean you have a solidified position- it’s a business

• Keep going, no matter what. You have good days and bad days but the search will come to an end, just don’t give up

• Utilizing your connections and network can provide good leads, but also it provides good practice

• Save save save. You never know when that  rainy day is coming, and how long you’ll be stuck in the down pour… be prepared financially

• You’re constantly proving your worth at your job. Make yourself an invaluable employee so that you don’t have to ask the “what if’s”

To anyone that has been laid off, I feel for you. All you can do is keep your head up and move forward. Don’t look back, that is behind you.  I never thought at 22 I would be laid off. But it happened, I adapted and moved forward and I’m a better person for it. I’m no longer naive about my professional life.

Read my post from last year on What I wish I would have done before I Lost my Job.

To all of those that have supported me through this roller coaster, I thank you. I couldn’t have done it with out you. A few to mention: My Family: Mama Stringer, My dad, Ken, My Brother, Matt; Jessica Lomelin, Kelli Matthews, Scott Wayne Indiana, Laurel Yamaguchi, Bridgette Quinn-Greenhaw, Libby Whittemore and all of my friends.

A month and a half ago I was laid-off from my job. Unemployment is scary for a 23-year-old who is fresh out of college, and laid-off from my first “real” job. I’m not going to lie; it has been the most confusing time in my life. Every other day my plan changes on what I’m going to do next. Should I stay in Seattle, should I move home and save money, should I go to grad school? So many decisions, I wish someone would choose the right one for me, and I’d put all my faith in them and do it. Making these choices is such a great life lesson, but man it is stressful.

I am in a decent position, unlike many others who have families to support, mortgages to pay, I was able to take a position working at my family business, although, I’ve been forced to temporarily move out of Seattle to the Podunk town of Medford, Oregon (don’t get me wrong I do hold a place in my heart for Medford) where I have zero-friends and my dad seems like a ghost that shows up every 3rd Tuesday of the months that end in “Y”.  I’m getting by with the overwhelming support of my friends and family and  I know things will be okay; I just have to trust this. And I’m also doing work that is keeping my skills fresh and helping me advance our company.

I think about the week leading up to when I was laid-off every day, and I think of the moment I was let go, and feels like a vivid nightmare that replays every night. I loved my job, I loved the agency I worked at, and I loved the people. I looked up to my supervisor and hope we can keep in touch, because she is an amazing woman.

But, I was naïve about the situation. I didn’t think it was going to happen to me.  And there are things I wish I would have done before I lost my job, that may or may not have made a difference, but If I would have done these things, maybe I wouldn’t have to place part of the blame on myself.

I wish I would have asked for extra work. I was working at a communications agency that did everything from public relations to advocacy relations to advertising. It was very well rounded. I was working in advocacy relations, which was new to me, but soon became my passion. But the week before I was laid-off thing definitely slowed down, even weeks before that my work had slowed. Now this may not have been a direct effect of me being laid-off. But I could have assisted in different areas of the company to let executives know that I can be used in other areas of the agency. I received my degree in public relations, and also have knowledge of Social Media, which was being utilized at the agency. If I had offered to help out in these other areas while I was caught up on my work, the executive team may have noticed that I could have been utilized in multiple areas.

I wish I would have networked with more people. I worked on a very small team that was tucked in a far off corner of the agency. I didn’t meet many people in my four-month stint there. I never took the time to socialize, or even take advantage of meeting people through the extracurricular activities that were set up for us, Which means I wasn’t networking with my coworkers. They didn’t fully understand my capabilities and the value I could have brought to other areas of the agency. I’m kicking myself now for not making those connections and relationships, which could be assisting in my job search.

I wish I would have kept track with my network. Finding a job is about networking. I didn’t take the time to the day I was let go to take a look at the relationships I had made and write down their contact information. I was in shock mode when I got back to my desk to pack my things, I didn’t fully think of what I needed to take with me besides my personal belongings.

I wish I had an emergency fund. As a recent graduate I was just starting to become financially independent from my parents. Like most recent grads, I had to borrow money from my parents and was just going to be able to start paying them back when this happened. I’m still learning about saving and budgeting, but I wish I would have made a large effort to put aside a large portion of my money each month, so that I would have a safety net now that I am suffering.

I wish I wouldn’t have been so naïve. Nothing is certain in this life or your career. This economy is going to be out-of-wack for at least the next five years. In history it has taken at least five years for our nation to pick itself up and dust off its shoulders from the moment we’ve hit rock bottom, I still don’t believe we’re at rock bottom yet. It is scary for everyone. And I think everyone needs to know you aren’t safe. You need to be working extra hard and taking as many precautions as you can in case something happens to you.

I wish I wouldn’t have taken my job for granted. I remember the day I had to sit down and talk finances with my roommates. As soon as we wrapped up the conversation on a Sunday evening at 10:30 pm they all said in unison, “Man I wish I didn’t have to go to work tomorrow!” I looked at them all and said, “Please just be thankful you have a job.” I think about all of the mornings I got up and complained about getting ready and riding the bus. If only you know what I’d give to be at a job and know what I was doing with my future.

These are things I wish I would have done before I lost my job. Your life can change in an instant, and I cannot change these things I wish I had done, but I can pass along the wisdom to others. Not many people are laid-off from their first job in their twenties, although unfortunately I think it will begin to be more common than not, these are things to think about if you are at your job, whether it’s your first or your tenth position. Nothing is certain.

On a Final note, Today while reading Vanity Fair there was a pullout quote that said, “your dream Job is finding something with a salary and health benefits.” and it’s so true. Currently, yes I have future goals for my life, but I am NOT thinking about them right now. I’m focusing on today and finding a job for right now that has benefits and a salary I can live off of. Not 5 years from now. But I thought this was an interesting point that a dream job now solely involves a salary, benefits and a 401k.

On a final final note, no matter how you cut back, my biggest advice is to keep your health insurance. One accident or major illness can land you thousands of dollars in debt. If COBRA, the coverage you can get from a former job, is too pricey, find deals on ehealthinsurance.com. or look into high-deductible coverage; it has cheaper premium (you’ll just pay more out of pocket if an emergency strikes) but health insurance is so important, make sure that isn’t something you sacrifice in these hard economic times.

Update: Thank you for everyones support I accepted a job offer last week! And will be sure to take my own advice!