Today was interesting. My resume is about ready for the first pass update. It will be improved as I work to build a database of information to add or subtract from the resume as needed depending on the job that I’m applying for. This will support the strategy of fewer more directed resumes and cover letters—quality over quantity. The current version will be used to enter into the Boeing job system so that I can quickly get my resume out there.
There is a Boeing job that sounds interested that closes on Monday. I will enter my resume and apply. In addition, I’m going to see if the Vice President of the area will have a conversation with me. These large change programs are dependent on the sponsorship at the highest level. And my future will be dependent on this person. I would like to get a sense of him before making a decision on the job. Not that it is a given that I would get the job, but I think I’m fully qualified and would be a good fit for the job. Also, I would like to ask this person some advice. I’m a bit disenchanted about continuing with Boeing, and I would like to ask for some career advice.
This job has come to my attention from 5 different sources. My wife found it on the Boeing job site. Two of my co-workers sent me the information, and I queried three people in the area and receive two responses, the third person is out of town. This is a good example of how networking works.
Another example is from attending the Coaching community of practice today. The subject of caring for the people who had warn notices naturally came up in the meeting. I didn’t speak up, but took a ton of notes as they talked about resources they had to help coaches help people through the transition. I contacted people via email while the meeting was going on to get more information. Then the conversation in the meeting turned to how they could get connected to people, since the names are protected from general knowledge. Now I couldn’t remain quiet any longer. Overcoming my embarrassment, l told them about the IT People with Warn Notices inSite (Boeing Social Network program) group that I started the day before and how we could use this to connect the coaches with the people that needed them.
Karma came into to play. A person I coached is now working in the area of career transitions. She has many great resources and volunteered to coach me, thus returning my previous giving to her. This felt great and I will take her up on her offer next week. Also, due to this networking I heard of another job possibility which would be a great job working at a higher level in one of the business units. This will come with a recommendation from a person at the coaches meeting. Due to our past relationship and due to making the effort to reconnect with her now has resulting in a job possibility. This shows that treating people well over the long haul is so very important in times of trouble. It is important in regular times too, I just tend to miss seeing it.
The inSite group is now at 20 members. I spread the word in several venues and the word is starting to get out. I will spend a little more time tomorrow expanding these connections. I also had to warn a person against using the group as a way to gather data against the company. I know where this person is coming from; I have shared some of the same feelings. It is important to me that the group remains dedicated at help each other through transition. As I have been working on building the inSite group, I have also been continuing to increase my personal networking links inside and outside of Boeing. My LinkedIn connections have gone from 130 to 180 this week.
My emotions seem to be leveling out and my ability to focus and accomplish things was improved today. In addition to being able to concentrate, I was also able to think of others things besides being layoff and finding a job.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Day Four - Learning and Planning
Today, I listened to the briefing to my work group. They didn’t really say much that was of interest to me. Did say it was possible for more cuts, but that they were trying to make this the only cut of the year. It was weird being the person referred to as “those affected by the cuts”. Almost like talking in third person even though the person is in the room. I’m wondering if there might be another person from our group that hasn’t spoke up yet.
Last night I went to the library and picked up about ten books on various topics from writing resumes and cover letters to planning your job search. The one that I like best so far takes a more systemic approach to writing your resume. High Impact Resumes and Letters by Krannich and Banish has you design your resume as part of multi-step process and not the first step.
It talks about a four step Career development process:
Step 1: Assessing
Step 2: Exploring
Step 3: Developing Skills (like writing resumes and networking)
Step 4: Implementing Job Search steps
This last step then leads to the Job Search Steps and Stages
I also started a new group called IT People with Warn Notices in the company’s social networking tool and started getting people to sign up. I’m hoping that this will help cope with some of the isolation that can occur in these lay off situations. In addition, I’m hoping that we can share resources going forward. I also hope that for everyone that this effort continues past the 60 days, this group can continue outside of Boeing. About six people have signed up so far, including a previous manager of mine.
Last night I went to the library and picked up about ten books on various topics from writing resumes and cover letters to planning your job search. The one that I like best so far takes a more systemic approach to writing your resume. High Impact Resumes and Letters by Krannich and Banish has you design your resume as part of multi-step process and not the first step.
It talks about a four step Career development process:
Step 1: Assessing
Step 2: Exploring
Step 3: Developing Skills (like writing resumes and networking)
Step 4: Implementing Job Search steps
This last step then leads to the Job Search Steps and Stages
- Identify motivated skills and abilities
- Specify a job/career objective
- Research individuals, organizations, communities, and jobs
- Produce resumes and job search letters
- Conduct informational and networking interviews
- Manager Job interviews
- Negotiate salary and terms of employment.
I also started a new group called IT People with Warn Notices in the company’s social networking tool and started getting people to sign up. I’m hoping that this will help cope with some of the isolation that can occur in these lay off situations. In addition, I’m hoping that we can share resources going forward. I also hope that for everyone that this effort continues past the 60 days, this group can continue outside of Boeing. About six people have signed up so far, including a previous manager of mine.
Day Two – emotions appear
February 21, 2010
The beginning of day two began much more emotional than I would have figured. It was hard because I sent an email to my co-workers explaining what had happened on Friday.
I felt this was important for a few reasons. First, I care about them deeply and I wanted to bring them into the situation so that I wasn’t feeling quite so alone. I wanted to make sure that they understood, before they started seeing the changes that I will be making as irrational. I wanted to let them know that I will have to be breaking promises that I made to get stuff done. And I wanted to illicit their help going forward.
I don’t care about Boeing as much as I care about the people that I have come to consider as my friends over the years. I have worked with many excellent people. This is the greatest loss that this change will mean for me, a loss of friendships that have developed over a period of 22 years. I’m especially worried that my co-workers will experience survivor’s guilt and that would end up hurting them, so I would like to avoid that. While I will be focusing my attention primarily on getting a new job, I plan on remaining connected to the work group. And have even thought of pulling the group in to help me on a more substantial basis—thinking that this would both be a benefit for me and may help the group deal with the survivor’s part.
So far I have received two replies from my note. Each time has brought me to tears like sending out the note in the first place. I wonder as I send out notes to my more extended network of friends if the tears will continue. Today’s note to my co-workers was just a warm up to calling my son and brothers, will these calls be as emotional as my simple email note?
I have also reached out and connected with the three people that know have experienced layoffs in the last year. Two have provided some excellent references and firsthand knowledge. I hope that we can work to each other’s mutual benefit going forward. And after many months of dealing with this the bitterness they feel is just below the surface. I would like to get through this without allowing bitterness to change and hurt me.
I am proceeding on all fronts to develop my plan and thinking on how to use newer tools like google voice, gmail, and websites to get my message in front of people and to be able to respond as I transition and lose my connection to Boeing resources.
The beginning of day two began much more emotional than I would have figured. It was hard because I sent an email to my co-workers explaining what had happened on Friday.
I felt this was important for a few reasons. First, I care about them deeply and I wanted to bring them into the situation so that I wasn’t feeling quite so alone. I wanted to make sure that they understood, before they started seeing the changes that I will be making as irrational. I wanted to let them know that I will have to be breaking promises that I made to get stuff done. And I wanted to illicit their help going forward.
I don’t care about Boeing as much as I care about the people that I have come to consider as my friends over the years. I have worked with many excellent people. This is the greatest loss that this change will mean for me, a loss of friendships that have developed over a period of 22 years. I’m especially worried that my co-workers will experience survivor’s guilt and that would end up hurting them, so I would like to avoid that. While I will be focusing my attention primarily on getting a new job, I plan on remaining connected to the work group. And have even thought of pulling the group in to help me on a more substantial basis—thinking that this would both be a benefit for me and may help the group deal with the survivor’s part.
So far I have received two replies from my note. Each time has brought me to tears like sending out the note in the first place. I wonder as I send out notes to my more extended network of friends if the tears will continue. Today’s note to my co-workers was just a warm up to calling my son and brothers, will these calls be as emotional as my simple email note?
I have also reached out and connected with the three people that know have experienced layoffs in the last year. Two have provided some excellent references and firsthand knowledge. I hope that we can work to each other’s mutual benefit going forward. And after many months of dealing with this the bitterness they feel is just below the surface. I would like to get through this without allowing bitterness to change and hurt me.
I am proceeding on all fronts to develop my plan and thinking on how to use newer tools like google voice, gmail, and websites to get my message in front of people and to be able to respond as I transition and lose my connection to Boeing resources.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Day Three - Inner Circle
It was day three today. The accomplishments for today included getting a hold of all my brothers—I have five so this is no small feat. It wasn’t just a call to say “I’m getting layoff in 60 days. Good bye.” It took a while to get to a place of sharing, and then it took a while to process it and talk through it. And before all of this I had to get over the stigma of telling people. Intellectually this seems like a no brainer get over it and let people know. But in truth it took a little bit for this introvert to process this information and run through the conversation in my mind a few hundred times before I was ready for it.
I wanted to make sure they all knew before I started putting it on social networking sites. I’m working on expanding my networking capabilities and to get people engaged. I wanted to make sure that my family knew and that my immediate co-workers knew first. That has now been accomplished. I would like to let our closest friends know. Once that is done, I figure my inner circle has been notified.
After telling my co-workers at Boeing this weekend, I feel that I can start expanding my networking here. I will use our internal networking site and email to get the word over the few days.
Started updating my resume today, previous version was in 2006. It really didn’t take much to update it. I would like to take it to some people to see if it is good enough. My wife went over it today. She is a great editor, she finds everything. This is something that I have no talent for. I also went to the library and got books on Resumes, making career choices, and conducting job searches. I think I ended up with about ten books. They cover some of the same information so I can cross reference as I read. As I get into these books I will share the titles and whether I thought they were helpful.
Tomorrow, I will continue on the Resume. Hopefully getting that completed. Also want to arrange a meeting with my HR representative to start this ball rolling.
I wanted to make sure they all knew before I started putting it on social networking sites. I’m working on expanding my networking capabilities and to get people engaged. I wanted to make sure that my family knew and that my immediate co-workers knew first. That has now been accomplished. I would like to let our closest friends know. Once that is done, I figure my inner circle has been notified.
After telling my co-workers at Boeing this weekend, I feel that I can start expanding my networking here. I will use our internal networking site and email to get the word over the few days.
Started updating my resume today, previous version was in 2006. It really didn’t take much to update it. I would like to take it to some people to see if it is good enough. My wife went over it today. She is a great editor, she finds everything. This is something that I have no talent for. I also went to the library and got books on Resumes, making career choices, and conducting job searches. I think I ended up with about ten books. They cover some of the same information so I can cross reference as I read. As I get into these books I will share the titles and whether I thought they were helpful.
Tomorrow, I will continue on the Resume. Hopefully getting that completed. Also want to arrange a meeting with my HR representative to start this ball rolling.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
First Day with a 60 day warn notice
February 20, 2010
Yesterday was ground zero—when I received the news that I had been given a 60 day warn notice from Boeing; one of a 1000 people to be laid off this round. I'm 50, 5 years away from starting my retirement check. If I don't get hired back within 3 years it seems I lose my retirement medical benefits. This amounts to quite a benefit. I wonder how much this plays into the decision of who gets the bump. I have never had a bad review in all the years that I worked at Boeing, so I was completely stunned when I heard the news. Seems I am a victim of getting re-org'd under the wrong manager at the wrong time.
Yesterday, I was pretty much in shock. Last night not a wink of sleep as I tossed and turned. I let my daughter know last night. I need to call my son and brothers to let them know what is going on also. These are calls that I don't want to make—these calls that carry with them a little embarrassment—the stigma of that Guy without a job.
At the same time, I know that I need to crank up my network of family, friends and associates as fast as I can. I need to make everyone aware that I am in need of their help.
Today was mostly a day of thinking what all needs to happen. What are our money resources? What types of things should I be thinking about with a change of jobs? What new things, masked by my twenty two years with Boeing, do I now have to concern myself with?
At the same time, it is Saturday, and I needed to have a little time to recuperate also. So I got some exercise by gardening, lifting some weights at the Y and stretching in the hot tub. Then I washed the cars once I got home.
Can't stop thinking about what to do, but getting some relaxation time seems to be important also. I have to pace myself for the first 60 days and then for the next 6 months or longer. Making sure that I don't give up all together as things drag out. Hopefully, I can treat this as my job. Report early and stay late, but then get away from it—taking some time off on the weekends to enjoy life.
Also, I'm thinking that I really need to stress working out each day. There are many reasons why I need to do this, from health, getting oxygen to the brain for better interview scores, to losing weight so that I come across better.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
