I've actually seriously been searching for a job for the last two months now, and things haven't gone quite as well as I would have expected. However, about a week and a half ago I got a bite on one of the jobs that I applied for via the WorkInTexas.com site, which is Texas' unemployment job site. It's a contract position for the State of Texas on behalf of...wait for it....IBM! I have an interview tomorrow and if they like what they hear, I could be working for Big Blue again by next week. That's right, the same company that laid me off will now bring me back into the fold as a contractor (assuming all goes well).
I had wanted to move into a development position in another group when I was employed by IBM before, but couldn't get there for various reasons. This contracting opportunity will allow me to do just that - a full-on development position that doesn't involve direct customer support, weekends, or off-hour availability if the job description is to be believed. While being a contractor to a big company like IBM has some disadvantages (no benefits, having to manage my tax deductions myself, being hourly), I believe that the advantages of being paid time and a half for weekend work or having hours strictly monitored and counted will work in my favor. Sure I don't get paid for holidays or days off, but on the flipside I can use those same conditions to ensure that I'm correctly compensated for the actual work that I put in. When you're salaried, it's a lot easier for the company to take advantage of "flex time" than it is when a contract is involved. A salary is based on a 40-hour work week but where I was in IBM before, the average employee worked a lot more than 40 hours a week - which meant that they were not getting actual compensation for hours worked.
I just find the irony of me going back to work for the company that laid me off to be too much. I'm not sure whether it's sad or insanely humorous, but I figure if God wants me back there, this has to be the right place for me. Nothing else has really come along, so even if this is an interim place, apparently it seems like God has plans for me with the Big Blue Crew.
Jehova Ha-ha indeed.
I remember you saying when you first got laid off, that there was a possibility of being re-hired as a contracted worker for the Blue Crew. I don't remember if that was a conversation we had, or if you posted it on your blog.
That's cool though. I can definitely relate to not getting into the position you wanted while working for a company; and how frustrating it is. So kudos to you.
Couldn't this be "Jehovah-muh-ha-ha-ha-ha?"