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As the title suggests, I’m currently unemployed. Being fired just a few weeks prior to the Presidential Election, along with the results, is enough to have even the most level-headed person flirting with the idea of taking a nice, long bath with a toaster, but not me. Luckily, I share an apartment with two fraternity brothers and we pay less than $1,000 per month total. I’ve been able to save a good chunk of money because of this, so I’m not terribly worried about my (hopefully) short-term unemployment. This is a stark difference than the position I was in almost a year ago.
I graduated from a state school where I majored in Finance and minored in Accounting, so I’m optimistic I can find something in my field quickly. Although I got fired from my first job, I think the experience that I gained over the last 9 months was worth the humility of breaking the news to my parents. The experience that I’m talking about isn’t something that I’d put on my resume or LinkedIn (shouts to Dave on accepting my connection though), but is something that I’ll take into careful consideration before accepting my next job offer.
After graduation, I moved back in with my parents but hadn’t sent a single resume to a company in my lovely hometown, Omaha. I had grandiose plans in Kansas City. Plus, my dad had converted my room into his new home office and workout room so I didn’t feel too welcome. As I sent resumes out to any and every company I could think of in Kansas City one thing became apparent – scheduling interviews would be much easier if I actually lived there.
The next thing that happened is very foreshadowing to the next year of my life. A few phone calls were made and the next thing I knew I was driving around Kansas City with one of my fraternity brothers looking for some place to call home. Instead of aimlessly driving around, we decided to use Starbuck’s free Wi-Fi to scout some new places. We found an apartment on Craigslist for the low, gave it a visit and the day before signing, added a third roommate. My two roommates already had jobs lined up and needed to move in immediately, so I was locked into a 13-month lease without a job and less than $300 in my bank account.
We moved in and I was blindly sending out resumes and cover letters to any company with an “Analyst” or “Consultant” position available. Companies’ HR departments started to get in contact with me and the stars were beginning to align. Que the interview process, being asked the same questions, responding with a script that would make Hillary proud, and donning my only suit three to four days a week.
The first offer I received was from a payday loan company that I more or less interviewed with for practice. Not to knock the company, but I didn’t feel comfortable loaning money to people with poor credit at rates as high as 36%. Other companies expressed interest and I had a choice to make – continue the interview process for a staff accountant position that wasn’t guaranteed or take a job in a call center with the promise of upward mobility and quality experience to pad my resume.
A bird in the hand is worth two birds in the bush, right?
I don’t want to say much about the company, but all said, I gained a lot of experience in this call center. I had to pass the Series 6 Exam which looks great on my resume. The customer service experience that I gained from talking to advisors and shareholders for 8 hours per day was unparalleled but mentally taxing. Nine months of this led to me seeing a psychiatrist and being diagnosed with Anxiety and ADD.
Now I’m back to square one. The difference between a year ago and my current situation is that this time, armed with an Adderall and anxiety prescription, I know what kind of company culture is the best fit for me. Although I had the email address and phone number of the CEO of the company, I was so far down the ladder I wouldn’t imagine trying to contact him. This experience gave me the insight to shop around and be selective in the next company that I work for (check my LinkedIn, Dave).
I may have been fired, but I look at my current situation like a mutual breakup – I wasn’t happy at the company and the company wasn’t happy with my performance. And I’m just now realizing that could be said about my last girlfriend too. .
Respond
Sounds like you are going to be more or less starting over. But best of luck. Learn to read those tea leaves better in the future so that when you are “fired”, laid off or whatever, you’ve already received at least one job offer already, or at the very least well into the interview process. Always easier to get a good/better job when you are already employed.
Thanks for the good advice, dad.
Genuine thanks for all the support. I didn’t think this would end up getting published, just needed to rant a little bit.
Couldn’t see the author at first, just the title. I was hoping it’d be a Duda article
Rough
Good call on passing up the pay day loan company. I’ve worked my first job for a subprime lending company for 14 months and it is soul-crushing work. I’m getting the fuck out and joining the Navy as soon as they give me a date for basic.
Cool story
Best of luck. If you can, use that finance and accounting degree to grab a spot in public accounting. There’s always a need for someone to do cash confirms and inventory counts.
And your Addy prescription will make you the most popular first year in the office.
This was oddly comforting on a Friday afternoon. Looking forward to more from you
Good luck, Homaha.
Happens to the best of us. I lost out on a contract for a government (read: union) job and I’m still bummed like 5 years later, but I got fired from a well paying shit-show of a job with a company culture that was the worst fit for me and after being initially upset it lead to much better things and honestly it’s probably one of the better things that have happened to me. Plus now I’m pretty good at spotting red flags in interviews, and that’s a crucial life skill.
You’ve got savings and a degree that’s useful and in demand. You’ll be fine. Best of luck with your new job!
Hey man, if you need some help with your anxiety, trying reading some of this website.
Not a joke. It really contributed a ton in pulling me out of a rut when I was going through some issues a while back.
Hope is serves you well.
http://anxietynomore.co.uk/blog/
I got canned 9 months in during my first “big boy” job. Best thing that ever happened to me. Keep your chin up!
Kansas City is the place to be! I moved here almost two years ago for my job, and have never looked back. Good luck in your job search. It’s a booming market, so I’m sure you’ll get lucky.
Y’all hiring? Asking for a friend…
There might be an accounts payable position open at my company (retirement community in JoCo). If old folks and work moms aren’t your jam, then I recommend looking a HCAP Search, which helps connect employers with job seekers. It’s based in KC, and might help you find the perfect fit. Keep on keepin on!
Move here six months ago and love it too.