You know, there are times when you just have to go with your gut. Breaking things down into pros and cons, using logic to distill your thoughts and make an educated decision; its all wise counsel, but that little voice whispering in your ear or that feeling in your gut shouldn’t be tossed aside. To use a comic book reference: When your spider sense is speaking, you should listen. Sometimes you just have to go with what feels right. That’s tough in a world where we’re taught to use our brains instead of our feelings.
I was coming up on two years of unemployment. With no prospects after a long journey through applications, resumes, job posting sites, and unemployment rejections (clue: if you aren’t making any money and you use your retirement funds to make ends meet — you likely sunk your chances with the unemployment office) I went back to my retail roots looking for gainful employment. It was a bitter pill to swallow. It was looking like no one wanted me or could see any value in me, but another retailer. I’d tried. I really tried to keep from walking back toward the darkside, but it was the only job source calling for me.
Oil and Gas? No experience. Business management? Not interested. Retail product rep? You’d think, but no cigar. Maybe a State Government job? Nada. Territory Sales Rep? Related experience, but still no offers.
Over two hundred jobs applied for, but no bites. I never expected it to be that hard with a 3.5% unemployment rate and over 38,000 jobs available in my state alone. As devastating as the layoff was, I had a pretty high confidence level toward finding a job. I had 30 years of loyal employment, 27 years of business management. I saw no reason that my confidence was unfounded.
It’s mind blowing for me, really. I had all the tools for walking into another job. It is killer on the ego to go through a lengthy job search like that. I can see how some people would just give up. There was nothing in my history which warned me of being unemployable. Evaluations were good. My people skills were excellent. I worked with over twelve managers and never had an issue or had been accused of being difficult. Perhaps self promotion was an issue. Or age? Long-term employment with one company or in one field? I’d always seen that as a plus, but maybe not. I’m sure long-term unemployment didn’t help, but I was doing all I could to fix it.
After almost two years of searching, I had a chance at another retail management position. The first interview went well, and I was moved on to a second video conference interview with three interviewers — recruiter, market manager, and human resources. What was to be a thirty minute interview rolled into an hour and a half conversation. It looked promising.
Out of the blue came the chance at another gig — a local gig, and it would be part-time, but it was a job. Something I’d never done. Something with a lot less pay, but a lot more satisfaction.
Timing was an issue. I could take the local gig and miss out on the chance for a large income, an income which was essentially the same as what I’d lost. Or, I could wait on the retail management job. Yet there was always a chance the retail job wouldn’t work out. It looked promising and it made sense, but still… It had been almost two years. If I waited on the retail job and it didn’t work out, I’d be missing the chance for two jobs.
When I thought about it, there was only one job that felt right. One job was full of Pros with the only Con being the pay. The other job was full of Cons with the only Pro being the pay.
I took the local gig, and a week later the retail guy called back to say I didn’t get the job. I resisted the urge to tell him, “Suck it buddy! I got a gig!” You know, all that burning bridges stuff kind of tied back my tongue.
I listened to my gut, and I took the job that felt right. If I’d hesitated, I would have continued my unemployment because I held out for more pay. I would have made the big space between jobs (that space which is a huge Red Flag to potential employers) grow even bigger. Who knows? Maybe later I’ll find out it wasn’t such a great choice, but for now I’m enjoying learning something new. I actually look forward to going to work. The day goes by in a flash. I’m working with a great group of people, and I feel like what I’m doing actually has some satisfaction to it.
I have weekends and holidays off, good benefits, a set schedule, evenings with my wife, and a new adventure. I still have time to write and pursue other things. The part-time job turned into a full time job. The pay is still an issue, but the satisfaction more than makes up for it. I may have to pick up something on the side to cover the difference. The retail position would have heavily limited many of the things which have become more important to me over the last couple of years. I have a strange level of comfort with my decision, and that is a good indicator I’ve made the right choice.
So the lesson? I don’t know what the actual lesson is, but if pressed I’d say, “A good gut check shouldn’t be discounted.” Sometimes it’s the only thing keeping you on track.
