PO Unemployment Agency

FawkesFyre · Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 3:04 pm Post subject: PO Unemployment Agency

I got the bomb dropped on me Friday morning, where I found out that "my position has been eliminated". So, I am therefore Surplussed and have 60 days to remain with the company in order to find a new job.

The company has been VERY tight-lipped about a pending wave of layoffs. I was concerned but, not as much as others, due to my great reviews and raise...but that was an "isolated event". The company hired some fancy NY Consulting group to reorganize, so I was eliminated due to satisying a statistic for my age and title.

So yes, after 7.5 years of corporate life working at AT&T, I am hereby out of the job.

If ANYONE knows of any opening in the Atlanta area, PLEASE let me know. My skills are in communication and project management, and largely in Wireless.

Doot · Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 7:14 am Post subject:

You are in luck missy miss! Cox is hiring largely in those areas: http://www.coxenterprises.com/coxcareer/eRecruit.asp

Search the ATL area. Product Manager (a couple), Program Manager, Project Coordinator, Communications Manager...

More than I've ever seen at one time.

FawkesFyre · Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 2:22 pm Post subject:

Sounds great to me! I applied for 5 of them.

Akuko · Chosen of Bast Age: 45 Gender: Joined: 03 Mar 2006

Hey don't feel bad Fawkes! I was out of work for a month and a half and finally found something. I took a pay cut, but there are commissions and bonuses and incentives. Good luck and keep your chin up! You'll do fine!!

FawkesFyre · Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2009 11:39 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the well wishes Akuko, I needed it!

I took a big punch in the stomach today where the big boss started unveiling how the group is going to be changing...and it would be changing to where it would be even better for someone with my background.

But I don't have a spot.

And even worse is that I took the big boss up on his offer on how he wants to "help" all of us get new jobs...his help was to get in touch with my old group!

Uh, thanks but, I think I'll pass on going back to a group that I left almost 5 years ago! Maybe there was a reason I left?

Glad to see all the kudos and hard work I did over the years meant something...

FawkesFyre · Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2009 5:25 pm Post subject:

Well, it looks like unless a miracle happens, my last day is Tuesday.

I only had one interview...and it was with my old group. I thought it went pretty good considering it was the first interview I'd been on in over 4 years...and it at least had a few famililiar people involved.

There were at least 2 positions open, and I didn't get either. I got a generic response that wasn't really an answer initially, then I dared to ask for constructive criticism, and I got ripped to shreds! Saying stuff like the only reason I applied was to stay with the company, I didn't have the passion for the job and took for granted the job functions!!! Shocked

I had a couple of my friends read it too, just to make sure I wasn't taking it too personally but they agreed it was way out of line. So, as my final hurrah, I contacted my HR rep to at least have their take...the good end is they contacted me back, the bad, is that they are dismissing it as them just going with stronger candidates. Crying or Very sad

I just really wanted a better outcome from this since its pretty bad when you can't get your old job back, and have been working in the same field for the past year...so its not like I'm out of practice. Rolling Eyes

I'm just trying to convince myself that if I got that kind of response as just constructive criticism, maybe working in that group is a bad idea anyway.

Ming · DOOM! Gender: Joined: 13 Jan 2003

I really hate how you have to basically kiss a company's ass to get them to hire you. It's like you have to make it seem like the only reason you want to work for them is because you've loved them ever since you were a wee lad/lass and have always dreamed to be their employee, and because you get the satisfaction of knowing that you helped contribute to some CEO getting a $15 million dollar bonus. And you have to make it seem like money is the furthest thing from your mind...that you would basically work for them for free....your only reward being the satisfaction of working for them. God forbid you want to, ya know...pay your bills or something.

It's so out of freakin' touch with reality that it makes me sick.

Bah humbug corporate America!

Silver Adept · Otaku Lord Age: 41 Gender: Joined: 20 May 2003

Isn't that the truth. Public sector work is also very much on the enthusiasm part, but at least we know we're not filling the CEO's pockets - instead, we're complaining about underfunding causing many of our good people to be let go.

Fawkes (oy, self. Pay attention to who's posting.), the highlights of what you received is not constructive criticism in any sort of way. "Insufficient zeal" is not a reason to not hire someone unless you have perfect candidates and one seems enthusiastic about the work and one says otherwise. It sounds like someone was making stuff up - maybe they're still holding a grudge over whatever it was that you left them over.

FawkesFyre · Posted: Sat Dec 26, 2009 10:56 pm Post subject:

I agree with the sentiment, I mean, if they had looked at me straight from the facts, and not this subjective crap there's no excuse for them not to hire me back...it would actually be cheaper since I wouldn't need as much training.

I may have some enemies left over there afterall that don't want me to come back. Its all well and good but, it still leaves me without a job and no severence until maybe March. Thanks to corporate paperwork, they somehow think it takes almost 3 month to mail out a check. Maybe they shouldn't lay off so many people at once then. Surprised

I keep going back through the interview and the whopping 15 minute talk that I had with the director prior to that interview...(that she took while she was working from home with her dog barking, and the call dropping once.) It just really shorts out my brain with how she could say all that about me when we didn't even have that sort of a conversation that even went into that sort of detail.

She gave me a rundown of what all had changed, and then she helped explain the logistics of switching down a level. That job was a 1B, the one I just got booted from is Level 2. I had her explain what was involved and if there was a pay difference...b/c duh, even HR told us we are not obligated to take a job lower than our current. I needed to make sure I didn't make too much money since they didn't post the pay scale for this one.

Pardon me for actually asking a logical question. Rolling Eyes

I'm not sure if I mentioned this before but, I did respond back to her, "respectfully disagreeing" and calling out all the ticks she put against me...and also forwarded her message to my ED, "just to keep him in the loop" and even he admitted that was not a normal response.

Although I'm not gaining anything from going to HR, sending it to my ED, and responding back to her, it at least make me feel better in some respect in that I at least did something about it.

FawkesFyre · Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2010 7:24 pm Post subject:

I'm still miserably unemployed Sad

I did finally get my severence check but Mr. Taxman ate a big chunk of it...glad I have a savings too.

I've been applying, but no one ever calls me for an interview. If anyone has any suggestions for the Atlanta area PLEASE help!

The only thing that's worth than not having a job, is having your mother call and yell at you about it on a near daily basis....halp!!!