Back to Square One

So back in April I got laid off from my job as an editor (of all things BORING) and marketing coordinator at a private engineering firm. It was a fairly big blow to my ego as I felt that my job was proof that I had somehow “made it” in the working world even with my measly English degree. I was making more money than all my friends, I had a plush office with walls and a door, and I really didn’t have to answer to anyone thanks to the company’s philosophy to have a flat organizational structure (aka - no bosses!). But I was bored - a lot - and the work flow just wasn’t as fast paced as I hoped it would be in the private sector. I don’t think anyone really cared that I sat around on the internet reading blogs all day, but frankly, I was quite bored but was much too complacent about my comfortable salary to go looking for anything else!

Oh but the day finally came when my fate caught up with me. And I partially blame this on the company’s “no boss” policy because I really felt that I lacked a lot of direction there. They sat me down in the conference room and told me there was just no more “meaningful” work left for me to do. And so by the time I got back to my office to clean up my stuff, I was locked out of my email and my computer files and was given the swift boot the curb. I was crushed. Mostly because I didn’t want to leave, but also because I had no idea how I would survive without my bi-monthly paychecks.

Things have changed, however, for the better in my working life now that I’ve settled back into a new job. Not even a week after being laid off, I interviewed for an Executive Assistant position with the same state agency I worked for while I was in college. It's in the public affairs office, so I get to deal with the media and research information for the public, so it is kind of right up my alley. I didn’t even get to enjoy unemployment for a month before I was back at work again. It was a salary cut (about $300 per month), but I have better benefits once again, more time off, and I work downtown, which is such an improvement over the soccer-mom infested suburbs of my old job. I actually get to take public transportation (hallelujah for saving money on gas) and I have a great reputation here that I know will enable me to move forward with my career and not ever be bored or complacent about what I’m doing.

Sure I am still at the bottom of the food chain, but who cares? I am only 26 and I have time to figure out where I want to go and what I want to do with my career. I think I am back in a good place and even if it is square one, at least I’m happy.