Changes, Changes, Changes

So if we're friends on FB or Twitter, you know I got the news Monday that I'm going to be laid off in February. The account I handle claims on has decided that they are going to handle their own claims in house.

Now, they will have some positions up there, but frankly from wh at I've heard, I would not want to work for them directly. Reduction in pay, reduction in vacay time, totally different and very rigid culture. Uh, no. Sigh.

This economy makes it so hard because the choices are limited. It's almost like you are just caught between a rock and a hard place. You have to fight like mad to find something halfway decent, or just take what you get and be miserable.

I'm weighing options right now, including a move back to New York, since LDR hasn't been able to get his transfer down here. Honestly, if it wasn't for JUST getting the rental house, my immediate answer would be load up the truck and get on back to NY so I can get on with the rest of my life. I don't know what kind of life I'd have in Syracuse, and I certainly never envisioned returning...but at least I'd be with the one I love.

Then there is always the option of Virginia, because that's where my sisters are. They have room for me and I know they'd help me until I find another position and get my own place. That's a little closer to NY than I am right now, but without all the ridiculous snow.

People keep asking, "what are you going to do?" Um, I just found out on MONDAY - I have not made any decisions as of yet! LOL! I'm just letting the news sink in. It's funny because many people I'm close to are going through changes and it seems like we're all searching for the stability we once had.

Quest for VA

Over the weekend I started looking at jobs in the Fredericksburg, VA area. There were a few for pharmaceutical sales reps. This is something I looked at before, but haven't really delved into. I reached out to the ex, because his cousin's frat (whom I've met twice) is a pharm sales rep, and I wanted to pick his brain for info. Such as, how he got started in the industry. Especially if he was doing something else first. Breaking into a new industry is a challenge. They always want someone with experience. You really have to sell yourself and your current skills, and be able to play up how they will translate into the new position. Frat seemed really nice the two times I talked to him, so I'm hoping he'll help me out.

I'm also realizing that I need to have my resume professionally re-done. The way it's set up now, I could pretty much get any claims job I applied for. But of course, that is not the goal. I'm at a loss as to how to get started re-writing it. I don't mind deferring to the professionals, as long as it doesn't cost a grip. I will feel more confident with posting it and applying for jobs. Have any of you ever used a professional resume service?

I feel like life is "on hold" until I get more momentum behind the VA Plan. I really don't want to start anything significant here, only to end up moving next year. But I am going to have to renew my lease. The question is if I will do it for 6 months or for a year. It depends on what the rent would be.

NY (I've referenced him in previous posts) keeps telling me he wants to take me out on a dinner date. I've already prepared my "I'm moving and I'm not trying to start a relationship" speech for him. However, I basically want to be nosy and find out more about him, so I agreed to go (besides, who passes up a free meal? lol). He hasn't called me to set the plans in stone, so he's already losing points with me. We'll see. Of course, I'll be here to blog about it, should it turn into a complete nightmare.

On another note, I had a head hunter reach out to me when I was moving to ATL back in 2005. I had posted my resume, and he found me online, which is how I ended up with my job down there. I'm thinking about going that route again. But of course, I have to get that resume in order. I won't rule out the use of a head hunter this time, because they tend to know about positions that are not posted publicly. I just need to make it clear that I don't want to work claims.

Patience is a virtue. I just need to keep reminding myself of this.