The Surprisingly Positive Effect Job Loss Has Had On Me
That's me, at my cousin's baby shower, attentively awaiting the mother-to-be. A clothespin is neatly placed in the middle of my blouse just waiting to be snatched if I happened to utter the word "baby". This was a great day filled with fun, laughter and family, and this is exactly what my life has been since being let go from my "first real job".
It's been about 80 days since I was asked to leave, on October 2, but, who's counting, right? This works out to about two months and almost three weeks. But, despite time not slowing down for anyone, I can honestly say that I've been loving every minute of life since being let go! Sure, all my savings have just about run out, but this time away from someone else's dreams and expectations of me, has given me such a different outlook and value on life, I can literally feel all the goals I'm about to achieve!
In fact, after all this time of having been away from the office, my former boss, and the other people who work in the building, I finally mustered up the courage to email my boss, again (after being ignored the first time), asking for my letter of recommendation -- which was promised to me upon termination -- as well as a completed NIB unemployment form.
I took a visit to the office, thinking I would finally be face-to-face with my boss again, but as it turned out, I had a 1:00 appointment, it was already 12:30, and traffic was horrible, so I left my documents with the receptionist to pass along.
Having already agreed with my boss via email that I was going to collect both documents the following day, it was to my surprise that she would email me only a few moments after I left, to let me know that both my form and letter were ready for collection.
After my appointment, I dashed back to the office, thinking that this time, for sure, my boss would walk the documents out to me herself, but they still went through the receptionist. Shocked, I collected the envelope and left; also relieved that I would never have to visit that office again!
As a result, I'm now a registered, unemployment card-toting citizen, who has the right to one cheque every week for thirteen weeks; but, I can't lie, my pride did get the best of me. I'm a university graduate with a Bachelor of Arts; I shouldn't be registered as unemployed in a national database, right?
Yes, unemployment benefits are owed to me since I was terminated. Yes, the moment my former boss terminated me, she should have had the form filled out and ready for me to sign along with everything else she had in her folder. But, just the thought of having to contact her two months later after zero communication, asking for documents that should have already been given to me, was not my cup of tea. Her reasoning for firing me was still not satisfactory, neither in clarity nor logic, so to me, it was all awkward.
Speaking of awkward, having to come up with a somewhat reasonable excuse on job interviews as to "why I left the company after not even having been there a year yet", is working my nerve!
The Department of Labour confirmed that my former boss gave me everything that was owed to me and asked if I wanted to make a case against her for her insufficient reasoning for letting me go, but I opted not to, so that I can simply move on with my life.
Still, being unemployed at this time in my life is completely different than the "unemployment" I lived before being hired. Then, I had the excuse of being a college student, so, technically, I wasn't really "unemployed". But, now that I have bills and a life to actually maintain, being unemployed is no joke! Although I was able to save a good chunk of money from my last two or so paychecks, it doesn't last, especially if you're like me -- always with huge dreams (which sometime lead to overspending or borrowing).
Nevertheless, I'm fortunate enough to live at home with my mom, aunt and sister without having to pay rent, so I'm able to save whatever money comes my way. Thank goodness! Still, when you're a part of a family of women and men who know nothing but working on a job, the "how was the interview" and "have you found a job yet" questions become increasingly frequent. But, for me, it's been good thus far because I have a few pillars of luck on my side:
1) It's the End of the Year
This means that most companies are shutting down for the holidays and the entire hiring process is the last thing on their end-of-year/Christmas to-do list. This also means that family members are otherwise occupied with shopping, decorating, cooking and the likes to worry about my lil ol' employment status!
2) I've Been Keeping Busy
Luckily, I haven't gotten bored -- or gone mad -- one day since being let go. Although I haven't had official employment, despite attending a few interviews, I have been working on some personal projects that I will bring to fruition soon. I have also been able to spend more time with my dog CoCo, taking her to the beach for the first time. I've also gotten into doing the laundry more. But most importantly, I've been learning about myself, my work ethic, my likes and my dislikes; and if I'm honest, my biggest revelation has been that if I hadn't known before, I definitely know now that I do not, will not, and am not destined to be an employee for the rest of my life. I have a few decisions I have to make soon that will determine short-term goals, and I cannot wait to see what's in store for me!
3) What's Meant to Be Will Be
They say timing is everything, and I agree! Last year around this time, maybe a month prior, I was in a similar situation; unemployed, attending job interviews, and hoping for the best opportunity. Never in a million years did I ever think that I would have been terminated from any job, let alone my most recent, and I can't lie, being terminated has thrown me for a loop. Yet, I'm a firm believer that things happen for a reason and happen exactly how they're supposed to. I am 100% certain that there are 100x bigger and better things waiting for me in 2019, and what's meant to be, will be!
