Job Round 7

Well it has happened again to me in my life: I have lost my job and will soon be unemployed.

For those of you who do not know me, I have had 6 jobs since I graduated from Illinois State University 10 years ago and my next job will be #7! Let me give you a quick synopsis of my work history...

I graduated from school and went to work for my brother as a Sales Representative selling mainly printing. We worked well together, along with his business partner at the time, for 2-1/2 years. Unfortunately, sales did not happen and they had to close-up the business. Then I answered an ad for a small company as a Sales Engineer selling solder for the electronics industry for what ended-up being the Midest Territory. I got very tired of all of the travelling, not to mention the fact that the company was downsizing, and I left for another job. That company ended-up reducing its sales force from 12 to 2, so if I had not left I would have been let go.

Then a friend of mine approached me about being a Business Development Rep for a company his friends started. So the timing was great and I worked for them for 2-1/2 years. They eventually gave me some lame excuse for letting me go without even giving me a warning or chance to produce some more sales. I was out of work for almost two months when when of my best friend's father helped me get a job for one year as an Account Executive for a company he did business with. Then a fantastic opportunity came up for me to work with a bigger company making more money as an Account Manager. A business associate of mine that worked there told me about the position, put in a good word for me, and I landed the job. I was their one year when they had to let me go for not producing. I was not surprised as they made numerous attempts to help me make some sales and gave me 3 months to make some thing happen. Unfortunately, with all of my hours of work and opportunities, things didn't work out.

At the same time I was being let-go by that company, a friend of 15 years was looking for someone to help him get his company up and running. So he hired me to be the Customer Service and Marketing Director. I have worked here for a year and a half and after he and his father putting 3 years and lots of money into the business, they have decided to close-up the business. I can't say that I was too surprised as sales have not been there and we just could not get things to work.

So now I am in the process of looking for another job. I should say I am looking for a place to work at for many years and make a long-term career out of. All things considered, I am in a good place because my friend and his father are going to give me a severance PLUS they are putting in contact with a head hunter that will help me find a job! I am being very pro-active on my part. To date, I have applied for 20 jobs and am registered on Monster.com and CareerBuilder.com. I check the want-ads and have told all of my friends and family to keep their eyes open for any openings at any companies they work for.

After much soul-searching, I am sure that I want to continue with my marketing experience and perhaps land a job that entails advertising. So far, I have had many companies contact me about sales for them, but I would like to focus on my marketing objective. My days of direct sales are about over, but I would not COMPLETELY rule it out if the opportunity was perfect. I do have a job interview for a position I am not really interested in, but am using the opportunity to get some interview experience.

God has a plan for me and I may not know what it is, but he as taken care of me thus far, so I have no reason to believe he will let me down now. I will keep you posted as events allow.