Say what you will but sometimes the timing of life is perfect. Next week would have been the last week of unemployment. I say “would have” because I was offered a job this week. In fact, I really had two job offers.
Several months back I interviewed with a company that was a subcontractor for the military. In this area, it’s hard to get away from government contractors. The job, as it was explained to me, would be the hardest job I’d ever have to do in my life. There was going to be a lot of physical parts to the job and a lot of traveling involved. I wasn’t looking forward to this job but it was a job.
This company got the ball rolling on my security clearance (which I’d never applied for, therefore never denied). As I understand it, these are very expensive to acquire. I filled out all the paperwork – it took me about 4 hours but I did it – and submitted my fingerprints. I did whatever they asked and they were expecting me to be there at the end. Fate had other plans.
To keep my unemployment, I had to apply for a minimum of 2 jobs per week. It was going to take anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks to hear about my security clearance. In that time, I found another company that was interested. It was a company that worked the way I wanted to work. A nice, quiet company where I could “stay at home” and resolve issues like I had done in the past. It was more my speed.
It was a Monday when I heard the security clearance was accepted and the original company asked when I could start. I called the new company and told them I would rather work for them – could THEY give me a start date?
I wasn’t trying to force anyone’s hand but the new company stepped up and I gave the original company the bad news. I’m so much happier with the new company. I’m so much happier to just have a job. The original company was very gracious and they understood my position. I think my hesitation with them probably gave them a good idea that I wasn’t going to be there at the end. I feel a bit guilty for having them pay for my security clearance but I'm sure this is not the first or last time this will happen to them.
I’m not sure what would have happened if neither of these jobs came through and my unemployment had run out. I would have eventually lost the house and moved in with my parents. I would have lost a huge part of me. I would have been packing boxes right about now... maybe.
Excited as I sound, there’s still a part of me that doesn’t believe this is happening. There’s a small part of me that thinks something is going to go wrong. I’m not wishing it on myself but I’m just waiting until I get into the groove at this new company and start working.
I’ve already started working out in my head the things I want to accomplish. There are certain pieces of information I need to get started and I’m ready to learn this company’s vision.
I’m ready to feel like I belong to this society again.