Treading Water in the Employment Dance

I read these words recently: Having a job is a privilege.

I repeat them to myself every day.

I lost my job at Fox Home Entertainment two years ago in October. I was shocked yet equally unsurprised. Fox had periodically laid off a few people here and there since I had started in 2007. I never felt secure, even when I started with a three-year contract. I had not recovered from the real life-altering jolt of being laid off from NBC Universal in October 2006 after 13 years. Honestly, I don’t know if I ever will recover from that job loss. I had thought I was a lifer there. Having a job is a privilege.

I feel like I’ve hit a survivor milestone in these two years. I have collected unemployment, free-lanced, started my own business, sold items on eBay and Amazon and applied for “real” jobs. I’ve become a professional water-treader, of sorts. Unlike the California landscape, sometimes the water level of a professional water-treader can get precariously high. And I'm not the only one. I know several people who were laid off around this time who are doing the same juggling routine.

I’ve always been a loyal employee, staying at my jobs at least five years. I always had corporate jobs with benefits (that I never thought much about at the time.) I’ve been fortunate enough to have a temp assignment at Warner Bros. Home Entertainment for the past year. I get monthly assignments and find out a few days before the end of the month if I will be extended. This creates a tremendous amount of anxiety until I get that ping in my email. This perpetual limbo keeps me afloat, yet hinders me from moving forward. I am constantly reminded of my temp status, both in the work I do and the monthly health benefits I pay out-of-pocket (now I know how people who lease their Mercedes feel.) Having a job is a privilege. Boy, do I know.

Lay-offs are now pending at Warner Bros. and a whole new batch of dedicated employees will have their lives irrevocably altered. They'll get severance packages and unemployment benefits to soften the blow, but the jobs they were so good at for so many years will be gone. They too will eventually join the treading water world of the unemployed and underemployed. My heart goes out to them. 

Many of you know that I’m a big proponent of LinkedIn and often coach people on their profiles. I always warn people to be careful about updating their jobs in the experience section as it often sends out an unwanted “Congratulate Lynne on her new job!” notice. I’m glad it doesn’t send out “Lynne’s celebrating her two-year anniversary at Unemployed!”

Maybe I should add “Drought resistant” to my skills and expertise list on LinkedIn. Would you endorse me?