2001-05-13 - 18:28 MDT

THE WONDERING JEW

New Job

A new job in itself is daunting, even if it is with the same company. Different department, different boss and different co-workers. Hairy to say the least. Throw in a new job at a new company where every thing will be strange and new then it is a thing of nightmares.

If one is hunting a job after having been laid off the stress is even worse. Holy cats, hunting work is more work than a job. If one has a family to support, the line is crossed, what to accept as a job and as a wage - - - almost anything will do, until something better can be found. Some scut work job to pay part of the rent, buy a few groceries until some fill in part time evening job can be found to supplement what is coming in.

Thoreau I think it was who said, "The average man lives a life of quiet desperation." I think that today, although the livin' is easier -- the quiet desperation is yet with us. I think that the average weekly wage lets the earner do just about the same thing as grandpa did -- costs went up -- wages went up -- costs went up -- wages went up. Wages lagging behind always leaves one trying to keep a roof over the heads, food on the table, rent paid, utilities paid, money for gas to go to work. There isn't a heck of a lot left over.

So in an effort to better oneself, the nerve racking fire drill starts, can't let the present employer know a new job is being sought, have to find out how to make time for an interview at the new place. Then realizing that there is no true diplomatic way to quit, unless one is so fortunate as to receive a job offer paying much more -- the present employer can then be given a chance to match the offer. After months of this and many attempts a job is found. Then the disengagement process begins. If a month's notice is given, many employers will terminate the employee right then. Yet the employee does not wish to leave the old employer in the lurch, nor does he want to mess his friends up who work there either.

So there will eventually be a quit date and a date to start work at the new place hammered out by all parties. After a short lull and rest the new job is approached with trepidation. One knows what has been said, but not yet what was meant by the person who said it.

A whole new place to learn, new people to meet and relate to, new locations of lunch room, rest areas, rest rooms etc. Then even though the newbie might know the field quite well and worked his old job doing it a- b- c- d, maybe the process at the new place is b- d- a- c. Figuring out how to handle the change is a terrible ordeal, new routes to the new job, new time schedules and the bottlenecks to avoid. Jeez.

In 1990, after due deliberation I merged forces with Heather, retired and started my New Job. . . . . . . .

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