Bye Bye Cockroach!

Was it me or was it corporate America that made a cockroach out of me?

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Bye Bye Cockroach!
by Katayoon
27-Jan-2009
 

I am having one of those moments. I am not hurt, wounded, stabbed or for that matter nothing bad has happened to me but I feel pain. It is a sharp pain. It starts somewhere in the middle of my body and it radiates to my head. I guess it is my heart since it is an emotional pain I feel. Nothing physical.

On Monday, corporate America announced that they are laying off 50,000 people. As this gloomy day progressed, this number got even bigger. By the end of the day it hit 68,000 jobs being cut. That could easily be translated to 200,000 people, considering an average family of 3 members.

And I close my eyes, trying to see those families got impacted....

A couple who is expecting their first baby and so much need that valuable insurance plan to ensure mom gets proper care during her pregnancy and later for delivery....

The family with three little daughters where Mummy is a homemaker and Daddy is the main bread earner...

That sixty year old engineer who has served his company for thirty years and was just about ready to retire...

My list goes on and on. It makes my head spin.

It is sad. Trust me. Been there. Done that.

When I got laid off, it left a sour taste in my mouth forever. Plus I learned one big lesson:" The word: loyalty does not exist in Corporate America's Dictionary".

It took me a long while to digest my layoff. Not even sure if I ever did despite all my counseling and therapy sessions.

After apprehending the news which took 72 hours in my case back then, my first thought was: Where do I start again?

And that simple question...is so complicated. It is like having the history of my professional experience marching live in front of me. And I need to remember the moments, the details, the achievements, and find ways to market myself.

Market myself? Oh yeah... That is huge stuff... Job search needs a marketing plan and a sales pitch and a good sales man who knows how to network and reach out...

And if you are not a sales man, no worries. In the job search, you will turn into one.

You go on so much interviews and so many times you have to repeat the same phrases to recruiters that you become well-versed in your sales pitch. Beyond professionalism. I remember I could even see behind the phone when someones eyes glaze over while I was talking. It made me cut the crap and get to the point faster.

Although losing my job was hard, tough, emotionally as well as financially, I can't deny the big positive impact it had on me. It made me think about myself. What I've been doing?...Where do I stand?...Is this what I wanted? How far am I from where I want to be?

And that was fabulous.

To stop. To take a break from the life of a mechanical cockroach that I was. To observe this mechanical cockroach and wonder why it was programmed the way it was. Was it me or was it corporate America that made a cockroach out of me? Did the cockroach feel any joy or even sadness or may be disappointment?

At the beginning of job search, I remembered all the disappointments. All the negative stuff at my work that made me swear I'd never go back to the office again. And sure enough I did....at least for some , rather long time.

Now, that I had a chance for a fresh start over, I started thinking of what I needed to have in my new job to add some element of joy to the cockroach manner of life. Even put together a list, not very extensive but knew what I wanted exactly.

As the job search went on and I met more and more decision makers and I learned how bumpy this road can be, then the old workplace started looking shiny.

And I should say that every sunrise in my life, made that old office seem brighter and brighter. Especially when I started to realise it is not about what you know or your capabilities. It is about who you know and how you present that little mechanical cockroach: stylish, obedient, or a rebel, or may be a forward thinker?

I decided to let the cockroach be a passionate one. Get out of the shell of a mechanical one and may be not even be a cockroach anymore. Let it show some passion, pour enthusiasm and go for what really excites her. Unfortunately the outcome was not that promising. A stable cockroach with the dominant characteristics of a reliable, ever obedient servant is much better suited in the world of Corporate America.

The result was natural, I shifted gears and decided to hide the bright feathers I had put on this cockroach. Let it be the same rusty, brownish looking creature with hypnotized eyes.

The miracle worked and I got job offers.

It is all about marketing, about mesmerizing a decision maker enough with the fact that you are the mechanical cockroach in metamorphosis. And that they need you.

My heart goes to anyone who got laid off and their families. Best of luck in job search. If I can be of any help through my LinkedIn network or in any other way, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Balatarin
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My husband and I lost our jobs on the same day!

by At library (not verified) on Wed Jan 28, 2009 02:02 PM PST

Nice piece of writing! I totally hear you...
A few months ago, my manager took me to his office and informed me that I was terminated due to a massif layoff at the company. I returned to my cube, in a state of shock...After spending so many years of working overtime and on weekends, missing on so many wonderful opportunities with my kids and my family, etc, it was the final end!
Plus, I couldn't understand why the month before the same manager had promoted me and I even had a nice salary increase....

I tried to reach my husband (who worked at the same company but in another division) to deliver the bad news, but he was unreachable...It happened that at that moment he was on the phone with his manager, hearing the same thing.
Anyway, we both lost our jobs on that day...and still haven't found another similar position.

But to tell you the truth, we didn't even look for a similar job. We were done with corporate America!
Fortunately we have enough saving to survive 2009!! But we both decided to use this time for a better purpose! To find out what we really love to do...since we were disappointed by the way we were treated. So from now on, we are working on making our own company and we're already working on a great idea! Hopefully, this terrible experinece will end up being a blessing in disguise for our little family!
Thanks again for bringing up this important subject!


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anonymous fish

kazem

by anonymous fish on Wed Jan 28, 2009 10:41 AM PST

my thoughts are with you and i'll keep you in my prayers.  you know the old adage... when one door closes, another one opens.  i hope that the open door will lead you to a happier place.

keep us posted and good luck!!!!


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Amaleh

by Shadooneh (not verified) on Wed Jan 28, 2009 08:49 AM PST

Katayoon, I'm surprised that you are surprise! Do you remember the people whom we used to call "amaleh"? If you ever hired one to do some menial work in your yard, you should remember how you thought about him. That's exactly how the corporate worker bees are considered by the powers that be regardless of your degree, experience and the lengh of your "service". Move on girlfriend.


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javaneh29

The good thing about susk

by javaneh29 on Tue Jan 27, 2009 08:14 PM PST

As much as I really detest susk ... they have one quality that has to be admired and that is their ability to survive against all odds. I too would have preferred another analogy, possibly a daisy: a prolific weed common in the UK, that manages to resurface no matter how many times its mown over.

It is indeed hard times for many and hard times come in many forms. Its great that you managed to see yourself through the fog and find your way to use the time you gained usefully and with such good advantage.

For others, its not so easy and we realise how much we take for granted, how fragile our lives can be and how dependant we are.

good luck to all. I hope your temporary loss of work doesnt wreck to much damage in your lives. Like a susk .... you will survive it. 

Javaneh


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I was sacked too.

by Kazem (not verified) on Tue Jan 27, 2009 06:09 PM PST

I was laid off today after working for 27 years at a very large corporation. It is very hard to accept the fact that you are no longer needed. The most important thing to do is to stay positive.

Kazem.


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Katayoon

I beleive you....

by Katayoon on Tue Jan 27, 2009 04:19 PM PST

I know what you say...

I guess many people holding jobs in Corporate America know what you say...

Rumors of layoff... they are like termites eating people's nerves....

But they exist... and they come true....at times

I did not want to bring you down... I tried to keep it upbeat ... But one thing I know... that journey between finding jobs... it is a bumpy one with many ups and downs....

Thought some humor and feeling that one is not alone in job search mood might help :) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kathy Hadizadeh Writer/Screenwriter


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anonymous fish

believe me,

by anonymous fish on Tue Jan 27, 2009 03:17 PM PST

i count my blessings every single day.  i go to bed worrying about tomorrow.  will i have a job?  will i ever recoup my retirement account?  will i ever be ABLE to retire.  i can pay the mortage this month but what about next month.  what if i get sick and miss a few weeks work?  

i know you're not supposed to think like that.  you're supposed to be positive.  positive actions follow positive thoughts and all that.  but damn.

dude.  you brought me down again.  :-(

but this was a very well written article.  thanks for sharing your experience.


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Nice subject

by Ajab Rajab (not verified) on Tue Jan 27, 2009 12:22 PM PST

This is a good subject to talk about considering many Iranians get tangled up in it too. I know few people around me who've been laid off recently and in the past few months and find it hard to get hired again.

This is especially hard for those who are divorced and on top of their divorce and financial impacts have to deal with a layoff too. When it rains it pours. Women who were throwing parties in their can't afford houses and dancing baba karams are now divorced, alone and trying to find a job that probably doesn't come anywhere near to the lifestyle they had before.

Anyway, this is a bad situation and doesn't look like it is going to get resolved anytime soon. I'd use another analogy instead of a cockroach but the bulk of your article is very passionate and sensitive to what is happening around us.


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