Thursday, February 25, 2010

Constant Motion

With all this job searching, talking to recruiters, and finishing up my degree (5 weeks to go!) while working full-time, raising twin dynamos (why can't I have that much energy?), and being a good husband, I feel like my mind and body are in constant motion.

To be honest, I enjoy the lack of boredom, but I really could use a little down time and a frosty margarita in a warm climate.

Sunday, February 07, 2010

Transitions

Transition seems to be the buzz word for this year, or at least for this moment.

It feels like the weather here is transitioning from winter to spring--early for a change. It is cloudy at the moment, but relatively warm. Yesterday was sunny and warm enough that I was able to get out and mow the grass for the first time this year. I suppose we have El NiƱo to thank for this, but whatever it is, I am happy that this has been one of the more mellow winters I have experienced in the Northwest--much different than last year's foot of snow!

I am still on transition at the JOB, working hard to wrap up my commitments, and wondering what the future holds. It appears to me that there is a lot out there in terms of available jobs in my industry here in the Seattle area, but finding the right fit has been somewhat elusive. Even internally, where the jobs engine has been SLOWLY starting to crank out a few new opportunities, it seems that "fit" for me is being determined by location more than I have been accustomed to in my 13 years with the same employer. On more than a couple of occasions, I have been passed on simply because I work in the Seattle office, and the job is based out of one of the bay area offices. I continue to scratch my head at this logic, since my team and many in my division are spread across the globe. Perhaps it is just a sign that it is time for me to focus my energies elsewhere.

And it looks like I am not the only Seattle-based employee to get the "thank you for your time" separation invitation from a bay area company. My neighbor, an MIT grad, and industry notable was recently given similar treatment as a result of the Oracle takeover of Sun. I suppose it makes me feel OK that even the best of the best are not immune to the whims of corporate number crunchers, but it also saddens me since I know how hard he has worked and how much he cared about what he was doing, only to see it tossed aside.

Well, enough of the random babble. I need to transition from thinking about the changes of the present and the uncertainties of the future to studying and producing work for my classes.