The few, the proud, the unemployed...

So... yesterday sucked. The owner and CEO of our company came to our office, and told us all we were closed. We were in shock. 21 of us were "downsized" yesterday. In the long run, I think I got off kind of easy. I am young, I am fresh, I am recently out of college but have over a year's worth of job experience, and I can move. Quickly. I'll be moving home to my parents' house soon. My boss though, he was with the company for 28 years. This was the only job he ever had. He graduated college, started in sales, and worked his way up to management. Watching him cry yesterday was even harder than knowing I'd lost my job. He cried when I hugged him goodbye. He took all of his belongings yesterday, and won't be returning. He was an amazing boss. I owe him a lot. He put a lot of trust in a girl that was fresh out of college - he set me up in my own house to work, he promoted me and moved me to Augusta, when I sucked at sales here, he didn't fire me, but gave me another job in the company that was better suited to me, and he was proud of me. He treated me like one of his kids.

I was a total zombie for most of yesterday, and didn't sleep last night. I thankfully have insurance for another month, then I'm either paying for COBRA or going without. Going without probably will be best for me. I'm also glad I didn't buy a new car recently! No debt = good.

I've gotten lots of phone calls today from people that are concerned about me. It's not public knowledge yet in Augusta that we're closed, but it will be soon. Atlanta knows, and reps are starting to know. I've been putting my resume in at our competitors to see if I can get in there.

I'm looking at this as a blessing though. I'm ready to go home. I miss Atlanta. I miss my family and my friends. I can start riding again. I can reconnect with everyone I'd grown apart from. And... the best part... is I can find a job in design where I will have growth. I love IAW, and it is a great company, but I was pigeonholed in the Augusta branch until our lead designer left. The gameplan was that we would be busy enough in 2009 to sustain us both as design. Apparently not. I've been hypothesizing all day with coworkers and other unfortunates as to what happened, and we can't figure it out. Our branch was on track to bill $5 million this year. That's our biggest year in 7 years. We were doing great. Next year already at $1 million billed. We were expecting a good bit more growth next year. Same with the other branches. One coworker told me that she was told they are trying to close down the brick and mortar offices, and have more employees working from home. That makes sense - currently in place are three satellite employees who do everything from home, but are supported by the home office. This will severely cut overhead costs.

I'm going to call the Atlanta office tomorrow to see if they have a position available for me there. That would be the easiest thing for me. I have another opening in another company in my radar, and I emailed my resume and called this morning. I will follow up with them tomorrow, and another dealer as well. I'll survive this, I know it! But for now... I'll be collecting unemployment and surviving on ramen and pasta. Yeeehaw.