Bad news on Dec. 4, 2009

The news came Friday, Dec. 4, 2009 at approximately 3:30 in the afternoon.

My boss called me to his office and told me to have a seat. My thoughts were that we were going to discuss how we were going to sell some of his used car inventory.

You see, my employer needed to add different revenue streams to his current business and he believed the answer was in selling used cars. Not just any used cars, but rebuilt titled cars at wholesale prices to the public. Since the stock market crash earlier in the year and the impending recession that hit our country, his business had really fallen off.

My employer was in the auto body collision repair industry and those people who had wrecks were opting to cash out rather than repair their dents and dings in their cars. With the economy in the state it was (is) in, I understood that, but it meant my job as the marketing guy was usually on the line.

Coupled with the fact that my advertising budget had been trimmed to almost nothing, I had been worried for several months about my position with the company.

However, I didn't for the life of me think that he would announce his decision to release me until after the holidays and the start of 2010. I couldn't have been more wrong.

My boss started by stating the obvious - "business has been slow" - "car sales weren't taking off" the way he had hoped - "things were tough." That's when I thought he was going to ask for my advice on advertising the used inventory. I couldn't have been more wrong.

"Jeff," he said, "I've decided that we are going to eliminate your position. You last day will be Dec. 31 or if you find something before then, feel free to leave." My heart swelled up to the size of a watermelon stuck inside my throat.

We talked about options, including just cutting my hours or letting me maintain the marketing for the company on a contract basis at a reduced rate. He said he would be handling any marketing from this point forward.

I later learned that I was not the only one to receive bad news on that day. The receptionist at our office was told her last day was also Dec. 31, 2009.

My employer had decided to let both of us go in order to bring on his daughter who had just graduated from college in December. She would be handling both the receptionist and the marketing duties.

So began three weeks of preparing the department and office for my departure. You see, I am the person who started the marketing department for my former employer. I started it from the ground up and I am proud to say we accomplished many good things considering I went from a relative huge budget to a bare bones budget in a matter of two years.

So, while I compose this blog, I write not to vent about my disappointment with being let go from my duties as a marketing manager for a small family-owned business. I write to record my adventures, fears, joys, failures and triumphs as I search for my next position with a company.

You see, as my title indicates, I am now 49 years old and I fall into a category of almost Baby Boomer who is looking and competing for a job amongst thousands of others, many of whom just graduated from college.

I will update as often as I am able, discussing my plans and actions to find gainful employment in a tight job market.

Thanks for reading - please check back often.

Jeff