We’re Unemployed!
This goes in the we-do-everything-together category.
In early April, I was notified by Nokia that I was being laid off. In February, there was a meeting called suddenly on the day after Valentine’s Day to notify all those in the IT area that layoffs would follow within the next couple of months. No criteria was given, we just knew it was 700 company-wide, 90 within IT, and our best guess was that up to 40 employees outside of Finland would be affected.
I never expected to be one of the affected ones. I’m highly productive, am 100% utilized, and am on two important projects both glowing hot right now. But logic (the kind I understand, anyway) does not always apply to layoffs. On April 12th, I was notified I was affected. My pride was hurt for 10 minutes and then I realized that I was being paid well to leave — something I was going to do when I returned from vacation. It was the best possible scenario for me. My last day as a contributing employee with Nokia is Thursday, May 17th — the day before our vacation starts.
On Monday May 7th, Suzanne’s boss of 7 years pulls her into his office for a private discussion. These are rare and thus unusual. Something was up. His news was shocking — he was leaving the firm after 23 years. With such history between them, Suzanne was encouraged to follow him to his new firm. So after a few days of thinking about it, talking about it, and waiting on certain details to become evident, she is indeed following him. Her last day? Thursday May 17th.
So if you haven’t put it together yet, both of us leave for vacation having served our last day at our respective former employer. I cannot tell you how weird this is. We have often threatened that we will leave for Kauai and never come back and now we are to be taken seriously. I jokingly mentioned that I might interview while we are there. I would follow through on that threat, but that would mean I’d have to pack interview clothes, so that’s not going to happen.
This does set us up for an interesting June (and beyond). Suzanne will report to her new job and I will continue the process of looking for my new gig.
On June 26th, we go see The Police when they come to town — Synchronicity…