My last paycheck came in 2 weeks ago although payments for unused vacation came in yesterday (I had to request it because my employer conveniently forgot about it), my unemployment kicked in last week (it's too little to survive on though) and my company-sponsored health insurance expires today :( I will have free healther insurance for the next 6 months, I also have Bloomberg for the next 3 months that could be extended for another 3 more months (according to a salesperson) and my unemployment insurance also lasts for 6 months. Essentially, after 6 months I am on my own. The bottom-line is that I should have figured out something to "earn cash" in the next 6 months or so.
Yes, I am looking for a job and hoping to land on something soon but frankly I am not terribly excited about taking another corporate job. I had bitter experience with my earlier employer where I spent more than 10-years without making tangible carer progress. In retrospect that had to do with not having a rabbi that took me under his/her wings. I don't know why it happened - it could be my personality, my appearance, my accent or just who I am - but I don't think that'll change now. Moreover, the chances of me working under an up-coming young-gun is high which further diminishes my urge for a corporate job. Yes corporate jobs especially Wall Street types have perks - steady paycheck, subsidized health insurance etc - but the quality of life will likely become unbearable. I don't think I will be excited to wake up in the morning everyday to spend the day in a cubical trying to fulfill someone else' agenda. I have "been there done that".
While having serious doubts about corporate job, I am still looking for one, albeit not wholeheartedly just in case I find a jewel in the midst of husk. Went to career counselling organized by my business school alma mater. Met half-a-dozen alums who have been laid off from mostly financial institutions; within the group, I was probably the youngest - if not in age, in my MBA degree; I was the most recent. There were 3 men and 5 women and s0me were pretty senior. On one hand it made me feel good that I was not alone but on the other it made me feel that it will be a while before I land on something nice given the calibre of people out on the street. During a discussion someone mentioned that the number of applicants for a job was staggering 1,70o or something, showing the time we are in now.
Given the tough job market, the message of the career counselors was that we have to be smart about job search. By smart, they meant networking. According to them, in this kind of environment when the competition is intense, networking will differentiate you from other candidates. In fact they said 70%-80% of job nowadays are gotten through networking. I have heard that term before and I have gone to countless sessions that told you how to do that. I have even tried building professional network but it never took off. My personal view on it is, either/or - either you are a good networker or you are not and I tend to be on the "not" category. Since layoff, I have not done network beyond the circle of friends and acquantainces but I guess I need change that. Moreover, networking is not just for a job search but also to achieve broader goals in life.Besides networking, we need to be prepared to tell our professional narrative and aspirates in crisp form whenever opportunity arises. This is something I will have to work on. I had couple of phone interviews but they didn't lead me to actual interviews. In fact, a head-hunter told me that my interviewing skills were not great. I had to agree. I haven't seriously searched for a job in 10 years and naturally my interviewing skills, not great to start with has become even more rustly. This is my immediate goal and I am working that with my alma mater and also with a Career Coaching firm my company has provided me with for a month.
My experiences with job search has been that I don't have control over it and generally speaking it is a fairly passive process. If I had just focused on that, by now, I would have been depressed, if not suicidal. Fortunately for me, there are other things going on. I am trying to improve one particular website/blog which one day will be a "big thing" not in terms of money (its aimed towards being a non-profit) but in terms of influence/impact. More importantly I am spending serious quality time with my 2-year old son; if I didn't have this chance, I would have regretted. But 6 month deadline is fast approaching (time moves fast) and I need to think about PLAN B in case PLAN A (still a corporate job) does not pan out. I need "positive cash flow" with the next 6 months because I am the family's bread-winner. I am considering becoming an active stock trader. Actually, considering is not the right word, I am pursuing it. My personal investment record thus far has been terrible; in fact, if had just kept my money in cash, I would have been a "rich man". But be as it may, I am determined to be a successful trader.
In the past few weeks I have learnt a lot about being a good trader. It was more than understanding fundamental and technical indicators. It is more about mind-set, game plan and strategies. I am still at a fairly stage and I hope to write on it in details soon. I am not sure whether I can make a living out of it (anecdotally less than 10% of those who try make it) but I willing to give a try. One thing for sure, I am excited about it because it gives me a sense of control over my destiny. In fact, this prompts me to wake up at 5:30 in the morning and gives me a sense of hope through the day.
