Well, I missed last week's blog because of everything going on. Here's a summary of what happened and what is going to happen.
I had several phone screens and a few in-person interviews. I'm contracting with a company to help transition the compound we were developing (I haven't worked for an hourly rate in over a decade, maybe more).
Here's the plan:
This week - finish the transition work
Next week - vacation (Phoenix, sun, desert - here I come!)
16May11 - new position and new chapter in my life!
Bean's Thoughts
Tuesday, May 03, 2011
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
The end...and the beginning
My last day was April 15th. On March 4th, there were 22 people in my group. On April 1st, there were 7 and on Monday, April 18th, there are 2. The workload has not changed.
It was extremely difficult to say good-bye to such a talented group of people. People who I trust and respect. There are going to be reunions, we're all on LinkedIn and who knows, I may end up working with a few of them again.
But it won't be the same, those days have ended.
It is now time to move forward. Time to harass the recruiters (have you heard anything yet?), to spend time on Monster every day, to continually update resume, to draft cover letters, to phone screen with people and go through the interviewing process.
People have told me that I am lucky, I should be considering this a paid vacation. It's not a vacation, job searching is hard work and time consuming. But these are the necessary steps for me to begin the next chapter in my life - my new beginning.
It was extremely difficult to say good-bye to such a talented group of people. People who I trust and respect. There are going to be reunions, we're all on LinkedIn and who knows, I may end up working with a few of them again.
But it won't be the same, those days have ended.
It is now time to move forward. Time to harass the recruiters (have you heard anything yet?), to spend time on Monster every day, to continually update resume, to draft cover letters, to phone screen with people and go through the interviewing process.
People have told me that I am lucky, I should be considering this a paid vacation. It's not a vacation, job searching is hard work and time consuming. But these are the necessary steps for me to begin the next chapter in my life - my new beginning.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Decision
While I was creating last week's blog, the Board of Directors for my company met and reviewed the 4 options available to them.
The decision was made on Monday night, our management team discussed it on Tuesday morning and we were informed on Tuesday afternoon that the company would be closing.
Liquidating the company was always one of the options, but it seemed contrary to the company's approach to get the job done. Now the job to be done is dismantling.
Dismantling the physical facilities of 2 floors of an office building in Kendall Square, Cambridge. That includes laboratory space, offices, cubicles, a kitchen and several conference rooms. There's furniture, computers, printers and even office supplies.
Thursday is the day that the remaining staff will be dismantled. For the remaining few of us, it's been a long week and days that are full of busy work. We're trying to transition 6 years of institutional knowledge in 3 days.
We're doing what we've always done - doing the best job possible with what we have.
The decision was made on Monday night, our management team discussed it on Tuesday morning and we were informed on Tuesday afternoon that the company would be closing.
Liquidating the company was always one of the options, but it seemed contrary to the company's approach to get the job done. Now the job to be done is dismantling.
Dismantling the physical facilities of 2 floors of an office building in Kendall Square, Cambridge. That includes laboratory space, offices, cubicles, a kitchen and several conference rooms. There's furniture, computers, printers and even office supplies.
Thursday is the day that the remaining staff will be dismantled. For the remaining few of us, it's been a long week and days that are full of busy work. We're trying to transition 6 years of institutional knowledge in 3 days.
We're doing what we've always done - doing the best job possible with what we have.
Tuesday, April 05, 2011
Up in the air
I usually like being up in the air. It means I'm off on vacation, I'm going to meet new people, learn new things or connect with old friends.
These days, up in the air refers to waiting for a decision about what is next for my company, and more importantly, my job.
There are several different options for moving ahead. Option 1 requires a certain set of skills or people. Option 2 requires a different set of skills/people. Option 3 means being the company being sold to our current partner and I would go from becoming part of a group of 47 employees to 1 of thousands. Option 4 means closing the company - I don't want to know what the skills are for those tasks.
I realize that it takes time to think through, to plan for and to understand all of the complexities of each option. Do those doing thinking, planning and understanding realize what we are going through?
I do have a job and for that I am grateful. I work with a group of talented, experienced professionals who can handle any situation. People who will do what it takes to get the job done.
Now, if someone will just tell us that job is.
These days, up in the air refers to waiting for a decision about what is next for my company, and more importantly, my job.
There are several different options for moving ahead. Option 1 requires a certain set of skills or people. Option 2 requires a different set of skills/people. Option 3 means being the company being sold to our current partner and I would go from becoming part of a group of 47 employees to 1 of thousands. Option 4 means closing the company - I don't want to know what the skills are for those tasks.
I realize that it takes time to think through, to plan for and to understand all of the complexities of each option. Do those doing thinking, planning and understanding realize what we are going through?
I do have a job and for that I am grateful. I work with a group of talented, experienced professionals who can handle any situation. People who will do what it takes to get the job done.
Now, if someone will just tell us that job is.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Not quite sure..
I'm not quite sure what to call today. It's a day off, which is a good thing. But it's a day off because my company is laying people off. As I sit at home, my co-workers, colleagues and friends are losing their jobs.
My company has been upfront, honest and professional about the situation. We were testing a dose for a new drug and the dose didn't work. And because the dose didn't work, now 15 people also don't. And that's 15 people from my group alone.
I will go back into work tomorrow and there will be empty labs, empty conference rooms, empty offices and empty cubes. Part of me will be empty too now that I no longer have the support and expertise of my colleagues.
A few of my colleagues didn't want to stay, didn't want to survive. Because the atmosphere would change and things would never be the same. I kept repeating two words, 'paycheck' and 'mortgage'.
Honestly, I do think of my job, even the changed one that will start tomorrow, with pleasure and a degree of pride. I have learned a tremendous amount and made significant contributions both personally (I started the Cookie Swap!) and professionally.
I will sorely miss my colleagues and what used to be. But this unexpected change has taught all of us a tremendous amount. It's not a lesson that anyone wanted to learn, but sometimes there are no other options.
I'm looking forward to meeting the future co-workers of those who are leaving and hearing the stories of how "we did better." I can't wait for our first reunion!
My company has been upfront, honest and professional about the situation. We were testing a dose for a new drug and the dose didn't work. And because the dose didn't work, now 15 people also don't. And that's 15 people from my group alone.
I will go back into work tomorrow and there will be empty labs, empty conference rooms, empty offices and empty cubes. Part of me will be empty too now that I no longer have the support and expertise of my colleagues.
A few of my colleagues didn't want to stay, didn't want to survive. Because the atmosphere would change and things would never be the same. I kept repeating two words, 'paycheck' and 'mortgage'.
Honestly, I do think of my job, even the changed one that will start tomorrow, with pleasure and a degree of pride. I have learned a tremendous amount and made significant contributions both personally (I started the Cookie Swap!) and professionally.
I will sorely miss my colleagues and what used to be. But this unexpected change has taught all of us a tremendous amount. It's not a lesson that anyone wanted to learn, but sometimes there are no other options.
I'm looking forward to meeting the future co-workers of those who are leaving and hearing the stories of how "we did better." I can't wait for our first reunion!
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