Another one bites the dust

And so it goes. I have just fallen victim to the Silicon Valley Screw and got laid-off. Instead of describing the excurciating details to you (now), you should just read Ernie’s account, as it was nearly the exact same thing.

PS You can’t imagine my depression in searching for Ernie’s post (keep in mind he just got a job [yeah!]). “Hmmm, one month ago? Err, two? Three?! FOUR?! FIVE months ago?! Am I going to be unemployed that long?”

UPDATE

.:bouNCE::: OK, so I’m getting more used to the fact that:

a) I don’t have to get up early tomorrow

b) I am NOT taking you to dinner

So, the quick and dirty version is this:

I had a scheduled 1-on-1 with my boss at 10 this morning. This in and of itself is not rare by any means, so there was no cause for alarm. 10 rolls around and he’s not ready, could he have a few minutes? “sure, no problem” 10:30 comes and goes, then 11. At 11:30 I walk out to my car to go to lunch and he stops me as I turn on the ignition, “Hey, can we meet before you go?”

So, 20 minutes of talking about the projects I’m working on currently, what’s the status, is the client happy (“Yes, very”), do you think we can do this and that to provide a unique value add (“Sure, of course”). OK, well let’s go into this room, this is Ms. SternFace from Corporate HR.

Hmmmm.

As you know, we’ve been having trouble meeting our financial estimates, lately, etc etc.

I deal well with adverse situations (I should put that on my resume), though, and I took it all in stride the best I could. When HR completed their humiliation of me, I joked with Ms.SternFace and took the high road, “Well, I’m not going to say thank you,” I said, “but it was very nice to meet you, I’m sure this was difficult for you, too. (bitch)”

Then came the little talk with the boss, which was really just him guarding me lest I chose to go ballistic. To his credit, though, he was genuinely very upset, and in fact seemed close to crying on a few occasions. We’ve been through a lot together, and I am assured that this had nothing to do with performance. (This, of course, does not keep me in Top Ramen, but take solace wherever it comes, right?). Turned in my computer, my keys, my badge, looked my boss in the face and said, “Don’t worry Jim, I still like you,” and slapped him on the shoulder.

And that was that. Either by design or circumstance, this little saga fell directly on the noon hour, and no one was in the office to say goodbye to. At our last parting, Jim confided to me that two other people would also be getting laid-off today, but I knew not who. So when I saw dear Susie while on the way to my car, all I could say was “You’ll see, talk to you later,” when she asked me why I was going home.