When I started this blog as an unemployed nerd the future seemed bright and full of possibilities. Having gone through the grief phase where I cried and cursed the heavens for the pink slip, and for inability to find an alternate job position within the company as an engineer, I had made peace with the circumstances and concentrated on having fun. After 10 months of pure bliss – thank you severance package – I went back to work as an engineering instructor, a role I am still performing a year and a month later. This new job gave me the necessary acquisition power to purchase a bigger home, one that we are expecting to close on in mid Feb 2017. Woop woop!
It hasn’t been easy redefining my reality as a non engineer with an engineering degree. What gets me the most is that I am still an engineer damn it but I can no longer say I design stuff in the present tense. Took me a while to realize that the experience you already possess cannot be taken away or diminished in importance. Even the layoff gap has a meaningful purpose in the grand scheme of things; it helped me learn certain basic woodworking and repair skills that have become extemely useful in both my career and personal endeavors. What I learned during that time made me more marketable and well rounded, even relatable to thise who had no idea I was into power tools and glitter. 😎 Now, when I tell folks I am building a master closet for the new house they don’t wonder how I will manage or tell me that I am crazy. I found a niche that I can exploit in case of emergency, DIY Female engineer, and a bunch of supporters who have been there and done that too.
Am I happier now with a lower salary, the technical non technical job and with the knowledge that I may have incurred in a permanent new career path? Not really but it pays the bills. Wish my family had been a bit more supportive and given me an opportunity to find the perfect job but having income gets me a chance to do other things while I plan ahead. The pay cut was brutal and we aren’t making up for the difference well. We’ll see how we can adjust once we move to the new home. Finger’s crossed. If you are going through a similar experience don’t lose hope. We all have talents to discover and develop. Market your technical and soft skills to the best of your abilities or enlist someone that can help out like a headhunter. That LinkedIn profile has done wonders for my self esteem and visibility. Something I didn’t have before when I thought being laid off wasn’t going to happen to me.
When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Reach out if you need guidance. We are here for you.
Hugs!
Mrs. Enginerd - Nerd Whisperer 