6 + 46 + 15 = Pay Dirt

6 months. 46 applications. 15 interviews.

That's what it took to get one job offer. But it all finally paid off yesterday. On August 1st, the ex-chemist/webmaster/photographer becomes a technical writer (at a more than 30% increase over previous salary!) for a local software/consulting company. I'll be writing software documentation, online help modules, and the like. It promises to be considerably saner than my last job.

My heartfelt thanks go out to my references who provided such glowing recommendations, as well as to my well-wishing friends for their moral support and good thoughts beamed to my new employer. I'll do my best to live up to your evaluations of my abilities.

I miss my former co-workers more than I can say. I will consider myself fortunate indeed if, in my new workplace, I can make half the friends and experience half the cameraderie I found in my time with The Company. I will also miss the proximity of the Kwans' Subway shop, the MacArthur Center Food Court, and the MacArthur Pharmacy, where they actually knew my name. I will not miss commuting into downtown Norfolk, paying for parking and health insurance, or having said health insurance periodically F-ed up by The Company's failure to pay the premiums.

Now I just need to banish the "permanent vacation" mindset engendered by my lengthy unemployment, and get used to getting up and going to work again five days a week. **Sigh** It was nice while it lasted, other than the lack of a paycheck.

I wish the best to those of you who are still looking (or God forbid, still at The Company). I know exactly how discouraging it is We're all pulling for you. Hang in there, and don't hesitate to ask for moral support and good thoughts.