So let’s start things off with a bit of good news. I mentioned last month that my current position would be coming to an end within a month or two as the company I work for was gearing up to launch the co-op program which I was currently filling in for. My boss, being the cool boss that he is, has been doing his best to hold onto me for as long as he could to give me every chance to land a new position elsewhere and it has paid off as I just got an offer on Friday and confirmation of my start date this morning. I’ll still be working for my current company as I’ll once again become one of their contract workers just like I did in the past and, ironically enough, I’m headed back to The Automotive Company that laid me off over a year and a half ago.

Yes, it does appear that I’m headed back to the company that I spent four years at previously where I sat through two pay cuts and being forced into a planner job despite my objections only to be laid off because I didn’t have a college degree which they require when they want to make you a direct hire. The good news is that I’ll be working for a completely different department doing Second Level PC Support just like I did when I originally hired in and this department is growing when most others are facing yet more layoffs in the not too distant future. My pay will go back up very close to what I was making when I was laid off and I’ll once again be able to afford medical insurance for the family. In short, things are headed back to normal 18 months after I was laid off.

I’m going to miss my current job, despite the lower pay and lack of benefits, because I work with some great people and it’s been a wonderful learning opportunity, but I’d be lying if I said I’m not excited to get back to the level I was at before I was laid off. The job is actually quite a bit different as things have changed a bit since I was there, but I’ll be once again working with people I’ve enjoyed working with in the past so it evens out. Still it’s a bit odd going back to a company I thought I’d never work for again. Anyway, that’s the good news. I’m still gainfully employed.