My office phone rang as I was wrapping my scarf around my neck to head home at 4PM today. It was my representative from the contract house I work for. He asked me what time I get off of work and when I said I was just about to leave he asked if I could swing by his office, but wouldn’t say much when I asked what was up. This naturally set off my spider senses and I knew before I ever made the five minute drive what I was in store for. As I walked in his office it only took a glance at his expression to confirm my suspicions. My contract was being terminated.
My supervisor had called him that afternoon and wanted him to make it clear to me that it wasn’t due to any failing of my own. It wasn’t a job performance issue or a lack of professionalism; if anything I had done an excellent job in my four years working there even after they moved me into a position they knew I wasn’t happy with. Apparently the reason I was being let go was because they had gotten authorization for a direct hire, but they had to give up an agency (contractor) in order to do so. My supervisor would have liked to have offered to convert me from agency to an employee, but my lack of a college degree apparently put me beyond consideration and so they were ending my contract. The good news, if you can call it that, is that I have a little under a month to find a new job. My last day will be Friday, February 11th. This too, I was told, was representative of my professionalism as normally they lay folks off the same day they make the decision.
It was a somber drive home and I’d be lying if I didn’t say my stomach isn’t in knots at the moment, but I’ll put in my remaining time and start passing out resumes like complimentary breath mints. I’d intended to find a new job this year anyway, but I was hoping to do it on my own timetable. Still, a month’s notice beats a day’s notice and I’ll try to be happy about that much.
So if any of you hear of any good opportunities in the South Eastern Michigan area, or happen to be talent scouts from Hollywood who were considering taking me up on the offer to make me famous from the last time I talked about my job, now’s the time to let me know about it. Wish me luck, I have a feeling I’m going to need it.
Posted on 01/19/2005 at 04:37 AM 
Sigh, I feel for you man. Been there before. The life of a contractor has its plusses and minuses; this being the #1 minus. Hang in there, Im sure you’ll land something bigger and better anyway. Good things happen to good people. Even bastards!