The Job Hunt Thread

[debthaven]

That's fabulous Ava !

[giramomma]

I am so glad to hear your update!

[jerseygirl]

So happy for you Ava!

[bean29]

Congratulations Ava! So glad you got a better offer and a shorter commute!

[Ava]

Everything aligned well.
Yesterday I found out I wasn't the top candidate for the internal job I had applied for.
I asked the HR rep for an update and she said they were moving with other candidates.
Good to know so I get that idea off my head.

Then when I signed in for work I had a meeting in Teams scheduled for 11 am with my two managers.
I couldn't stomach a repeat of the bad meeting a couple of weeks ago.
So I quickly sent them my resignation letter.
We still had the meeting but we only talked about what tasks I have to prioritize for the next two weeks.

Before 5 pm our president sent an email to all of us informing that 2 employees were just let go.
He mentioned cost savings, reassignment responsibilities etc

Looks like I dodged a bullet.
I don't know if I was supposed to be cut off too and that was my meeting for.
Anyway. When there's layoffs it's hard on remaining employees and it's also very demoralizing.
If I wasn't already job hunting and accepting an offer, I would have started today.
They may even do more layoffs in the future.
It's very sad. I feel so bad not only for the 2 that were let go but also for the rest.

I had a call from a coworker who I consider a friend. She was scared. She's been there for many years. She asked if I could help her job hunt because she's so out of the loop. I said of course I'll help.
I already gave her the information about the professional resume writer I used.
Once she's ready I'll help her select jobs to apply to, advice on how to interview etc.

Ask a manager has excellent tips and advice. Their interview prep articles helped me a lot

[Rukh O'Rorke]

wow Ava! Fantastic you were able to resign at that moment! Kudos for searching and finding some place new. Hoepfully it will be a great place!

[geenamercile]

Ava- I am happy that you are out of there and moving on to a closer and hopefully better job.  

[Pink Cashmere]

Ava I am so happy for you that you found another job and will be getting out of what has become a toxic work environment. 

I wish you all the best and much success!

[Ava]

Jun 4, 2024 20:44:12 GMT -5 Pink Cashmere said:

Ava I am so happy for you that you found another job and will be getting out of what has become a toxic work environment. 

I wish you all the best and much success!

Thank you. Much appreciated. 

[Works4me]

Ava - when is D Day?

[Ava]

Jun 13, 2024 14:16:14 GMT -5 Works4me said:

Ava - when is D Day?

There are two D days. Today is my last day at old job. I'm leaving home in about half an hour. All I'm going to do today is turn in the equipment and return my badge. Then I'll peace out.

I have a week off between jobs.

New job starts June 24

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Jun 14, 2024 7:01:04 GMT -5 Ava said:

Jun 13, 2024 14:16:14 GMT -5 Works4me said:

Ava - when is D Day?

There are two D days. Today is my last day at old job. I'm leaving home in about half an hour. All I'm going to do today is turn in the equipment and return my badge. Then I'll peace out.

I have a week off between jobs.

New job starts June 24

Happy last day at that $^*&!$ place!

[Ava]

Yesterday was my last day.
It felt surreal to leave after 12 years. I had planned to work there until it was time to leave CT.
But such is life.
It was bittersweet for me. I have very good memories of that place.
The last two years were horrible. I developed anxiety and panic attacks related to job stress. Never in my life I had gone through that before.

I arrived with my laptop, my monitors and my badge.
Brought everything in, wrote a nice goodbye email to the whole division and left.

My manager was in a conference call when I was ready to leave. I wasn't going to wait around for him. He's the main reason I have to leave.

So I wrote him a note explaining all the equipment and the badge were at my desk. Any questions to call me.
I left the note with one of my co-workers to give it to boss once he got out of the conference call.
Then I left.

I have a week off before starting new job. I'll keep you posted on how things go.

I'm very positive I will do well and be happy at new job.
First of all, my expectations have changed a lot after these past 2 years. Second, I would have to be very unlucky to get a job as toxic as previous one.

[finnime]

Yeah! Ava

[jerseygirl]

What a relief to get away from this horrible bosses
YAY Ava!

[seriousthistime]

I accepted a temp job with my former employer, filling in for someone who's out on disability for the summer.  Pay is good, work is remote.  All is good.  

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Nice score seriousthistime!

[countrygirl2]

Ava, I am reading this very late, didn't realize you got another job. I am so happy for you, I have read about how awful you were treated. Noone should have to go through that. And I fear it would have been a disaster if you had moved elsewhere in that company. You were wise to leave. I hope the new job is a big improvement and makes your life more pleasant. I had a couple of bad jobs but nothing like that. Congratulations and enjoy. I know everyone here is happy for you. Again congratulations!

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Time for an update Ava!

how is new job going??

[seriousthistime]

So here's something interesting with my temp job. I knew there'd be a dollar for dollar offset between my earnings and my pension. So basically the financial benefit is what I earn beyond my monthly pension. I expected that.  What I didn't expect is that I am automatically enrolled in the 401K.  So now, while taking RMDs from the 401K, I am also putting money back into it.  I am not unhappy about that. 

And although I'm cautious with my investments in that 401K, it has grown more than enough to cover the RMDs. Not unhappy about that either.

I wish I liked going back to work more than I do, though.  It's not the work or the working conditions.  It's that I don't have the free time I used to have. I like my unscheduled days.  After 3.5 years of retirement, I'd gotten used to it. However, I do like the $$$.

[NastyWoman]

Jul 4, 2024 8:46:13 GMT -5 seriousthistime said:

So here's something interesting with my temp job. I knew there'd be a dollar for dollar offset between my earnings and my pension. So basically the financial benefit is what I earn beyond my monthly pension. I expected that.  What I didn't expect is that I am automatically enrolled in the 401K.  So now, while taking RMDs from the 401K, I am also putting money back into it.  I am not unhappy about that. 

And although I'm cautious with my investments in that 401K, it has grown more than enough to cover the RMDs. Not unhappy about that either.

I wish I liked going back to work more than I do, though.  It's not the work or the working conditions.  It's that I don't have the free time I used to have. I like my unscheduled days.  After 3.5 years of retirement, I'd gotten used to it. However, I do like the $$$.

Wait, wait, wait. Isn't this the first year you are taking money from your 401k? I seem to remember that you don't HAVE to take a distribution as long as you are still contributing? I might be wrong but, providing you don't want/need a distribution it may be something to research

[Ava]

Jul 2, 2024 10:05:34 GMT -5 Rukh O'Rorke said:

Time for an update Ava!

how is new job going??

Hi.
I haven't been around lately.

Between new job, the kittens and mom visiting I barely have any time left.

Job is going really well.
It's a great and healthy work environment.
There's a lot to learn, and I feel overwhelmed at times.
But the person who's training me explains things well and she's very patient.
It's just that the systems are very different and their processes are too.

I've already been authorized to work from home. I'm setting up my computer this weekend. The plan is to start with one day work from home now and then move to two days a week in a month or so.
I don't want to go over two days a week because the office is 6 miles away from home, and I work better in an office environment.

They respect work life balance. Everyone I've met so far is really happy to work there. The only complaint I've heard is about salaries.

My income went up 15% when I switched to this job and I'm good with that. I don't care if I get 2% raises for the 8 years I plan to stay in CT. The pay is sufficientand my level of happinesshas improvedso much since i switchedjobs. More money is not my objective.

I was wondering why this company is so different to prior employer when they are both in the same industry.
At first I thought it was due to being a small company. And that probably plays a role. But I now realize the main reason is because prior company is publicly traded and has shareholders.
New employer is a different set up. It's a mutual entity. The members are the owners. It's a similar set up to a credit union.

It is quite an adjustment but I really like it here. I'm happy I made the decision to look for a new job and that this company offered me a job.

[Ava]

Jul 1, 2024 23:39:05 GMT -5 countrygirl2 said:

Ava, I am reading this very late, didn't realize you got another job. I am so happy for you, I have read about how awful you were treated. Noone should have to go through that. And I fear it would have been a disaster if you had moved elsewhere in that company. You were wise to leave. I hope the new job is a big improvement and makes your life more pleasant. I had a couple of bad jobs but nothing like that. Congratulations and enjoy. I know everyone here is happy for you. Again congratulations!

Thank you so much

[Pink Cashmere]

Ava that is a wonderful update. I am so happy for you!

[Ava]

Jul 13, 2024 15:08:36 GMT -5 Pink Cashmere said:

Ava that is a wonderful update. I am so happy for you!

Thank you 😊

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Jul 13, 2024 14:54:35 GMT -5 Ava said:

Jul 2, 2024 10:05:34 GMT -5 Rukh O'Rorke said:

Time for an update Ava !

how is new job going??

Hi.
I haven't been around lately.

Between new job, the kittens and mom visiting I barely have any time left.

Job is going really well.
It's a great and healthy work environment.
There's a lot to learn, and I feel overwhelmed at times.
But the person who's training me explains things well and she's very patient.
It's just that the systems are very different and their processes are too.

I've already been authorized to work from home. I'm setting up my computer this weekend. The plan is to start with one day work from home now and then move to two days a week in a month or so.
I don't want to go over two days a week because the office is 6 miles away from home, and I work better in an office environment.

They respect work life balance. Everyone I've met so far is really happy to work there. The only complaint I've heard is about salaries.

My income went up 15% when I switched to this job and I'm good with that. I don't care if I get 2% raises for the 8 years I plan to stay in CT. The pay is sufficientand my level of happinesshas improvedso much since i switchedjobs. More money is not my objective.

I was wondering why this company is so different to prior employer when they are both in the same industry.
At first I thought it was due to being a small company. And that probably plays a role. But I now realize the main reason is because prior company is publicly traded and has shareholders.
New employer is a different set up. It's a mutual entity. The members are the owners. It's a similar set up to a credit union.

It is quite an adjustment but I really like it here. I'm happy I made the decision to look for a new job and that this company offered me a job.

Awesome!

So happy for you Ava!!

[jerseygirl]

Ava, So very nice to read about your new job and how much better it’s made your life.

[finnime]

This is wonderful, Ava.

[seriousthistime]

Jul 4, 2024 11:04:37 GMT -5 NastyWoman said:

Jul 4, 2024 8:46:13 GMT -5 seriousthistime said:

So here's something interesting with my temp job. I knew there'd be a dollar for dollar offset between my earnings and my pension. So basically the financial benefit is what I earn beyond my monthly pension. I expected that.  What I didn't expect is that I am automatically enrolled in the 401K.  So now, while taking RMDs from the 401K, I am also putting money back into it.  I am not unhappy about that. 

And although I'm cautious with my investments in that 401K, it has grown more than enough to cover the RMDs. Not unhappy about that either.

I wish I liked going back to work more than I do, though.  It's not the work or the working conditions.  It's that I don't have the free time I used to have. I like my unscheduled days.  After 3.5 years of retirement, I'd gotten used to it. However, I do like the $$$.

Wait, wait, wait. Isn't this the first year you are taking money from your 401k? I seem to remember that you don't HAVE to take a distribution as long as you are still contributing? I might be wrong but, providing you don't want/need a distribution it may be something to research

I meant to respond to this.  Yes, it is true.  But I read something that suggests if I postpone taking an RMD because I am still working, then I would have to take double the RMD next year.  

I am concerned about the impact of the RMDs on my Medicare IRMAA.  If I have to double up in any year, my IRMAA will certainly increase even more because I was already close to the next threshold.  I'm trying to keep my income below the next income tax bracket too. 

The RMDs don't bother me that much because for now I'm just dumping them into a taxable investment account.  Sure, I'm paying income taxes on that money, but I would have to do it eventually anyway.  I'm not having withholding taken out of them so 100% of the RMD goes back into investment. I'll have to pay taxes on them by next April though.  

[NastyWoman]

Jul 14, 2024 18:36:43 GMT -5 seriousthistime said:

Jul 4, 2024 11:04:37 GMT -5 NastyWoman said:

Wait, wait, wait. Isn't this the first year you are taking money from your 401k? I seem to remember that you don't HAVE to take a distribution as long as you are still contributing? I might be wrong but, providing you don't want/need a distribution it may be something to research

I meant to respond to this.  Yes, it is true.  But I read something that suggests if I postpone taking an RMD because I am still working, then I would have to take double the RMD next year.  

I am concerned about the impact of the RMDs on my Medicare IRMAA.  If I have to double up in any year, my IRMAA will certainly increase even more because I was already close to the next threshold.  I'm trying to keep my income below the next income tax bracket too. 

The RMDs don't bother me that much because for now I'm just dumping them into a taxable investment account.  Sure, I'm paying income taxes on that money, but I would have to do it eventually anyway.  I'm not having withholding taken out of them so 100% of the RMD goes back into investment. I'll have to pay taxes on them by next April though.  

I think those are two different issues. You can wait until April next year (as can I) but then you would need to take the 2024 and 2025 both next year. I thought you would not have to do that as long as you are still contributing this year. If you don't want to take RMDs this year you might be able to avoid it but please talk to a professional advisor about this because I am not certain about this