job

[jfb]

So, yeah, I turned down the Microsoft offer. Many pros, many cons, but in the end I think I just needed a break, and knew that going to Microsoft wouldn't be one.


I'm glad finally to have made the decision, and I think I made it right, but as with all my decisions, I'm filled with ambivalence about it. Mostly, I will really miss working with most of the people I've been working with. I took this job mostly as an opportunity to work with really good people, and it's been nice.

I'm also worried by uncertainty about what the future will bring, although, really, uncertainty was part of the goal.

Here's my plan for the near future, for those of you I haven't yet bored with it: I expect to be employed by PlaceWare through the end of June, possibly July, I'm not sure what their plans are. When that's over, I'm not going to look for a new job for a while.

While unemployed, I plan to take advantage of my free time to explore music more deeply than I've been able to in my free time. I want to do more writing, recording, and performing. I want to explore venues in the greater bay area, and, I hope, make some excursions up and down the Pacific states. I have a wedding to go to in September in North Carolina; I hope at least to play some places on the east coast, and possibly make a cross-country road trip of it.

I intend to lose money hand over fist.

I'm not "changing careers." I expect to get back into the software industry, or at least to start trying, in a matter of months (probably 3-6). But my hope is to use my time off to gather more songs, recordings, and experience, so that when I go back to being a part-time musician, I'll have all of that background to draw on.

So yeah, that's the plan. Of course, gang aft agley.

Comments

[dongle.livejournal.com]

Here's wishing you all the best. In a way, I'm envious of you for having the freedom to cut yourself loose this way. If you make it to NJ, we should get together. And if you do decide to get back into software, I know a good recruiter (based in Syracuse, but places people all over the place) who seems to have some integrity, if you would like.

[jfb.livejournal.com]

Yeah, an important part of my decision was that, right now, I feel like I do have the freedom to, you know, cliff-dive, and I'm hoping that someday I won't, so I should take the opportunity while I have it.

I definitely want to meet you when I make it back to NJ. And yeah, I'll definitely be looking for job-hunting assistance when the time comes.

[greyaenigma.livejournal.com]

I'm jealous too. I was unemployed for nearly a year, and really wish I could have used that time off in a more productive manner. A sabbatical always sound like a neat idea, but I've never had enough money.

[bnewmark.livejournal.com]

make sure you get to dc! and when you do, let's jam together. um, when i say jam, i think i mean playing music and singing. (i can sing! well, at least i used to.)

[tuliphead.livejournal.com]

congratulations on having made the decision! not an easy one, but clearly you are doing what is good for you. i know you will enjoy the time off, the travelling, and doing what feels good. i also suspect you won't have any trouble finding work again when you look. best wishes!

[emmacrew.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry you won't be moving up where we might see you a bit more often, but from all you've said it sounds like this is really the right decision. Hope it goes well for you.

hooray!

[(Anonymous)]

Hooray for eschewing the Beast!

Come to Ohio, it's lonely here. But at least teaching is nice.

By the way, I have some very important world news to share:

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=529&ncid=529&e=4&u=/ap/20030425/ap_en_mo/angelina_jolie

Just in case you were all wondering.

--sean