Last Day of Unemployment (unofficially)

Tomorrow, I start my unofficial first day at my new employer 2x Software. My official first day is Monday, but my new colleagues are hosting a training session for a client in the morning and they thought it would be a good idea for me to "sit in" for a half day. I am very excited to start working again.

A huge amount of thanks goes out to our friends, people in my new network, and folks I don't even know who have been praying with us, encouraging me and circulating my resume within their network. You have buoyed my spirits and I am thankful for you all.

The past 45 days have been very interesting and sometimes stressful, but in the end the break was good for me to clear my head and earnestly seek God's direction for this new stage in my career. For 15 years, I have held a position where I have been on-call in some fashion in the evenings and weekends. Now, aside from the odd consulting assignment, my nights and weekends will be free for me to spend more time with the family.

I am a very blessed man.

How's the Job Search Going?

Surprising, that's the word. When we do anything, we have an expectation of how that thing will turn out and what the process might be like. We may understand before starting that the journey and end-result may actually be completely different, but still we can't help but have at preconception.

Starting my career search, I had two expectations. Either I was going to find a replacement job quickly or I would encounter a long and harsh path filled with rejection or worse... no feedback. I realize these are extreme thoughts that seem ridiculous on both sides, but what is surprising is my actual and opposite experience. Almost 1 month into the search, employment is still elusive yet the road is marked with activity, opportunity and hope.

Daily, I am fighting to keep up with the demands pouring in to send my resume to a potential employer and to apply for a specific positions (activity). I have talked to 3 people now (possibly 4) who are interested in having me involved in the technology of their promising business ideas (opportunity). Before, my career was in a definite groove (or rut), but through current events and a surge for demand in a particular IT specialty, I now have the chance to navigate my experience in this direction toward new challenges and fulfilling work (hope).

While I say that my search has been "surprising", I shouldn't be surprised at all because I have been asking the One who far exceeds all human expectations to lead me down His path for my career.

Opportunities are Knocking

Although there's nothing signed in ink yet, here's a quick look at what's happening in my career search so far. Most of this, by the way, is a direct result of prayer and networking (who and Who you know, y'know?).

• One plan coming together to launch my own technology services business.
• Two opportunities to be part of new technology-related ventures.
• Three appointments booked for tomorrow and next week for potential employment.
• 15 or so people circulating my resume within their networks.
• Prayers and encouragement of countless others which keep me going every day.

My Career Search Prayer Points

For the past few months, I have been in daily prayer for the work that God has called me to do whether that be improving my diligence, taking the company that employs me in new and innovative directions, changing my idea of work as it relates to providing for my family or seeking a new direction for my career. Since becoming a full-time job seeker, my prayers have become even more focused with laser-intensity (as you can imagine). Following are a few things I pray for with regard to this thing called "work". I hope it inspires and helps others along their journey.

1. God, you are Supreme, Majestic and Sovereign. Everything I am and ever will be is a direct result of Your blessing and leading.
2. You have and can make unexpected and supernatural things happen. Please don't limit my expectations based on my humanity, rather fulfill Your plan through me.
3. Change my concept of work as a means to provide for my family. Create new and exciting opportunities for income.
4. You have already appointed my next opportunity in the future; allow my faith in You to sustain me and keep my family encouraged.
5. Make us willing to move anywhere if that is Your plan for our family.
6. Give me the diligence to work hard and grant peace within my soul.

Happy New Career!

Well, it's been quite a long time since I have written a real blog post and the first one under the renamed 'blog.stuco.me'. It's still the old 'CastingMyNet' with my old content (or digitized history), but I've dusted it off and given it a new moniker. A complete update and possible redesign is being contemplated too.

Did you have a good Christmas - get everything you wanted? How about New Year's? Were you glad to say goodbye or good riddance to 2010? I, for one, am glad to start this New Year fresh, mainly because I found myself out of work for the first time in 15 years at a completely different station in life. Don't get me wrong, for the most part, 2010 was a good year and the month of December gave us the most memorable blessing of our family's life, but the sudden loss of income at the end compelled us to sharply shift our focus, purpose and intentionality.

Two weeks leading up to the year's end, I was busy harvesting the rich supply of love and encouragement from family and friends who offered to circulate my resume within their networks and scopes of influence. By following up with everyone, it seemed like I was breaking up clay and scattering seeds in a dry land (read: the worst time to look for employment). Now I see hope and it looks like activity is beginning to sprout.

Which brings me to today, where I had an encouraging conversation with Wayne James, put 2 firm appointments on my calendar (OK, Jim - 3) and had a fantastic conversation with Joe Borden who told me to "run, don't walk" and reach out to a mutual contact. The first work day of the New Year has been a success with palpable optimism. I'm not declaring that my career search is over, but I strongly believe that God has already secured my next opportunity in the very near future. My hope is continually lifted by His leading and the love of our brothers and sisters in Christ.