First of all, YOU GUYS ROCK!
In 2012 my Girl friend got pregnant. I was gutted. It was not a good thing at the time. I was really thinking we would break up anytime. She looked at me and said, “I don’t know what to do” Being pregnant and single in a Muslim country (Qatar) is not a good thing. She got a job in Sweden and left after 3 months. By then I had put a ring on her finger and told my company I would leave at the end on my contract. I thought I was doing “The right thing”.
I arrived in Sweden in the spring. She was big and round and I was smitten. I became her cook, her driver, her caretaker. In July 11 days after my birthday we had a baby boy. One look and I was in love. He changed my life forever. Now, you who have been through this know… The next few months were CHALLENGING. But with no job and no friends, I applied myself and became a good house husband(even thou we were not married). She got breakfast in bed, beautiful dinners and lots of love.
Six months later, she went to work. I stayed home taking care of the bundle of joy and the house. I cooked dinners, cut down trees and went fishing when I was not taking care of Merlin. All the while I kept applying for jobs. I sent out hundreds of applications but nothing came up. I was offered a job doing dishes at a restaurant and one handing out leaflets on the street. Now, I have been a communications specialist for 30 years at that point and a leader of men for quite a long time. NO THANKS. For years I put in for any and every job I could find. In 2 years I got 4 automated responses and not a single phone call. The school said I should change my name from Lopez to something else… I refused and made a joke about I will not be a Lopez-sky. I will leave it at that.
I kept at flying DCS at night and Kayaking while Merlin was in daycare. Meanwhile every day for about 4 hours I put in applications.
At the 2 and a half year mark I was listening to a song by Kathy Perry. Don’t laugh… Fireworks… She said…
“Maybe a reason why all the doors are closed
So you could open one that leads you to the perfect road”
I told my Maria this and she said… “Really, that is what you think” followed by “Maybe you should leave”. By now Merlin is in daycare and she really does not need me. Animosity and resentment have replaced earlier feelings. We are at the end…
I reached out to my friends as one does when things get pear shaped. My best buddy said “Nothing cures a broken heart like Thailand” so off I went. The first month was a blur of wine, women and song. At the six week mark I decided to sit and start looking for a job. IN TWO WEEKS, I had a guy call me. He said, “I have a comms job in Qatar” I said, that job can only be in Camp As Sayliyah… and I got my old job back.
Crazy, I know… The company name had changed but it was all the same. I asked if I could start in two months. They agreed and so four months after I left Sweden, I got me old job back. Hell, I was even at the same desk.
I worked comms for a year. I then met a beautiful young woman who motivated me. So I studied my @$$ off and got my Server Plus. I failed Security Plus but I did not give up. On the second try I got it. The company almost immediately changed their attitude and offered me position in IT. They lowballed it and I said “NO THANKS”. Then they gave me a better offer and I took it. Within two years I became the Service Desk Lead. That is where I am now. And I owe to my hard work and people who challenged me, kept me motivated and pushed me to get ahead.
My Son. One look at the people you put on this earth will change you forever. Without a word, he is my biggest motivation.
My Myra Mae. Strong, persistent and a smart @$$ to the core. She has never let me accept defeat. She has been there through my triumphs and defeats. The voice of reason and the constant cheerleader.
And two more people…
Winston Churchill “Never give up, Never Give Up”
And laugh it up if you want to…Kathy Perry
Do you ever feel like a plastic bag
Drifting through the wind, wanting to start again?
Do you ever feel, feel so paper thin
Like a house of cards, one blow from cavin’ in?
Do you ever feel already buried deep?
Six feet under screams, but no one seems to hear a thing
Do you know that there’s still a chance for you?
'Cause there’s a spark in you
You just gotta ignite the light
And let it shine
Just own the night
Like the Fourth of July
You sure have had a turbulent time @Maico. You deserve some happiness mate. I’m sure that this period is just the rough being polished from the diamond.
I think you are very inspirational for staying so positive and that will always reflect on your life as a whole. Keep at it bud, it will improve and things will get lighter in the end. You’ll be looking back on this and shaking your head soon
Hi all,
Thank You @Victork2. Been talking to the recruiter. Tomorrow I interview for the position at the Air Base. I’ve never worked at an airbase so I am very excited. Staying positive…
I was a Paratrooper so the smell of JP4 combined with the sound of wheels up puts me to sleep. I thinks its my natural way of saving energy for the jump.
Thank You @komemiute
The interview might happen tonight said the recruiter. I have studied. I have written down my thoughts and answers to such things as “Tell me about yourself”, “Why you want to work for us?” and “What do you bring to the table?”. When he says “What do you expect as a salary?” I will restrain from saying “One Million Dollars” and then putting my pinkie to the corner of my mouth cos that is played out now. Funny how some people think these are real questions asking for your opinion. They are not. Its a test to see how you react when someone sounds like “Let your hair down, speak up”.
I cant wait and hope I can get this over with tonight.
I’ve done a lot of interviewing, maybe 2000 of them over the years (I think this is ok advice for outside the software world), but I never answer this question directly.
Either try to very nicely say ‘What would be considered the range for my skillset?’ and turn it around; then take the high number they say as your new low one. If you do feel pressured to answer then give your salary expectations always as a range and not a number, with your real ask the low number in that range, e.g. N to N + 20%.
Twist of fate and stuff I have not told you guys.
Twist of fate.
The Service Desk was not supposed to move to the new base. We were all told to start applying for new jobs within the company. I was encouraged to go to the subcontractor as they would be doing the same thing but in a different department, if that makes sense. When that job was offered I was told, “For sure you will get it” followed two weeks later by, “We cant guarantee you will get it”. Then two days ago, “You are scheduled for an interview on Monday” That was last night. But Monday morning the Boss announced that the company had decided to move us to the Air Base and we no longer had to fear for our jobs. After all these months of stress it is finally over. We are going to move with everyone else. YAY!
Just for kicks I did the interview and the guy said I aced it after just one question.
Stuff I had not told you about.
I was told that if I did move over to the subcontractor job, I would have to give up my Penthouse apartment because they are strictly for leads. “But I just moved in there 3 months ago boss!!!” She simply looked at me and I huffed and left. My lady was less than impressed with this as it was a total PITA to move just one floor up. Moved the drier, the ton of stuff including my desk… uhg! “I kept saying, what can I do?” Well, since we are moving and I am still the lead… We get to keep the apartment. Think I will get my lady a plant holder for the garden…
The nightmare is over.
Thank You guys for being my stress reliver and my outlet. Your encouragement is priceless. Thank You.
Really pleased for you @Maico glad it worked out for you. Go and fly a 747 into your office on MSFS and you’ll feel better. Bonus points if you get a 172 into your boss’ window
Thank you folks for the support given in this time of crisis. I went to see my boss. She’s the most competent boss I have ever had. We were joking about what a goat rope this had been.
Craziness!!!
I cant wait to go out on the line and see the planes. Maybe meet some DCS Junkies too.
.
all the best!