Wet Clay [September 6]

I stand all amazed at the timing of the Lord. I had decided months ago that I was ready to leave Franklin Covey to seek a job in training and development. I had been telling people for months that I was looking for another job and during the last couple weeks in August I touched up my resume (Melanie’s dad looked at it for me and gave me some advice) started checking Monster.com, and went to a job fair.

One of the bishopric members, Brother Richard Bailey, even asked me to come to his office to talk about becoming a trainer for his company: iFreedom Direct (they extend VA and FHA loans and thought that I could help with the training of the loan officers so that they could pass the necessary exams for licensing). I was excited, the timing and job description could not have been better. This was exactly what I wanted—things were looking good except they had to get approval from the CEO, who was out of town.

The next week Shawn Moon (General Manager of the Fed/Ed team) called me into his office. Franklin Covey was downsizing and they were going to let our publics team go. I found out later that Annette York (my supervisor who I adore) was let go as week. Shawn graciously extended each of us other positions in the company (he invited me to become a Client Service Coordinator position on our team) but the job is all data entry and customer service and it wasn’t what I wanted to do. I knew that I would be looking for a chance to get out as soon as I could. I was hopeful that the other position was going to work out with iFreedom Direct, and they were going to give me about $5,000 in severance.

My last day at Franklin Covey (about a week later on Monday, August 31) was a little more emotional than I had anticipated. I really do love that team and the clients with whom I had developed relationships. There was a bunch of little housecleaning items to be taken care of all day and then some quick goodbyes to be said.

The next morning I went to Welfare Square’s employment services workshop. It was a free service held on Tuesday and Wednesday in BYU’s Salt Lake Center. I found it a great resource. We talked about resumes, networking, and interviewing. They even taped us in a mock interview and had us critic ourselves in front of everyone. I think my two most influential takeaways were (1) networking is everything, and (2) I should always be building a portfolio and should revamp my resume every two years. I joined Linked In the next day and thought about how I could get more business cards and make more calls to get where I want to be. I am also excited about empowering myself by proactively keeping a record of my occupational achievements. I am grateful that the church offers this service.

Even though I was hoping iFreedom Direct would give me the green light that Wednesday I decided to fill my week as much as possible with other opportunities. I had met a recruiter for World Financial Services who gave me an informational interview and then had me come in for an information session. The position would be one for a financial planner—they would provide all the training. I didn’t have a good feeling about the company…or at least in taking myself in that direction. But I did learn that I want to study about finances, especially tax law and investing, because I could learn how to save myself a lot of money. There are exams that you must take to become licensed—I’m tempted to just study for those tests and learn what I need to in that way.

Wednesday evening I met with Jenny Fulnig, a friend of my mom’s friend who is in the HR field. She agreed to meet with me for an informational interview. She was so kind and gave me some good advice. She suggested starting in an entry HR position anywhere, volunteering as much as possible for training opportunities within the company, and moving up from there. She also suggested a temp agency that helped her find her current position.

I did get a call from Barbara at iFreedom Direct—she left a message and it didn’t sound promising. But no decisions were going to be made until next Thursday.
On Thursday afternoon (after going to Lehi for Sara’s mystery lunch family birthday party) I visited with Suzanne Oliver from Mountain America Credit Union. She was the training director (and another friend of a friend of a friend) there at corporate HQ and was willing to grant me an informational interview. She also gave me some good advice, including the idea of joining the local ASTD (American Society for Training and Development) chapter as well as a local Toast Master’s (a public speaking club) chapter and maybe attending some of the professional development workshops at SLCC (Salt Lake Community College). The purpose of the running about would be to network with others in the training and development field.

The next morning I started looking for the local chapters and found that the next ASTD meeting would be later this month, and one of the many Toast Master’s chapters would be meeting later that day. I didn’t even have time to shower; I quickly got dressed and ran to the meeting. Everyone there was so kind. I was especially excited about meeting a sharp woman named Terry who gave me some good advice (look into teaching community courses at Granite Point or SLCC) and her contact information.

I am excited about joining Toast Masters, although I’m planning on checking other chapters all this week. I did get some business cards, more advice (like be willing to take other jobs—you might find something else that you like), and the address and time of a job club meeting that took place every Friday afternoon. I just had time to run and grab a bottle of carrot juice from Whole Foods Market, and then I was headed to the job club.

At the job club they had a representative from the Utah World Trade Center come in to talk about job opportunities in international businesses. I got excited thinking about working for an organization that hosted dignitaries and embassadors, but found that the UWTC wasn’t hiring itself. We each gave an elevator speech about ourselves afterward and I was giving more advice. To be honest I don’t remember what was said, I was anxious to talk to someone who had mentioned that she was an Instructional Designer. When I caught her afterward she said that her career had not been stable at all and that the market was tough right now.

My thoughts, as I sat in that room, were that I had really enjoyed being out and about in the community—meeting people learning new things. Maybe it isn’t that I need to have a job in training and development per se, but I could be involved in community and voluntary opportunities to teach (doing what I love and getting experience that way) and get a job elsewhere that pays decently well, doesn’t have long hours, surrounds me with good people, and is part of something that I see as value-building and worthwhile.

I feel that I this time I am especially wet clay—earnestly seeking for answers and just trying to form into what I’m supposed to be. Being unemployed is humbling—I find that I can square my shoulders and announce to everyone who I am and what I want to do—but I always find it tougher when I walk away. I feel beaten and broken and out of my league. It was eye-opening to see others that are unemployed like myself—I have a new empathy for them. I especially feel for the fathers who are struggling to be given a chance to support their families. You can tell it tares them apart inside.

Those that I have talked to say that I have a good plan and it sounds like I have everything figured out—but I am not sure what should be the next step to take. I just want to be where I’m supposed to be. As I look back on everything up to this point I feel that I’ve been guided and really happy. I feel that my responsibility now is just to do the very best I can and be worthy for the some divine guidance. I am grateful for this opportunity and all that I am learning. I hope that I learn what I need to learn quickly and go back to earning a living.

I did a session in the temple this past week and I was struck with how everything that really meant the most to me (minus food and housing) came either free of charge or very inexpensive. There I was sitting in the most beautiful place I could think of—even though I didn’t currently have an income. I can talk to my God without paying for a phone bill, I can take the sacrament without handing over a check, and I can listen to prophets without paying for seminar fees. Maybe sometimes we have to become physical beggars before we start to even comprehend generosity of a God to our chronic spiritual beggar state. Life is sweet. Words fail me—I’ve never felt that I had so little and so much at the same time. I don’t know why He is so good to me—but He is—so I’ll just say thank you.