NJD - a new path

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uwmcscott
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So after 20 years working for the University of Wisconsin in various roles, and a recent layoff notice, I signed an offer today to move back into the Private sector. I accepted a 6 month consulting/option to hire deal that I was recruited for and I'll be working initially to help a regional healthcare company in the deployment of their UC infrastuture - mostly Webex and associated enpoints/user deployment/etc. I'll have to travel a bit for the first few weeks, but after that it will be mostly remote work from home.

Scary but exciting and dang if the pay isn't a bit better over here on this side of the fence! I'm excited and nervous all at once. I'm still employed through the end of the month with my current gig and have a lot of closeout to do but it feels good to know that i'll still be working.

For those of you out there still looking, I would really encourage you to dive headfirst into Linkedin and other tools like it. Once you get your name out there with a recruiter or 2, or by bugging people in the inustry you want to work in, the opportunities are there. And I think a lot of people are doing this kind of contract hiring right now as it allows them the ability to get someone on board without having to go through the official hiring process - which is frozen at many places. I am proof that an old dog can learn some new tricks...don't be afraid to try things you haven't before.

Who knows if it will last more than 6 months, but i'lll do my best to make them have to hire me ;-)

This might even inspire a NGD thread on the future..haven't had one of those in a while either.
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msc_
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That sounds great! Congrats!!
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dearlpitts
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Congrats man, sounds like a good deal.
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mighty_duck
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Good luck!
As scary as it sometimes is, I find that new starts produce a lot of strong (and often fond) memories. I usually remember my first few months on a job more than the next few years on it :)
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Spike
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Great news, congrats!
To give anything less than your best, is to sacrifice the gift
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PsychoCid
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Awesome my brother, very happy for you! Reap the rewards which you have earned

I do miss Wisconsin a bit. But, it will never be the same.
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AnotherJim
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Congrats! One door closes, another one opens.......
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jtcnj
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Congrats and good luck with the new gig!
Old AGF since Feb. 2015; refugee of the Great MOMO Purge of May 2020.
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ILuvTeles
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Congrats!

You should make (another) trip to Dave's for that NGD.
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uwmcscott
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ILuvTeles wrote: ↑Thu Jul 16, 2020 9:10 am Congrats!

You should make (another) trip to Dave's for that NGD.
Man, I’d love to but they are still not open to the general public. You can make private appointments or order online, but the magic of that place is being there. Business wise I think they are fine as the bulk of their sales are online, but the logistics of keeping the place sanitized are just too much for them right now. Especially with all the high end and vintage gear, you can’t just wipe them all down with alcohol based products.
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JeffBeck
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Nice! Congratulations - I know that's a load off your mind. Good luck with the new job!
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golem
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Speaking of LinkedIn, if anyone here wants to add me they can. Just PM and I'll send you my profile link and the email associated with it (if we don't have mutual connections it asks for it). Like [mention]uwmcscott[/mention] it will often have recruiters contact you for job opportunities if you work in the IT/Tech space.

I hope the new gig is going/goes well for you.
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uwmcscott
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golem wrote: ↑Thu Jul 16, 2020 9:41 am Speaking of LinkedIn, if anyone here wants to add me they can. Just PM and I'll send you my profile link and the email associated with it (if we don't have mutual connections it asks for it). Like @uwmcscott it will often have recruiters contact you for job opportunities if you work in the IT/Tech space.

I hope the new gig is going/goes well for you.
Thanks - i just tried sending you a PM but it's sitting in my PM "outbox" for some reason. Will investigate...
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golem
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uwmcscott wrote: ↑Thu Jul 16, 2020 10:08 am
Thanks - i just tried sending you a PM but it's sitting in my PM "outbox" for some reason. Will investigate...
Got it, I sent you my profile.
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mickey
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uwmcscott wrote: ↑Thu Jul 16, 2020 10:08 am
golem wrote: ↑Thu Jul 16, 2020 9:41 am Speaking of LinkedIn, if anyone here wants to add me they can. Just PM and I'll send you my profile link and the email associated with it (if we don't have mutual connections it asks for it). Like @uwmcscott it will often have recruiters contact you for job opportunities if you work in the IT/Tech space.

I hope the new gig is going/goes well for you.
Thanks - i just tried sending you a PM but it's sitting in my PM "outbox" for some reason. Will investigate...
With this forum software, a PM sits in your "outbox" until read.
Gandalf the Intonationer
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fatjack
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Well congrats and best of luck on the new endeavor.
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uwmcscott
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JeffBeck wrote: ↑Thu Jul 16, 2020 9:39 am Nice! Congratulations - I know that's a load off your mind. Good luck with the new job!
Thanks JB - and I hope you find somethign soon too. I'll be honest, I'm not going to rest on my Laurels with this one. While everything has gone great and the director i'll be working for is confident he can roll me into a permanent role, I still have to prove my worth and you never know what is going to happen with budgets and the economy.

I will freely admin that even though I worked hard and indepenantly during all my years in the UW, I did grow a little complacent. Getting back into the MBA program last year really opened my eyes to what it takes to compete at a high level in our economy today - and it's a dog-eat-dog world out there. Even with all the things employers do to make things more accessible, you have to back up yoru talk with measurable benefits if you want a good job. Or you have to be bold enough to be your own employer and assume the associated risk.

In any case, i'm pretty good proof that old dogs can learn new tricks so keep at it!
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fullonshred
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Congratulations and best wishes for your new endeavor.
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honyock
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congrats
10 years, 2 months, and 8 days of blissful ignorance ruined by that snake in the grass Major Tom.
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sabasgr68
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Great news, [mention]uwmcscott[/mention] ! Wishing you all the best!
I´m the guy from Venezuela (Not Communist/Socialist) - Catholic - Husband - Father
Looking for online/remote job - Income on the internet
Always grateful to the AGF community and friends
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RockYoWorld
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That's awesome news! I've been thinking about you and a bunch of my coworker friends that have or are losing their jobs in layoffs. It seems like a terrible time to be in that position (my company was in a low place before COVID hit). I'm so glad to hear that you've got another job already AND have a pay increase!

Those 6-month contract-to-hire positions can be great (that's how I got my first position at my company), but they are also abused by many companies. But, at least you're getting paid and gaining experience you can always use to get the next position in a worst case scenario!

And I agree that LinkedIn is a very powerful tool that I recommend. I get a lot of people reaching out to me about job openings on there as well as other business opportunities. If you have a unique skill set and/or high level of expertise, it's a great way for people who are looking for someone like you to find you!
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