I believe I have said before that my job at Douglas Dynamics was short-lived, but for the benefit of those who did not know this, let me provide a rundown-nutshell version.
When Alan and I decided it was finally time for me to relocate last year, I began job hunting in earnest. That was way back in May, and by November, I still had had no luck finding a position. Out of desperation, I made the decision to start hitting the temp agencies, and made a special trip up to do just that. I think I visited about six and registered at two or three, but the first one I visited turned out to be the only one that would do me any good. The girls at Randstad jumped in the minute I walked in the door, and did not stop until they had found me a good...and what we all assumed would be a permanent...position with an assembly plant headquartered in Milwaukee that manufactured snowplows and spreaders. It was a great position, especially for this area, and I was assured that it would work into a permanent position after 90 days. I was over the moon! This meant that I could go ahead and move, secure in our plans for the future being completed on schedule.
I made the move between Christmas and New Year's last year, and started working that same week, finding that although it was a bit difficult to get used to a new environment after being with Maverick for almost seven years, the work was enjoyable, and my co-workers pleasantly so...especially my co-temp, Casey, who was also serving his probationary time. I settled in to do my 90, blissfully secure in my new cubicle.
90 days came and went, but neither Casey nor I heard any whisper of being hired permanently. By April, we'd become worried. Everything we heard through the grapevine indicated that we were doing an excellent job, and viewed favorably by the management, even going so far as to say that we made the best accounting team they'd ever had. We tried to stay encouraged, but the lack of official word was wearing us down.
By mid-April, we'd discovered the reason...we got word from Milwaukee that the company had decided to close our plant and move operations to the facilities up north. This hit everyone hard, but for Casey and I, it meant that we would never get hired on permanently. We were, however, allowed to continue working, until such time as our positions were moved north.
Things are tough all over, and the job search this time proved as fruitless as it had last year, even with Randstad working on my behalf. Good jobs are just thin on the ground in these parts, to be sure. Fortunately for me, I've had a fairy godmother working behind the scenes on my behalf, and about three weeks ago, she got wind of a good position opening up with a local company and recommended me highly for the job. Considering the kind of clout this woman wields, I'm not surprised I got the job....however, for the record, I did have all the necessary credentials for the position...and then some.
It's taken some time to work out all the negotiations and details, but I'll be starting my new position on Monday....just in time, it seems, because the grapevine informs me that my job would have most likely been coming to an end toward the end of this month, regardless.
God is Good, and miracles happen every day. When I left Maverick, I walked out two days ahead of a layoff that affected about 80% of the staff. It's apparent that I'm living in the flow of His goodness and mercy. Not only have I secured this position in the nick of time, I've requested...and been granted...the ability to retain Randstad as the temp service of choice for my first 90 days, which means that I don't lose my seniority, and I will still be eligible for a week's vacation when Alan comes home, the new company will ALLOW me to take that week, and I'll even be making a bit more money!
Just in time for Alan's homecoming. I am well and truly blessed.
