Phone Interview II

The second phone interview was with the VP of Legal. I spent the morning preparing and believe the VP and I had a good rapport. My software licensing and SaaS experience would suit me well for the position but unfortunately, I lack experience with outsourcing and managed services. I don’t anticipate making it further in the process, but heck it was good practice. I’ll still continue to read up on and learning more about IT. Why not since I have the time?

Today I got my lawyer insurance application form, W9 and independent contractor agreement from my friend and will start working for her shortly. It’ll only be 5-20 hours a week, but heck it’s something to keep me going during the search. In any event, I can’t wait to start reviewing contracts again. It looks like I’ll be working remotely, so my home will be the new office.

March 20, 2017 was free small cone day at Dairy Queen. I walked to the Dairy Queen on Main Street, and to my dismay, it had folded! But a quick internet search revealed that there was one only a 10-minute drive away. Mimi and Boo were happy to get the free cones. I hope you took advantage of the free ice cream today.

Days Fifteen, Sixteen and Seventeen Lesson:

1. Keep on Learning since You Have the Time Now

Total Contacts Reached Out To: 39

Total Applications: 38

General Eligibility Requirements for Unemployment Insurance Benefits in Illinois/ Taxes

It seemed like a slow day as I spent almost eight hours sitting in the library. I had a lot to do today including working on my 2016 taxes. The taxes are particularly complicated because I lived and worked in Japan from January to mid-October last year.  I didn’t take advantage of it, but there is free tax advice/filing assistance via IRS volunteers for those who meet certain qualifications (income under $54,000, limited English, etc.):

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-you-by-volunteers

In connection with the above, please note that any unemployment benefits you receive are likely subject to income tax. Nothing will be withheld from the weekly benefit amounts you will receive unless you elect to do so.

I realize that I might have gone out of order for Illinois unemployment insurance benefits in my posts. First, all you need to know is in the handbook and the website here:

http://www.ides.illinois.gov/IDES%20Forms%20and%20Publications/CLI105L.pdf

http://www.ides.illinois.gov/Pages/Unemployment%20Insurance.aspx

Next, as a quick primer, from page 4 of the above-linked handbook, the general eligibility conditions for unemployment insurance benefits in Illinois are:

1. You are unemployed through no fault of your own.

2. You were paid $1,600 or more in wages during your base period for insured work.

3. You were paid at least $440 of your base period wages at any time during the base period outside the calendar quarter in which your wages were highest.

4. You are registered for work with IDES.

I’ll go into the details of filing for the above once I go through the motions.

Other than the above, while walking to school with Mimi and Boo today, I ran into the mother one of their classmates and chatted a bit about my situation. Like me, her husband is a lawyer, and she was happy to give advice such as places to contact like the local bar association as well as different legal job search sites. Meeting people like her, that is, people willing to give a hand to near strangers, feels good. If we keep networking like this, we’ll be out of this predicament before we know it!

Day Twelve Lessons:

1. Unemployment Insurance Benefits are Taxable

2. Again, Keep Networking!

Total Contacts Reached Out To: 35

Total Applications: 32

Advice From an HR Professional Friend

Somewhat of a tough day today.  I met my friend, a law school classmate who is an HR professional with a large national health insurer, downtown for lunch.

To do so, I took the train into the city for the first time after being released.  While on the escalator down from the platform level to the street level, the hurt of being let go sunk in a bit.  There are definitely going to be emotional ups and downs during these next few days. Entering the city again was pretty tough.

Like me, my friend is a Disney fanatic.  We both (at separate times) were on the Disney College Program, and have been to WDW, the Tokyo Disney Resort and Hong Kong Disneyland.  I think he goes to a Disney Park (they are all far from Chicago) at least once every quarter.   

My friend went on a similar path as me, started with a law firm and then went in-house a few times. Unlike me, he left the practice of law for an HR role.  He got tired of being a lawyer (with handling litigation in particular) and just left the profession.  Like us, he went without a job for a significant period of time. During the period of February 2015 to November 2015, he quit his in-house counsel position, studied up, moved from Minnesota to Chicago and found an HR role.  He is well-versed in employment law from his lawyering days.  While this experience helped him get the HR role, he still was able to transition into another field.  The golden nugget of this story is maybe our sudden job loss is a time for us to reflect on what we want to do…

Here and there amongst our Disney discussion we talked about our jobs and careers. One thing that stuck out was how he stressed the importance of connecting with and communicating with others during this job search.  At his health insurance company, there are two HR positions that have been open for almost six months. No one seems to fit the bill in the mass numbers of resumes they receive and people they interview. It has gotten to the point where he was personally asked if he knew anyone who would be suitable for the role.  Imagine if you were an HR specialist looking for a job and you knew my friend. There’s a good chance you would at least get an interview.  That said, go out and reconnect with friends and acquaintances. In addition to talking about your shared past and interests, there might be something out there just waiting for you.

Enjoy your Friday night.

Day Seven Lessons: 

1.  Use this Time to Think About Where You Want to Go with your Career

2. Reconnect with Friends and Acquaintances.  There Might Be An Opportunity Waiting For You.




Total Contacts Reached Out To: 29

Total Applications: 26