My Farewell Note

[theodosia]

This is the note I just sent to my coworkers in my immedate ex-work team, since I didn't get the chance for a good-bye on Wednesday:

I'm still a bit shell-shocked, but a day has given me some perspective on getting laid off, enough time to look over my financial situation and prospects and it's far from hopeless. Enough that I'm confident I'll do well whatever comes down the pike.

But all the same, I'm sad, because I actually LIKED my job and especially the people I worked with, who taught me so much and really nurtured me, whom I could also rely upon to do thorough jobs so that there were much less of the friction of correcting mistakes, and who also were funny, interesting and congenial.

And I'm sad because now you'll all have to scramble extra-hard to take up the tasks I'm leaving behind. I felt like I was part of a team, and I'm sorry to have to let my teammates down.

I got to work on some interesting projects, and take responsibility for tasks, and learn new stuff all the time. Our users by and large were an interesting crew themselves, so it was a pleasure to deal with support, and even when I had to do scary things like stand up in front of a room of sales reps, I still wanted to do it because it would be showing off a program or two that would really help them.

Plus, it was nice to work for a company that was, when you come down to it, about teaching little children good stuff, so that in the end my salary came from the effort of making the world a better place.

Being laid off after ten years (my anniversary was earlier this month) is sad-making, but I'm leaving immensely more knowledgeable, experienced, and confident than when I came in, and that is in a large part due to all of you. I feel truly privileged.

I hope this is only a farewell and that I'll be lucky enough to run into you in the future in other contexts!

Comments

[vwbug.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's a very nice note. Still sorry you had to write it, but it's very nice. I'm sure they'll appreciate it.

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

That's a gracious and generous note, but damn.

I hope the next job will be as pleasant--and a tad more communicative from the bosses!

[ogre-san.livejournal.com]

It really sucks to be laid off, but worse to be so from a job you liked. I hope you find something even more fun and better.

[gnomi.livejournal.com]

That is a lovely note.

Best of luck on your job search!

[llennhoff.livejournal.com]

Very nicely written.

On an unrelated note, don't forget to change any mail-forwarding addresses you may have had that led to your old work address.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_divya_/]

You are a class act for sending that. Very nice.

[cofax7]

VERY classy letter, Theo. I do hope you are able to have a restful break while looking for the next position.

[makaidiver.livejournal.com]

Nice letter, that is so great that you took the time to write it and send it.