Three months after the lay-off

[ArcticLight]

Been busy of late - haven't even hit this site in days...

SO I registered to go back to school to get my certification in Information Systems Security - despite 10 years experience I have to have the paper to be competitive...

The state will waive the requirement for me to look for a job while on UI and after $1700 in tuition and books I start school full time.

So you guys getting laid off - yeah it sucks was there 3 months ago.

It sucked bad.

But now, when I do go back to work I'm assured another $5-10 an hour for being certified. There are a TON of other jobs out there - expand your idea of work..

Not to mention I've had time to build a night stand for my baby to house a handgun, restore an investment car I just bought (For you Scirocco lovers It's for sale again)......

So that's life, getting better every day!

And I'm still writing my book

Kind of cool -
Monday - "A Haunting"
Tuesday - American Chopper reruns
Wednesday - Alien stuff
Friday - OverHaulin' reruns!

So thursdays are the busy day, no TV LOL

I may even make it to the range this weekend!

 

[DaveV]

Re: Three months after the lay-off

Glad to hear things are working out Artic. I think you should use those Thursdays to watch Berenger re-runs to keep your sniping skills up

 

[Switchblade]

Re: Three months after the lay-off

Hahahaha, back to school sucks!
Monday - Thursday: Refresher Math from 0930 to 1230, 1300-1600 Online Math sponsored through the VA, and APSU
Friday: Honey Do crap

Now to January 13th: uh, damn, what's on TV?
January 13th to May 17th: MWF English Composition, American History
T Tr: Bio, Bio Lab, Math 1530(Enhanced)

Summer Session: Math 1110, American History

Fall: English Lit., Bio, Chem, Chem Lab, Pre Calc
Spring: Bio, Bio Lab, Chem, Chem Lab, MTEC, History
Fall: Chem, Bio, MTEC, MTEC
Spring: Chem, Bio, MTEC, MTEC
Fall 2013 - Spring 2014(Professional Year): MTEC, MTEC, MTEC, MTEC, Paid Internship, Graduation with BS(Spring '14), Certifications
Job Placement in either Nashville VA MTEC labs, or Blanchfield Army Hospital @ Fort Campbell

Your tax dollars hard at work insuring America's Disabled Veteren's are placed back into the tax paying work force to pay for the next generation of Veterans and return the tax dollars they have earned during their time in service to the US

 

[ArcticLight]

Re: Three months after the lay-off

Switch - I still have 3 years of my 4 year done - that's next!

This quarter is :

Information Systems Security I
Information Systems Concepts II
Network Concepts (ZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzz)

and a Network lab.

15 credits but should be a light load, most of this is refresher from previous certifications.

Still, going to pay attention, it's all on the big 6 hour $550 test that I want to do in April or Maybe June...

 

[socalsheepdog]

Re: Three months after the lay-off

There is a low unemployment rate in IT these days, good move.

 

[mexicanmatch]

Re: Three months after the lay-off

Good for you, so many people just give up but you have not done that. I wish you the best. MM

 

[johndoe]

Re: Three months after the lay-off

Glad your taking advantage of your down time. Sure it will pay
off in the future.

 

[Slapchop]

Re: Three months after the lay-off

Kinda off to the side but have they made any new episodes of "A Haunting"? That show kicked ass but it seems like its only reruns these days.

 

[Queequeg]

Re: Three months after the lay-off

Good to hear Arctic and Switchblade. Given your previous experiences, school should be a matter of just staying on top of the work load.

You'll both be fine as Lord knows you have the necessary work ethic. Try to be patient with the whiny traditional aged students when they gripe about their "Problems"!

 

[AlabamaShooter]

Re: Three months after the lay-off

Artic and Switch, its great to hear that you guys have things moving in a positive direction. I was out of work for about three months myself this year. I have been back in the automotive world for about a month and half so far. Started working for the Germans and so far things are going smoothly.

I cant wait to come back after the Christmas shutdown and start into things hot and heavy. And I can concur with Queequeg's observation, I was dubbed the "old man" of my classes. I wore it as a badge of honor. I wish you guys the best of luck, although I am sure you wont need it.

 

[ArcticLight]

Re: Three months after the lay-off

SlapChop - no, seems like it was 3 seasons. Girlfriend is getting season at a time on Netflix when it's not on TV I watch that.


Yeah this was just the next progression, make a positive step out of a negative situation, and if I ever hope to be #1 on the hiring list I have to have these certifications.

After that I may go 1-2 classes at a time to finish a 2 year degree, then revert back to WSU and finish my last year.

Girlfriend graduates with her masters next year, so we'll be down in Oklahoma for that

 

[kbrady]

Re: Three months after the lay-off

I just got done with my first semester of classes in almost 15 years out of school. Getting a 2 year degree in IT/Networking. I start back Jan 10th with Monday/Wednesday classes. Networking Fundamentals(Cisco I), Math, English both days. Then a side order of Microcomputer Applications online. First semester back was much easier for me than I thought. I had some required classes that I could have tested out of if it was an option. First semester was Intro to PC(a joke) Math, and Computer Software/Hardware Maintenance(basically a pre-cisco class). Made it through those with an A. Next semester should be interesting as far as the material covered. Having full time status and only going 2 days a week is nice too!

Good luck to all of you taking advantage of the opportunity available!

Kelly

 

[phantasm]

Re: Three months after the lay-off

Good for you Arctic!! I was laid off 2 yrs ago and it sucked, I finished my B.S. in July and will be starting a Masters program next summer. Currently though I'm working and trying to get this damn CCNP done.

Gotta love the IT field, if you want to stay employed, you can never stop learning.

 

[Switchblade]

Re: Three months after the lay-off

GOing back to school is a little tough, but once teh details and aperwork were shot through VA it was easy. I'm still kinda mad they didn't accept 'four in the Corp' in foreign places like Korea, Japan, and Hawaii as an equivelant to Bio 1(Human Anatomy). Thought I would be golden with 'all that'