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Well, it looks like the planned kitchen remodel at our new house will go on the back burner for a while. I need to find a job first.
For the past three years, I've been writing software manuals for the US Indian Health Service (IHS). I've been working for a contractor developing a suite of new applications used for saving and accessing medical records. Last Friday it was announced that the IHS was cutting its IT budget by 60% across the nation, effective immediately. The decision was made to keep any staff or contractors who are supporting legacy software programs, but all development of new applications was no longer funded. Unsurprisingly, by lunchtime on Monday I didn't have a job.
Fortunately, I'm in Albuquerque, where I have a strong network of friends and family. Also, there's a pretty strong tech industry here (including Sandia National Labs) in a variety of disciplines and I've already got contacts to placement firms that specialize in tech staffing. The word I've gotten through one of my contacts is that tech writers are somewhat in demand in this area. I guess I shall soon see.
Next week I'll start the job hunt in earnest. I've spent most of my time this week getting things wrapped up on the house (painting, tile work, minor electrical and plumbing) in preparation for the new carpet, which is arriving next Thursday. (It was ordered a couple of weeks ago, before the axe fell at work.) Once the carpet is in, we can actually start to move our stuff from the storage facility to the house (and save on the storage fees). Obviously, our financial priorities have changed suddenly, so we'll get by with the old kitchen for a while. The cabinets may be junk, but at least we'll have all new appliances, already bought and paid for a month or so ago.
For the past three years, I've been writing software manuals for the US Indian Health Service (IHS). I've been working for a contractor developing a suite of new applications used for saving and accessing medical records. Last Friday it was announced that the IHS was cutting its IT budget by 60% across the nation, effective immediately. The decision was made to keep any staff or contractors who are supporting legacy software programs, but all development of new applications was no longer funded. Unsurprisingly, by lunchtime on Monday I didn't have a job.
Fortunately, I'm in Albuquerque, where I have a strong network of friends and family. Also, there's a pretty strong tech industry here (including Sandia National Labs) in a variety of disciplines and I've already got contacts to placement firms that specialize in tech staffing. The word I've gotten through one of my contacts is that tech writers are somewhat in demand in this area. I guess I shall soon see.
Next week I'll start the job hunt in earnest. I've spent most of my time this week getting things wrapped up on the house (painting, tile work, minor electrical and plumbing) in preparation for the new carpet, which is arriving next Thursday. (It was ordered a couple of weeks ago, before the axe fell at work.) Once the carpet is in, we can actually start to move our stuff from the storage facility to the house (and save on the storage fees). Obviously, our financial priorities have changed suddenly, so we'll get by with the old kitchen for a while. The cabinets may be junk, but at least we'll have all new appliances, already bought and paid for a month or so ago.