The reality has been the opposite of my rosy hopes at the time. While I had a great deal to offer, the consulting company where I worked after that first layoff wasn't a place that could advance my career. Many things were done poorly there, and the job was all stress and little accomplishment. The time lost in going back to college means that I'm now far below most of my peers in terms of benefits. Most of my colleagues in my field at my company have one or two weeks more of paid vacation than I have and are a grade level ahead of me. Being laid off turned out to have been a disaster.
Bill
I know what you mean about getting laid off and the time that is wasted, you might fall behind some of your peers. I know I should be further along in life and career than I am, but at least I'm working and although I'm a very long term temp right now, I do bit on jobs that come open where I work at. At least I have a constant work history again, if you off work for a while, many employers would quetion that although if need be, I'd just tell the truth. I was talking to a co-worker and we were saying that it is a "good idea to keep working after getting laid off, even if it in't wat we want." Sure being on unemployment for the first week or two seems like a vacation but as time goes on, it drives one crazy." We went on, "you know when you're up at 3 AM watching movies in your underwear, something is wrong." Well, OK, perhaps once in a while on weekends but at least during the week, I have a job. B-) I worked at photo developing in a drugstore for a while, wasn't the greatest, but at least it provided income, although I needed more, plus I felt useful.