Reply #17: Three years ago I was fired from

[SheilaT]

my legal secretary job. It was the Friday before Thanksgiving. At least they let me go about an hour and a half earlier than the normal leaving time, because I had to drive to Albuquerque (I live in Santa Fe) to pick up my car which had been rear-ended three weeks earlier. At least I could turn in the rental and pick up my car before everything closed.

That very evening my two sons were driving in from Kansas for the weekend, and at least I was going to see them. I tried briefly for a holiday job, but by then all of those were taken, so I took a deep breath and decided not to fret.

It can suck big time to lose a job. I don't know enough about your personal situation to offer realistic advice, but hang in there. One of the things I was told over and over again, by the four different temporary/placement agencies I was working with, was that if I had even basic bookkeeping skills, I'd get work. Advanced accounting? They'd place me in a heartbeat. Alas, I'm not even good at balancing my own checkbook.

The essential think that I learned from all of this is to be flexible. Don't get trapped in the "I can only do this" mindset. A phone conversation with a cousin who is a nurse on the east coast led me to check with the local hospital, and I got a job in outpatient registration. It's a job. Pays okay, considering what the job market is like these days. The benefits are very good.

I have no idea if that would work for you, but best of luck no matter what.