Once upon a time I was really happy at my job, a civil service position for the state government. I was doing extremely well and was finally content. I had reached a level of comfort with myself, my career, my social activities as a representative for the employee's union, and the people that surrounded me. Almost as if it were now all just a great dream, I had, at the request of a co-worker, accompanied her and others to a networking function. It was there that I met a "head-hunter," was quickly lured away by the smell of money, entertained a couple of interviews, felt like "king for just one day" as I received two excellent offers of employment that almost turned out to be a bidding war, accepted one of the two offers, and resigned from a perfectly fulfilling well-paying job.

Then the nightmare began... I went to my new position with illusions of grandeur with a hefty increase in salary, envisioned shopping at west-side markets and boutiques on the promenade, and actually did realize some of those visions, but with my new salary came a level of indentured servitude that no amount of money is worth. I was so distraught at the choices that I always seem to make in life, bad decision after bad decision, and after just one short week with my newfound wealth, I resigned. Although it may seem foolish, and in retrospect it actually was foolish, I actually resigned based on the misinformation and belief that I would be reinstated to my former position. Due to several discussions with fellow co-workers and management, everyone who would joke and say "you'll be back." So I left thinking I would be reinstated... just like that! One bad decision corrected. I imagined it to be like the snap of my fingers.

Little did I know about the rules and regulations governing reinstatement to a former state government position upon resignation. Now, I was informed that I had to submit a new application even though my position was never filled as only a week has gone by, and I face unemployment due to the level of misinformation that was given to me as well as my failure in verifying the accuracy of same.

From "king for just one day" ready to set out on a new adventure to one step away from the welfare line, my suggestion to any reader who might be in a similar situation. It is like the old adage: "if it ain't broke, don't fix it!" And if you insist as I did, verify the accuracy of any information provided to you and obtain it in writing. A failure to do so may result in a similar predicament.

Learn more about this author, John Huetteman.
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