Over the past few months, my family and I have been tested and experienced some challenges in our lives. Recent news has us all looking forward and looking up. Previous posts explain what we have been through. Today I want to focus on what is happening now.
During my recent illness, Humana announced they were closing their commercial group line of business. They gave us a rough timeline of 18-24 months and both Marcie and I would lose our jobs at some point. When was the question? Withing days of the announcement, we heard people were already given notice of their jobs being eliminated. It has been steady since the announcement.
Because this would affect 100% of our income, we began looking for positions both within Humana and outside. Both of us applied to various positions and were rejected immediately on some, given screening on others, then rejected and finally March 30th I had an interview.
The role was in theory the same as I am doing now, but a promotion with more responsibility and working on a different product. Medicaid. I had not interviewed in roughly a decade, not a big fan of talking about myself, and was very nervous. I also had another prospective role lined up that I ended up getting an interview for on April 7th.
The interview in March was scheduled for 45 minutes, was a Zoom call with camera on, and I prepared myself for the notorious “tell me about a time when…” questions. As the call began, my interviewer, Mike, said, “let me tell you about the role. I’ll have you go through your work history, will ask a few questions, then give you time for any.” He also said he would take notes, so I may see the top of his head a lot, but he was paying attention.
Mike explained the job to me, and how the person would fit into the team, then I began my 20+ year history at Humana. He gave me lots of affirmation and made comments like “that is great” as I continued to speak. Then the questions came. Thankfully, they were not ‘tell me about a time when, but more like you mentioned this, can you go into more detail about it?’ Or he would ask specifics about certain things I had said during my rundown at Humana.
After his questions were done, I ask a few myself at which he answered but even stated “that is a brilliant question”. At that point, he stated, “I know we are at our time limit, but you mentioned xxxx and I like to talk a bit more about that.”
The interview went over 15 minutes and he ended with, “I’ll be honest. I am going to recommend to my boss that you move forward. I am not sure if she will want to interview you or not, or maybe say Mike, hire him.” He added, “regardless you will find out something next week.”
Monday came and went. So did Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday morning. As I am not a master of suspense here, you can obviously guess I was offered the role at 11:30am on Friday morning.
I filled out the proper paperwork, which had my new salary (substantial increase), start date (April 23rd), got a hug and kiss from my wife, then took a tremendous sigh of relief. As I had promised, I began letting those people know who had said prayers for me and were genuinely interested and concerned about my impending job loss.
I do, however, ask that those prayers shift now to Marcie, as she is still searching for a new role herself. She, like me, has not gotten the official notification of release, but it is coming. We just don’t know when.
Gad has blessed me and my family. He also sent me an angle (you know who you are). My physical and mental struggles over the past few months have tested my faith and will. I did all I could to stay positive and God took care of me as I knew he would. I just asked why so many times and struggled to see his plan. I guess that is the correct definition of faith, huh?
Until next time.
Tim
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