What are your plans as far as applying for future work is concerned? Do you plan on leveraging your on-campus contacts and possibly applying for a position with the school you are currently working at itself? Do you even plan on applying for any of the open Follett positions that we are about to see by Tuesday at the latest just to give yourself more potential options?
Curious to see the answers here as that might help give people ideas.
Many leaving from what I hear. I was asked to apply as well and as someone else said if I am such and asset then why wasn't I put in the position they want me to apply for to begin with? I hate to leave after 20+ years but going to see what other options are out there.
I’ve already applied on my campus and plan to keep applying during severance. Not where I expected to be after 25 years of service. They offered me a 35% pay decrease. My staff is walking with me so it will be a total sh-t show come May 1. But it’s no longer my problem.
I was let go 7 years ago. Best thing ever. Entry level (trainee) at my new company was what I was making as a Mgr. I’ve duplicated my salary in 7 yrs. Never would’ve happened if I stayed. It’s going to be scary at the beginning but if you have some money in your 401k use it until you get back on your feet. Good luck to you all.
I have been asked to “apply” for these new jobs. My position was terminated and I will get the severance if I make it to May 1. But I was “strongly encouraged “ to apply because “this company needs your skills moving forward.” “You are a great asset to the team.” Yeah, then why didn’t you offer me these positions or at least tell me about them before you terminated me? And honestly, the bookstores are a losing business model. As much as we don’t want to admit it, we are bleeding out money and have been for a long time. Not just us, all college bookstores, whether corporate owned or independent. For a couple of days I thought for sure I wanted one of the new jobs. I kept asking myself why. Comfortable where I am? Afraid to look? Afraid to start again at my age? Because I have close bonds with my co-workers? Because I have invested so much time? None of these are good reasons to stay with a dying company, a dying industry. In all probability, if I took one of these new jobs, I would be in the same situation in 2 years or less.
No, I have decided to move on. Yes, I’m scared to death. But I am facing reality. Even if I took a store manager position or even the regional position, it’s not going to be anywhere near the same. Every reason I had is gone. Would I be comfortable? Nope, probably always looking for signs of implosion. My co-workers? Well they are leaving too. Investment of time? Do I really want to invest MORE time knowing what we all know now? Do I expect better treatment if I stay? No.
Everyone has to make these decisions for themselves, but as much as it crushes my heart that this chapter is over, I am going to face my fears and find something else.
I hope people aren't relying on new jobs coming out on Tuesday, especially if you were a store manager. First of all, the way the whole thing has been handled, I doubt they will be ready to post jobs on Tuesday. Secondly, most of them are going to be low paying, high stress. If they wanted to keep you, they would have made you an offer. The people they want to hire are the ASMs who are willing to do the former store managers jobs for less pay. This is all about getting rid of managers who were making a decent salary and replacing them with lower paid people, so if you think you want one of these positions they are supposedly opening, be prepared to do more and get paid less. And probably lose your store's contract anyway.
I've reached out to my campus contacts but honestly, I hope another position opens up that is right for me. I love my campus, coworkers and friends I have made and it would absolutely suck if I had to move.
My campus isn’t really hiring right now but I’ll keep looking there.
I am curious about the positions we’re opening though, it will tell me a lot about how much, if any, trust might still be there but that’s going to take a lot for me get onboard there.
Wonder the id of this interagator. HQ spy?