Joseph Geierman

Too much has happened in 2009 for me not write a short note about it. When the year started, I didn’t think I’d be remembering it fondly at all – I’d just been laid off from a job I was very comfortable in, and was forced to join millions of other unemployed people in the toughest job market of the last 50 years. Few positions that I was qualified for were being posted; and of those, I did not get a lot of interest from their HR departments. Over the course of 6 months, I applied to 106 jobs. Only 5 or 6 of those applications resulted in interviews. Of those, only 3 were in-person. It was a frustrating time, to say the least.

For the most part, I think I kept an upbeat demeanor: I channeled my energies into networking and other job-search activities, and generally managed to keep busy. Ironically, on the day I felt most hopeless about my situation, I received a call from the law firm that I would end up accepting a position with. They wanted me to come downtown for an in-person interview – the rest is history. It’s funny the way things work out.

In fact, when I look back on 2009, it has been a surprisingly good year for me – especially professionally. Here are some of my ’09 accomplishments:

• On June 1, I was hired for a position that quickly morphed into my dream job
• I finished my thesis in November, & graduated with a Master’s degree from GA Tech this month
• After being a passive member for several years, I became actively engaged in the local chapter of IFMA – a professional association for Facility Managers. It looks like I may become even more involved in 2010
• A few days before my birthday in March, I was awarded the Certified Facility Manager designation
• In mid-December, I received the Martha Osborne CFM Award, for setting a good example for other Facility Managers

I appreciate all my friends and loved ones who stood by me in the bad times and the good this year, and look forward to more exciting changes in years to come!

Happy New Year, everyone – see you in 2010!