A downside to living in the US

is that from one day to the next, you can be out of a job...as I just found out this week. Forget about the 3 months or 6 months notice as is usual in Europe, the union-protection or seniority rules... businesses here have the prerogative that when things get though, they can let go of people immediately to improve their balance sheets. No matter how good the people, their performance, or credentials. Of course, employees can do the same thing, but right now, I'd rather trade that benefit in.

I was headhunted 7 months ago by a late-stage tech start-up...and then last Thursday, they had a swift round of lay-offs and I was one of the casualties, as were many others, including the VP of sales, head of engineering, head of OEM sales, head of a media account, a product marketing manager and many others. Still, knowing you're not the only one doesn't lighten the blow that much. I still felt angry, disappointed and cheated....if their financials and forecasting were so unstable, they should never have gone on this massive people hiring binge, and then let them go within the same year. That feels like playing with people, and that doesn't feel fun. I guess it's like a good friend said: it's typical of entrepreneurs, they forecast for what they hope for, rather then for reality. I expected more from a company named in Fortune magazine as one of the '9 tech IPOs worth waiting for'.

You can probably tell, there's a bit of bitterness and sadness in my tone...it'll temper in a little while. I'm over the worst. Nothing a good cry and a little time can't fix. But, in the meantime, I am actively looking for my next job.
As I am at this crossroads, I'd ideally like to use this opportunity to relocate back to Belgium, or nearby in Europe, to be closer to my family, but if push comes to shove, I may have to take something here in the short term to make ends meet. So, if you know of any good positions for a results-driven, seasoned marketing director with american and european experience in high-tech and FMCG, of if you have contacts who know people who might need a marketer with a proven track record in brand stategy, campaign management, public relations and strategic marketing, I'd love to make my resume available and look into opportunities.