So… I haven’t been writing much lately. Yes, I realize that. But it’s not because I’m lazy or don’t have a lot to say.

Recently I started looking for a new job. Here in Huntsville, we have a lot of government contractors, and I really would prefer not to work for one. They have so many restrictions on what their employees can’t do, and I don’t fit into that kind of environment very well. However, because of this unique geographical area, 90% of the open HR jobs come from those kinds of employers. I’ve kept the job search quiet to keep my current employer from being ticked off and to keep everyone from asking me how it’s going. That gets to be a hassle at times, you know?

Anyway, I finally found the perfect one for me as an HR analyst with a government contractor. It’s a solid step up for me career-wise, and I’ll finally get to do some of the stuff that I’ve always wanted to do but never had the chance. I expect the defense industry to go downhill pretty quickly in the next few years, especially if we dump healthcare into the mix and have no more money to spend on defending our country. That’s why I want to make the move now and get that experience before it’s impossible to find a job in this defense-driven area.

Overall, it’s a great move for me and my family.

The only drawback? I can’t write on the blog any longer. They have strict controls over what their employees say publicly, and they don’t want to risk me actually saying something confidential (have I ever?) or something generally stupid enough to reflect on the company. Plus, much of the work there is covered under the Export Control Act (or something like that) and all information has to be approved by a government official before it can be shared with the public. While the HR director told me that she really likes the blog and would love to let me keep it, company policy (ain’t it always the way?) precludes her opinion.

My old posts will stay up for a few weeks, but I’ll have to take the site down before I start as a condition of employment. I’ve made so many friends in the short year that I’ve been blogging and interacting with the online HR community. You’ve all taught me so much and I’ll keep you in my Google Reader for old time’s sake.

Twitter’s on the chopping block, but the axe hasn’t fallen just yet. I expect it will turn out the same way.

Look for some wrapping up posts in the coming week.

And if you really think this is true, sorry I destroyed your hopes. You know I could never leave this! Happy April Fool’s Day. Please don’t break my shins. Oh, and hover over the image in this post to see the secret message.