Laid Off

[msk1986911]

I think I saw this coming for some time...I was given my notice today after 6.5 years with my present company. After working steadily for 24 years since college this is my first experience being "let go". Kind of sucks, but I'll deal.

I've been off the market for some time. Any suggestions on the most effective resources to use? I have experience dealing with commercial & government entities, although I prefer the commercial side (large program contract management work), although I think a drastic change could be what I really need (as long as I can maintain my rather modest Porsche habit; don't want to lose the '86 coupe over this recent development). Anybody have any feelers in the Baltimore-Washington area?

Thanks for listening.

[masraum]

Bummer, I can't help, but good luck. I got laid off when the market crashed in 3/2001. It sucks.

[charleskieffner]

move to hawaii and go diving and surfing! screw corp. amerika!

[teo]

msk..

PM'd you

[id10t]

Consider teaching... not a lot of pay, but you do get lots of time off.

[Moneyguy1]

Been there. Not a happy experience.

"When your neighbor loses his job, it is a recession. When you lose your job, it is a depression."

Don't rule out the public sector. Despite what folks say the work is steady, the pay "adequate", and the benefits very good.

[jluetjen]

Monster.com

That being said, I found my current job through a listing in Boston.com (aka: Boston Globe classifieds on-line). So you're local major newspaper does work.

[Mark Howard]

Go to www.urscorp.com and look under the Careers tab for the job opening database.

URS Corporation is a large AE firm that does a substantial commercial-government consulting and program management. URS has a substantial presence in the northeast and is hiring all the time.

Send me a pm if you want more info or want to send me a resume as to what you do.

[azasadny]

I'm in the same boat... I'm an IT guy at Ford and we just had our "come to Jesus" meeting this week. I'll have some time (Feb 07) at the latest, but I need to figure out something now!

[krichard]

Originally posted by Mark Howard
Go to www.urscorp.com and look under the Careers tab for the job opening database.

URS Corporation is a large AE firm that does a substantial commercial-government consulting and program management. URS has a substantial presence in the northeast and is hiring all the time.

Send me a pm if you want more info or want to send me a resume as to what you do.

My wife works for URScorp. Don't know that I'd recommend working there to anyone I like.

[Mark Howard]

What office location does she work for?

I've been there for a couple years and it's the best employment experience I've ever had, including owning my own business. Good benes, pay and office environment not to mention a wealth of experience to draw from with 29K employees. After Katrina, they shelled out major $$ for our New Orleans office employees, many of which lost everything.

I guess everyone has a different perspective on their employer....

[krichard]

It's probably just the group she works in and it's more my perpective than hers. She in Austin. They have to charge all their time to clients and their management chain makes it their responsibility not to charge overhead and to take personal time or vacation to cover meetings, travel time... real ****ty IMO.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Craigslist. I've done three interviews in the last two weeks (all with places found there) and have one hard offer on the table right now with another one pending (I expect a call in a day or two).

[Mark Howard]

AHHHH... that explains a few things. I can understand. The personal time and vacation thing sounds real suspicious to me. I normally charge overhead for 25% of my time spent marketing, etc. with no quibbles. Her boss must be a tyrant.

Texas offices are targeted to really expand next year. URS' market share there is very low considering the population of the state.

Anyway, I honestly hope her situation improves.

[msk1986911]

Following up on my initial post, my original end date was to have been 10/27/06, although it didn't take long for the bright lights that decided to can me that letting Plan "A" (me) go before Plan "B" (who knows what) is in place is assinine, which resulted in a two month extension to 12/29/06. I've had some time to reassess my goals, etc, which has been good. Unfortunately, the additional time at my current position has given me the opportunity to review my situation as well. Whereas as I was initially told that my skill-sets are not a match for the new organization, I have now found that I've being replaced by a colleague of mine with similar work experience. As a result, I am feeling railroaded and am starting to feel as though I should not go quietly. In the time I've been with this company, I've never received a negative review; merit increases, bonuses and option grants were always good as well. Internal and external customers have never had a problem with me, my work ethic or work product.

Whaddaya think, should I take my severance and run, or, push for more? I promise to spend anything over the base offer on the Porsche.

[svandamme]

how good is your current severance?
is there any risk to that number by pushing for more, or is that guaranteed no matter what?

[M.D. Holloway]

What is your background? What sort of job are you looking for?

[VaSteve]

I sent you a PM.

[azasadny]

Our severance packages at Ford are fixed and we can't negotiate them. We can either take the voluntary package and get the $ or wait for the involuntary packages or no packages at all. Do what's best for you and don't sell yourself short...

[cashflyer]

Can you drive a semi?