Laid off---again

[Oh Haha]

After 3 months with the new company I was bumped by an employee with more seniority. They eliminated his route and he is able to bump into our branch. I was the low man on the list. That's the way it goes.

I'm not as upset as I was when I was laid off from my other company in Feb.

Honestly, I was having a hard time liking the route work. I thought that I could just jump back into the hourly position and be happy. Uh, uh.


I plan to take full advantage of this new development and set myself up for schooling through some of the new programs for laid off people. I don't really know what yet but I am going to look into several areas before deciding. I figure I am sort of looking a making a clean start and I could pretty much go in any direction, within reason of course.

My wife and I both sent out online apps Friday evening. We figure one of us SHOULD get a call back at some point. If she gets hired I will stay at home with the kids, at least for the summer. Daycare costs would eat up most of our budget so we want to try to have one of us at home until the kids get into full time school.

I will get unemployment benefits and those will cover our monthly bills. It'll be close but doable with a bit more changes to be made.

We are supposed to know about my pension in June and that we can dip into if needs arise.


I feel like a bum but I know that so many others are in the same position through no fault of their own that I am going to try to actually enjoy the time and focus on what I want to do in the future. I'm not one to sit around and do nothing so I will keep busy as best I can. i know I can do some jobs for cash for my in-laws and other relatives.

[slodave]

Sorry to hear. I hope things work out for the both of you soon!

[fintstone]

Tough break. I don't know how much more of the "hope and change" the nation can take. Good luck. Have you considered relocating to somewhere that has a better economy?

[pwd72s]

Wayne...hang in there. Sorry to hear...just keep stepping up tp the plate!

[red-beard]

Well, Houston has a problem here...

With the potential crippling of the energy economy with the Waxman bill, no one wants to hire right now...

[Porsche-O-Phile]

The current bunch of fools in power couldn't more effectively destroy the economy of this country if they tried. I seriously think they're lucking into it - they're not that bright collectively. But destroying it they are...

[pwd72s]

Jeff...yeah.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?t=475047

[Oh Haha]

Thanks again, guys.


Yes, we have talked about relocation but the question is , which state?

We are not in a position to be able to pick a state and go there to hope for the best.

That would be pretty cool, though. Throw a dart and just go to that state.

Man, I hope it lands on a Southern one.

If it were just the 2 of us, we wold have done that already.

In some ways, it feels like the whole world has opened up for me but then there is the voice in my head telling me to think reasonably. Stupid voice.

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

Wayne,

Keep your head up!! There are alot of us in the same boat. I have been targeting multiple states. It would seem to me most companies are taking local candidates before contacting distance candidates. That is just my impression... Relocation/Signing bonuses are not on the table at this stage with most companies/positions I see. I wish I could tell you where the economy is the strongest. I see most positions for what I do in CA and the northeast but that is just the industry (Pharma). I am looking for somewhere else.

Keep looking and enjoy time with your kids!! I've found it good to vent here, people are VERY supportive!!

[red-beard]

Wayne,

I think Texas is a good choice, but, until the congress finishes it's messing around with the carbon taxes and sets the rules in place, hardly anyone is hiring.

What is is your background?

[Rick V]

I wish I could have gotten my wife to look in diff states when her position was cut. I being a mechanic can do what I do anywhere so I am portable. I viewed her situation as an opportunity, too bad she didn't look at it that way. Keep an open mind, look where you think you might wanna be and see if you can open doors. The recent job situation sux but it can also be opportunistic for an open minded person.
Good luck where ever you land.

[strupgolf]

Sorry to hear the news, I was in the same boat a short time ago. Do what you can to spend the time with the kids. You'd be surprised to find out how little you can live on. I'm earning far less than I was, but I'm kind of coming around to the idea that I love what I do (charter driver) and work far less hours, and at my age, I only have 7 more years to go to SS. Keep you spirits up, love your wife, hug your kids, and it will all work out.

[speedracing944]

Take advantage of the education if you can. I basically got a free ride through engineering school and will be finishing up this December. The program I was involved in was the TRA and TAA. Ask your job center about the programs.

Speedy

[azasadny]

Wayne,

I'm sorry to hear the latest. Network and contact everyone you know (including us Pelicans) and get your resume out there!

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by Oh Haha

I plan to take full advantage of this new development and set myself up for schooling through some of the new programs for laid off people. .

Stay out of architecture.

Sorry to hear the news Wayne.

I've been busy helping a friend move as he walked away from his home.

I'm trying to get a govenment job myself (U of M), they are the only ones spending money these days.

My Porsche is sitting in the garage this summer, just cheaper to operate one vehicle. I hope I don't have to sell it.

[Rot 911]

Hope for the best, but plan for the worst. On Jan 10 of this year the new governor fired 150 state employees including my wife and me. My wife just went into shock and depression. I started making plans and budgeting. I had to keep reassuring my little daughter things would be alright. I literally had to force my wife to get up and get looking. I also figured if we were unemployed we might as well be unemployed somewhere we both would like to live. Checking out other states, sending out resumes and networking was a full time job for me. During all of that my wife got rehired by another state agency and I went into private practice. We are now making almost half of what we were in the past, but are doing ok. Keep looking and moving forward. Spend a short time feeling sorry for yourself, then start making plans.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by Kurt V

Hope for the best, but plan for the worst. On Jan 10 of this year the new governor fired 150 state employees including my wife and me. My wife just went into shock and depression. I started making plans and budgeting. I had to keep reassuring my little daughter things would be alright. I literally had to force my wife to get up and get looking. I also figured if we were unemployed we might as well be unemployed somewhere we both would like to live. Checking out other states, sending out resumes and networking was a full time job for me. During all of that my wife got rehired by another state agency and I went into private practice. We are now making almost half of what we were in the past, but are doing ok. Keep looking and moving forward. Spend a short time feeling sorry for yourself, then start making plans.

Sage advice...

[Oh Haha]

Wow Kurt. I must have missed your post on your job loss. good luck with everything.



Today, I posted my resume on line as part of the unemployment requirements.



I had a call from "AT+T" this morning about a job interview. I went to the interview at 3pm and was put in with several other "applicants". Turns out the company is not AT+T but they ARE a preferred vendor for them. Yeah, you go out and sell the new AT+T U-verse door to door.

It really sounded like a pyramid scheme to me in the way it's set up.


EDIT: Are you guys SURE we can't get paid for being on Pelican?


(really, who becomes an area manager in 6 weeks? Please.)



I told the fella that the job wasn't for me.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by Oh Haha

It really sounded like a pyramid scheme to me in the way it's set up.

That sucks.

I went to a job fair at Lawrence Technological University in Southfield a few weeks ago. About a thousand people showed up, all professionals, most over the age of 50, and the majority being LTU graduates, I'm guessing mostly engineering.

There were about 50 vendors there, most were not top notch companies, mostly sales stuff (pyramid scheme). One table for Solidworks 3D computer modeling program was not hiring at all, they could not sell their program anymore because of the market downturn so they were giving it away. Actually they are extending the 30 day free trial to 90 days in hopes that you learn it and purchase it. Awesome, where is that 200 hours I don't need looking for work and that $4,000 burning a hole in my pocket?

Even the university got in on the act, a infomercial on TV screens around the room telling us all what a great thing if we went back to LTU for an advanced degree and or more training. In fact they have a program for laid off people and their kids for half off tuition, for the finest 400 which apply/enroll for school.

LTU is a great school, but I often think about the senior class of engineers and architects who just spent six figures in debt to get their education. What the heck must the future look like to them?

[wcc]

That sucks! I hope the best for you and your family. Did you get that link I sent ya? There was 5 pages of job openings. I saw a couple HR ones for your wife so you can stay home...