Lost my job!

[hhackma]

I'm 58 years old. Last August I lost my job after 26 years with the same company. They decided to "centralize"(IE: hire younger and less expensive employees) my function in a different state and I felt I would be better off looking for work here in Dallas-Fort Worth. I have applied for over 200 positions, have attended many focus groups, have networked, have had interviews and have worked contract jobs. Nothing permanent has turned up. I know I'm not alone. Anyone else out there in a similar position?

[kach22i]

It's good to be in Houston.


2014 - The New Normal for Houston | Construction Citizen


You are in one of the hottest states job wise.

Projected 2014 State Job Creation Leader: Texas
Projected 2014 State Job Creation Leader: Texas | Texas Public Policy Foundation

Unsurprisingly, Texas’ labor market growth has led the nation during the recovery. According to the recently updated Economic Outlook, the state’s unemployment rate was 6.1 percent in November 2013, down from 6.3 percent in November 2012. In addition, Texas’ unemployment rate has been at or below the national rate for 83 consecutive months.

[JavaBrewer]

Originally Posted by hhackma

I'm 58 years old. Last August I lost my job after 26 years with the same company. They decided to "centralize"(IE: hire younger and less expensive employees) my function in a different state and I felt I would be better off looking for work here in Dallas-Fort Worth. I have applied for over 200 positions, have attended many focus groups, have networked, have had interviews and have worked contract jobs. Nothing permanent has turned up. I know I'm not alone. Anyone else out there in a similar position?

In your opinion what is the major stumbling block to getting a FT position? I rarely send out applications without knowing a contract there prior. The times I did I never got a response.

26 years is a LONG time to be with the same employer. Guessing this "centralize" plan came unexpectedly?

[JAR0023]

I feel your pain. Went through something similar in 09. Company I worked for consolidated six major regions into three and basically laid off (fired) half their management staff in two days. Never saw it coming. Team leads all the way up to VPs.

I took a less than stellar job at a less than stellar company under the promise that ownership was about to flip the company 180* in the right direction. Took about a year and a half of hell before that happened but now it's all gravy. All my friends at the old place are still sweating their jobs every day. I go to work smiling. Even so I'll never get complacent again. My resume is always up to date. I work from home now but when I commuted to an office I kept an empty box in the corner, to remind myself I could be out of there in 15 mins or less.

I don't know what you do, what your skills are or what kind of money you need, but we have an office in Irving with two open positions now. (Insurance Claims) PM me if your are interested. -J

[hhackma]

They has talked about it for years, so it was not unexpected. What was unexpected was the way getting a job today has really changed from the last time I was looking for a job. LinkedIn, resume formats, cover letters, all done by the web, it's really changed. And you are right about not getting ANY response at all. Happens all the time.

[hhackma]

PM sent.

[targa911S]

I worked at a newspaper in Tampa and saw the writing on the wall that I was going to be replaced with 3 people at lower salaries vs them paying me a big commission check every month. I took retirement before the excrement hit the fan. I got out at age 55. Maybe you could just retire?

[hhackma]

I have given that some thought, but I still want to work. I enjoy the people I work(ed) with and the customers we had were great. A lot of good people out there.

[Hugh R]

At 58 you must have contacts in your industry. About 15 years ago I got laid off (fired; whatever) and for $20 or $30 I had business cards printed and was doing my own thing, and landed my first consulting contract in about a week. I made about $100K my first year. I'd suggest you only put your cell phone as your phone number, don't want potential clients calling the house and your wife/kids answer. Create a simple website with your email tied to that website, not Gmail or something like that. Keep the website and email tied together job.blow@hhackma.com or something like that. Scratch that, hhackma doesn't sound like an appealing name, if you get my drift.

[targa911S]

Originally Posted by hhackma

I have given that some thought, but I still want to work. I enjoy the people I work(ed) with and the customers we had were great. A lot of good people out there.

I came out of sales. So I understand the human contact aspect of it. I retired and now work part time now as a gunsmith, doing what I want to do and still making human contact and getting out of the house. I'm my own boss so no pressure to deal with.

[flatbutt]

I came close when my job was transferred to Pittsburgh. I was offered a more junior job and I took it....cost me approx 15k/year.

[Tilikum Turbo]

Make sure you list in your summary in LinkedIn, resumes, etc...what you can DO for the prospective employer.

For example(and you can reword it a bit to tailor to your liking)

Hello,
Here is a short list of what bring to the table as a future employee.
Attitude: Come to work on time, ready and motivated/enthusiastic for the day’s tasks ahead. I
became an engineer because I thrive on difficult problems to solve.

Initiative: Anticipate and get out in front of issues before they become real problems. Try to gain perspective of others to facilitate the common goals and objectives of the employer.

Commitment: “It’s not my job”. Those are words you’ll never hear emanate from my mouth. Find and work the solution(s). Employers hire me to produce results, not excuses. Take
real ownership of my responsibilities.

Personality: As a representative of my employer, conduct myself always in a professional
manner, regardless of it’s with another employee, or a vendor/supplier. Strive to be on
good terms with others.

Lead by example: Instill a sense of urgency and importance to the tasks required to those who
report to me. Treat employees fairly without bias or personal agenda. Keep an
open mind to new ideas/concepts. Take risk, and don’t pass the buck.

...Then go into your work history. Also a JPEG at the top of your resume.

The game has change so much because major companies whore their HR out to 3rd parties and recruiters...all designed to lowball and screw the worker.

Never once in 20 years as an engineer did I EVER meet an HR person who not only didn't have a clue what I do(aka not qualified to place/hire/recruit), but dishonest to the core.

Good luck...and go get em'!!

Don't be afraid also to send a hard-copy to places you want to work, along with e-mailed.

[Por_sha911]

I was faced with a 20 year top performance record in an industry that crashed and burned in 2009-2010. Had to find a new industry. At my age and with my limited experience it looked bad. I did a lot of praying.
A year and a half later, I found a position in a new field and I made 50% more in 2013 than my best year in the old field.

Moral of the story: sometimes a test turns into a testimony. Keep your head up. Remember that when they let you go, all your skill, experience, and wisdom walked out the door with you.

[Bowling]

No opportunities with a competitor?

[epbrown]

Originally Posted by hhackma

I know I'm not alone. Anyone else out there in a similar position?

Same boat. My job was eliminated almost 2 years ago after working there 21 years and I had no luck finding anything. The issue in my case is what I used to do has been all but eliminated by technology, and what remains can be outsourced and/or done remotely, so there's nothing in my field. Plus just about every interview I managed to get brought up the issue of salary - I was fine with taking a pay cut, but no employer was comfortable with that.

I wound up starting my own business and working part-time while it gradually takes off.

[flskala]

My former boss just went through this. He looked for over a year, trying to find something in the same field/salary level....nothing. He decided he HAD to reinvent himself & his career. He bought an office cleaning franchise & hasn't looked back. More money, his own boss, more time off but initially more pressure too. Good Luck - you will find the right path.

[strupgolf]

I was in your boat at age 57. RIFFED, I guess they say. But hey, after looking around, I made a decision to do something out of my realm. I've had lots of fun, been to places I would never see, an now at 63, I have finally semi-retired. Now its on my time. Hell at our age, we can do what we want. Look at things you might have said, hell no, you never know.

[legion]

What industry are you in? My employer is decentralizing, and expanding big time in DFW.

[hhackma]

Thank you for all the comments/suggestions. My background is in finance(what my last employer called our function) mainly in credit/collection/cash application and dispute resolution. I had an interview with a competitor yesterday, which came about from networking with a former co worker who was also RIFed at my former employer.
Also have a phone interview this afternoon with a company in a different industry. That what I can't get my head around. All or most companies have accounts receivable. Unless they have out sourced that function to a third party, there should be a need for what I do.
Anyway at least there is some activity so maybe posting on here has brought me some good fortune. Thanks again.

[wildthing]

I wish you luck. Apart from what's already said, in your LinkedIn/resume, focus on the results you have achieved, not your responsibility. E.g. responsible for dispute resolution doesn't sound as good as "Resolved x disputes that saved company y dollars" or something. You know what I mean.