Out of work, first time in 20 years
 

I'm out of work, first time in 20 years. Its been 3 weeks now. I've been working from home as a new product development manager (I make new stuff people are supposed to want to buy) for a company up north, while I work in SC. Was a pretty sweet gig, lots of time to do research, build prototypes, interface with consumers, etc. I was pretty good at it, added project worth 10+million in estimated revenue in the first 9 months. I made my months trip to the headquarters for my update with the team, and Monday morning, POW, "we don't need your services anymore". No real reason given, can only assume they wanted someone onsite. No severance, no package, just leave your laptop and phone at your desk.

Usually I've seen things coming and could prepare, reorganizations, budget cuts, politics. But being offsite, I was out of the loop.

So I find myself here in front of the PC, updating resumes, pouring over job boards, taking the occasional call from recruiters, usually with jobs I'm over qualified for. Networking, emailing, texting....and waiting. Could be a long time. My type of position usually hires from within.

Wrench in the works, I've worked in some risky positions the last few years, if they had worked would have paid off well, but they didn't and I ended up with some short stays on my history. All had legit reasons, (I've had 3 companies outsource engineering in my last 4 spots) leaving me with no option other than to find another spot. Actually had a recruiter rip me a new one yesterday because of it (awful nice of you, thanks)

Trying to make the best of the time off, catching up on home and car projects. Paint a few rooms, finally getting paint on my targa project in the garage. But also doing some design projects to add to my portfolio, should I decide to go consulting.

Anyone need a innovation guy, look me up.

www.linkedin.com/in/johnhelgesen

I'll be here, working on the next big idea.

Is there no retribution for being fired on the spot ? Couldn't you demand a reason for being let go from HR, in order to tell your next potential employer the situation ?

At any point will unemployment payments kick in to help you through this patch?

Unemployment is approved, wasn't and issue. Case worker said consider it a layoff.

Sorry for the upset in your career. Some advice I have would be to pay for a few months of Linkedin premium so you can search and connect with hiring managers you are targeting.

Are you willing to work as 1099 basis? That might open you up to some foot-in-the-door work.

That recruiter grilling you was probably a test to see how you answer the question "Why so many short term jobs"? If you can't answer him under pressure, you will have a hard time answering that question with his client hiring managers. Get your story polished and deliver it with confidence. Business moves quickly now and short term positions are not the Scarlet Letter they once were.

At least this happened during record low unemployment.

Good luck! Chin up and don't mind f**k yourself too much.

No severance?

___

Yeah, that was tough to do the last few weeks. Nothing some serious garage time hasn't fixed. Thanks for the support!

Many years ago I lost a job I had had for 21 years. While I searched for employment, I had a short bout of depression as I didn't feel that there were any jobs in my area that were comparable and I worried constantly. However, I did everntually find a job in a completely different field.

Long story short, losing my job was the best thing that ever happened to me. I learned a new skill and was much happier in my new job. I made a little less money but it turned out not to matter. I discovered that I learned my new skill much faster as I was able to utilize my past experience.

Hang in there, it will get better.

Good time to take a vacation somewhere. Collect unemployment. I always say the best opportunities are those where you draw on your expertise and back ground so that's the only advice I have.

Things always have a way of working out.

Keep smiling, John! ;)

I would have ripped him right back!

I would have said " I guess that I should be looking for a better recruiter who knows his job well. Everyone knows that you do not want a stagnant innovation guy."

In my line of work being stagnant is a detriment. :)

(spin everything in your favor, and yes, there are lots of unqualified recruiters workmen form outdated models)

^^^^ This....and it's not by accident either :). Sucks to go through it though...best to ya!

good luck J.

Keep your chin up and get this one stuck in your head.


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This is the face of America today...you can not count on anything anymore.

You said you have had 3 eng gigs in the past few get outsourced...that is a sign of the times..American workers are expendable... It can not be held against you as that is the way it is..

Everybody here should get used to that displacement. Meanwhile your incomes are in decline and that is reflected eventually in your lifestyle. Your best bet is work for yourself in some capacity even if it is not a traditional route.

American workers are becoming Walmart Greeters, only that career option is closing to...

American companies do it because American workers are overpaid vs the help in the developing world. It makes perfect sense for them to dump American workers.

Only now with the new Tax Bill some companies are giving bonus's to their employees..WHY would they be so magnanimous..

THEY REALIZE THAT WITHOUT INCOME THEIR EMPLOYEES CAN NOT BUY THE PRODUCTS THAT THEY SELL

Lets get with the program here people and live in the real world and not the fake and phony world they are trying to sell you on TV.

INDEED.COM is a great place to look

My experience with recruiters has been awful... Oh, if they have a job they need to fill, they will call you alright, even if your resumé has barely one word that matches the needs, and possibly lie about you to the hiring company (I tore them a new one during a totally irrelevant interview, they rewrote my CV!!!)

In IT it's now an Indian *Mafia*, most of the time I could not understand a damn word spoken on the phone... They make appointments and don't honor them, you're raw meat...

I ended up picking up a contract job that turned permanent... at the end of the day I got better results with Indeed.com and personal contacts than those $%#$%$#%... I have an extremely low opinion of recruiters now and I would not let them get you down about your CV... Feel free to be creative with that and frame it in the best possible light, slight embellishments of a CV isn't a perjury offense (don't lie, but frame it right). Get to the interviews... whatever it takes...

Shut up tabs



Good luck on the job search John

From a left field observer, why did they do that?

They literally took the time to re-craft your resume?

That shows some bit of care, however shiety the new one was.

You live on planet DENIAL.

Tabs - you're spot on since the economic collapse post 2007. Also doubly bad if your 50+ years old. It's why I went into the public sector working for 1 of the wealthiest county governments in the US.