Lost my job today.

[jp-]

Got let go at 11am this morning. Glad that I hadn't purchased another vehicle like I was thinking about.

It was based solely on seniority. In fact, I saved the company $4000 just last Thursday.

-John

[Bertha]

I am really sorry to hear that-what field are/were you in? Contrary to what our pathetic media wants you to believe, there are jobs out there, so don't lose hope.

[Jeff Aronson]

Wow, John, sorry to hear this. You're certainly not alone! At least you have a wonderful barn full of interesting vehicles.

I really appreciated the article in the March/April issue!

Good luck in your job search.

Jeff

[NickDawson]

very sorry to hear that - like Bertha said, please let us know how we can help extend your job search?

[jrd51ox]

Very sorry to hear John. I am a recruiting manager in Philadelphia. Many of my clients have nation wide locations so please email me your resume. No promises, but I'll try my best.

Email: jdaniels@techusa.net

[Bostonian1976]

sorry to hear JP - I had this happen last October. Go file unemployement right away! These are crazy times - don't take it personally

[chrismccarthy]

in 1 1/4 year since i was laidoff, all i've found is a parttime job. that guy's wrong, DO take it personally, its me and you against the rest of 'em, got any ammo?
poor Landy, it's sat waiting patiently for the cash to be roadworthy, but it will be longer still. i wonder if the Landy qualifies for Stimulus Grant monies..?
good luck, no job defines you, it wasn't part of yourself that you lost

[xsbowes]

Not even the military is safe from cutbacks, this fall the Navy is looking at forcing 2000 out of 8000 Chiefs/Senior & Master Chiefs that have more than 20 years in, to retire by next June. Granted they will be retiring but for some of us that are being reviewed that retirement is not enough to make ends meet.

Good luck in your job search. Don't rule out applying for a federal job (http://www.usajobs.gov), especially if you've had any time in the service.

[kevin-ct]

Sorry about the job, I lost my job 1/08. I worked for a Land Rover dealer and they let eight others and me go.

Now I repair cars out of my garage at home. I do what ever I can to make the bills.

Good luck :thumb-up:

[Tim Smith]

I'm very sorry to hear that JP.

If your field seems to be flooded with people of a similar skill set looking for work, then this might be the prime time to add to your qualifications or simply change vocation. I wish there were some sage words of advice for you but all I can think to say is best of luck!

[LaneRover]

I am in between jobs quite often as I am an 'itinerant film worker'. Apply for unemployment - currently mine includes an extra stimulus of $25 a week and while looking for a job maybe use the extra time to get some stuff done around the house! At the moment the actors are still being twits with my industry so I am not sure when I will be working next. I am luckier than most though, I just got off of 4 years on a series and had saved up $$ for the writer's strike.

Best of luck!

Brent

[jp-]

Thanks for the support everyone. I am an Engineer, so I'm in a strong field. It's just that I don't want to move right now. I have a friend in Oklahoma and one in New York who have jobs available if I can't find anything else.

The stupid thing is that our Business was down 87% but the Engineering group (only 4 of us) were absolutely buried in work. I went from 4 projects to 15 in just the last few months. We were ramping up our cost saving projects and had already saved a bunch of money. Before I hired on, our company had 8+ Engineers. Of the current 4, only 2 of us took care of the plant floor. Now there will only be one Engineer for the floor, which is not enough to cover the 250,000 sq ft building (and he knows it, he's a friend).

JRD, thank you for the offer. I have a few people looking for me locally and if it doesn't pan out, I might take you up on it.

Not sure if I should take the unemployment, I never have and it's somewhat of a matter of pride to say that I don't need it. I am also curious if that is something that stays on your record, as far as future employment???? They told me that I am going to get one month's severance, so that's something.

[LH Drive]

Not sure if I should take the unemployment, I never have and it's somewhat of a matter of pride to say that I don't need it. I am also curious if that is something that stays on your record, as far as future employment???? They told me that I am going to get one month's severance, so that's something. Its not welfare. Unemployment was designed for times like these. Apply for it today.
Sounds like the perfect time to start taking bulkhead repair orders and get them done in your home work shop.

[superstator]

My father was an unemployement hearings officer back in the day, and he was pretty adamant that I take advantage of the benefit when I was laid off a few years ago...

Just think of it as an enforced savings account the government has been managing for you all this time, and now you finally get to withdraw a little. Not to say there aren't leeches out there, but you're obviously not one of them - you've earned a couple free checks to bridge the gap. And no, it won't affect any future employement opportunity.

Good Luck!

[Rineheitzgabot]

Take care. Don't let it get you down. The economy will pick back up again, eventually, and you will find gainful employment.

They're right, JP.

Unemployment is an insurance policy that your company pays into. In theory, if they hadn't been paying into it, they could have been paying their workers more.

Take it; it is not welfare. You have already worked for it.

-Gary

[NickDawson]

Not sure if I should take the unemployment, I never have and it's somewhat of a matter of pride to say that I don't need it. I am also curious if that is something that stays on your record, as far as future employment????
Ditch the pride - even if you don't absolutely need it, put it in your rover fund :D you are entitled to it and there's no shame in it.

A major employer here in Richmond just laid off 700 people, all professionals, and the first advice the outsourcing staff gave them all was "go start the paperwork first thing monday morning, its free money"

There is no 'record' to worry about - and besides, who could judge someone for taking care of their family after a layoff? That's not someone I'd want to work for any way (but I can appreciate your concern)

People will tell you that this will ultimately be a good thing, and there will be a sliver lining.... and thats 100% true...but nothing is more frustrating to hear when you don't see the end of the tunnel.
The best thing you can do is keep your chin up, network your tail off - make 10 calls a day, what do you have to lose? and spend time with your family....and your rover :D

[LaneRover]

Yes, remember it is unemployment INSURANCE. I had the same attitude when I got into film. I used to say, I am not going on unemployment because if I cannot support myself doing this with out unemployment then I shouldn't do it. I had an accountant and a few friends tell me I was an idiot - after a few years I started to listen!

Brent

[czenkov]

Take the unemployment. I had pride once too - cost me $5k in savings before I found anything. And it didn't pay the bills. You being an engineer should have no issues. But if you want to move to Utah (Moab anyone?) PM me because I might have a lead for you.

[ShootingCar]

JP,
which just so happens to be my initials also, I too am an engineer (structural) and was laid off in 2000. I started my own consulting business using the skills I learned from the paper manufacturing industry to apply to all industries. Now we are up to about 14 full time and mainly laid off engineers, designers and consultants doing cool work. I understand that you don't want to move and I didn't either. My thoughts are, unless you are in San Fransico, etc., it will be more expensive to move. But the need for good innovative engineers is still great and will be getting greater with the move to technology driven industries, etc. Having gone through this I know that the main thing to vent is that it is personal and it hardly ever makes sense. So don't let your value become a factor in the decision. It was not, but you can build from it for the next job. As an employer, I tell those that are laid off that I want engineers who take it personal because that means that they take their work personally. I like it when the boss is saying "now don't take this personally". Well hell yes it's not personal to them, it's not their job, their house payment, their kid's orthodontist bill. I mean do you really want to have your heart operation by someone who really doesn't give a damn.

JP, email me if you want to talk and I will do anything I can to help you. I may not know anything about this series Land Rover I dreamed of getting, but this is something that I can contribute to.

Jeff Pearl
jhp@pearlengineering.com

[Bostonian1976]

this sort of 'community' is why I still stay on forums. Good luck JP...

[4flattires]

Sorry to hear that, it sure is a sign of the times. I will be right there with you somewhere between 60 days and 8 months from now. My company was just purchased and they wont need an extra corporate office, so we all got a transitionary time frame with a nice little kicker of "oh, we can let you go with just 60 days notice". After 32 years with them I will be out on the street. Keep your chin up and eyes forward and keep Rover'ing.

Jeff

[jp-]

60 days would have been something. We had no warning at all. Just get your things and get out.

Thanks again everyone. I'll make it.

[thixon]

JP,

I've been out of town, and not reading the board. I hate to hear that. Don't take it personally, and don't let it ruin your attitude.
I have contacts all over the US, but I'm in the building products business. If I can help, feel free to contact me.

Good Luck,

[Leslie]

60 days would have been something. We had no warning at all. Just get your things and get out.

Thanks again everyone. I'll make it.

The largest employer in town is kinda like that.... there was rumor (seriously loud rumor) about layoffs coming, but no one knew who or when... lots of armchair quarterbacking of who would end up going, but no one *knew*.....

When it's time, they just call you into the boss' office... while you're in there being informed, the IT folks wipe your passwords; you're escorted directly to the door, right *then*. You're allowed to come back after hours that evening to collect any personal items, under security's supervision (pictures, etc.), but you can't get back on to the PC, can't take any files or contact info... gack.

Best o' luck.....

[lrdukdog]

When it's time, they just call you into the boss' office... while you're in there being informed, the IT folks wipe your passwords; you're escorted directly to the door, right *then*. You're allowed to come back after hours that evening to collect any personal items, under security's supervision (pictures, etc.), but you can't get back on to the PC, can't take any files or contact info... gack.

Time to start that personel back-up everyday:) . Just keep the faith guys and remember " If it doesn't kill you it makes you stronger" and "Who dares Wins" this from a retired guy who's part-time job is dying :(
Jim Wolf