Downsized again

Parent Cafe
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<p>So sorry to hear this, ldinct. My DH and older s both went through this not too long ago, but fortunately both are gainfully re-employed. It will happen. You will find a job. But this stinks. </p>

<p>Treetop- your street photography ideas sounds very clever. Why couldnt a photographer get a street vendors license like any other street vendor? </p>

<p>I thought that an old college buddy of mine had said that he tried something like that, but I went back to his facebook and website and saw that what he had done was pretend to be set up for a shot of something else when in fact he was shooting candid shops of engagement/wedding proposals (planned in advance by the soon-to-be groom). Pretty clever. I also really enjoyed reading his website - he shot the Michael Douglas- Catherine Zeta-Jones wedding as well as Billy Joel, Salman Rushdie, Geraldo Rivera, and Melissa Rivers! How cool is that!!??!! </p>

<p>Sorry for the digression. I wish you the best, OP. We have all been there.</p>

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<p>Yes unfortunately it seems “we have all been there” and many more than once.</p>

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<p>Yes,</p>

<p>Unfortunately too many of us have been there. Not myself, but my H, twice in the '80s, one of them while I took a year off to be with newborn. Now he is finally really close to retirement and may be downsized before it arrives.</p>

<p>I agree that for many of us the recession hasn’t ended.</p>

<p>Idinct, take those few days. Your positive self will return and you will able to push on.</p>

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<p>I’ve been laid off five times in my life, the first time from my summer job at the baseball stadium when the players went on strike, the last two times during the .com bust where I got nailed twice in two years and was out of work for about 18 months total. It sucked every time.</p>

<p>Take some time to clear your head, engage in some retail therapy (new suit and a new pair of shoes are very therapeutic, and you will look snappy for interviews), and start the process up again.</p>

<p>While the economy is still not great, by my propriety measure of the state of the economy (how long I sit in traffic jams on my way to work) things have improved in the last 6 months. We supposedly hit bottom in the summer of 2009, so hopefully the search will be shorter this time.</p>

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<p>So sorry! I don’t have any advice, but I’m sending you a hug.</p>

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<p>Well, almost 1 month into it, I feel a little better- finally able to eat, which depending on how you look at it is good or bad. Working on my unemployment wardrobe - I’m calling it “Unemployment Chic”. I was going to respond to the “Feel like giving up” thread, with “me too”, but the poor girl is in much worse shape than me. I finally finished my first resume and applied to a couple of jobs.</p>

<p>Being a parent of a senior now is not easy. Received an email about class rings, ugh. “You don’t want a class ring, right” “Well if I did I’m sure we couldn’t afford it”. He also wants to know why he can’t get financial aid now, that is at least a very good question. We can’t, but its still a good question.</p>

<p>Today as S was flipping through some tv I walked in and saw a show pop up called “Get a Job” and I saw a promo for a prime time show called “Fairy Jobmother”. OMG are they kidding me. In the promo she seemed to help the people but humiliated them along the way. I guess that makes good TV now - reality.</p>

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<p>ldinct, where are you located? What kind of job are you looking for?</p>

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<p>I am looking for a position in Marketing in the CT/NY Metro area. I was lucky enough to land a really good position in 2009 after the company I had been with for many, many years had mass layoffs, but unlucky to have my position eliminated after only a year.</p>

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<p>Oh okay. I was going to tell you I would keep my eyes and ears open for you, but I’m in PA so that does you no good. My company has offices in CT though, so If I see anything I’ll let you know. :P</p>

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<p>ldinct, I feel for you. I’ve been laid off twice, but there was a long space of time in between. I can tell you it changed my entire attitude about work. You can do everything asked of you and more, and one day they close your department and that’s the end. Even if you know it’s not personal, it FEELS personal.</p>

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<p>I have had to “reinvent” myself several times when I was “downsized” over the past few years (it seemed like about every 4 years). I created a job I am currently holding & love, but it pays way below market wages (I guess these days, any wages are good??? plus it’s in the non-profit sector). This most recent job was created when I was in my early 50s & the job I held before it was my previous dream job that I got in my late 40s. I guess I’m just trying to say, hang in there and try to figure out how to market your talents–maybe the non-profit sector could use them (some of them have much larger budgets than ours).</p>

<p>Good luck & cyberhugs!</p>

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<p>Are there skills you have in marketing that would let you launch your own business? </p>

<p>I have been laid off twice, many years apart, and both times have returned to what I really love, working for myself. I consult and teach on contract with a professional development company. I have subcontracted to other consulting companies, assisted some very small businesses who could not afford full time expertise, worked for a former employer on contract instead of as an employee. It takes a couple of years to build the business to where it replaces employed income, but I love the freedom. The first time, my children were young and it gave me flexibility to care for them, now I am “semi-retired” and enjoy travel and visiting the kids. But in over 30 years, I have worked for myself for over half of them.</p>

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<p>I have a friend who has done this very successfully as well. She is fortunate that generally either her or spouse will have a full-time job while the other does contracting work. Both like the flexibility of the contracting with the relative security of someone with benefits and a full-time job. Now that she has built her network, she often earns more than she did when she was an employee and has the ability to schedule her work around her remodeling, kids’ schedules, travel, and other priorities. It can be scary but sometimes works out better than projected.</p>

<p>My starting & running this non-profit is similar to self-employment as well.</p>

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<p>ldinct, at this risk of sounding bitter, I’ve decided corporations are really evil. I am too close to human resources people to be fooled into thinking they are not. You are disposable - and HR is there to carry out executive management’s wishes, and if executives want bad things, they back them - even if what they want is unethical. They want your loyalty, push you beyond belief, then dump you. Hard work does not pay off at a certain point. I received promotion after promotion for many years - then topped out and it’s all politics and “advocacy” after than(and advocacy where I work actually means nepotism…and it some cases, it’s actually familial nepotism, which really ticks me off - the rest is friendships and friends get jobs, and development opportunities, not qualified individuals) I actually see that some people are quite skilled at doing very little, managing projects poorly, trampling on others to achieve objectives…and they are rewarded and recognized.</p>

<p>I don’t have the ability to spend time creating relationships at work - which are apparently VERY important. I want to work and get things done, and go home.</p>

<p>The individuals I know who have achieved happiness, success and fulfillment are entrepreneurs. I want the work I do to mean something FOR ME - selfishly. If I work hard, I want a reward. I want to be fulfilled by what I do too, so meaningful work is very important.</p>

<p>We are beginning to try to structure our lives around this plan. DH is working on a side business that may turn into his next full time job. I really have to do the same.</p>

<p>I was laid off in ‘01 so I feel your pain. It just killed me when people just automatically assumed you did something to deserve it - and you do feel that ‘contagion’ thing. Some people who I was really close to never spoke to me again! 13 years of excellent reviews, 60 hour weeks, putting work before family, being on call 24x7 for large parts of the year. The person on my team who was secretly my bosses’ boss’ sister-in-law, in a company that had a strict anti nepotism polcy kept her job although she was a poor performer, and I lost mine. (I also asked my boss if I could leave due to his inability to deal with this situation…this probably contributed to the unusual size of my severance package)</p>

<p>So, it all worked out for me, but 9 years later, I find myself having moved so close to the top I feel and see the evilness. I have had candidates for open positions in my team steered toward me. I’ve been told I have to take internal candidates who aren’t qualified. Then I’ve seen other managers able to hire externally for the same graded job. I am ready to file multiple complaints but fear relatiation after seeing others try to do the right thing and getting fired for non-sensical things 6 months later. I am preparing to file them as I head out the door if I can. Some of what I am observing is illegal.</p>

<p>I am praying for the ability to be entrepreneurial within 1 to 2 years.</p>

<p>I am sorry for what you have gone through and hope you will find long term meaningful employment.</p>

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<p>idinct…so sorry. This hurts so much and it must be incredibly hard to put on a positive face. Try to find some support. Perhaps a good local job hunting support group - some churches sponsor them. Make sure you take care of yourself…exercise and eat well. Get some books to help you with positive thinking ( I like “Heal Your Life” by Louse Hay - she’s a bit “out- there” but she’s also on target about many things IMO). </p>

<p>Find some time to reflect. I have been in and out of corporate jobs (I’ve been self-employed half of my career). Some of my corporate experiences have been hard but I have also made some really good friends in the corporate workplace that I’ve kept in touch with over many years. Good people. I don’t think it’s ALL bad out there but there are quite a few toxic environments. But don’t throw them all in one bucket. There’s some good places out there, and good people, and you can find them if you put your mind to it. </p>

<p>And keep coming here for support. There are some really cool, smart and supportive folks here. Good luck to you…</p>

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<p>idinct,
You are giving up too easily. I was out of job 9 times and I could not relocate. Living in one of the most economically depressed regions of the country (our city have never had jobs, most young people are leaving). I am employed at my place # 9 and have no idea how long it will last, I have only hope. If I need to work on a weekend, I do. Whatever it takes. 10 hours, weekends, whatever does not matter. Do not look back, look forward. Best wishes!</p>

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<p>Thanks for all your kind wishes. The one positive thing I can say is that I’ve been able to spend some more time with my mom, I don’t think she will make it into 2011. </p>

<p>Last time I was thinking I totally wanted nonprofit, but I tested the waters a bit and found some big egos there. But maybe if I found something I truly believed in it would be different.</p>

<p>I worked as a marketing consultant early in my career, but it happened just the opposite. I got the client and then I quit my job. It would be ideal as I have had experience with so many different types of companies I can easily jump right in. However I have no leads on anything at this point.</p>

<p>I would really like to do my own thing. I hated driving 60-90 mins each way to sit in an office for 9-10 hours/5 days a week. But I happily did it and would do it again.</p>

<p>I haven’t given up, I can’t even get started. I put so much into the job hunt the last time, I lost weight, bought new clothes, new hair & nails, had myself videotaped, 4 rounds of interviews and a sample Marketing plan. I thought I had done some of the best work of my career. I am trying to muster the strength to do it all again.</p>

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<p>I am sorry to hear about your downsizing. My issue with whole corporate downsizing is the way that it is done. While we can wrap our minds around companies doing more with less, but for them to call you in with no notice, tell you that your services are no longer required and stand over you as you pack your stuff so they can walk you out is sooo demeaning. Any good will you ever had for your company has been destroyed in that momen.</p>

<p>On monday a good friend of mine was laid off from a job that she worked 40 years. She is not old enough to retire yet with full benefits and it is really going to be hard for her to get another job :frowning: .</p>

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<p>That’s one nice thing with my job… I know it’s not going anywhere. We are just a subdivision of a larger corporation, but we hired like 400 new people throughout our part of the company in 2010 and I know we are still hiring more next year. There was a big write up in the paper not too long ago about us being one of the few companies hiring.</p>

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<p>idinct: from someone who has “done her own thing” for quite a few years in my career. It has many downsides. No bennies. No vacation time. Horrible, soul-draining clients. And sometimes, no clients. For me, at times, it also required constant marketing, which I HATE. That said, there were times when it was absolutely wonderful and everything was breaking right. Too good to be true. That has been true of my career inside as well. There are no choices here that are automatically rewarding or free of stress and worry. There are peaks and valleys on every path. Steel yourself, understand your strengths and do your best…whether it’s inside or on your own. You can do it!</p>