Coping with a Layoff: POST STICKIED SO PLEASE CONTRIBUTE.

[jlxian]

Pamplemousse and Grower, thank-you for the good thoughts.

I've got three interviews lined up for Weds and it would feel miraculous if I get an offer from one of them because I could ride my bike in good weather to any of the jobs, and one actually comes with a car. All three are good places to work, so maybe...

But I am mentally prepared for it to take a lot longer to find another job.

Congrats on the interviews!  Hope you find something very interesting and lucrative! 

[pamplemousse]

A question for those who've been laid off --

Did you have some what-if scenarios and budget planning before it happened, then once you were unemployed, did you use your plans, were they worthless, how did that work for you?  Just curious, from a doom planning point of view.

[islandgirl]

A question for those who've been laid off --

Did you have some what-if scenarios and budget planning before it happened, then once you were unemployed, did you use your plans, were they worthless, how did that work for you?  Just curious, from a doom planning point of view.

Planning for no or decreased work or employment is actually a really good thing.  I knew this was going to happen ahead of time so I moved back with my parents, paid off my credit cards/other bills, saved a bunch of money, got preps, found some freelance writing assignments etc. on the side, and had alot of time to just read and ponder life.  And I choose not to buy a car, or else I'd be stuck with the monthly payments.  Since the public transportation is great here, I just pick up a bus pass for $50 a month. 

[EyesWideOpen]

Pamplemousse, good question; Islandgirl, great thinking! I didn't see my current situation coming, but since preplanned is prearmed, I did something along the same lines as you although not moving in with parents (one passed, one in another country), and I kept my car as there is no conection to mass transit close to me.

I went to my interviews, have an offer from two of the three. One I'm not really considering as I think I am about as corporate burned-out as I can be. The other is a return to work I did 25 years ago on the side-construction project management.

The poor guy thinks I'm going to bring him into the 21st century because I know how to boot up a computer, and write spreadsheets. No benefits, not the greatest pay, and I'd be home officing when clerical work is needed, but the hours are great and I don't need to wear a corporate LoJack.

Muwahahahahahahahahahahahaha, if we can work things out I'm taking the job 

[Grower]

Wow. Hope it works out the way you want to set it up! 

[EyesWideOpen]

Wow. Hope it works out the way you want to set it up! 

Me too. He called about a half hour ago. We're meeting this afternoon to finish up the details, but it looks as though I'm starting Monday. Whew, I think. At least it will be some cash coming in so I don't have to touch the 'oh s*it' stash.

[graveday]

Good luck, EWO, I am astonished at how fast you found employment, and mostly on your own terms.

[Shamaness]

That's great news, Eyes - congrats!  Wishing every LATOCer who's looking the same good fortune.   

[Mr. Bones]

Wow. Hope it works out the way you want to set it up! 

Me too. He called about a half hour ago. We're meeting this afternoon to finish up the details, but it looks as though I'm starting Monday. Whew, I think. At least it will be some cash coming in so I don't have to touch the 'oh s*it' stash.

Glad to hear you found a job.  Shame us twenty-somethings are unequivocally fucked.  The bs catch 22 of "we need experience in order to get a job, however the companies offering the position don't offer training.  So how the fuck do we get experience" will go round and round and round.

This system really can go fuck itself.

[EyesWideOpen]

Thank-you all for the good vibes, I'm pretty sure that made the difference because it encouraged me to look at my situation more creatively than I might have otherwise.

Not that I'm lazy, but I was tempted to take the easy way and find another cube-sitter job-I qualify fairly well for that sort of white collar stuff and did get an offer at only 2K less than what I was making at the old cube. (I also qualify for LE work.) But reading all of the posts here and other threads made me rethink that.

This may not be the perfect fit, but it is a job and it is going to give me some breathing room to think of or find something that will be.

AVagabones-having been 20something once (a looooooooooooooong time ago, lol), I do know what you mean. Hate to be the bearer of sobering news, but once you cross fortyish, should there still be a job market out there, you'll hear about how you are over-qualified. Hint-it means too old and too expensive.

[graveday]

And at sixty plus years old it becomes, "We don't think you're a good fit with the younger culture here."  I'm surprised anyone can get a job.

[Mr. Bones]

And at sixty plus years old it becomes, "We don't think you're a good fit with the younger culture here."  I'm surprised anyone can get a job.

http://www.doomers.us/forum2/index.php/topic,53634.0.html

"According to the Labor Department’s latest numbers, from July, only 2.4 million full-time permanent jobs were open, with 14.5 million people officially unemployed."

It's a bloody miracle to find a full-time job.

[islandgirl]

EWO- good luck and nice that you found something so soon.

It's not easy finding a job that's why sometimes it's good to think outside of the box. 

Here are a few I used to do and sometimes still do:
--eBay
--freelance writing
--flea market/swap meet
--I find deals for my rich friends and get a 10% commission or finder's fee (like cheap shipping containers, building supplies, solar panels from china, textile from indonesia etc.)
--creating mini websites to sell, or creating tiny content sites for adsense

Hopefully, this helps someone.

[Six Gun Jim]

Good luck eyes, go get it.

[DNVRLIZ]

Well, its official....I am laid off as of today.
The place I worked for tried to sell out but since NO ONE can get a loan these days they had no takers, so they decided to just close it down.

I will get $135. a week on Unemployment..... I guess its rice and beans for me. LOL LOL LOL.

The unemployment rate in my neck of the woods stands at 18.8% right now......not good odds for finding work.