Foo - Brother, can you spare a job?

Well, as of yesterday, I no longer have an income. The company that I had been "consulting" for (meaning, part-time, contract, dead-end) has closed it's doors for good. Although I've known for about 6 weeks that this was going to happen, it doesn't make things any easier.
Now, I'm sitting here in the most depressed part of the country, with an engineering degree and several years of experience, and I can't even find work at Burger King. I declared bankruptcy last winter, so that's no longer an option. Looks like I'm going to start selling my bikes soon...keep watching the classified section here.

Well, as of yesterday, I no longer have an income. The company that I had been "consulting" for (meaning, part-time, contract, dead-end) has closed it's doors for good. Although I've known for about 6 weeks that this was going to happen, it doesn't make things any easier.
Now, I'm sitting here in the most depressed part of the country, with an engineering degree and several years of experience, and I can't even find work at Burger King. I declared bankruptcy last winter, so that's no longer an option. Looks like I'm going to start selling my bikes soon...keep watching the classified section here.

Sorry to hear you have lost your job. It sounds like the area in which you live is not conducive to finding another one. Have you ever thought about moving? What kind of engineer are you? I know in the D.C. area, there are always opening for engineers, both in government and in the contracting arena.

Yes, it is a high cost area, but the jobs pay quite a bit, too.

Perhaps you should visit a head hunter and see what they can offer you.

A friend lost his job in Seattle, Wash two years ago and had no prospects. He visited a head hunter and within two weeks, had two fantastic offers in the Los Angeles area. He took one of them, moved, and is happy as a clam.

While it is very difficult for me to agree with TrekRider about anything, he is right. You need to relocate. Gotta go where the jobs are. They aren't coming to you. As an engineer in the semiconductor industry for 25 years I did not live in one spot more than five years since graduation from college. That is part of the price one pays in our new, mobile economy. Life changes. And you must, too.

I know how you feel Dave Stohler, I last my job last november and I was out of work for 3 months. Then I finaly found a job working as a contractor for the USDA, at the END task force. I was told originaly it would be a 1 year contract possibly longer, when I got their I heard it would most likely be 2-3 years to eradictate END. I figured I would be alright for a while and would make some good contacts for a future job. Well after 6 months I they eradicated the disease. Then I got rear ended and my car was totalled, a month later it was determined the END was eradicated. So I got 2 week notice, and needless to say the insurance company did not settle with me yet. So in a rental don't have enough really to buy a new car. Use alot of my savings to get a old car I had fixed, which they never could do took so that took big chunk of savings then have to go find cheap used car. At this point out of working about 2.5 months 90% of savings is gone, no real money to buy christmas presents for my son again this year (2nd year in a row). Already started selling off extra stuff I have laying around to try to get some extra money together.. Got 3 rejection letters last week, I can't take a job at McDonalds or whatever since I would not make enough to pay my bills and would get same as I would on unemployment...

Okie now I'm not saying this to get pity whatever.. just want you to know you are not alone and things can always be worse. File for unemployment you will get something there, you can go down file for medi-cal (or whatever it is called in your state) to get insurance for yourself just in case anythign happens and you get sick (atleast can't hurt). If you own a home etc.. and are afraid of losing it call up social service I believe it is tell them yoru situation they might be able to help. A friend was about to lose his house and everything and they arranged with his bank that he would not have to make payments till he got work but the interest still added up so is not perfect solution but can help.

Well, unfortunately, there's more than myself to worry about. Between my "significant other" and my elderly, widowed father (not to mention real estate..), I'm going to hold off as long as possible with that possibility. I may have to look at the NYC area (relative there in Queens with a basement apt. available cheap..). Still, a 400 mile ride there and back every weekend is going to be murder. Not much time for riding, I guess.....

FWIW, I've extended my current job search everywhere from Syracuse to Binghamton to Buffalo-Niagara Falls. There ain't $hit here. Niagara Falls alone has something like 20% either unemployed or not-even-looking-anymore. Educated, unemployed people are a dime a dozen here. Manufacturing has left, and nothing is coming here except casinos. Whoopee.

We all get by somehow, sometimes I really don't know how... It makes a big difference when it is more then just you, one good thing I do get to look forward to is tax time this year! I will get everything back! I'm partialy relying on my significant other at this time, considering we are divorced that is not easy :) These hard times actualy make me appreciate the good times even more now. Best thing to do is keep your hopes up, believe me I know that is hard to do at times.
Good luck

Dave

email me your resume

Joe

As difficult as this is to hear you need to get over the despair of losing your job, reject the all too human need to feel sorry for yourself and get out there and do something.

Go see a head hunter as soon as possible. Many companies will even help you move. There are state agencies designed to help you care for dependents. There are charities, church groups, all manner of organizations and associations.

I had one friend laid off from a retail clothing chain when they closed several stores. The only thing he had going for him was a desire to teach and a black belt in Karate. That was 12 years ago. He opened a Karate school and today has hundreds of students and is worth in excess of $2 million and just broke ground on a new, multi-level complex. It was rough the first few years, but he hung in there.

That blows. My brother is an engineer and was laid off last year. He's just know getting back to work in his field. What he did was got into "headhunting" in the industry. This may be something for you to look at. If you are set to move the central Florida area is loaded with engineering jobs. Check out the job listings in the Orlando Sentinel and/or Florida Today.

Keep the faith, Dave. You will work again. Just try not to work and you will find yourself working.

When you were working, did you ever wish you didn't have to go into work some days? Well today is that day you don't have to go to work. Enjoy it while it lasts.

As of today, you have a new job. Your new job is finding employment for yourself. Spend some time looking for companies and industries for which you would truly like to work, and go sell yourself into them.

Let us know how it turns out.

In the meantime, stay positive and enjoy the time off. It will be shorter than you think.

Dave,
I been there several times in my life. The next time is never any easier. But I found it was all about MY attitude. I did what Mike said and started working at finding a job.
Just remember you're going to get alot more rejections than positive responses, so be prepared for them. Also companies nowadays don't seem to bother to even tell you that you've been rejected. It is tough finding a job. Many of my friends have been dealing with this for the past few years, but at this time they are all working. Network like hell, call in some favors. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for you.

Thankfully, I own a fax machine, or I'd be blowing what little money I have left on gasoline.

FWIW, I have an interview tomorrow for a job locally. It pays peanuts ($8-10 range), which means that, if I do get it, I'll still need to reduce liabilities. I guess the new road bike I was going to build this winter is out of the question for now. I'll be lucky to have enough to keep my car maintained!

Ya, man, hang in there. It's just a crossroads to what's ahead. Keep the faith!

How did the interview go Dave? HOpe you did well. It might not be you're dream job but, it could hold you over till you find something better comes along. The rejection letters I think are the hardest thing, but I figure those companies did not deserver me :)

Still no answer. I did have an offer to work as a telemarketer, though. Whoopee.

No answer can be good news sometimes, I applied at a job at the VA 9 weeks ago just got a letter. Due to the overwhelming number of Veterans that applied they will not even look over my resume. Keep a good sense of humor and hopes up is best thing you can do :)

How is the job hunting going Dave? Hope you are having some luck! I just got a call asking me if I was interested in one job today, which made me think of this thread. It was at velomax not exactly what I'm looking for but I think would be fun to work there :) Said they are going to look over some more resumes and call back at a later time to schedule interviews.. so not sure if that is good or bad.. but after a while of searching feels good that someone calls you about a job after a stale period of time.

Yeah, I found work. The new job is a night job, and it only pays 30k, but at least it pays me enough to live on. Considering some of the clunkers I applied for, it must've been my lucky day when this one came up. Seriously, this is the best job by far that I can find around here.