This is the fourth time in nine years that I've been laid off. I guess I should be used to it by now. I guess because I never stay anywhere long enough to get seniority so I'm always the first to go.
Last time was three years ago from May - September. At least it was summer time. There's nothing much worse than being trapped in your home with no job during winter. Been there. Done that. Hated it.
Ah well. I'll make the most of it. I will not settle for anything less than I'm worth.
It's funny - people assume that just because I don't have a job I'm willing to sweep floors or flip burgers to make money. Um no...why get up every day and go to a job that I'm overqualified for and that I hate while probably making less money than I will make staying home being on EI?
One friend (bless her for trying) said they are looking for a cook. The money is not that great but at least it's a job until you find something better suited to your skill set. NO!!! A thousand times no. Why in the hell would I do that?
For one thing, I'd hate it and for another thing it's very difficult to go for interviews when you have a job. You have to work around your work schedule and that's not easy. And again, why would I get up every day and go to a job that pays shit when I could stay home, look for a job full time and make money on poggie?
Anyway, I applied for at four jobs yesterday. Everyone knows so they can keep their eyes / ears open for me.
Not the best time be looking for a job but we'll see how it goes. I always bounce back!
You do, you always bounce back! I still can't believe it, though. You really have been laid off more than most people I know.
BTW I first read "I got laid again" not "laid OFF again" which made me chuckle.
Anyhow, as for your friend, don't be too hard on her. You are lucky that you live in a double-income house and you can survive on your EI benefits. Some people cannot. Some people also cannot survive the two week waiting period before EI kicks in. I understand living paycheque-to-paycheque. It's a hard life, but some people would rather do anything than nothing.
And I believe (for myself anyhow) that it is easier to find a job when you are employed than not. Because the pressure is off. When the pressure is on, you do sometimes wind up taking anything... the first thing that comes along. That's how I wound up bartending. It was awful.
Anyhow, good luck on the job search. Or maybe take some time and enjoy October. It's a beautiful month.
That's true Jo. I do have the luxury of a double income household plus I received six weeks severance - which is a lot considering I've only been there two years. I think I'm only entitled to one week per year? Not sure.
Trust me; if I didn't have any other income, I would do ANYTHING rather than nothing. Pride would stand in my way.
I've sent out six cold call resumes and applied to two jobs so I'm off to a good start. I've never been one to sit on my laurels, as it were.
I'd rather be working than not working but I have the luxury (for now) to be picky.
I'm so sorry this happened to you again. It's great that you are already finding things to apply for. Here in the States there aren't even jobs worth applying for, things are so tight.
Nice about the severance. That helps.
This is an opportunity to take up a winter sport.
I'm hugely smiling as I write this! You know I'm a winter promoter.
You are very fortunate to not *have* to find anything that brings in money right away. As you say, it helps having flexibility to be able to go on interviews if you aren't tied up working. Plus applying for jobs is like having a job.
Good luck! We're here for you.
I'm sorry that's happened again. I hope you land a new gig soon.
Consider the " Second Career" program.
It does take months to jump through all the hoops.
Your home location leaves you many many programs within a reasonable drive.
I know several people who qualified for the program and are getting training for a new profession at a college for tuition costs of $80,000-$120,000 plus transportation and housing costs covered as well.
So sorry it happened. But I agree with you. There may come a day when you HAVE to take anything you can get, but when this is not the day, there's no sense wasting your time. And we have learned from bitter experience that taking a lower paying job "just to keep food on the table" sets a new salary for you -- you are no longer a worker who commands, say, $30k a year, but a worker who now commands $20k a year. That's your new "worth", and new employers will take careful note of it!
I did not have a very good annual review at work this year, so i may be unemployed like you in a few months.
You have the advantage of being a DINK up until now so you have more options. Another good reason to enjoy being childfree!
Sorry you're going through this. Sounds like you already have the ball rolling on other options, good luck to you.
(10-20-2009 05:14 PM)PrairieGirl Wrote: [ -> ]And we have learned from bitter experience that taking a lower paying job "just to keep food on the table" sets a new salary for you -- you are no longer a worker who commands, say, $30k a year, but a worker who now commands $20k a year. That's your new "worth", and new employers will take careful note of it!
Not only that but if I happen to get laid off again while in this new salary bracket, my EI will be drastically lower. Sixty percent of 50% of what I was making before is not a hell of a lot of money when you have a mortgage, car payments, insurance payments, credit line payments, groceries to buy, etc...
That sucks. I went through it once (back when the economy was good) and hated every moment of it. Added bonus was that I was suppose to "train" the person who would be taking my job to the other company. I can't imagine going through it multiple times.
A co-worker was telling me that a friend of hers just got laid off the second time from the same company in 3 years. Her boss from the first time, was able to hire her back after a year, but they just got a 30-day notice last week.
I hadn't thought of what PG mentioned, that makes good sense unless you are desparate for household funds.
(10-20-2009 09:44 AM)NKBurlington Wrote: [ -> ]This is the fourth time in nine years that I've been laid off.
Ah well. I'll make the most of it. I will not settle for anything less than I'm worth.
It's funny - people assume that just because I don't have a job I'm willing to sweep floors or flip burgers to make money. Um no...why get up every day and go to a job that I'm overqualified for and that I hate while probably making less money than I will make staying home being on EI?
One friend (bless her for trying) said they are looking for a cook. The money is not that great but at least it's a job until you find something better suited to your skill set. NO!!! A thousand times no. Why in the hell would I do that?
For one thing, I'd hate it and for another thing it's very difficult to go for interviews when you have a job. You have to work around your work schedule and that's not easy. And again, why would I get up every day and go to a job that pays shit when I could stay home, look for a job full time and make money on poggie?
Anyway, I applied for at four jobs yesterday. Everyone knows so they can keep their eyes / ears open for me.
Not the best time be looking for a job but we'll see how it goes. I always bounce back!
Gosh, NKB, I am sorry you are going through this. To me, dealing with a job/loss of a job/job hunting is so incredibly stressful.
I also do not understand why people think a person should take
any job, especially if one can get unemployment benefits. Talk about creating stress!
How
do you get time off to job hunt? It has been my experience that the lower paying the job, the more likely you will be injured on the job, too. Low paying jobs are stressful! Many have very unsafe work environments and seem to get away with it, too. I have had a lot of jobs over the years and have been hurt on several. All the lowest paying positions.
That being said, the shit-jobs I have had really motivated me to either quit and find a better job or go back to school. The other thing I loved about a crappy job was my power to not put up with shit shoveled my way. It was very empowering knowing that I could just walk out of there and never come back.
I did not put up with the lateral violence the same way that I have on the jobs that I could not afford to lose (usually because of the benefits/health insurance).
And in all honesty, I looooved not working.
(although my fambly was appalled when I did not work).
(10-21-2009 03:21 PM)beachbum Wrote: [ -> ] (10-20-2009 09:44 AM)NKBurlington Wrote: [ -> ]This is the fourth time in nine years that I've been laid off.
Ah well. I'll make the most of it. I will not settle for anything less than I'm worth.
It's funny - people assume that just because I don't have a job I'm willing to sweep floors or flip burgers to make money. Um no...why get up every day and go to a job that I'm overqualified for and that I hate while probably making less money than I will make staying home being on EI?
One friend (bless her for trying) said they are looking for a cook. The money is not that great but at least it's a job until you find something better suited to your skill set. NO!!! A thousand times no. Why in the hell would I do that?
For one thing, I'd hate it and for another thing it's very difficult to go for interviews when you have a job. You have to work around your work schedule and that's not easy. And again, why would I get up every day and go to a job that pays shit when I could stay home, look for a job full time and make money on poggie?
Anyway, I applied for at four jobs yesterday. Everyone knows so they can keep their eyes / ears open for me.
Not the best time be looking for a job but we'll see how it goes. I always bounce back!
Gosh, NKB, I am sorry you are going through this. To me, dealing with a job/loss of a job/job hunting is so incredibly stressful.
I also do not understand why people think a person should take any job, especially if one can get unemployment benefits. Talk about creating stress!
How do you get time off to job hunt? It has been my experience that the lower paying the job, the more likely you will be injured on the job, too. Low paying jobs are stressful! Many have very unsafe work environments and seem to get away with it, too. I have had a lot of jobs over the years and have been hurt on several. All the lowest paying positions.
That being said, the shit-jobs I have had really motivated me to either quit and find a better job or go back to school. The other thing I loved about a crappy job was my power to not put up with shit shoveled my way. It was very empowering knowing that I could just walk out of there and never come back.
I did not put up with the lateral violence the same way that I have on the jobs that I could not afford to lose (usually because of the benefits/health insurance).
And in all honesty, I looooved not working. (although my fambly was appalled when I did not work).
I totally agree with this mindset. Most people think that you have a career but they don't understand it when you have a "job" because everyone aspires for a career.
People criticize me for being lazy but to be honest, why should I take a crap job working at 8/hr that is just a job with no future when I can sit around doing nothing for 5/hr that requires I visit a webpage to file once every two weeks? Seriously, I once did the numbers and realized that by the time you figured in taxes, social security, medicare, transportation, extra laundry, office gift grabs, etc. I was actually breaking even on unemployment only I can get up when I choose and I don't have to deal with humanity.
People say work is noble but I disagree. Most of it is just empty pointless busywork designed to numb you to the real problems of the world. You're so damn tired every day that you don't even think of what the real issues are.
I actually enjoy working. I bore easily and can only sit around for so long. I suppose I could volunteer at the animal shelter or hospital or something like that to fill my time if it comes to that.
I don't aspire to have a "career" either. A job that pays the bills with some left over for life is just fine with me. A career is too stressful and I've worked long and hard to keep stress OUT of my life. Why complicate it with a career?
I'm sorry that you're going through this right now. It happend to me this year and being laid off really sucks. I hope that you find something really fast. Good luck!
(10-23-2009 09:40 AM)NKBurlington Wrote: [ -> ]I actually enjoy working. I bore easily and can only sit around for so long. I suppose I could volunteer at the animal shelter or hospital or something like that to fill my time if it comes to that.
I don't aspire to have a "career" either. A job that pays the bills with some left over for life is just fine with me. A career is too stressful and I've worked long and hard to keep stress OUT of my life. Why complicate it with a career?
I can understand your boredom. I'm much more sedentary than most people but even I'm at the point where I just need more stimulation.
I'm not sure you understood what I meant about a career. I actually would like one where there is a feeling of purpose. My main criticism of work is that it's just a never ending series of jobs that seem pointless to me and that don't use any of my talents. If by career you mean "my job is number one and if that means 80 hours weeks then so be it" then no, I don't want a career.
I think back to my job and I think I really wasn't given the opportunity to prove myself.
I continually asked for more responsibility and they seemed eager to accommodate my request - for awhile but then I was relegated to proof reading, ordering office supplies and cleaning the kitchen.
About a year ago, a memo was sent out to the entire staff outlining my new responsibilities. They were willing to give me the chance and for about a month, all was good but even the small accounts that were handed to me were taken away. I don't think I mishandled the accounts. If I did, you'd think someone would say something about that.
Maybe I'm kidding myself. Maybe I really do suck. Maybe they offered me the opportunity to prove myself but I failed miserably. Why else would they take those responsibilities away from me and "demote" me to the fucking office gopher and maid?
I'm so fucking frustrated. I don't know what I want to do. Admin is all I know. I've been doing it for 20 years and it's got me know where. I make shit money and get shit on every single day.
Anyway, sorry for the rant
NKB --
My sister is undergoing similar doubts, but along a different line -- she did GREAT at her last position, and they heaped really big responsibilities on her, which she took on like a champ and performed wonderfully. She decided she wanted something more, and quit her job and headed off to California -- right in the middle of the worst economic downturn in modern history. She's been unemployed since February, and now lamenting that maybe that great job was the best she could do, and why won't anyone hire her, and what good are her amazing skills, etc.
I don't think there's anything wrong with her -- and not with you, either -- but this IS the worst economy since the 1930s. It means people can be a lot more picky, and for stupid reasons, too. My sister was told she didn't get some of the jobs because she doesn't wear makeup - I guess when given the choice between two candidates with equally good skills, they picked the prettier girl.
Best of luck with your job search!
I really urge you to look at the government re-training programs.
You can stay on UI rates for many extra months and get tens of thousands of dollars in training money for a different career.