Topic: Unemployed: laid off.

[-<WillyP>-]

As of yesterday I have joined the growing ranks of unemployed. I got laid off yesterday after lunch.

[TechPro]

Drag.

What kind of work is it you would normally do?

[PyroJockey]

I'm sorry to hear that. I had hoped the economy was turning around. My company has let many people go in the past few months and I fear I am next in line. Most of the people they let go were in sales, but they have let 2 support engineers (like me) go as well.

I wish you the best of luck in finding another position, cabinet maker right?

[DarkWing]

Dang, rough luck.

This probably isn't a choice for you, but I hear that where Techpro and Scyphi live the unemployment rate is about 5.6% (while the rest of the nation is 10.2% currently).

That area of Idaho is warmer and than some other areas of Idaho, but not the warmest.  Near some really pretty scenery though.

[-<WillyP>-]

Yes, cabinet maker. Relocating is not likely, but as they say, never say never!

I have a friend who manages the maintenance dept. in a large high school nearby, he says he will be able to hire someone in a few weeks. I can also do some freelance web design work and computer repair, but I'm not sure how to advertise that. I still have floor sanders, but an ad in the paper is expensive so I am not so sure I want to go that route. At least not yet, anyway.

As far as the economy, the recession is officially over, but we should expect a very rough year for 2010. The problem with woodworking industry is that companies need spare money before spending on fancy casework. Then when the execs decide to pull the trigger on a new office or remodel a store, it could take years before I see any prints. This is why I've been busy right along, jobs that were contracted before the bomb dropped. Now the biggest of those jobs got phase 2 and 3 canceled, 30 million bucks worth of work gone.

[Planet Orange [phx13]]

Wow that sucks. The economy strikes again.

[Scyphi]

Dang, sorry to hear that WillyP, hope you're able to come up with some replacement work soon. :|

[Foil]

I'm sorry, WP.  My wife is in the same boat (her employer went bankrupt, and she's still looking).

Let us know how the job search goes.

[-<WillyP>-]

Thanks. It didn't go so well today, so I changed the oil in my wife's car.

[S13driftAZ]

I feel for ya WillyP. I've had everybody wanting me to do the same thing for them in the past two months.

Ya gotta do what gets you by.

[Zantor]

It's unfortunate to find that out.   I'm in a related boat; I have been trying to get a job for the last 4 months and gotten NOTHING.

[-<WillyP>-]

What kind of work do you do?

[Zantor]

I am a trained and qualified PC technician. I've been trying to find work not just in my field, though. I can handle a retail environment, but won't do fast food if I can help it.

[-<WillyP>-]

When I was in high school, I wanted to be in electronics, but that was not an option in school at the time, so I took power mechanics. When I graduated ( in '79) jobs were pretty scarce and I took what I could get, and that kinda sidetracked me from electronics. I've been more or less kinda career unfocused since, and that's hurting me now. So being flexible when looking for work is ok, but don't be too flexible, try to stay in one career path. Becoming highly experienced in a narrow field is better than limited experience in many fields.

[Zantor]

That is true, but these days it's not easy to be as specific as one would like.