Layed-Off Yesterday

[Oiluj]

After 15 years with the company, I was layed-off yesterday.

Cons:

1) At my age, getting another engineering job's going to be difficult.

_ Have to see what happens. Who knows, I may have to re-invent myself...

Pros:

1) Got some severence, so I have time for a job search / no reason to panic.

2) I'll have some time to complete my Z!

(A/C hose, fix minor details, install the 5-speed).

3) I'll be able to finish my neighbor's Z cosmetic refresh.

4) I'll even be able to go sailing every week through Summer!

[Hardway]

So sorry to hear that Oiluj. It is an unfortunate sign of the times. Sounds like you have a good plan to keep yourself occupied during your job search. Could you move from engineering to a project management type of position? SF is a beautiful area and sure you will find something out there. Good luck and keep us posted.

[SteveJ]

Julio, what kind of engineering? Are you willing to relocate? Send me a PM.

[cygnusx1]

Welcome to the layed-off engineer's club! Sorry to hear you have become a member :-( Age is definitely a barrier.

Edited August 4, 2012 by cygnusx1

[240260280z]

Hang in there; you are not alone. I was laid off three weeks ago and got a job with a much better company. It was a good thing in the end.

There are a lot of companies that need experienced engineers. I don't think they are "making them like they used to" and good companies and managers now realize this.

For stability, you should look towards the energy sector...bad times are coming but energy is always in demand and the companies have become so powerful and greedy that they will hang in there.

Also be sure to get on LinkedIn.com to search for jobs and align with headhunters. In fact,they may come to you.

[SteveJ]

Dang, Phil, I wish I had known you were on the market. We've been hiring.

[Wade Nelson]

Julio -

Immediately invest $12 in a copy of Barbara Winter's book, "How to Make a Living without a Job." Within a year you could very easily be making a SURVIVABLE living by taking your hobbies and talents and turning them into 5-6 individual small profit centers. For example, get good at doing something on Z-cars and offer it as a service to other Z-owners, like building replacements for some extinct part, body panel, relay pack, whatever. Start doing sailboat repairs as well! You'll need several small businesses, preferably tax-free, cash ops. I can't recommend this book too highly; I'm a former Defense & Silicon Valley engineer also (Daisy Systems), and I am surviving quite nicely, thank you, without a corporate job. Never been happier.

http://www.amazon.com/Making-Living-Without-Job-revised/dp/0553386603

Edited August 4, 2012 by Wade Nelson

[240260280z]

Dang, Phil, I wish I had known you were on the market. We've been hiring.

Funny you mention it because I was thinking about it actually.

Maybe we should start a Zclub support group like the Freemasons to help one another.... a Z shaped handshake and we are good to go!

I lucked out because the company I worked for was dreadful (huge foreign multinational telecom) and the new company is fun (smaller and better positioned in the energy sector but my experiences can be directly applied so no re-training is required). Sometimes loosing your job is a good thing.

[240260280z]

Julio -

Immediately invest $12 in a copy of Barbara Winter's book, "How to Make a Living without a Job." Within a year you could very easily be making a SURVIVABLE living by taking your hobbies and talents and turning them into 5-6 individual small profit centers. For example, get good at doing something on Z-cars and offer it as a service to other Z-owners, like building replacements for some extinct part, body panel, relay pack, whatever. Start doing sailboat repairs as well! You'll need several small businesses, preferably tax-free, cash ops. I can't recommend this book too highly; I'm a former Defense & Silicon Valley engineer also (Daisy Systems), and I am surviving quite nicely, thank you, without a corporate job. Never been happier.

http://www.amazon.com/Making-Living-Without-Job-revised/dp/0553386603

I agree 100%.... the western world is becoming lazy and incompetent (Gee I sound like my friend TonyD)... nobody can do much anymore. This presents a big opportunity. If you are prepared to roll up your sleeves and "just do it" you can make $$ serving the lazy and incompetent masses. Minor car repairs, home renovations/repair, etc. When I lost my job, I was thinking of this and doing house calls for oil changes and getting people to sign on to "private mechanic/consultant" who looks after routine maintenance and gives advice/2nd opinion when garages try to rip them off. The sheepish masses need an ombudsman in their corner and tooth-fairy like magical repairs of their cars in their driveways.

[Diseazd]

Why not try to put Redatt (or whatever his name is) out of business! Sorry to hear of your misfortunes.......good luck.

Edited August 4, 2012 by Diseazd

[Zedyone_kenobi]

I am very sorry to hear about your situation. Engineering in Houston is booming, but coming from SF to Houston, is like being taken from cold water to boiling. The culture shock may kill you! HAHA.. but if politics are not an issue, then I promise you can find a job here in Houston.

IN the mean time, take care. No situation is as bad as it seems at first glance ( and no situation is as good as it seems at first glance for that matter)

Hang in there, and if any of us can help, let us know.

[rcb280z]

That sucks! Was there myself late '08. During the worst time. Worked for a company for 19 years when they started laying people off, myself included! Was in upper management. That company is hanging on by a thread today! It has been a struggle for me ever since that day. Got my Handyman's licence and went to work for myself. Business is a little slow right now but for nearly 4 years work was fairly steady. May look into that book Wade speaks of. Good luck and hang in there oiluj!