Laid off

[GL]

I got laid off this morning. 11 years on the job for the same company. I have no idea what to do with myself. My job was pretty much all I was. Well, family, internet, guns, cars, and my job.

What does one do when they are unemployed? Apply for unemployment? There is only one other company in town that does what I did and they are not hiring. I have no other real skills other than what I did.

I am confused. I will be receiving maybe 7 days of vacation and sick leave and personal days (I never took days off) so I have a week left of pay before I am truly on my own with no income. What do I do?

 

[SHERMANVILLE ILLINOIS]

13 years with one comapny, got laid off.
16 years with another company, got laid off.
IT happens.

1-Apply for unemployment.
2-Start searching. New resume.
3 Let everyone know that you are out of work and looking.
4 Lets really think about your statement, "I have no other real
skills other than what I did."

Have a beer, relax, think.


have a good un.................
SHERMANVILLE

 

[Blacksheep]

13 years with one comapny, got laid off.
16 years with another company, got laid off.
IT happens.

1-Apply for unemployment.
2-Start searching. New resume.
3 Let everyone know that you are out of work and looking.
4 Lets really think about your statement, "I have no other real
skills other than what I did."

Have a beer, relax, think.



have a good un.................
SHERMANVILLE

Sound advice.

 

[Lowbatts]

Don't spend time in front of the TV. Go have some fun in the middle of everything else you have to do. Go through the list of things, however small or big, and pick something you can do with the kids and wife for fun.

Seriously, enjoy it and that will show when you get the chance to work again and that will make you look more attractive to whoever you end up looking to for work.

See if there are any educational benefits attached to or part of the unemployment benefits package and take advantage of them also!

 

[godisnum1]

Join the club...
It definitely hurts right now, how things have been going in our country.
But like others have said, maybe there are some things you've overlooked or neglected to do all those years you were employed.
Keep on the job hunt... but have fun in the meantime, and make the most of what you have (your family)
I finally had a job interview today, after nearly two months of unemployment. Guess I'll find out this coming week if I got it.

Good luck to ya'!!

Bran <><

 

[Johnnysan]

I hope you have a better experience with filing for unemployment compensation than I did; what a nightmare.
You used to just walk in and file in person; not in this modern age. It has to start with a phone call, which takes hours just to get through (then they take your number and 'will call back in a couple of hours' NOT!) Start all over again the next day, and pray your phone batteries last while you listen to elevator music and endless instructions. Once that is done, you have to come in to register (why can't they do all this AT ONE TIME?) When that is done, the computer system will not recognize your password, and again this has to be cleared up in person. Then, you must CERTIFY every week on the same day (usually Sunday) by phone or computer. If somehow it doesn't work on the right day, you have some explaining to do, IN PERSON, again.
The last time I was there, I overheard they were letting workers go, IN THE UNEMPLOYMENT OFFICE!

 

[GL]

I talked to my ex boss and he said I should apply and that the shop would cooperate fully to get me benefits. I applied online.

 

[truckinbutch]

Maybe everyone needs to revisit this from a different perspective .
I've never been out of work except by choice since 1958 when I took my first construction job at $0.25 an hour .
Did I like every job ? NO !
Did I eat because I worked ? YES .
Did I whine because I didn't like what I was doing ? NO !!
I was honest enough with any employer to tell him that I was aspiring to better things and honorable enough to give that person 100% in effort and loyalty while I worked for them . Many helped me move to a better place that could pay more than they could afford .
While you are walking the street knocking on doors in search of employment pick up cans to sell ,watch for dropped change ,it's all profit you wouldn't have if you weren't proactive.
Every day you sit in the house unemployed you are going backward .

 

[Lowbatts]

Maybe everyone needs to revisit this from a different perspective .
I've never been out of work except by choice since 1958 when I took my first construction job at $0.25 an hour .
Did I like every job ? NO !
Did I eat because I worked ? YES .
Did I whine because I didn't like what I was doing ? NO !!
I was honest enough with any employer to tell him that I was aspiring to better things and honorable enough to give that person 100% in effort and loyalty while I worked for them . Many helped me move to a better place that could pay more than they could afford .
While you are walking the street knocking on doors in search of employment pick up cans to sell ,watch for dropped change ,it's all profit you wouldn't have if you weren't proactive.
Every day you sit in the house unemployed you are going backward .

Right on Butch.
My first and so far only layoff came in 2001. Didn't take any of the state bennies, as I wasn't interested in looking for work, you have to be honest, no matter what else. Took a year off and spent it with the family, mostly traveling with the kid who was competing nationally then. After that, when I went to look for work, had seemingly endless troubles but no end to work. Odd jobs, small jobs, whatever.

 

[deepskyal]

My first layoff was with a company I worked at for 7 years back in 1981.

Played the unemployment game til my bennies ran out...then I was screwed. Settled for a job that was minimum wage, lost my house..ended up divorced.

Lost another job after 5 years there due to a plant closing. Got a job right away...didnt want to play that unemployment game again. Continually looked for newer and better paying jobs.

Thought I had a great job finally....lost it after 4 years.

The job I got now.....been laid off 3 times this year so far. Things are very slow for us, but were hanging on by a thread.

Now I'm facing age discrimination, my health limits what I can do, and there really isn't much employment being offered anywhere anyhow.

I've become quite conservative in my spending....watch tv in the dark, take shorter showers, stay out of bars....lower my thermostat....save,save,save!!!

If I have to, I'll go back to private contracting on a small scale. Get involved in community groups...thats a good place to meet people and get leads.

You probably have a lot more skills than you give yourself credit for....exploit them.

Al

 

[LadyDigger]

GL, I'm sorry to hear about your job.....and don't ever give up hope! There is a job out there waiting for you to walk in and show them what you are made of!

You have more talents than you give yourself credit for....as folks always told me. I am working on completeing the requirements (for my bus lic) for my home business (photo restoration)...it's not much, but I love doing it and I can sit at home and earn some extra money, but I still work at our local grocery store, which is not looking good for many. Hours have been cut down to more of a skelton crew (customers get mad cause we don't have enough lines open, but it's not our fault, it's the higher ups who tell our boss to cut hours! You get reprimanded for getting "1 minute" over 40 hours, if you're still one of the lucky ones to still get 40 hour weeks! I'm full time and get anywhere from 11 to 22 hours a week! But it's a job, I don't care if I have to swab the decks and clean the heads!!!)

So, don't cut yourself short....you have some talent there.....there are some really great responses here....get your resume out, look online for job prospects, don't become a couch potato....GET 'ER DONE!!!!

Our best to you,
Annmarie

 

[Coin Digger]

The wife and I both got laid off from our factory jobs last week. I had 17 years in and she had 13 years in where she worked. The part that grinds my A@@ is there's still 4 people there with less seniorty than me but they get to stay because they have union duties to perform, plus they took union dues out of my last pay check.

I thought about kickin back and collecting unemployment checks but after much thought I think I'd look at this as a chance to better myself. If the goverment wants to throw money around I think I'll stick my hand out and grab as much as I can and take advantage of it. I plan on going to see the Vet Rep next week and get started on a new career. This time around I think I'll try and get a Goverment job, I'm feed up with factory work. Everytime you think your getting ahead thay close the doors and ship your job somewhere else.

NAFTA killed the factory worker.

So don't think your alone just raise your head up and move forward. It also helps to clear your mind by going metal detecting.

 

[Mental Granny]

Well now since you've applied for unemployment, don't just sit maybe a coupla days but, no more my SIN was just laid off my daughter gave him a honey do list and hes doing that some friends at church have helped him redo his resume and hes looking so it is keeping him busy! And the 2 day a week job she has had for a while now he takes care of the kids and the house the 2 days she works. Talk to people see who needs someone for even odd little things, even if non or no $ involved it keeps you out there and gives you the chance to talk to other people ck. in at the employment office and they will schedule you for some retraining programs. That happens as soon as you apply the process starts.

 

[AU24K]

Nowadays, finding a job is VERY difficult. Maybe harder than an actual job. I'd make looking for a job a job in itself. Evaluate your skills, perfect other talents and keep a notebook of places you've applied with dates, times and people's names you've contacted. Then go back every so often and check up on these contacts. In some cases, their situations of needing employees can change from one day to the next.
Be creative...post an ad on Craigs List offering your services of locating lost jewelry, go thru the house and start piling up stuff for a yard sale, use your imagination..your greatest asset is your brain. Use it! Good luck and God Bless!
Scott

 

[EDDE]

my boss lost a "bread and butter" account in November.
I got a pay cut etc, he's down 60% from last year

 

[Digginman]

I have no other real skills other than what I did.

I really doubt that!!! They didn't keep you around for that long for nothing.

I didn't get laid off, but around 1999, I realized my trade was being done by unskilled workers who only had to push a button. I was an old timey machinist. Automation kicked in, my well loved trade went by the wayside. I had to change my profession, learned electronics. Now, I'm a quality manager in a Circuit Board Company. Been there 8 years, only thing I knew when I started was the difference between a screw, nut and washer. I don't like it better than machining, but it's a new venture for me. You may have to change what you do.

DM

 

[GL]

I was considering plumbing. No matter what, folks need to flush.

 

[txkickergirl]

I was considering plumbing. No matter what, folks need to flush.

don't count on it I work for the largest plumbing wholesaler in the world and they have been laying folks off across the country since mid last year, infact they laid 3 people off in my district last week everyone here is holding their breath

 

[GL]

The thing is, I have tried sales and I am not a salesman. I have tried office work and I am not good at it. There are no factories nearby that are hiring. it would be fast food or resteraunt work and they typically want females for the waitstaff. I actually make more on unemployment than if I worked fast food.
The wife is going for a part time job to fill the $800 gap left by my benefit checks each month. Since I own my home and land I am ineligible for medicaid or foodstamps. I suppose I could eat dirt and feed the kids bark and roots while we go see Dr Swamp if we get sick. Afterall, owning land equals being rich.

 

[Lowbatts]

The thing is, I have tried sales and I am not a salesman. I have tried office work and I am not good at it. There are no factories nearby that are hiring. it would be fast food or resteraunt work and they typically want females for the waitstaff. I actually make more on unemployment than if I worked fast food.
The wife is going for a part time job to fill the $800 gap left by my benefit checks each month. Since I own my home and land I am ineligible for medicaid or foodstamps. I suppose I could eat dirt and feed the kids bark and roots while we go see Dr Swamp if we get sick. Afterall, owning land equals being rich.

Found that out long ago myself. Pay your bills, live within your means, and there are no mercies shown to you. I can say working for a fraction of what I used to is a blessing since all other things being equal, home paid for, kids grown and all. Meanwhile there are third generation food stamp recipients living around the corner breeding the next generation of people who think I should have to give more away in their lifelong habit of renting subsidized housing.