Got laid off 3 years ago today.

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

In a kind of funny way, actually. I was searching my computer for a document, and Sherlock searched the company server, and I saw a doc with my name and "Termination" next to it. The idiot HR person had saved it on the server instead of her desktop. I printed it out and took it home to strategerize.

Wasn't much I could do about it. It was a straight up layoff. Company profits were down. Thing was, the business I managed was doing great. Really great. But the head of my department decided to consolidate my position with my immediate supervisor, who had been his boss at his first job many years before. It's an incestuous little industry.

The whole thing fucked me up pretty badly. I'd been let go before and bounced back, but this time was different. I knew the mistakes I had made in the past. This time, I had done everything right - better than right - and I still got canned. After the first year without work I thought things would get better, and when they didn't, I had a quiet kind of breakdown the second year. This year has been a little better.

So I've been surviving in the American way: picking up work when I can, and spending all my savings, and running up a lot of debt.

And I've put all my hopes on a change next month. I don't think John Kerry's election will solve all my problems, but it will give me the strength to deal with them.

Thanks for letting me hide in the lounge, away from Sinclair and BBV and destroyed voter registrations and all the other disheartening news, and tell my story. I'm not looking for a pity party - lots of people are in much worse shape. I just wanted to get it off my chest.

:hug:

[The_Casual_Observer]

1. Chin up

Some guy fired me on Christmas Eve in 1992 (intentionally for maximum impact). Not a good time for that kind of news. It eventually ended up to be the best thing that ever happened.

[Lord_StarFyre]

2. You and me both Sister

I was working for a little movie/amusement park company.

On October 11th 2001, we all got called in and were very unceremoniously laid off.

dumbshitya's mismanagment of the economy had laid waste to any quick hope of finding work, and although I searched like a mad man, nada, for a looooong time.

Approximately 1 month after getting laid off, my lying, cheating ex announced she wanted to separate (we've since filed papers for divorce) (Funny side note, she left me for an alcoholic Republican, buhahahahahahaha, who had just left his wife for her. Right around the same time she figured out what a disgusting drunk he was, he figured out what a frigid Ice Princess she is...)

Needless to say, getting my life back has been a bit of a struggle, and although I know President Kerry won't be able to fix all the countries ills, I know while this country regains her footing, I'll be doing the same thing.

[Droopy]

3. Damn, if that happened to me I would long ago gone bankrupt

I'm kind of fortunate in that I work in an industry (trucking) that is always looking for people. We'd have to be in a depression to not be able to find a job as a trucker. And I say kind of fortunate because trucking isn't all that glamourous and you won't get rich doing it, but it's a steady check and I live comfortably if modestly.

Being out of work for that long must be demoralizing; probably even frightening. Good luck to you in finding your next job. I hope that happens in the very near future.

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

8. I'm old enough to have been able to save up, but

too old to ever save up that much again. I try not to think about that part of it - who knows what tomorrow brings.

[mhr]

4. I'm So With You - Unemployed 52 Months Now.

If Furious George manages a win, I don't know what I will do.

[alittlelark]

5. The 'American Dream' is a nightmare I hope

we all wake up from soon.

Best of luck/fortune:hug:

[knowbody0]

6. got laid 3 years ago today

for the last time. beloved left me with an std
haven't worked for 2 years

[Yavin4]

7. Been Working Temp Jobs Since 2001

Trying to land a full time gig, but it's rough. Employers have been treating people like crap ever since Bush got into the WH. If Bush wins in November, we're all doomed.

[JimmyJazz]

9. It's disheartening to hear about someone who wants to work and

can't find a job. I really hope that the new administration will bring better fortune for all of you. :hug:

I am sorry.

[artboy]

10. I have a question??

Before anyone bashes me....why has it taken some folks years to get a job...I don't understand that ???

Any job is better than no job

...or...

move to different location/city/town/state that perhaps offers more jobs/better pay..etc..I understand the depression that follows after losing a job one may have had for years..especially if the job you lost went overseas...but for the life of me...I cannot understand being outta work for 3 years.....and still unable to find work. I'm 40 years old with a mortgage..3 kids...and live in south AL. There are many jobs here...they may not be the best jobs..but if a person is willing to work..there IS WORK!.In three years time one could have gotten a CDL License...become a Paraleagal...RN, LPN..welder..mechanic..anything...hell even a three year stint at a restaurant would surly deem you a supervisor/manager role...
might not make the big bucks...but its still BUCKS.

I'm sorry if I offended anyone...I just know In three years...I could find a job. Maybe not the best job..and perhaps not even in the field I'm trained in (Printing and Design)...But could and WOULD find a job.

I would have too......

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

11. Well good for you

You're not my age, you're not in my circumstances - in fact you don't know a thing about my circumstances except that I'm not full-time employed - but you know you could have done better than me.

That's great, sport. Good for you.

[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Demobrat]

12. I guess I'm too dumb to get it also.

When I got laid off and couldn't find work in my field I did temp work and took inventory at night in department stores for minimum wage. Sometimes I stocked shelves in a friend's small grocery store in exchange for lunch. It was depressing and demoralizing, yes, but certainly not beneath me. But then, I'm a single woman with no family to fall back on, so it was that or the streets, literally.

On edit: I was in my mid-forties, not a kid.

[Lars39]

13. In 3 yrs time, working 2-3 min wage jobs and how much

money for tuition, you would have earned a degree?

[skygazer]

14. It really does sound easier than it is

I'm one of those people who has worked so many different jobs in my life that I have experience doing about anything. I also don't have much in the way of schooling or training. This makes me very flexible and adaptable. I work in a grocery store in the CA bay area. When the tech bubble collapsed, we got a lot of people desperate for jobs coming in and applying. But you know what? Management is wary of hiring people who are so obviously over qualified for the work - they know that these people are going to be looking for something better, something in their field. Same with gas stations and mini-marts and all the other places that are always looking for help - they don't want someone who is going to leave soon.

Now you can lie on your application but then you won't have any references and they don't want someone with no references either. My manager felt bad about not hiring some of these people and he did hire a couple who worked for about six months and, fortunately for them and unfortunately for us, found something better. It's very much of a catch-22 and when the job market is soft to begin with, there's enough competition that if you're not in the right place at the right time, you lose.

Specialized knowledge, years of experience and technical training can be both a boon and an albatross in the present job market.

[arwalden]

16. Big hugs!

[arwalden]

17. Kick