the other shoe dropped | my job is over

[nostamj]

after 10 years with the same law firm... i'm finished. i've known it was coming since Thanksgiving (they told me on my tenth anniversary! sweet huh?) but now it's FINAL. i am getting 7 weeks severance but.... the job market is SO bad.

they'll bring in a kid at half the money. i haven't even seen anything I could apply for yet.

pushing 50 and an expert in something no one uses (word perfect)

i'm glad there are no children in the equation but it's a tough time to be alone.

hopefully, i'll crawl out of this hole of depression and blind terror in a few days and plunge into developing my graphic design business.

i've got a chunk of $ that will sustain for a while. but not that long and it so SUCKS that after finally reaching a point where I had real money in the bank...

it's just a really low day.

i stopped by my local video store. the owner is a longtime friend. she was comforting a crying woman when I got there. after the woman left she asked how things were going as she hadn't seen me in a while.

i told her the 'news'

it turns out the woman was crying because she lost her job and was terrified. and my friend's son had to take a lousy job upstate because he has kids.

and her business is way down.

i told her, Bush* is destroying the middle class. 3 million jobs GONE that will probably NEVER come back because it increases corporate profit. it shouldn't be a surprise that people aren't renting as many videos.

what are the suicide figures like in bush*'s amerika?

[Jack_Dawson]

1. You'll get through it

I've been there and it sucks, but 7 weeks severance is 5 more than I had. Plus you can file for unemployment, which has gone up recently. Plus about a million other things that we can get into later. I'm sorry you lost your job. You'll be OK though.

[Devil Dog Dem]

40. That's rough. I'm sorry to hear that, I really am.

Good luck finding a new job.

[GOPisEvil]

2. Damn...sorry to hear that.

May your graphic design business flourish (after we depose the idiot*).

[Kamika]

3. The idiots still vote for Bush though..

Gotta love it.

A laid off worker told me it was the unions fault that jobs are disappearing.. wooooo

[elfwitch]

4. condolences to you...

That really sucks. it is sad to see everyone in positions like this. Losing jobs or holding on to bad ones because there aren't any other jobs out there is just sucking the life out of people.

Chin up! You've got all of us to keep you company.

[villager]

5. hang in there...

...which may good advice for my own self -- a journalist in a collapsed job market, an expensive city, two kids to support, and a wife who bailed a year ago because things were just "too tough" at the time...

[Wickerman]

6. Oh, that sucks bad

So sorry to read this. Best of luck in your graphics work - what I've seen is great stuff. Hang in there. :hug:

[banana republican]

7. I'll be in the same hole you are

in a few months. The program I am working on (defense contractor) is ending next month and my parking pass is good thru March 31st.

Fortunately I knew this day was coming so I completed my MS in Tax and I will be hanging out my shingle.

Any one need help with their taxes????

CPA For Rent....

[nostamj]

11. can I design your 'shingle'?

corporate identity packages are a speciality (logo, bus cards, stationary, brochures, etc.)

so i'm shameless...........

[banana republican]

16. Only if I can do your taxes.

check your inbox.

[nostamj]

25. deal!

and check yours too.

i took a quick peek and can definitely have some thoughts.

[displacedtexan]

8. Here's an idea:

try
www.idealist.org
click on jobs (right column)
click on your state (left column)

You'd be surprised how many firms and orgs still use wordperfect! During the Microsoft anti-trust thing, the government (state and national) had to switch to wordperfect to avoid the appearance of siding with Microsoft.

Plus, idealist has jobs with orgs where liberals want to work.
Good luck!

[nostamj]

12. thank you! bookmarked

for later review.

just *can't* do job searching today. just can't.

[VelmaD]

24. Thank you thank you thank you...

for that link. I've wanted out of my job so bad for so long. I went there and searched and already found something I'm gonna apply for. :-)

*smooches*

[Interrobang]

48. Thanks!

I'm a WordPerfect expert too (although I use Word a lot now), and looking for a job also. I'd definitely move to the US in a hot instant to work for a liberal org... I bookmarked it too.

Nostamj -- you might want to try getting some contract work in Europe, too, where WordPerfect (because it localizes natively, instead of with all separate programs and plug-ins) is still the de facto standard. You also might want to try job hunting as soon as you think you can stand it, so you don't get bogged down in depression.

[nostamj]

51. very interesting

had not thought of Europe at all.

telecommuting knows no mileage.

don't worry about the bogging down. already working on several (creative) angles.

[stevedeshazer]

9. Good luck, nostamj

I turn 49 in four weeks. Lost my job in December 2002. 300 resumes, a handful of interviews, no job.

I'm not trying to be a downer, but it is damn tough for workers, especially those of us who are getting older. I'm glad you have some resources for the time being. Mine are going fast.

File your unemployment claim right away....

[liberalhistorian]

71. I remember when I was in

that situation, no job, no money, nothing, sending out a gazillion resumes hoping for interviews, and the only calls I ever got were from the fucking bloodsucking inhuman pond-scum lowlife lower-than-dirt debt collectrolls, who made me feel like a criminal because I was unemployed and broke and not able to give Doctor Greedy or St. Greed of Selfish Hospital even more money than they were already sucking out of people so that they could make their BMW payments or pay their CEO's their gazillion-dollar salaries for figuring out even more ways to screw people out of their money or deny them care altogether.

They simply refused to understand that I HAD NO FUCKING MONEY AT ALL and that it was the lowest point of my life, no job, no prospects, no money, unable to pay anything and watching my credit go down the toilet through no fault of my own, etc., etc.

But you know what? Though it seemed to last forever, I got through it and now have a much better and more satisfying job (although I still don't earn anywhere near where I should for having two degrees) that's even a lot closer to home, with a great boss, I dug myself, finally, out of the mountain of debt and have been slowly able to repair and rebuild by credit, etc., etc. And I think I came out stronger for the experience, corny as that may sound, and as unpleasant and frustrating as it was.

But be prepared for the onslaught of the uncaring debt collectrolls, who have a job because you don't, and who prey off the misery and misfortune of others. Tell them that in no uncertain terms. Tell them where to go, where to stick it, and what they can do with it after they've stuck it, then slam the phone down on their ears as hard as you can!!!! ESPECIALLY the fucking medical collectrolls, they are the absolute WORST!

[redqueen]

10. I'm so sorry

I think going out on your own is a good idea.

:hug:

It's sad to think of the many people we don't know or see or hear from that could tell us different variations of this same story. :(

[Sagan]

13. Bad attitude, Nostamj!

Let me help. Send me your resume.

PM me for details. You can get something else. Jobs are scarce, but they ARE there.

I'm a career HR guy. I'll help you out.

[TEXASYANKEE]

18. What a great response!

This is what I love about DU!! People are always ready, willing, and able to help each other. You guys keep me smiling. :-)

[fudge stripe cookays]

64. I'm so sorry nostamj

We're here if you need us.

[silverlib]

14. Speechless

I wish I could say something positive to you, but I can't quite think of anything. I can tell you that you are not alone (my husband is a fifty-eight year-old carpenter working a job here and a job there ( member of the union in a right to work state.) I do medical transcription, which is one of those things going digitally to India. I am an optimist. I do not seen how Bush can win the next election unless we go under a military state and the elections are halted.

I can tell you that volunteering has helped with my self esteem and gives me a feeling of accomplishment. I can tell you that I can be happy without a lot of the stuff I used to think was important. And I can also tell you "I"M PISSED AS HELL" to have to give up anything to further the "friends of Bush!"

So, I can't really tell you or say anything that you do not already know! Hang on and I wish you great karma.

[demnan]

15. You know

if you can do Word Perfect Macros you can learn Javascript and go into Web Development. It's not that big a stretch.

However, graphics is a great venue as well. Web graphics is very lucrative. I'm not sure I'll be laid off I'm getting conflicting reports but would you like to go into business with me?

I do website and love databases, all I need is someone good in graphics. PM me.

[Don Claybrook]

17. I'm in a similar position

I was laid off in October from a tech job. I hadn't been there for ten years, but I had been in the same industry for about 9 years. It's hard to get a callback, even from placement agencies. The only comforting thing I can think of to say is that you're not alone. And you'll have a lot more time to screw around on DU. Good luck to you.

[TEXASYANKEE]

19. Sorry to hear it.

I work (as a secretary) in a corporate law firm. We are more sheltered from layoffs, thank goodness. But I feel for you and hope your graphics design business takes off. Best of luck.

[seventhson]

20. I'm in the same boat

but as an independent contractor I get no unemployment bene's.

Due to budget cuts I have been scaled back to 25% of my former caseload and two kids to support - as well as medical issues with no insurance.

I loathe this administration.

[RT Atlanta]

21. Sorry

I am sorry to hear that. My thoughts are with you as you consider your next steps.

I am not sure where're you're based, or whether you'd consider relocating, but for what it's worth I am an atty. living in Atlanta the legal job market here is fairly decent.

[nostamj]

23. i'm in NYC

and while i worked for a law firm, i didn't do LEGAL work.

i did programming/training to automate/standardize document production.

of course, NYC is expensive and may become TOO expensive. we'll see.

[prolesunited]

22. Words fail me now

so all I can offer is :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug:

You know if there's anything I can do to help I will. It's a tremendous loss, so take the time you need to mourn. We'll all be here for you and it really will get better.

[soleft]

26. what did you do at the law firm?

I'm a admin assist at a legal dept in big corp.

[nostamj]

28. until the switch to Word

I was one of the PerfectScript gurus. wrote MANY MANY macros which automated and standardized aspects of document production. also did Computer Support Hotline, wrote documentation, did testing and training....

[welshTerrier2]

30. hang in there !!

sorry to hear your news ... been there ... done that ...

my advice: find something to fill your time ... don't let yourself get into "veg mode" ... get a hobby, take a course, build a business ... whatever you choose, get focussed ... don't take this crap lying down ... get mad, get mean, get energized !!

perhaps some courses to become a Technical Writer or perhaps learning MS Word, word macros and stuff like that would be useful ... taking courses in the past has helped me find work ...

one last thought, you could call Word Perfect (Utah, I think) and ask for a list of companies that use their product in your area ... if they don't want to provide this info, tell them you're a law firm that's thinking of using their product ... tell them you want a list of references you can call ... they also might have a "User Conference" in your area that would be filled with people who use Word Perfect ... not a bad place to network for a new job ... just a thought ...

best of luck ... keep us posted on your progress ...

[nostamj]

31. thanks. no time for 'veg mode'

i've already got my online store up and running (see 'mugs for liberals' in my sig line)

and I am actively developing the website for my graphics business.

and I'm working on the score to a new musical revue (an anti-Bush political cabaret)

and.........

[cosmicdot]

52. moved post #53 below

n/t

[qanda]

27. I'm so sorry!

The terror of facing the future without knowing how you will be able to survive is so terrible. My husband lost his job going on two years ago and it has been a real struggle. Some months are better than others, but my husband has had to take on freelance type work with whatever skills he possesses. The only fulltime jobs that are available would not sustain our home with two children. Still, we are making it and we refuse to give in to the depression and desperation that would make our lives miserable.

I know how you are feeling right now and I wish you peace and hope for a very bright future. I hope that you will concentrate on what makes you happy and I wish you the best of luck as you pursue your own business.

[thebaghwan]

29. My wife is being laidoff today after 16 years. I can't find a job either.

She is 56 and I am 57. We have been married 37 years this September and we are in the fight of our lives. I have been looking for work as a contract manager in the Seattle area for two years now. Along the way I picked up a paralegal certificate from the University of Washington and I am completeing the Contract Management certificate from the UW right now. Three weeks ago I had my first interview since late June 2003. This would be a part time paralegal position. It pays hourly exactly what I made 7 years ago but I would now have no health insurance.

We have been hanging in there and we will continue to do so but we are now living on her 401K money.

Anybody but Bush-2004

[shanti]

68. you have my sympathies, nostamj

it sucks to lose a job, but especially so when you have put 10 years or more into it AND you are pushing 50. we all know what happens when we start getting older - time for some new blood!

hang in there, dude! hope you find something soon!

[tom_paine]

32. So sorry to hear that, nostamj.

Buck up. I don;t know you personally, but I think you are an intelligent, witty person and I sincerely hope you get a new job soon.

[DinahMoeHum]

33. Get yourself over to matcom's bar in the Lounge. . .

we'll be there.

:beer:

[nostamj]

34. been there (hic!)

doing that :crazy:

[proud patriot]

35. My dad is a Senior anylist

Too experienced for most jobs he applied for , but after
10 months he found a temp gig that turned into a permanant
position .

I wish you the best of luck , I think you will find
something :hi:

[MadHound]

36. Oh geez, I'm so sorry to hear that. I have an idea tho(maybe)

Go advertise your graphics biz heavily in areas around Kinkos stores. Kinkos recently outsource all of their graphic design depts. to India, and LOTS of customers are pissed. Quality is down, service is down, and customers are bailing(I used to work at Kinkos, and still am in regular contact with some folks). So I would imagine if you did some advertising focused on bringing some of those ex Kinkoids, you would get a good return.

Keep your head up and eyes open, we will all pull through.

[nostamj]

42. kinkos outsourcing design services?

jeez louise!

i'll get my "WILL DESIGN FOR FOOD" sandwich board together by spring (too F'ing COLD right now) and plan to hit all the Kinkos in NYC/Brooklyn ;-)

[never cry wolf]

44. I am sorry to hear about your layoff

I am 6 months away from 50 and run a one man plus occasional contract employee architectural firm. I am a damn good architect but my weak point has always been the marketing/sales end. There has not been a whole lot out there lately, (not surprised, we do mainly industrial/commercial/office projects. Our current biggest project is to cut up a large manufacturing building into a multi-tenant space becauce the owner moved the bulk of their operation to China.)

So my question is, do you do websites and/or brochures perchance? I could actually use an IT guy too, as a consultant. Let me know!!

[nostamj]

46. the answer is yes.

i can do anything in print and am doing site design now too.

as for the IT, I've been doing computer support for years, but... I am NOT a hardware guy. in programs, I can help and even automate (letterhead templates, merges, etc.)

send me a PM with off-site contact info and we can talk and/or e-talk.

nost

[absyntheNsugar]

37. Good luck! I know you''ll come out on top!

How are you with patent law? I know we're always on the lookout for patent lawyers (I work for a tech company)

It's in California, but we also have offices in RTP.

[nostamj]

47. ha! i'm not a lawyer............

i make (made) life easier for lawyers (and mostly their secretaries, uh, I meant, administrative assistants) customizing software for document production and related stuff

[northofdenali]

38. nost, I just got pink-slipped yesterday. I empathise -

this is the second time in just over two years. I'll be 50 in July and prospects do not look good.

We'll both get through it, though - there really is strength in numbers, and DU'ers are the best.

:loveya:

[nostamj]

39. damn damn damn damn damn

sorry to hear that!

it seems like nearly 50% of DU (ok, small sampling) is in serious work stress.

bush is destroying the country. person by person, family by family.

will the military protect him when we reach the 'tipping point' and the second american revolution begins?

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

41. Been there, seen that, doin' it...

Don Shula, the Miami Dolphins' former coach, utilized the "24 Hour Rule." Allow yourself 24 hours to celebrate every victory. 24 hours to feel bad about every setback and defeat. It's a learned discipline that involves occasional backsliding but I can't escape its wisdom.

One foot in front of the other, day after day, every day. Don't look back and keep moving forward. Find a group of peers. In California they have the Graphic Arts Guild (http://norcal.gag.org/). Surrounding yourself with people who have similar interests and values will remind you of that. You'll give them strength and you'll get it back in spades. No one does "everything"...they will call you with potential leads in your area of expertise and you will do the same for them.

Good luck. Be tough. Be aware of what's going on in the world and the economy but don't let it paralyze you. I applaud the graphic design choice because it's what I do and what I love but make sure you do too. Give customers a reason to pick you. If you're not burning, consider another line of work that MAKES you burn.

:toast:

[Richardo]

43. I'm very sorry to hear that, nostamj...

I've had to do that as well - go ahead and marinate in rage, panic and self-pity for a while if you want.

I'm sending best thoughts, peace and strength....

Richardo

[Cleita]

45. Aw, Nostamj, I'm so sorry.

I wish I had a job to offer you. Let's hope this is only a temporary set back. I'll be thinking about you. :hug:

[supernova]

49. Sorry nostamj to hear

you lost your job. Damn, this is happening too damn much! It really sucks out there right now. I know because I'm doing it.

If you are thinking of starting up a business, go for it. There's no time like the present. :hug: and much luck to you, nostamj.

[Ramsey]

50. How about working for your state or local government?

Seriously, my sister is a lawyer and she has worked for the state for many years. The pay isn't as good as a firm but the hours are great. The only problem is she is currently in an appointed position and the statehouse just switched to Repuke, so they could replace her with a Pug.

Anyway, just a thought for a politically oriented person.

[cosmicdot]

53. I think this company deals with legal documentation management

... don't know anything about them ... but, they have an office in Brooklyn

offers a unique variety of products and services that provide clients with state-of-the-art solutions for their data/document requirements.

Products and Services Consulting Services
Imaging Practice Support
Data Capture Trial Site Design and Set-up
Electronic Discovery Services Document Management Consulting
Data Repository Services Workflow Process
Disaster Recovery Services Software Development
On-site Imaging / scanning
High Speed Printing
Document conversion to PDF
Low cost Digital Distribution Solution
(Patent Pending - See DDS information)


http://www.planetds.com/index1.html
http://www.planetds.com/index5.html

"I tell you there is another America out there. It is ready to be called

[Norbert]

54. Sorry to hear that

Three and a half years ago I received an excellent review from my boss at a job I held for nine years. Three weeks later my boss was fired because he wasn't a "good fit". Three and a half months later I was fired because of job performance. In actually I was 46 at the time and other people near or over forty were let go too. My firing was not a blindside by any stretch because there were suttle indicators like shrinking responsibilities and such. I liked what I did and it hurt me terribly that I was treated this way. The time being unemployed was very stressfull and at times I felt worthless and very depressed.

What happened after that? Exactly two months after being dumped I was offered a position in a smaller company with more responsibilities, a forward and not a lateral move, and a 20% increase in pay.

Please don't give up my friend. You have skills that are marketable even in Bu$hCos economy. The occupant of the White House will soon be fired and that will be sweet. You are around my age so I can empathise your plight. Please let us know how you fare and use my story as an example. Things can and will get better.

[nostamj]

55. thank you for this post

i am encouraged.

i already have two potential design jobs from this thread.

it's a bad day. having the bad tooth extracted HURTS. but you do begin to feel better the next morning.

[jmowreader]

56. Feel fortunate. You don't live in North Carolina

On my last day at my old job, I walked in the door and was told "business is down, we don't need you anymore." I was hired in December 1994--nine years and change with this company.

My severance? "Pay him for the rest of the day."

Here's to the success of your graphics shop.

[nostamj]

57. "Pay him for the rest of the day."

damn. that's cold.

i'm being 'frozen' out in a different way. long-time friends in top management don't look me in the eye anymore. creepy.

[Misinformed01]

58. I live in NC

"Pay him for the rest of the day???"

Oh my God. What heartless, ruthless, money grubbing, pieces of shit you must have worked for.

Nos....Jeff...I am sorry, I can never remember how to spell your screenname...you should come to NC this Spring, and we should have a DU get together. Michael would love it...and Spring is next month...in March!

[nostamj]

63. NC in the spring??

you're too kind to offer. let's see what the next weeks bring. hopefully, i'll be so busy with projects i won't be able to travel.

jeff

[Misinformed01]

66. You are welcome anytime

I think you are just too cool.

Much cooler than me.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

59. Go, go, go...

Don't waste time being depressed. Not that I'm without sympathy; but you can't afford to spend time in a major funk.

Here's your new motto: Crisis = Opportunity for growth.

My mother, at age 48, turned her emotional crisis into a return to school, and completion of her bachelor's degree. At age 51 she received her Masters in Social Work, and got a job not long after, during the RayGun years.


Don't let the repunks get to you... :hug::hug::hug:

[UrbScotty]

60. Hang in there.

There's a light at the end of every tunnel.

[nostamj]

61. of course, sometimes,

it's the lights of an oncoming train!

;-)

i'm kidding....

[Plaid Adder]

62. That totally sucks!

I'm really sorry! What kind of morons are these people that they think they can do without nostamj? Nostamj! Bringer of cartoons! Purveyor of quality poetry! Questioner extroarinaire!

A prophet is never appreciated in his own workplace. Dang.

I really hope something will turn up for you soon.

I understand the hole, depression, anxiety, etc. I have an axe hanging over my own head jobwise, with a deadline on it. I do not _think_ the axe will cleave me in twain when the day comes, but it very well might. Just thinkin' about it--or rather being in deepest denial about it--is producing some of the less severe symptoms I recognize from my last depression. It sucks.

I don't know what the suicide rates are in Bush's America, but I bet antidepressants are booming.

I would offer you a job if I had one, but I guess all I can do is say I'm thinking of you and I hope you wind up with a better job working for more suitably grateful people.

Courage,

The Plaid Adder

[liberalhistorian]

72. Hey, I have an idea!

And this is a serious one, not joking. Why don't you ask Skinner if he could use your creative services on a free-lance basis, and also try to find other liberal/progressive web sites where you can do the same thing?

[Lydia Leftcoast]

65. That's terrible

I lost my academic job over ten years ago, and while it was frightening and humiliating, it eventually led to a whole new line of work and way of life.

I hope that you, too, will be able to reinvent yourself.

[cally]

67. Sorry Nostamj

I know how hard it is to lose a job. It's been awhile for me, but I remember how horrible it is.


Another idea. I own a small business. We've been through 4 computer 'experts.' We finally found a great one but he turns down all our referrals. Small businesses depend upon folks to come in and figure out how to install that new program and make it work with the old database. Or figuring out why the printer will not work after functioning for 10 months. It's not about knowing how, it's about knowing how to figure it out. Our current consultant is a retired Chemist from a major corporation. He makes more money now.

Good luck and lots of :hug:

I just learned my brother in law was laid off tonight. This economy is horrible.

[liberalhistorian]

69. It's too bad you don't have a background

in real estate or title company sales, because my boss, an attorney (I'm his paralegal) also runs a small real estate title company and his sales manager, whom he'd just promoted a few months ago, resigned today in order to take a job with a mortgage company. I'd worked a little with her developing my ideas of marketing the law firm (which is just my boss and I) together as a package with the title company.

I'm sorry for what you're dealing with, I've been there and it ain't pretty. I will certainly keep my eyes and ears open for opportunities. I may be developing my own legal research business soon, you'll be the first in line if I need any of your "expert" services!

[JanMichael]

70. Whoa. That royally sucks. Sorry to hear that brother.

10 years and you get 7 weeks? Shit. I hope they're laying off attorneys too, doubt it though...

BTW The invite from Steph is in 100% agreement on my part too. We could sit around plotting the Revolution and other stuff.

[nostamj]

73. "10 years and you get 7 weeks?" well......

i really haven't worked more than 2 days a week since thanksgiving. (while receiving full pay)

it STILL SUCKS though.

[JanMichael]

74. Yep, it does. Fact is that you're a victim of ageism.

And downsizing. Even in a small business it can happen.

So...The Revolution....You in?

[nostamj]

76. "So...The Revolution....You in?" well...

"king" george MUST be defeated. again.

[Misinformed01]

77. Please come down for a visit

it would be fun!

Michael and I can take you to the place where Jim and Tammy Baker used to live.

Then to the Waffle House!

I can show you my tiny collection of antique Civil War bullets that were probably aimed right at some Northern Aggressor!

You would love it down here; makes NYC look kind of puny really. Probably you won't want to leave.

[Jack Rabbit]

75. I'm sorry, man

I'm 52 and worry about what I would do.