So I just called Schwab to withdraw some retirement cash to live on while looking for a job

[tridim]

And the Rep informed me that Schwab is currently hiring lots of people in my field!

I was genuinely amazed how concerned he was about my unemployment situation. Sure, it's to his benefit that I'm employed (so I keep my account open), but IMO that goes above and beyond any expectations I had of an evil financial services corporation. I respect the humanity he displayed during that call.

Just sent my resume out and mentioned his name on the cover letter. Fingers crossed.

[annabanana]

1. mine are crossed for you too. ..

unemployment is a bitch

[MNDemNY]

2. Break a leg!

[proud patriot]

3. all my best

:hi:

[scheming daemons]

4. Good luck

[recoveringrepublican]

5. Good luck! nt

[Missy Vixen]

6. Good for you!

I hope you'll get the job.

[drm604]

7. I may have to do the same thing.

Drawing on my depleted 401k is not something I want to do but it may become a necessity. :(
Good luck with the job!

[tridim]

8. Yea, I feel dirty withdrawing my retirement funds..

But I don't have any other options now. Contractors don't get unemployment. :mad:

[monmouth]

9. I love a post like this one. Much good luck to you...n/t

[blm]

10. best wishes to you.

.

[BonnieJW]

11. I have such a good feeling about this!

I am a fatalist and this is just too coincidental. Please let us know.

[Ikonoklast]

12. You just never know, do you?

I've found employment from places I've never thought to ask, just was in the right place at the right time, and they needed a warm body, asap.

Good Luck!

[Stinky The Clown]

13. Bon chance! Jobs are where you find them.

[Mudoria]

14. Good luck.. hope you land the job

[unblock]

15. best to think twice about withdrawing from retirement funds.

if you think bankruptcy is at all a possibility, should you be unemployed long enough, you might regret this. from what i understand, retirement funds are (more) protected than other funds, creditors can't go after them.

i think you have 60 days to get it back into a retirement fund, hopefully you have a job by then and can replace the funds.

p.s. i'm not a tax guy, take my advice for what it's worth :)

good luck!

[tridim]

17. I consider myself pretty lucky that I don't have any debts

No credit cards, no car payment, etc. I do have an upside-down mortgage though, like almost everyone else. Haven't missed a payment yet.

My only other option is to open a new credit card and pay them 30% interest, that's not a valid option IMO. I also avoid loans from family and friends. I hate being in debt to anyone.

I've become so thrifty during that past few years that when I do start earning a paycheck again I'll have plenty of extra money to reinvest.

[zbdent]

16. GOOD LUCK!!!

thinking happy thoughts for you!

[CrispyQ]

18. Good luck!!

My fingers are crossed too!

:D

[roguevalley]

19. let us know how it turns out, hon. I am crossing everything for your good luck.

[dysfunctional press]

20. what's your field...?

maybe there are others here who could use the lead as well.

[tridim]

24. IT. nt

[mnhtnbb]

21. Fingers crossed here for you, too.

[Still Sensible]

22. That is great. Best of luck to you

I do understand the anti-corporate sentiment around here because there are plenty of bad actors in the corporate and financial worlds. Typically the malfeasance occurs at the top of the chain, however.

Just two points:

First, not all corporations are evil. Many are quite upstanding and take great pains to be fair not only to their shareholders, but to their employees and the public as well.

Second, even corporations where there are bad actors at the top, have many employees that are just as human as you or I and who need their jobs just as badly.

In a perfect world, there would be a way to identify and punish those bad actors at the top without those innocents below them becoming the collateral damage. Oh yeah, if the SEC and Justice wanted to, we could get a lot closer to that.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

23. That is awesome news!

The Fates smiled on you today. Hopefully your good luck will continue! :)

[onethatcares]

25. wishing you the best, and get the job

just don't change to a darksider, OK?:toast: