Another economy victim

[milehitom]

I'm sorry to read about your trouble, Conan. My company just laid off six percent of our workforce yesterday-about 2000 people. They chose Inauguration Day hoping the news of our layoffs would be buried in the news (and they were right). They were remarkably generous with severance packages, though. We hope to hire as many as we can back as soon as the economy brightens even a little bit. We all knew it was coming; we just didn't know who's name was on the envelope until we walked in yesterday morning. It's a tough time.

Hang in there.

Tom

[Amarao]

How long can you collect unemployment for these days?

[John]

Originally Posted by Amarao

How long can you collect unemployment for these days?

That depends on the state - and there are lots of loopholes to exploit (from what I understand, lots of people in CA are professionally unemployed).

[nvrblu]

Sorry to hear you lost your job. It's common these days. I was laid off 16 months ago and still haven't found a job... came close a couple of times.

indeed.com is where I search most of the time.

Just heard from a former co-worker... another guy got laid off last week. My old group is 1/2 the size it was while I was there. I have a feeling the rest of the group will be gone in 6 months -- upper management says they want to outsource the group's projects to India.

[mjf]

I hear your pain!

I was laid of about a month ago from Wizards of the Coast. It was a political savaging where the parent company is exerting more control and laid off 100s between 2 layoffs. =( The people on my project that are still there are really upset now and it's been made clear to me that the new management has completely botched things since I left.

In a way, very glad I got out when I did, but we'd just finished a project that I'd worked on all year, and I would have liked to have seen it released to the public as the beta was getting great reviews. Fortunately the new folk can't really hurt the project as it's finished, they can only delay it's release.

=/

[mjf]

There, now I've posted a request for help. Maybe someone will like my resume. =)

[MightyMike]

Sorry about your misfortune. Best wishes to you and your family. Hang in there!

[AgentTripleX]

Bummer. Sorry. Tough times for sure. I keep thinking what are the thousands or millions of unemployed people going to do. There can't be enough money in unemployment to support them all and their families. They must create new business models and ideas to overcome these times and take us into the future. Best of luck.

[Conan]

Thanks for all the responses and support. After I hung up from "the call" with my manager yesterday, I didn't want to tell anyone (still don't) -- except you guys at lotustalk.

Originally Posted by dasmoofler et al.

Try searching J2EE at indeed.com. There are a lot of openings by my zip.

Will do. Thanks.

Originally Posted by charliex

sucks man, i'll keep my ear out, the casinos hire a few j2ee guys.

Thanks. I've always wanted to be part of a big "family." jk

Originally Posted by Chris Mackey

Did you go all "barbarian" on the fools?

No. When skinny barbarian's go off (see my sig), no one takes us seriously.

Originally Posted by biscoradio

Are you willing to relocate to the Chicago area?

I'm very interested in relocating anywhere south of here. Chicago isn't too much further, but I'll entertain ANY offer.

Originally Posted by Valenz

Did you remember to add welding to your CV?

I don't think I've reached that skill level yet.

Originally Posted by John

Conan - don't you work for IBM?

Yes. IBM doesn't take laying off people lightly, so I know this is a very bad sign for everyone in my position. I actually feel bad for my teammate. We are/were the only 2 guys making up the UI team on a project that goes Gold in March. As it was, both of us were going to have to work our asses off to meet that deadline. Now, I don't see how he's going to make it by himself.

As far as unemployment goes, that's a serious last resort. I hate the very idea of it. If I don't find employment before my last day, I'll milk my severance package for everything it's worth while I find a job.

On the bright side: My wife DOES have a good job. Worst case scenario would be me going on unemployment while looking for a job, selling all the toys (race car, trailer, Lotus ) and cutting all other non-essential bills (athletic club, DTV, etc). Hopefully it won't come to that. But if it does, I think we'll be ok. Just REALLY don't want to be on unemployment.

Thanks again, all, for the support.

[Amarao]

Originally Posted by Conan

As far as unemployment goes, that's a serious last resort. I hate the very idea of it. If I don't find employment before my last day, I'll milk my severance package for everything it's worth while I find a job.

I understand the feeling about collecting unemployment, I mean I'm the last person you'd see asking for a handout. But unemployment is something you've been paying into ever since you joined the workforce, and it's there for this very reason. So long as you're not abusing the system you shouldn't feel bad about it.

Either way I hope you find something soon.

[Phantom]

Originally Posted by Conan

As it was, both of us were going to have to work our asses off to meet that deadline. Now, I don't see how he's going to make it by himself.

Thank God for your wife's "good job"- Sorry to hear about your situation-

My father-in-law retired from IBM, and I remember every time things got rough, they'd clean house- My wife's whole family would be worried for weeks until the dust settled, and he was still employed-

He ended up contracting for IBM for about a year after he retired; he was one of the only technicians who could work on certain machines- Sounds a little like your situation with the project- Maybe they'll realize the sins of their ways?

Good luck my friend-

[John]

Originally Posted by Conan

IBM doesn't take laying off people lightly, so I know this is a very bad sign for everyone in my position.

Originally Posted by Phantom

My father-in-law retired from IBM, and I remember every time things got rough, they'd clean house- My wife's whole family would be worried for weeks until the dust settled, and he was still employed-

I'm quite surprised to hear it, although it's a big company and every division acts like an individual company. Considering their income rose 12% last year(the economy isn't really weathering the company like everybody else), I'd say they're doing reasonably well. However, the company is also plagued with the pensioners, which kills its overhead and has been forcing itself to restructure and streamline. On the flip side, with it's size, everybody is just a number...

Best of luck to you Conan - in the long run it'll likely turn out for the better.

edit: Here's the article I suppose. IBM employees report job cuts - WSJ - Forbes.com

[Conan]

Originally Posted by Amarao

I understand the feeling about collecting unemployment, I mean I'm the last person you'd see asking for a handout. But unemployment is something you've been paying into ever since you joined the workforce, and it's there for this very reason. So long as you're not abusing the system you shouldn't feel bad about it.

Either way I hope you find something soon.

Thanks. I just want to clarify: When I said, "I hate the very idea of it," I was referring to being on unemployment and not the idea of unemployment itself. Just saying in case some of our more Democratic Lotus brethren feel slighted.

John, I read that article. Thanks. "...subject to what IBM calls a 'resource action.'" Those were the words spoken to me by my manager.

[John]

Originally Posted by Conan

John, I read that article. Thanks. "...subject to what IBM calls a 'resource action.'" Those were the words spoken to me by my manager.

Yep, that's what they call them - and they're usually pretty secretive about them. I know that our division could use some RA's, but since they are requiring longer work weeks and we have no additional staff for billable projects, they aren't in a position to let anybody go (at the same time, they really aren't hiring either). Double-squeeze if you will...

[milehitom]

I wouldn't cut the health club membership, if I could avoid it. Maintaining your health (both physical and mental) is a top priority. Another aspect of a health club membership people often forget is the networking possibilites.

Tom

[Nawambo]

Originally Posted by milehitom

I wouldn't cut the health club membership, if I could avoid it. Maintaining your health (both physical and mental) is a top priority. Another aspect of a health club membership people often forget is the networking possibilites.

Tom

Agreed on both fronts!

[SweetDaddyD]

Originally Posted by milehitom

I wouldn't cut the health club membership, if I could avoid it. Maintaining your health (both physical and mental) is a top priority. Another aspect of a health club membership people often forget is the networking possibilites.

Tom

I've been looking for a new one closer to me. Wrong time of year to be looking. Just wish I could get a place that was at least HALF of what I currently have gym wise, for the same price and be closer to me. I'm not trying to pay hundreds down and be locked into a contract for some rinky dink place in a strip mall that doesn't even have a sauna (or any good scenery). Yet driving 30-45 mins away to my current place is not working out so well anymore. Argh.

If there is one thing we can't afford, it's to not be healthy. (said as I'm fighting a cold right now. lol)

[shay2nak]

sorry about your job, conan. hope you find something soon.

[Noisycow]

Apply for a bailout, it is only a two-page form.

YouTube - Peter Schiff pulling no punches now - US BANKS are WORTHLESS! - "Flush them down the Toilet!"