Well, I got laid off yesterday.

[crispini]

Completely out of the blue, no idea this was coming. I'm still a little bit stunned to be perfectly honest.

So. Now what?

[LiberalEsto]

1. Take the day "off"

and be good to yourself today.
Take a walk, go to a park or a museum, buy yourself an ice cream cone. Do fun things.

Tomorrow, tackle the job hunt. Treat it as your new job. Apply for unemployment benefits.


I'm so sorry this happened to you. Layoffs totally suck and there's too damn much of this going around lately. Good luck to you.

[crispini]

2. Thanks. I might have to do that.

That's a good idea. I'm a little wigged out. So much to do, so much to think about -- my head is spinning.

I've already hit the usual hotspots for my industry, and sadly, they don't look all that great. Well, we will see. :D

[Chan790]

14. What industry?

While your industry may not be in great shape, there are a lot of emerging industries where your skill-set may be in demand. Medical is taking off and not just for skilled med. professionals. Somebody's got to wash all those sheets, cook all those meals, home-make for the elderly, sterilize all that equipment, deliver those O2 tanks, answer all those phones...and once you're in the door, they'll usually train you cheap/free in a skilled field.

I can speak to the explosive growth of the non-profit sector.

For example, there are not enough CPAs employed in the NP sector to ensure Sarbanes-Oxley compliance and perform mandatory audits required by IRS code 501(c)3 as there is demand.

If you're really not attached to your location, you might try the Red Cross. They do so many different things on such a massive scale that they seem to have an opening somewhere for virtually every skill set imaginable.

[crispini]

25. I've thought about medical

And I would be really interested in moving into certain types of non-profit. I will have to give this some thought. :)

My current industry is high-tech and I do something very specific .... and honestly, I'm a bit sick of what I do at the moment, but maybe that's just the layoff talking. :)

[DFW]

3. That would throw me for a loop for sure

I'm really sorry to hear it, and hope you are not too depressed
to go out and try for another one. My elder daughter graduates
from her college in 3 weeks, and she is somewhat apprehensive
(and justifiably so) about finding something.

I've been with the same outfit for 33 years, so even if they want to
get rid of me, I "know too much." Hmmm, I might invest in a bullet-proof
vest, come to think of it........

[crispini]

26. No, I'm getting back on the saddle ASAP.

Hope you don't need that bullet-proof vest. :hug:

[ThomCat]

4. Apply for unemployment immediately

so that you have a cushion.

Make sure your resume and references are ready.

Start hunting. :(

I'm sorry you got laid off. That really sucks. I hope you end up someplace more stable. :hug:

[crispini]

27. Did it yesterday.

And, no more startups for me, to be sure! :hug:

[bigwillq]

5. Well that just sucks.

I am very sorry to hear this. :hug: Please apply for unemployment ASAP and start updating that resume. You have to take care of yourself. Be proactive. It really sucks but you need to stay positive and start doing the necessary steps to get back on your feet. Good Luck. Hoping for the best. :hug:

[crispini]

28. Thanks.

I was a bit shellshocked for a couple of days but I think I'm ready to get back in the swing of things now.

[MissMillie]

6. wow...

:hug:

I'm sorry


go for a jog... a long one. It'll help clear your head.

Then apply for benefits.

Then get to the work of finding work.

[crispini]

29. Thank you.

:hug:

[dembotoz]

7. treat looking for a job as a new job

in this employment environment, unless your skill sets provide an instant new job, do not take time off. The job hunt begins now.
Apply for uc.
Take a look at what you are going to do for insurance.
There ARE jobs out there-usually anyway.
Do take a moment to look at your skills and maybe with an advisor of some sort, look to see where or to what what skills might transfer too.
In retrospect, this could be a good thing and you could end up happier-happened that way for me.

But good luck and start pushing.

[crispini]

30. I'm thinking seriously about some kind of sideways move.

I'm just not sure what, exactly. Thanks. :hug:

[raccoon]

8. Sorry that happened.

:hug:

Hope you find something you really like.

[crispini]

31. Thanks.

:hug:

[Haole Girl]

9. Hope you find something much better

:hug:

[crispini]

32. Me too! LOL.

:hug:

[bertha katzenengel]

10. Oh, shit! Crispini, I am so sorry.

Craptastic.

:hug:

[crispini]

34. ((( Hug ))) back atcha.

:hi: It'll be good.

[Phillycat]

11. I'm sorry to hear that.

Off-topic, I'm shocked this thread hasn't been copycatted yet.

[crispini]

36. Ha. I do love DU.

I have a feeling I'm going to be here a lot more lately. Well, not too much more. Gotta jobhunt! :D

[masshole]

12. Sorry, Smithers-Jones

Been there, still there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lH6-KCcmV5c

Here we go again, it's monday at last,
He's heading for the waterloo line,
To catch the 8 a.m. fast, its usually dead on time,
Hope it isn't late, got to be there by nine.
Pin stripe suit, clean shirt and tie,
Stops off at the corner shop, to buy the times
'good morning smithers-jones'
'how's the wife and home?'
'did you get the car you've been looking for?'

Let me get inside you, let me take control of you,
We could have some good times,
All this worry will get you down,
I'll give you a new meaning to life - i don't think so.

Sitting on the train, you're nearly there
You're part of the production line,
You're the same as him, you're like tin-sardines,
Get out of the pack, before they peel you back.

Arrive at the office, spot on time,
The clock on the wall hasn't yet struck nine,
'good morning smithers jones'
'the boss wants to see you alone'
'i hope its the promotion you've been looking for'

Let me get inside you, let me take control of you,
We could have some good times,
All this worry will get you down,
I'll give you a new meaning to life - i don't think so.

'come in smithers old boy'
'take a seat, take the weight off your feet'
'i've some news to tell you'
'there's no longer a position for you' -
'sorry smithers jones'.

Put on the kettle and make some tea
It's all a part of feeling groovie
Put on your slippers turn on the tv
It's all a part of feeling groovie
It's time to relax, now you've worked your arse off
But the only one smilin' is the sun tanned boss
Work and work and work and work till you die
There's plenty more fish in the sea to fry

[crispini]

37. Very relevant.

Heh. Thanks!

[Connonym]

13. I'm so sorry

It happened to me once the day before I was to leave on vacation. It sucks and I'm sorry you're going through it. I tend to agree with the first poster, take today off, try to relax -- a hot bath, a good book, whatever will take your mind off it. Then tomorrow go gangbusters and work on filing for unemployment, updating your resume,etc. It's a huge stress so allow yourself a little TLC. :hug:

[crispini]

38. Wow, the day before you're going on vacay -- that sucks.

Thank heaven for my museum membership. I think I'm going to be going there a lot. :D

[applegrove]

15. Sorry. That is a tough one.

[crispini]

39. Thanks.

It'll be good. :D

[LaurenG]

16. Is there something you can do on the side?

Can you use any of your skills to open a home business of your own. Are there any new skills that you've learned recently that you could use to build a business? :hug:

[crispini]

40. I'm thinking about that.

I have a LOT of interests, but I'm kind of a generalist -- I'm not sure I know one thing well enough to be an expert at it. I'm definitely thinking about it though.

[Critters2]

17. I'm so sorry. Can't imagine how you must be feeling!

:hug:

I second the recommendations that you take a day off to be good to yourself, and then see the job hunt as your new job. I wish you success with it!

[crispini]

41. Thanks. I'm back now and I'm ready to roll!

Gonna kick some butt! :)

[hippywife]

18. I'm so sorry, sweetie.

Spend some time in that wonderful garden of yours. A little zen time with the veggies is good for the mind and soul.

I hope you find something soon...or as soon as you want or need to. :hug:

[crispini]

42. Thanks. That's one thing I'm excited about.

I need to look into some free plant exchange places to feed my habit, LOL.

[hippywife]

55. If you can't find one,

maybe you can start one among folks in town who you know garden. Good luck! :hi:

[MichiganVote]

19. Two weeks ago for me. First you're stunned. Then you think. Then you talk. Then you plan.

Sorry baby. Its no fun. Don't take it as a personal rejection. That will deplete your spirit.

[crispini]

43. No looking back, no woulda shoulda coulda.

Onwards, into the fog! :D

[Tikki]

20. Yuck...I'm sorry....

Do something very special just for crispini.

Tikki

[crispini]

44. I did take a couiple of days away.

And now I'm ready to rock and roll! :D

[no name no slogan]

21. Aw, that sucks

Suprise layoffs are the worst :(

If you can swing it financially, take the summer off. Relax and enjoy yourself. And do something good for YOU, too. Good luck. :hug:

[crispini]

45. Gosh, I wish.

I'm just going to have to see what's what. :D

[GOPisEvil]

22. What the hell?

That just sucks. x( I hope you get something new soon. :pals:

[crispini]

46. Thanks.

:hug:

[GOPisEvil]

57. You still going to make it down for the convention?

I hope you can. :)

[GreenPartyVoter]

23. :^( That's terrible *hugs*

[crispini]

47. Aw. Thank you. :hug:

[fizzgig]

24. i am sorry this happened to you

it feels like getting hit by a bus, at least it did to me.

good luck with the search

[crispini]

48. It really did.

I was completely taken aback.

[DU GrovelBot]

33. ## DON'T DONATE TO DEMOCRATIC UNDERGROUND! ##

==================
GROVELBOT.EXE v4.1
==================



This week is our second quarter 2008 fund drive. Democratic Underground is
a completely independent website. We depend on donations from our members
to cover our costs. Whatever you do, do not click the link below!

[crispini]

49. Hee. I love you, Grovelbot, but I actually won't this time.

Hopefully again soon.

[UndertheOcean]

35. I say , sell everything , move back with your parents

and meditate on life , quit the rat race for a while and get some perspective ... you will be dust and bones underground in a few decades , find something you love and put your soul in it .

Money is good , but content is better.

I'm babbling here, probably the most unhelpful post you ever encountered

[crispini]

50. Hee. Not unhelpful.

But I love my house, not selling it. :) Also, moving in with the 'rents would kill my soul.

I'm thinking about what's next. My problem is that I love everything, or at least lots of things. What do you do with that?

[femmocrat]

51. Sorry, crispini.

Good luck to you. "They" say you usually end up better off... hope it's true for you.

:hug:

[BarenakedLady]

52. That sucks.

I'm sorry.

:hug:

[My Good Babushka]

53. So Sorry

We are going on our second month of Unemployment Comp. That's why I'm trying to pick up more commissions. I hope you have a quick rebound.

[5LeavesLeft]

54. That does suck

I got canned a while ago, out of the blue. The suggestions of taking a day or two off are good ones, but in this economy you have to work harder to find your next job and you can't afford to let yourself get down. Remember that you still have a skill set that someone is willing to pay for.

[Midlodemocrat]

56. I'm sorry, crispini.

That sucks completely and totally. :hug:

[Thickasabrick]

58. I am so sorry. I really believe that old saying that when one door

closes another one opens. This just means you are meant to find something else much better.

Best of Luck in finding an even better job!!

:hug:

[yellowdogintexas]

59. well damn. Same thing happened to me, last week. So we need to get together

and drink it over. I am really sorry to hear this. I had an idea mine was coming, just didn't expect it right away.

I was able to take some time to travel a bit with my husband though. At the moment I am in North Dakota! Be back Sunday.

then I will start the unemloyment filing, resume dusting, scurrying about. Fortunately he looks to be very busy for quite a while so I don't have the financial crisis it could have been. I am looking for something less stressful even if it pays less. And am trying to convince sister # 3 to join me in a visit to sister #2.

I am even thinking about temping for a while.

Keep in touch,

[Robeson]

60. That sucks, crispini...

...I'm sorry.

[CC]

61. Sending lots of

:hug:s and hope you find something you will love doing soon.

[Botany]

62. Would a dream date help?

Dr. Smooth is in. :loveya: :rofl:

I am sure a somebody of your talents will find work soon and any firm
that gets you will be very lucky.

[Berry Cool]

63. Aw, crispi. I feel for you, I truly do.

I'm glad you seem to be pulling yourself together so well, but damn, that sucks.

As someone who has been there and done that, let me say I think nothing is more valuable in this life than the belief that you will always land on your feet. Something tells me you have that belief already. That's a good thing.

If you decide to do your own business thing, go for it--just keep in mind that you have to be dedicated to it 100% and love doing all aspects of it in order for it to work.

If you don't, well then, somewhere out there is the next lucky organization that will be benefiting from what you know and can do. Every day puts you closer to finding 'em.

Another thing--if you feel that a new skill will help matters, go out and acquire it. It can only help. That has been the case with me and if it needs to happen again in the future, it will.

Sending the :loveya: of the KOEB your way...after all, without you, where would we get the Pink Fuzzy Handcuffs that will someday make Keith ours??? :hug:

[Wetzelbill]

64. wow that sucks........

Sorry about that, that's horrible, especially out of the blue. Well, I guess you do about the only thing you can do, start looking for something else, here's wishing you luck at finding something even better. :toast:

[SharonRB]

65. Oh, Crispi, I'm so sorry!

:hug:

I'm sure you'll land on your feet and find something even better.

[Gogi]

66. Sorry to hear this ugly news,

I'd like to say I was suddenly laid off but my ugly truth is that I was fired from one job. Sucks, sucks, sucks. Good luck, Sharon!

[AnneD]

67. Even though I had my suspecions....

it was still a shock when I finally got laid off in 1987. Things were rock bottom in Houston then (want ads 1 page front/back). We had a RE bust, the S&L Scandal and the Oil Industry was belly up. Took me 8 months of searching every day to find a part time job. It sucked 9 ways to Sunday. I was in survival mode. This is what I recommend in addition to the job hunting advice.

Take a buzz saw to your expenses and pile up cash. You don't have a job yet and don't know when you will get one.
1) go through your expenses with a fine tooth comb. Cut the cable tv, newspapers, magazines. Go bare bones: lights, heat, phone, internet.
2)don't pay off cards of with severance pay. Stockpile that cash in the bank. Pay minimums on the card, if at all. If it takes longer to get a job and you have to stop credit card payments call them and let them know.
3) don't be embarrassed to go to church pantries if needed. I always kept a years worth of food in my pantry, but I was nearly out before it was over. It got so bad at the end that I went to bed at sundown because I couldn't afford the lights. I was actually down to my great grandmother's kerosene lamp.
4) let your friends know and network like crazy. Build your own safety net.
5) I did odd jobs in the neighborhood. Housecleaning, lawns, you name it. Tutor, do books, whatever.

Once you do get employed, and if you still have money...then pay off car, cards, and home. I recommend Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover. It will help you keep body and soul together. Don't shy from your friends now-this is when you need them the most.....Good luck Sweetie. Keep us posted.

[fudge stripe cookays]

68. Aww sweetie, I'm so sorry!

Were you still at Philip's place, or had you switched since I last talked to you??

Sending you my good vibes. I got it back in January right after rep. moved up here, and it totally knocked the wind out of us. I feel for ya.

Here's a hug.
:hug:

[GigiMommy]

69. I'm so sorry Crispi...

:hug: hang in there.

[Schema Thing]

70. Sorry to hear this Crispini

that's all the more difficult when it comes out of the blue.


I'll be hoping for a short job search for you.

[Lithos]

71. How awful

Really sucks, been there.

If push comes to shove, there is JC Penney, Frito, Hotel.com, and TXU though that is probably not your first choices by far. If you go medical, I think some of the hospitals have some accelerated programs with several of the community colleges where you can work while getting your degree/training.

L-

[vixengrl]

72. That's awful--take care of yourself.

That's what's next. Keep in mind those people who work with you though, if you made good connections--they might be (I hate to sound like little miss Opportunistic) a good source of leads and references, and commiseration. They're in the same rocking boat. Also, it's not a bad time to re-evaluate your skills. Re-do the resume, and think of what you want and can do--a lot. This could be an opportunity, after all--although I know a job search is frustrating and you rarely start at the pay you want--or need. But that's why you need to think of yourself--and highly at that. Be ready to ask for what you will need. If you have the right background, a smart employer will provide for a valuable asset.

Respect yourself. Being laid off is no reflection on yourself, but a sign of the times. If you need time to regroup or have the flexibility to retrain, do it. Be sure though, to communicate with people closest to you that whatever you do, it's in hopes of getting security back--that way they know you are in the game, and will help you with your search for a new job. It doesn't hurt if family or friends are on the look-out for a place for you, too.

I wish you well. :hug: