(OT) big layoff at work

[Marvin]

It is rough out there.  Friends and former co-workers have been pounding the pavement for months in Atlanta, Dallas, and other growing southern cities and have not found work yet.  In their specialities, they are better than I am at them, so I am worried about myself if my time comes in Rust Belt Buffalo.

[Believer]

On 2/23/2024 at 11:49 AM, JohnC said:

One of the advantages of being in a trade is that you can go anywhere in the country and still find work. 

Or as I heard somewhere about the mobility of trade jobs…

”Get in your car… Drive in any direction… and when you run out of gas, you can always get a job!”

[JohnC]

22 minutes ago, Believer said:

Or as I heard somewhere about the mobility of trade jobs…

”Get in your car… Drive in any direction… and when you run out of gas, you can always get a job!”

Anyone who is trained in Heating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) can go anywhere in the country, and if qualified can be hired in short order. I live in the Md/DC Metro area. It seems every HVAC vehicle has a sign on it saying that they are hiring. The same demand goes for qualified plumbers, electricians, auto technicians etc. 

[matter2003]

On 2/15/2024 at 12:14 PM, Marvin said:

The consulting firm that I work for is doing a big round of IT layoffs.  I am worried because I have been on the bench a while.  I am lucky that I can work anywhere in the entire tech stack, so AI might survive this round.

IMO, the best way to be positioned is to always be in good with the local tech recruiters. They will contact you with jobs they have and if you make a good impression, you will be one of the first people they get in touch with.  I've switched jobs 3 times like this, all while I wasn't even looking to make a move, they just got in touch with me, I listened to what they had and it was too big of a salary increase to pass up...15-20K each time. Once was a LinkedIn recruiter with the company who contacted me directly.

That's the other thing...I always make sure to listen and talk with them even if its only for a few minutes here and there...that goodwill cannot be understated in the opportunities it will generate for you over time. Tech is tech and getting more techy all the time, but at the end of the day it still comes down to people and relationships more than most think.

Edited February 29 by matter2003

[Hank]

2 hours ago, SwampD said:

I would bet that that percentage is pretty consistent across every generation.

You are right, of course. I used this age rage because those are the people most likely to enter into the service, the cutoff age for job corps (perhaps it's 23, I'm not 100% positive, it's been eight years since my youngest went through there), and physically healthiest. But I definitely agree with you. 

[French Collection]

1 hour ago, JohnC said:

Anyone who is trained in Heating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) can go anywhere in the country, and if qualified can be hired in short order. I live in the Md/DC Metro area. It seems every HVAC vehicle has a sign on it saying that they are hiring. The same demand goes for qualified plumbers, electricians, auto technicians etc. 

I am a retired tradesperson, work finds its way to me, so I can pick and choose what I find interesting and or lucrative.

[Hank]

Can always find employment as a truck driver. 

[#freejame]

27 minutes ago, Hank said:

Can always find employment as a truck driver. 

The market is way over-saturated, it’s a terrible time to get into the industry. 

[Hank]

1 hour ago, #freejame said:

The market is way over-saturated, it’s a terrible time to get into the industry. 

Perhaps. Not knowledgeable about the industry in general, but I do know if you have a class A you can be in a Paschall (Based out of Murray) truck next week. 

[\GoBillsInDallas/]

12 hours ago, Hank said:

Can always find employment as a truck driver. 

 

[Doohicksie]

Driving truck is a tough life.  My father-in-law did it and it was tough on his family.  Things got better for them when he got into the union, but it was still tough on his family.  He worked odd shifts and just wasn't around for a lot of his kids' growing up.

[Marvin]

Update: I just got canned.

[JoeSchmoe]

8 minutes ago, Marvin said:

Update: I just got canned.

Sorry to hear that. Hopefully you can use your wealth of experience and find even greener pastures.

[Weave]

1 hour ago, Marvin said:

Update: I just got canned.

Oof.  We’re all hear if you need an ear.

[Big Guava]

On 2/29/2024 at 2:22 PM, Marvin said:

It is rough out there.  Friends and former co-workers have been pounding the pavement for months in Atlanta, Dallas, and other growing southern cities and have not found work yet.  In their specialities, they are better than I am at them, so I am worried about myself if my time comes in Rust Belt Buffalo.

The more people you know, the softer the landing spot usually is.

No matter how technology is involved, it's still mostly about people at thee and of the day.

[SwampD]

7 hours ago, Marvin said:

Update: I just got canned.

Dude. Sorry to hear this.

There is a huge shake up where I work. Lots of layoffs (some deserved, but still sucks).

I’’m safe, but lucky me, it’s all happening at the same time that my brain decided to be a dick and try to kill me again. You just can’t imagine how hard it is to pretend to give a ***** about the extra workload and new schedules, while trying to figure a treatment plan and surgery schedule. Like it or not, soon I’m going to be out 4 to 6 weeks, and I won’t be thinking about you. The upside is I told my buddy that I’ll be showing up at his house with a zipper on my head right around the time the lakers start to head into the lower Niagara.

[JoeSchmoe]

2 hours ago, SwampD said:

Dude. Sorry to hear this.

There is a huge shake up where I work. Lots of layoffs (some deserved, but still sucks).

I’’m safe, but lucky me, it’s all happening at the same time that my brain decided to be a dick and try to kill me again. You just can’t imagine how hard it is to pretend to give a ***** about the extra workload and new schedules, while trying to figure a treatment plan and surgery schedule. Like it or not, soon I’m going to be out 4 to 6 weeks, and I won’t be thinking about you. The upside is I told my buddy that I’ll be showing up at his house with a zipper on my head right around the time the lakers start to head into the lower Niagara.

Best wishes on the surgery and the lakers!

[Believer]

4 hours ago, Big Guava said:

The more people you know, the softer the landing spot usually is.

No matter how technology is involved, it's still mostly about people at thee and of the day.

All business is people business… Reach out to all you know… We’ve all been in need of help.

[Sabres Fan in NS]

21 hours ago, Marvin said:

Update: I just got canned.

That sucks, but I believe these things all happen for good reason.  You will take everything you have learned over the years and turn it into something a lot better.  Trust me.  I've been there.

[Sabres Fan in NS]

13 hours ago, SwampD said:

Dude. Sorry to hear this.

There is a huge shake up where I work. Lots of layoffs (some deserved, but still sucks).

I’’m safe, but lucky me, it’s all happening at the same time that my brain decided to be a dick and try to kill me again. You just can’t imagine how hard it is to pretend to give a ***** about the extra workload and new schedules, while trying to figure a treatment plan and surgery schedule. Like it or not, soon I’m going to be out 4 to 6 weeks, and I won’t be thinking about you. The upside is I told my buddy that I’ll be showing up at his house with a zipper on my head right around the time the lakers start to head into the lower Niagara.

Sorry to here this news.  Best wishes for your surgery and recovery.

[Hank]

13 hours ago, SwampD said:

Dude. Sorry to hear this.

There is a huge shake up where I work. Lots of layoffs (some deserved, but still sucks).

I’’m safe, but lucky me, it’s all happening at the same time that my brain decided to be a dick and try to kill me again. You just can’t imagine how hard it is to pretend to give a ***** about the extra workload and new schedules, while trying to figure a treatment plan and surgery schedule. Like it or not, soon I’m going to be out 4 to 6 weeks, and I won’t be thinking about you. The upside is I told my buddy that I’ll be showing up at his house with a zipper on my head right around the time the lakers start to head into the lower Niagara.

Good luck with the surgery, I hope it goes well. 

[JohnC]

14 hours ago, SwampD said:

Dude. Sorry to hear this.

There is a huge shake up where I work. Lots of layoffs (some deserved, but still sucks).

I’’m safe, but lucky me, it’s all happening at the same time that my brain decided to be a dick and try to kill me again. You just can’t imagine how hard it is to pretend to give a ***** about the extra workload and new schedules, while trying to figure a treatment plan and surgery schedule. Like it or not, soon I’m going to be out 4 to 6 weeks, and I won’t be thinking about you. The upside is I told my buddy that I’ll be showing up at his house with a zipper on my head right around the time the lakers start to head into the lower Niagara.

People in general often get consumed by little things that in reality are simply life irritations. You are dealing with something serious that relates to health and life. Wish you the best. 

[JohnC]

22 hours ago, Marvin said:

Update: I just got canned.

Does your employer offer any help in finding new work? Or do they simply in cold blood issue the notice? As someone else suggested, don't be afraid to rely on your friends and work cohorts to give you leads to other opportunities. Wish you the best. 

[nfreeman]

Good luck @Marvin and @SwampD.  Each of you will get through this.

[Mango]

On 2/23/2024 at 11:12 AM, Pimlach said:

To the bolded.  I have to agree that the millennials do get a bad rap.  When they were first entering the work force, I was the director of electrical engineering for the site.  One responsibility was staffing, including hiring and college recruiting. 

We started hiring the very first wave of millennials and our HR revamped how we would attract them and hopefully retain them.  I loved the talent and energy they brought.  They were a bit older than my own kids who fall into the middle and end of that generation.  They were also smart enough to know what they wanted.  The company took steps to give them opportunities faster than past practices, and did some smart things to retain them.   When I was their age I mostly went along for the ride, kept my mouth shut, and took a lot of Sh** from the older generations because that was the way of the times ever since I was kid. 

I later found out that I have a  more trouble relating to the gen Z group that followed them.   A lot of people bash millennials today but they really are talking about Z's.  

 

I think there is this correlation to when people begin to age out of technology and what generation they think all people younger then them are. Totally anecdotal, but when my grandma complains about millennials she means gen Z. But she has been doing that since she created her 6th different facebook account because she forgot her password and didn't know how to reset it. 

In all honesty stuff like what I posted is why I always download the new apps, social media's etc. I don't love tiktok, or discord, or twitch at all. I don't even like some of them. But I understand the world is advancing at a wild pace and I cannot afford to age out of it. It took my grandma something like 70 years for the world to pass her by. In 2024 it can happen in an instant.