You should start writing books or something, Les.  Find some way of working for yourself and be your own boss.  That way you don’t have to put up with idiot bosses who get hung up on arbitrary titles.  And maybe working for yourself would free up some time to work on a degree part time, if your life could accomodate that sort of routine.  Anyway, good luck and hang in there.

I suspect most, if not all, of us have been there: wondering what the hell we’re going to do now. It’s a sinking, humbling experience and it sucks.

I wish you immediate success in the hunt, Les and that your new career will be closer to what you truly enjoy doing everyday. I hope this worrying development turns into more lemonade than you know what to do with.

Please though, listen to me when I say: “Please don’t wear that shirt to an interview”

Wow, that bytes! Why don’t you describe in the blog 3 things: your dream job, a job you’d be happy with and a job that you will accept. That way we can all keep an eye out for you and send leads your way if something comes up.

I know this is a low point, but with your talents I’m sure you can turn it into an opportunity.

Both my parents have been in sales their whole lives up until about 4 years ago where they were almost simultaneously ‘let go’ from seperate companies. My father wrote an extremely generous note to the president of the company thanking him for 11 years of employment. Long story short he went through two more jobs in one year and almost at exactly 1 year to the date the president called him on his cell phone and asked him to return. Turns out my the guy was sort of a slob and was cleaning a drwaer out of his desk where he found the letter and was so impressed with my dad’s professionalism, as it was the only letter he had ever received thanking him after being let go, that he just had to give him his job back. On the other hand my mother went through 2 jobs as well and is still going through more but she isn’t getting fired she just quits because things don’t turn out as she expected. Neither of my parents have any college education but they consistently have each made over 50,000 in their sales jobs.

Anyways, I am rambling I just work up and need to go to class. Good luck in the job hunt Les, and I am sure a smart guy like you can find something that suits you with or without fancy titles.

Les: That was really a tough break.  I sympathize with you and hope you find a good spot for your talents soon. Let’s hope you can keep up with your blog as it is one of the liveliest I have seen.

Hang in there Les.  Remember, that one more resume you put in someone’s hands might be that great job you score.  Don’t stop!

I didn’t catch the part that your last day was Feb. 11th. My cousin who was also told he was on borrowed time, his last day is also Feb. 11th. Hmm… I wonder what that is all about.

What I don’t understand here is, what incentive do you or my cousin have to perform? When I was laid off, that was my last day. Hell, I didn’t even finish the day. I collected my things and was out the door.

If I had been told my last day was a month away, I would have probably found out what my options were there. I really wouldn’t have felt much like working for them and I certainly wouldn’t have felt any loyalty…

I realize that there are commitments that need to be addressed, but really. I just can’t see a reason for staying… Even if it meant not getting the severance package I got. It just doesn’t seem worth it.

What complete asshats.  You work there four years and they don’t hire you because you have no college degree?  My opinion...you are well out of there.  If you can, try to stay away from huge corporations, they generally treat people like crap and you are too talented for that.

You work there four years and they don’t hire you because you have no college degree?

Bah, things like that often turn out to be eccuses anyway.

Best of luck, Les!

And sorry to have to add that to your worries - but does that mean that you too, will be among those people without health insurance as of the 11th February?

‘Excuses’, obviously. I meant that they might just as well have let you got for a simple reason like cost-cutting, and this is their outward reason.

If I had been told my last day was a month away, I would have probably found out what my options were there. I really wouldn’t have felt much like working for them and I certainly wouldn’t have felt any loyalty…

Lol, only in the US. I mean most Germans would probably feel the same way, but here 3-6 months grace periods are quite usual…

Lol, only in the US. I mean most Germans would probably feel the same way, but here 3-6 months grace periods are quite usual…

Only in the US? I suppose I was using my example as the only possibility, but when you are being “let go” so that the company can make 10M and your boss can make a big fat bonus due to reaching that goal… Well, you just don’t really feel like staying there.

One of the advantages of working for a publicly traded company is that their financials are posted by the S.E.C. for public consumption. Seeing a letter from the CEO of the company to ones boss stating that if the company makes 10M a year in sales, he will get a bonus of somewhere on the order of $100,000, pretty much puts the reason you and 4 others were let go into perspective.

les,
The good news: Web experience is a big plus, bad news: limited area to look, and the job market is still not that good in any part of us.

Best of luck

Les, I think you’re probably better off looking for something else.  The company you worked for obviously doesn’t appreciate you enough to keep you.  I’ve been in a similar situation, and remember my mixed feelings of anxiety and relief.

I have every confidence that you will find a good job.  You are a perceptive and intelligent creature, and you’ll come out on top in the end.

A tip to help you on your way: There is a company in Whitmore Lake called “Tectura” (they used to be Aston Business Solutions before they were bought out).  Drop them a copy of your resume, who knows?  Check out Tectura US for more info.  How do I know all this, living and working in Germany?  Easy: my cousin works there!

Good luck, Les.

Sorry to hear that, Les!

Don’t forget to apply for Unemployment ASAP. Even though it is but a pittance, it is still money coming in and it is better than nothing.

That being said, good luck; I know you’ll find a better job soon!

Well, you just don’t really feel like staying there.

I wasn’t shaking my head about your description of the likely feelings.

However, I was trying to say that here in Germany, it is quite usual to continue working for a pretty long time after you know you’ve been fired.

Isn’t it funny how, even when one doesn’t like the situation one is in, a change like this can almost make one physically ill. One would think that one would feel more liberated or grateful for the “growth opportunity” but any change, I suppose is a change out of the comfort zone.

Good luck, Les. I’d say: “Come to Idaho, we’re cold too.” But you really don’t want what we have to offer…

“growth opportunity” is nice when the job market is full of opportunities… However, thanks to a lot of factors including our country’s glorious leader, the job market just isn’t all that great.

Let’s all hope that Les has better luck finding a new job than I did. 8 months is really not good length of time to be out of work.

ingolfson, What I’m trying to say is that I don’t understand how anyone, from Germany or any other place, could work for someone months after being “fired” or “let go”. What incentive do you have to perform well? Your not going to get a raise or promotion. It takes away from the time you need to be working on getting a new job. I just don’t understand why someone would stay at a company 6 months after being fired/let go.

Yeah, it’s a mess all around in places like Germany, Switzerland and others.  Even if someone is a real bozo, it takes months or years to get to the point where you can fire him, and even then, it takes six months to get rid of him, where he’s STILL not doing any useful work and you can’t bring in a replacement.

Les, I’d try negotiating for something like Pop Tarts suggested—maybe they’ll let you go to school—but if they’re not enthusiastic about it, I’d take it as a sign to move on.  I wish you all the best, and I’d invite you down here to Texas where it’s warmer, but the job climate is just as cold. :-(

Personally, I refer to unemployment as “involuntary sabbatical”.

The whole needing a college degree thing could be fucked up company policy, which some people take frighteningly too serious, or maybe they’re thinking fresh college grad at 10% over mall/coffeehouse wages.  First part reminds me of yesterday’s Dilbert. 

Good hunting, Les!

unlike some above,I wont bother with the prayin’ dude! - i’ll just wish you the best of luck.Common sense aint that common,so i’m sure you’ll have no problems - you’ll probably double your wage! All the best mate.

Les, 4 years sounds like a heck of a long contract to me. And you’ve been a great employee, but now that they have the money for a permanent staffer, they need someone with a college degree?? Horse-hockey!

Something similar often happens in academic circles. PhDs who can’t get academic positions immediately often accept contract or sessional work thinking that once the money becomes available for a tenured position, they’ll have a leg up on the job. It doesn’t happen though. Regardless of skills, teaching record, publication record etc, universities never hire the contract or sessional prof. Any hire is always political and it is often easier to hire outside than to battle conflicting forces within the department. (And they always think they can do better!)

Give us some idea of the kind of job you’re looking for Les. I know someone in Michigan who MIGHT be helpful.

Good luck, Les.

Best of luck, Les.

Hey, maybe you can give me some trash to use against quicken.

They just screwed up my loan and I do not have homeowners insurance.

I don’t have any trash to use against Quicken in part because I’ve never worked for them nor have I ever done business with them. As far as I know they’re a decent company.