Look out AC, I'm here full time................................

BobRex · « **Reply #20 on:** 29 Apr 2009, 02:27 pm »

Quote from: BobM on 29 Apr 2009, 02:09 pm

Yeah, you're "required" to contact one perspective employer a week. What a joke, At that rate you'll never get a job. They should make it 1 per day to ensure the unemployed are taking it seriously rather than considering it a free paycheck.

Not you Wayner - I'm talking about the slugs who use the system for what it can give them as a free mealticket, rather than a means to carry over to the next real job.

Bob

Sorry, I don't agree with this. It takes time to find a good job; time I'd rather spend preparing a good resume and learning about posible employers. And maybe getting additional training. The idea that I'd contact an employer a day is ridiculous. All I'd need to do is hit a mall a month and ask every manager for a job. I know somebody that did just that when the local steel mill (Bethlehem Steel) closed up. He spent the better part of a year hanging out and just getting signatures from store managers. The whole thing was a joke.

rcag_ils · « **Reply #21 on:** 29 Apr 2009, 03:12 pm »

Sorry to hear that Wayne. The bright side is you only lost one of your jobs, and I take it as you have other jobs to fall back on.

Another bright side is that you have good health, which lots of people are taking it for granted. I am taking care of my son who's chronically ill, and I've come to learn that no well paying job can replace good health.

It is scary time for many, I've been lucky to be employed, but because of the odd ball field that I am in, once laid off, I'd have to start from kindergarden.

ArthurDent · « **Reply #22 on:** 29 Apr 2009, 03:24 pm »

Hey Wayne, sorry to hear of the recent development. As to the folks at the unemployment office, in fairness I think you'll find some came from the post office.

Good luck in the search for a new endeavor. Being laid-off is never easy at any age, been there. Is a change of fields a viable consideration ?

JakeJ · « **Reply #23 on:** 29 Apr 2009, 03:30 pm »

I feel for all those who are jobless. I happened to be out of work just prior to 9/11 and it took the better part of two years to get a job and relocation was required to do so.

Wayner, I think you have a very special skill set and it won't be as hard as you think. Although travel may be required. I am PLC & SCADA programmer and am lucky to be employed in the potato processing industry as people tend to eat more at fast-food restaurants in a recession.

I agree with the two Bobs, you should file for unemployment compensation and save your own money for when that runs out. Every state has different benefits and requirements but it's worth it in the long run to file.

Best of luck and keeping my fingers crossed,
Jake

Kevin Haskins · « **Reply #24 on:** 29 Apr 2009, 03:32 pm »

Wayner: Keep your head up, there is plenty of people who like 55 year old-farts rather than young duds. It may be discouraging at times, but keep your nose down and looking and you will eventually find someplace that will be a good fit.

Wayner · « **Reply #25 on:** 29 Apr 2009, 04:03 pm »

Thanks Guys,

Health is a big one and any of you that are dealing with these kinds of problems have my prayers. Not to long ago, I sat with a sick friend and watched him die. That is something I never, ever want to do again.

I am going to take some time off and just relax. I have been very fortunate in that at 55, the wife and I have paid off our house. There really aren't any bills except the usual. We could live on her (teachers) paycheck if we had too. She will retire in 6 more years and that will be good. She'll get social security and TRA checks.

I've told Frank Van ALstine that I'm at his disposal, but he doesn't have that many projects to work on. The new U70 chassis is almost done.

I have thought about becoming Wayner LLC and see what becomes of that. Like the other Wayne suggested, maybe my own website. I have been thinking of doing residential lighting design (and really doing it right), but with the housing market at such a bust right now, there is next to zero new home construction. Time will tell.

So for now, I'll be the domestic goddess and do the laundry, cleaning and cooking chores. I did buy me a new vacuum last weekend so I'm all set.

Wayner

turkey · « **Reply #26 on:** 29 Apr 2009, 05:07 pm »

Quote from: Wayner on 29 Apr 2009, 01:23 pm

I also think the governments unemployment numbers are way skewed because I think lots of people (myself included) have just decided to take some time off, or have given up. I for one will not go to the unemployment office, cause I don't need their fucking money and I'm not going to put up with them assholes. I swear everyone at the unemployment office use to work at the department of motor vehicles where they learned their compassion and people skills (NOT).

The people at the unemployment office and DMV used to have plenty of compassion and people skills.

They lost all that after having to deal with some of the idiots that come in to those places. It only takes one or two people screaming at you incoherently and spraying you with saliva to make you lose your people skills. Then they get the same stuff day after day after day. As soon as you tell someone something they don't want to hear, they get belligerent and argumentative.

I dated a woman who worked at the DMV at one point, and I could never understand how she put up with it.

sueata1 · « **Reply #27 on:** 29 Apr 2009, 05:21 pm »

Wayne,,,,
Go file,,,,,ya it's a pain in the ass but once your done it's like making $300 bucks a hour for the 2 agonizing hours of bullshit ya have to put up with.
You have earned that money,,,
I'm down here in the South and about your age when I lost my job to a Younger puke (age discrimination I really believe).
At any rate in this day and age Incompetency seems to float to the TOP

Good luck and Happy Listening,,,
Mel

WGH · « **Reply #28 on:** 29 Apr 2009, 05:54 pm »

Quote from: Wayner on 29 Apr 2009, 04:03 pm

I have been thinking of doing residential lighting design (and really doing it right), but with the housing market at such a bust right now, there is next to zero new home construction.

If you decide to go the self employed route the timing couldn't be better. The marginal companies are going bust so there is now more room for you at the top of the food chain.

Websites take a few months to design and then as more people discover you and add links to your site then your Google and other search engine rankings go up and you get closer to the first page, it usually takes about a year before you get indexed close to page 1 so it is never too soon to start. The economy will probably be better in a year and with your website humming along you will be exactly where you should be business wise. A interesting factoid is that putting my website link in the AC signature bumps up my Google rank. My site costs me 22 cents a day and since I put my site up I have more than enough work and never need to pay for advertising.

Wayne

gjs_cds · « **Reply #29 on:** 29 Apr 2009, 06:27 pm »

Quote from: Wayner on 29 Apr 2009, 04:03 pm

I have been very fortunate in that at 55, the wife and I have paid off our house.

I love to see this... being a Dave Ramsey fiscal conservative myself...

Values such as these turn out to be such a blessing.

Keep your head up, Wayner. W/ values such as these, there's no question you'll land on your feet.

ricmon · « **Reply #30 on:** 29 Apr 2009, 07:35 pm »

Quote from: sueata1 on 29 Apr 2009, 05:21 pm

Wayne,,,,
Go file,,,,,ya it's a pain in the ass but once your done it's like making $300 bucks a hour for the 2 agonizing hours of bullshit ya have to put up with.
You have earned that money,,,
I'm down here in the South and about your age when I lost my job to a Younger puke (age discrimination I really believe).
At any rate in this day and age Incompetency seems to float to the TOP

Good luck and Happy Listening,,,
Mel

Wayne you may not have to go down to the employment office at all. Here in the DMV (DC, MD and VA) it's all on line. When I applied for unemployment benefits I just went to the office once.....that's it. Every thing else was done on line. Easy as pie.

cheers

Ric

Wayner · « **Reply #31 on:** 29 Apr 2009, 07:47 pm »

Hey!

I read Dave Ramsey's book, Financial Peace. It's a great read and it explains what has happened here in the states. Stuff-itis.

Thanks again everyone for the advice and well wishing.

Wayner

DustyC · « **Reply #32 on:** 29 Apr 2009, 08:12 pm »

Sorry to hear about your job Wayne.

You mentioned that you do CAD work. You didn't mention any software, but in the civil engineering field, I took some classes and became proficient in MicroStation (we are an AutoCad shop), which helped us to nab new clients in the past. While you have some time off, learning something new that's job related can keep you off the "layoff list" next time.

Good Luck!!!

orthobiz · « **Reply #33 on:** 29 Apr 2009, 08:39 pm »

Quote from: Wayner on 29 Apr 2009, 04:03 pm

I did buy me a new vacuum last weekend so I'm all set.

Wayner

Hope you got a tube hybrid with lots of watts!

Paul

stereocilia · « **Reply #34 on:** 29 Apr 2009, 08:57 pm »

Quote from: DustyC on 29 Apr 2009, 08:12 pm

Sorry to hear about your job Wayne.

You mentioned that you do CAD work. You didn't mention any software, but in the civil engineering field, I took some classes and became proficient in MicroStation (we are an AutoCad shop), which helped us to nab new clients in the past. While you have some time off, learning something new that's job related can keep you off the "layoff list" next time.

Good Luck!!!

Interesting. My dad at 54 learned SolidWorks (he used AutoCad before) when he lost his job. Now he uses SolidWorks at his new job, which he got just after my mom lost hers.

I know almost nothing about CAD, BTW.

Wayner, sorry to hear that your job is gone; best of luck.

Wayner · « **Reply #35 on:** 29 Apr 2009, 09:25 pm »

I have used 5 different CAD systems in my life, but started out on the drafting board. The first CAD was from Control Data called ICEM-DDN, which was a 2 1/2D program. For it's time, it was state of the art. I've also used CADKEY, which is a brother to AutoCAD (they use the same kernel), Pro/E, AutoCAD and DeltaCAD (a cheap 2d software package). Many companies are dropping Pro/E in favor of Solidworks and I probably should take a class on that.

The one thing that employers make a mistake on when looking for help is that they look for specific software users, which I think is a big mistake. Can you use Pro/E, but are a complete idiot when it comes to real designing? I'd rather find someone who knows how to design stuff, then train him in on the latest, greatest software. Good points you have.

Wayner

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #36 on:** 30 Apr 2009, 01:11 am »

Hang loose and hang tuff, Wayner

My 7 months unemployed in 1994 was the most important half year I ever had...it set the tone for the rest of life (without the peace of that thinking time I'd have been on a far different path)

Your skills seem varied and vast....I think you'd be far more employable than I so I worry not for you. As Kevin said, I think age preference is losing it's lustre for a variety of reasons in the workplace.

Hang tuff

John

Bill · « **Reply #37 on:** 30 Apr 2009, 01:16 am »

I feel sorry for anyone who has lost his or her job. Shouldn't we feel sorry for those on this thread who have mentioned their similar situations, and not just Wayne? Would anyone care to hear about my personal situation? I didn't think so.

Bob in St. Louis · « **Reply #38 on:** 30 Apr 2009, 01:37 am »

Yea Bill, bring it on. Whatcha got?

Bob

oneinthepipe · « **Reply #39 on:** 30 Apr 2009, 02:36 am »

Wayner:

We know that this country and our economy is in shambles, and when someone with your talent and experience loses his job, we are reminded that even the best and brightest are vulnerable to forces beyond their and our control. This is the worse economy in our lifetime, and the people that work for a living keep getting shafted through job losses, paying for bailouts, and heavy "corrections" of our investments in stocks and homes.

When I read you talking about retiring, I thought "OK, maybe for a few days", since you usually have a minimum of three projects going. You are a person that will turn adversity into opportunity. While I would scared out of my ass (actually, I am) if I lost my self-employment (which I could), you would be way out in front of me right out of the box. As was implied previously, any sufficiently intelligent person can learn a software program, but there are special artistic and conceptual criteria to being a designer. While I wish that you weren't going through this, I only believe that this cloud will have a silver lining.

1 INTHEPIPE