I just became another statistic.

[grace0418]

I joined the not-so-exclusive and ever-burgeoning club of the American unemployed yesterday. Merry Fucking Christmas. Oddly enough, I was forming a post in my head when I got called (with 8 of my coworkers) into the conference room. I was going to write how I can no longer stand to read or watch or listen to the news (not just corporate news, but any news) because things just keep getting worse and worse for everyone. Then the bad news hit home.

But I'm not writing this to whine. Actually I feel quite fortunate. First of all, I hated that job. A lot. Secondly, I got a surprisingly good severance package considering how terribly my former company usually treats its employees. I think a lot of people getting laid off right now are getting no severance at all. Thirdly, I planned to go freelance in 2009. Perhaps not in the first quarter, but sometime in 2009. This way I can get paid while I get my freelance off the ground, and I wouldn't have had that luxury had I quit. Surprisingly, many of my friends who are freelance (we're graphic designers) find that they do well in bad economies because companies can't afford to keep in-house design departments or ad departments. Lastly, I'm on my husband's insurance, he has a super stable job, our cars, credit cards, and student loans are paid off, our only debt is our mortgage which we can afford on one salary, we have no kids and are pretty reasonable in our spending habits.

So long story short, I'll be fine (although I could use a hug). :)

But I just want to say that we have to keep listening/watching/reading because we have to keep in mind the individuals who make up those statistics. I apologize for wanting to stick my head in the sand. But most importantly we've got to watch out for each other. It is going to get much worse for us before it gets better, and the more we help each other the better we'll all do. I want to thank DU for all the support, news, information and food for thought that I've gotten from you. It's kept me going through the Bush years and will keep me going while we work together in the Obama years.

[catzies]

1. Me, too! Just last week! And like you I got severance leaving a hated job & am happy

So here's a hug :hug: and a toast :toast: to better times ahead!

[grace0418]

5. Well then congratulations!

:hug: and a :toast: to you as well!

[margotb822]

37. My mom too

She actually took the severance and came home so happy. I was like, um, you don't have a job and you're happy?? But, she hated her job and was so glad to get out.

[undeterred]

2. I'm sorry.

Its no fun out there. But you are lucky you got severance- I've rarely gotten severance pay. You sound like you will do fine. :hug:

[grace0418]

8. Yeah, I definitely think the timing sucks, but the severance helps a lot.

Thanks! :hug:

[liberal N proud]

3. That is terrible

They always seem to do this at the holidays.


Here is a hug and hopefully you will rebound and find a good paying job.

:hug:

[grace0418]

10. Thanks. Yeah, I feel really sorry for my coworkers who are either a) single and won't

have insurance or anyone to help out with bills or b) breadwinners with kids who just spent a bunch of money on gifts. We had already told people we weren't getting anyone gifts this year because my mother-in-law was diagnosed with cancer on Thanksgiving so we have no time to shop. That turned out to be a good thing for many reasons (not the cancer, of course, but the decision to forgo gifts). We're only making contributions to charities.

:hug:

[Greyhound]

4. Welcome, and sorry.

:grouphug:

(We're going to need a bigger group smiley if this keeps up)

[grace0418]

11. Are you part of the club as well?

I'm sorry and I hope things are going well for you. :hug:

[Greyhound]

14. Yes, thank you for your thoughts.

No, things are not going well at all.

[grace0418]

16. I'm so sorry.

I deeply hope that changes for you soon. :(

[HopeFor2006]

6. Happy to oblige

:hug:

[grace0418]

12. Thanks HopeFor2006

:hug: back atcha.

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

7. Sorry and welcome to our unfortunate club

We have meetings whenever the hell we feel like it.

:hug:

[grace0418]

13. Thanks! Yeah, between my freelance friends and my unemployed friends, I have lunch

dates set up for weeks. LOL!

:hug: and good luck to you.

[FirstLight]

9. So sorry to hear it, grace

:hugs:

Ya, merry christmas. My hours got cut drastically and I am wheeling & dealing to get something happening for 2009, too. But I kept thinking about how it was something good...that it was one of those "where God closes a door, he opens a window" kind of things.

Found out I qualify for a program that may help me with training, etc in a related field. So now comes the task of overcoming the emotional issues from poverty & stress, so that I can try to be proactive.
I hope you do well freelancing, I have ben doing some writing freelance off & on for two years, and my last steady cient has drastically cut her budget. Craigslist actually has a whole section on gigs, check it out!
Maybe with all this "economic stimulus" going on, you could qualify for a new business grant or something?

good luck! things can only get better!

[grace0418]

15. Thanks Journalgrrl! And good luck to you as well.

It's hard getting over the emotional toll from poverty and stress, but you have to find it in yourself. Projecting confidence and letting that employer know that *they'd* be lucky to have *you* as opposed to you being desperate for work seems to work really well.

Luckily with freelance graphic design (at least in big cities) there are a number of agencies that will get you work. I have a network of friends who already do this and can get me into the scene, which I am so grateful to have.

:hug:

[Paula Sims]

17. Hubby has been in that club for about a month now. . .

His industry is petrochemical engineering. He took the job as contract (bad situation at the other place)and at the beginning of the year they promised him a direct position after the contract period (which we thought was 6 months, turned out to be 9 months). Even at the 9 month period they were humming and hawing, finally on Nov 10 they let him go. With no one building or fixing refineries, why bother having engineers/designers on staff? Besides, they can always ship the work to India where they take twice as long to work on a project, get it wrong the first dozen times or so, but overall labor is cheaper. I'm glad to a degree because thank-goodness I have a good job (so far) and he needs the rest. Still, not a good feeling.

Yesterday we had our car checked for EPA emissions testing (it passed). We were talking to the tester and turns out he's a chemical engineer that's been out of work for 2 years and that's what he's been doing -- testing emissions at @10.50 an hour. But hey, in the words of that grate sage Dan Quale "A job's a job and I'm all for jobs". . .


Karma can't come soon or deep enough

[grace0418]

23. I agree about karma.

I just hope it's not too late.

I hope your husband is able to retool and find something he enjoys soon. I'm pretty open to any kind of print design, I hold no illusions about getting to design beautiful things that I'm proud to do. I'll be doing a bunch of cheesy catalogs, adverts, or crap sold at Walmart, but I'll get by.

:hug:

[ananda]

18. Certainly a BIG HUG to you..

. and everyone going through the pains
and stresses of job loss or wage reduction.

Keep well and safe.

[grace0418]

24. Thank you ananda!

:hi: and :hug:

[1776Forever]

19. From this "old" lady - we all could use a hug - here is one from me to you!

I never thought that my life would be like this in 2008, like most of us are facing now. I grew up in a home in Ohio that had an out-house and a coal stove for heat and a wood stove for cooking. That was in the late 40's. I wish all you younger people a bright and wonderful future! We are on the right track now. Our train got derailed by greedy and inhuman Repub's that see the "me" only from their eyes. It is time for "we" now and I am praying that the future will be full of promise and opportunity for all! As President-elect Obama says "A more PERFECT Union!"

Blessings!

[grace0418]

26. Thank you young lady!

;)

My mother was born in 1929 and my father's parents had just recent immigrated when the Depression hit, so they definitely taught me how to live with less. Especially since I am one of eleven children. I've been broke before and learned then to live within my means. Hopefully that will keep us afloat.

:hug:

[Mari333]

20. hug

:hug:

[grace0418]

27. Thank you.

:hug: back atcha.

[GOPBasher]

21. I'm sorry. :-( n/t

[grace0418]

Thank you GOPBasher.

It's all good. :hi:

[grace0418]

28. delete

dupe

[kurt_cagle]

22. Freelance

Grace,

I'm sorry to hear about your being laid off, but I suspect in your case it will probably be the best thing to happen to your career. I've been freelance for several years now (as a programmer, writer, and editor), after a succession of jobs dealing with clueless bosses, niggling administration, endless unproductive meetings and always worrying about when the axe would fall. Freelance isn't always fun either - you lose the steady paycheck, meager as it can sometimes be, and there are times where its easy to fall into the trap of losing your focus and not getting work done. You also have to be willing to assume all of the responsibilities that businesses usually tend to distribute - marketing, accounting, sales and IT in addition to your "day job". But at the same time, you generally are treated better by the clients that you work with (you're an outside vendor being hired directly rather than an underling), your hours are far more flexible, you can choose not to take work that you are uncomfortable with, and what's more, you can generally feel better about what you're doing at the end of the day (and you generally end up making more money in the process).

Not all jobs lend themselves well to freelance work, and with what's going on in the economy right now, a lot of people who probably shouldn't be freelancing are going to try to, at least for a bit, so expect for a fairly competitive environment. On the other hand, you have the stability necessary to see you through the times when you don't have a client, which is easily the most important aspect of making freelance work for you.

[grace0418]

29. Thanks for your insight and support kurt.

I was thinking about that today, because most of the people who were laid off with me yesterday are incredibly talented designers. So yeah, the competition is pretty fierce. Although, as I said elsewhere, I hold no illusions about the work I'm going to get. My hope is that I'll make enough to pay my bills and allow me the schedule flexibility to do things I love. That's what's been missing for me in the last 8 years. I worked all day, designing mostly crap and wasting time doing round after round of concepts trying to please three managers who can't remember what they said they wanted an hour earlier. By the time I got home, I had no interest in doing any work for myself, nor the time to do it. I'm hoping now that I can take some classes, make some art, volunteer to help animals (and people), and do things around my house. That way, I won't care so much if my projects are less than fulfilling.

Yes, it is quite lucky for me that I have a husband who has a steady, stable paycheck. That will help fill in the gaps.

I'm glad freelance work is working for you. I totally understand what you went through before you made the move. :hi:

[midnight]

25. Here is a hug grace.

[grace0418]

30. Thanks midnight.

That felt good. :hug:

[Mnemosyne]

31. .

:hug:Sorry!:hug:

[grace0418]

32. Thank you vickiss!

I'll be just fine1 :hug:

[Mnemosyne]

36. I understand the times it feels that you won't,

that is why you need another :hug: to carry as a reminder for when those moments hit ya'! :)

[grace0418]

33. ***UPDATE***

I emailed a friend of mine yesterday to tell him my news. He is going to be losing his job at the end of the year and I wanted to commiserate. So today he was telling a favorite client of his that his store is closing and she said something about her heart breaking for all the talented people losing their jobs. He mentioned that he knows a graphic designer who lost her job yesterday (me). It turns out this client's company needs some freelance print design done and she gave my friend her contact information to pass along to me. How crazy is that? My friend has his own job worries and he thinks of me -and one comment could turn into a real opportunity. It proves my point that we all have to work together and look out for one another. I love my friends and my cyber-friends. :loveya:

[catzies]

38. Wonderful news! Very best wishes to you!

And let's have another round of :toast: Cheers!

[grace0418]

39. Thank you catzies! I got another freelance lead this morning.

A :toast: is definitely in order! :)

[Pale Blue Dot]

34. I agree with everything you said.

We DO need to get our heads out of the sand, and we do need to watch out for each other. We (as a people) need to change what we value.

You're the 2nd Crowded House fan to post with bad news today (see GrannyLib's post in the lounge). Stay strong, and if you need anything, don't hesitate to PM me. :hug:

[grace0418]

35. Thank you so much dear.

I will check out her post. :(

I will be fine, I really will. I totally planned to go freelance, and sure didn't expect to get paid by my old job while I started out. Oh, and see my update, a bit of good news already!

:hug: