I still have a job...for now...

[Javaman]

We went through some layoffs a couple of days ago. Then yesterday we had a company wide talk with the owner.

I have never seen him so stressed.

The worry in the pit of my stomach is growing. No anxiety attacks yet. Yet.

My wife and I have prepared. No debt. A fairly good nest egg for a rainy day...as long as that day doesn't turn into months.

I'm in my late 40's. I have a fairly odd skill set, I can do a lot of different things.

And somewhere deep down in me, a voice, one that I try to nurture as best as possible, keeps saying, "you can get through this".

But my fears, sometimes, drowns it out.

I've been through several recessions. This one by and far is really bad.

I see the anemic signs of "recovery", but in my current area of employ, those signs aren't coming fast enough.

If I can make it through this year, I think I will be okay. I start night school next month. Retraining for an emergency. I would love to think I'm training for a "new career". But new is relevant. "New" is by choice, "New" is never by need.

I've worked a host of shitty demeaning jobs in my life, and the prospect of having to maybe work those types of jobs again, honestly, doesn't really frighten me. If I do get laid off, then those types of jobs would be a god send in this economy.

Work is work is work is work. No one is above putting in a hard days work, no matter what it entails. I'm not as young, my bones crack in the morning and I'm certainly not as flexible as I was in my 20's, but work is work is work is work.

I don't know why I'm writing this. Perhaps just to put my concerns on electronic paper and get them out of my system.

There is a different vibe here now.

During his talk with us yesterday, the owner invoked memories of the great depression and how the original owners weathered that. Personally, I don't think that was a good tact, but what do I know?

I'm just spewing worried thoughts.

Thanks,
Javaman

[SharonAnn]

1. Glad the owners weather the Depression. How did all the workers do?

[Javaman]

3. Wish I knew, it was way before I was born.

We were a much smaller company then. Just a very few employees. We didn't really start growing until the 1960's.

but I will tell you this, 2 of the owners went and served in WWII. I thought that admirable of them. They didn't have to, they were both very wealthy and in their 40's as well, but still chose to serve. (The third partner was to old to serve. In his 60's.)

One was a major in europe and was in combat and the other served on board a destroyer and saw massive action in the south pacific.

A very interesting history to my firm.

[NMDemDist2]

usajobs.gov

get out your resume and add everything you've ever done in the last 10 years (7 or 11 pages? no worries)

the gov. is hiring like crazy.....

[GoCubsGo]

7. No, they're advertising like crazy

Just because they're posting all those positions doesn't mean they are actually going to fill them. I just now got an interview for a position I applied for three times. The same position. They hired no one the first two times they advertised it. This is one of several government positions to which I have applied multiple times over the past year. In other cases, they advertised, and later withdrew them, never to open them back up again. They don't always have the funding for the position in place before they advertise. That being said, if you see a position for which you qualify, go for it. They may or may not actually hire the position, but if you don't apply for it, you have zero chance of getting it if the do hire.

[NMDemDist2]

8. i'm already with the Fed

and even in my little town, we have postings every month and I see people showing up taking the jobs.....

[barbtries]

2. you'll be fine

i like your attitude. try not to worry so much, it saps energy. easy for me to say, i know (me the biggest worry wart in history since my mother passed away).

[HughBeaumont]

4. Got that here too . . .

Bank just failed, was taken over by NYCB.

Right now, there are about 300 FDIC employees in this building. 70 people were let go yesterday.

I'm in that same boat. I plan on getting a copy of VisualStudio 2008, continuing to update my skills and hope, if the worse case scenario happens, someone hires me.

I just get a knot in my stomach when I come into this place. I don't feel like eating, I can't work, I'm nervous and scared and just an all-around wreck.

There's times where I have to hold back tears because I have to try and stay strong. I'm feeling vulnerable and sick.

[StarfarerBill]

5. Good luck, Javaman.

I hope you can keep your job without it becoming intolerable.

If it weren't for unemployment compensation and my savings, I'd have been up the creek more than a year ago.

[NightWatcher]

6. congrats on dodging the layoff bullet. I got hit the day before Turkey Day

I hope I'll get unemployment, I should find out in a week or so.

there are no jobs in florida

[flying rabbit]

9. Good luck to ya brother.

:toast: