Lost my job...now what?

W

wblanchard

Guest
Life is really funny sometimes. I just lost my job the other day due to downsizing of the company. This happens at a moment after i commit to payments on a new car, camera, and other items. i feel horrible that my wife is the bread winner now and i sit at home looking for jobs in the paper...which are far and few between.

At the sametime, my Father in Florida is ill and I need to fly down to be with him. Driving home from the ticket counter, my cars steering rod decides to break. I get home and have a message from my travel agent that she booked my trip to Costa Rica and charged my credit card.....

I'm having a serious run of bad luck here this year. I guess i can now concentrate on starting that photography business on the side that i always wanted to try. Since im a professional web designer maybe i can test the waters and go freelance and help people out.

I dont mean to sound like a sad sack here...im just bummed out today and had to vent.
 
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Everybody has a right to vent - there is absolutely no need to apologise for it. For me at least, a combination of my faith and 'gut-feeling' give me confidence that things like this usually have a reason for them which we just haven't seen yet. If you have confidence and enthusiasm for this business idea you have, it might be the perfect opportunity. There's a great quote from Winston Churchill : "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."

Hope things go better from now on,

David
 
Web design is HOT, and you should not have trouble picking up work. If you freelance, photography will be an important part of the work.

Cancel the trip to Costa Rica and visit your Dad.

You have family income coming in, that will ease the pressure while you get something new.

There are worse things than losing a job, just don't lose your self-confidence.
 
What's said. Sometimes things happen for something better is yet to come even though we can't see that in the moment.
 
Amen to the above. Hang in there. Try some opportunities that now open up. Don't worry about your wife being the temporary bread winner. In today's economy those temporary situations happen all too frequently. Many families have both husband and wife working. Some by choice, unfortunately, some by necessity. Looks like you get a little of both for a while. I can't imagine you not getting some work soon as web design is indeed still much in demand. An advantage of web design skills is that they are for the 'net, and the net allows you to work for anybody anywhere from you home. Not something I can do. Don't be afraid to move for a better job, nor to quick to do so and disrupt your family. While you are in Florida, check there and from there. As mentioned above, lots of opportunities.

Anyway, God's blessings on you and you and your family (to include your dad) will be in my prayers.
 
I'm sorry to hear it! I lived in Kenosha, WI for a long time, I know where Germantown is, lovely area. Drop me a line if I can help you find work - there is web-design work in my area, but you'd have to relocate to NC, of course. Anyway, let me know and I'll do what I can.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks
 
Wblanchard, I remember a fellow forum member going through a similar situation: he knew he was going to be downsized... so he went and decided to go out in style: he got himself a Hassy with some of the $ he got.

Now... I believe he's freelancing in something similar to what you do. And doing quite well, it seems. Of course, he vented, as he needed it, but we are here to support your decisions.

Web design is still an area for the experts, so I don't think you'll be penniless for long. Offer your services to all kinds of companies and stores, you have now the chance of a lifetime: you can become independent, work from home or wherever you want. Your skills are highly marketable and the world can be yours if you want it.

As for the trip... I'd do as Brian says. And I hope your car repair bill doesn't turn up to be too high!

With my best wishes... :)
 
I lost my job as a system/datatbase administrator for a state government agency about 2 years ago. This was a year after we'ed adopted. I've been mainly a stay-at-home dad with various little freelance jobs here and there. It's not always easy, but on the other hand, I've been blessed with being able to spend lots of time with my son at an age many fathers almost never see their kids. Look for that kind of silver (preferably silver nitrate :) ) lining in your situation; you may well find one.

Good luck,

William
 
It happened to me over 10 years ago - laid off from a computer company with 5000 other people one day. I started my own company and made more money than I had ever made as an employee and was at the same time able to be a real father to my kids. It can be devastating but if you channel your anger and energy into finding work/contracts you will have no problems because of your marketable skills. For me it turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
 
Sorry to hear your predicament. There is an old Chinese proverb that may give you some comfort, when a situation has reached its extreme, the tendency is that it will improve. I have my downs in life and it is hope and positive actions that turn the tide.
 
SolaresLarrave said:
Wblanchard, I remember a fellow forum member going through a similar situation: he knew he was going to be downsized... so he went and decided to go out in style: he got himself a Hassy with some of the $ he got.
Click to expand...

That was December of 2003 and believe me, though things are not yet settled for me, there will be better days. I read your post and thought it sounded very familiar, car troubles, health issues with my parents and the empty classified adds.

Chin up friend, first of all we are both blessed in that our wives are working. In turn, sort things out and when you are ready make yourself a routine. Work search, photog business, and personal time for yourself. Follow that routine daily, it is you job to do so. Network with everyone you know. Spend time working around the house. And be prepared, if you are anything like me, you will find being unemployed the most boring thing you will every do. I am definitely not ready for retirement.

Kind of the hard truth, I hope that it helps though.

As for me, I have had two periods of unemployment in the last 13 months but have been fortunate to find a consulting role in my business for a good part of that time too. I have no contract and no committed term for the length of my current stay with this company. It is not always easy coming to work trying to figure if they will finally make a permanent position for me as they say they want to, or ask me to leave due to budget issues, but it is a paycheck. Mine is a very non-traditional role for my industry, but I found it through networking. Keep your eyes and mind open for opportunities.

Oh, the Hassy. In addition to my severance I received pay for about 40 unused vacation and sick days. As a gift to myself I turned 5 or 6 days of that pay into my Hasselblad kit. Hey, and how do you think I got over 2000 posts on this forum?

Keep your chin up and always remember that you are the same person today that you were yesterday. Be good to yourself, you are not alone and things will work out.
 
William:

Hang in there. Optimism is the one of the most important things you can have right now. There are so many people and businesses out there who don't even know that they need a professionally designed and maintained webpage...

Think about your priorities, go visit your Dad, and above all don't give up.

-Paul
 
Sorry to hear about your run of bad luck and hope things start looking up soon. Others I given better advice than I can. I wish you the best.
 
Wow..you guys are the best. I read every response twice and took your advice to heart. I am looking at it as something positive. It's like when a family member passes on and the death draws the family closer in some strange way....I think this is the big guys way of telling me or helping me to do something on my own. Something i've wanted to do in my heart, but never got the courage to follow through. Thank you guys so much. Once I get my design business setup, freebies for all of you! I love this forum because it has classy people who are real and show heart. Thanks again..it really has helped me.

BTW...flying to florida...dad is doing better since i spoke with him today on the phone. i decided to take him with my wife and i to costa rica...he is excited as heck. Might as well go down in style and dig myself a little deeper in debt.
 
I was exactly the same. Huge mortgage around my neck, very young kids, always wanted to be out on my own but too scared to try because I had too many responsibilities. But as I said - it turned out to be my big break. You have a great attitude - the only way is up!
 
Hang in there, and don't lose your confidence. You have very marketable job skills. And nothing happens without a reason. So now, perhaps it's time to put some effort into those photographic endeavor's that you have been contemplating. It's the old saying, "when one window closes, another door opens"

Russ
 
Yep, Rover, I remember it was you. I simply didn't want to mention your name.

My job as a college professor is, by nature, very sheltered. We plan and teach classes, take care of our research. However, news like these give me a jolt: suddenly I'm reminded of the turns the economy can take, affecting friends, who are this time real people.

But hey, hang in there! This is when photography will come to the rescue, and if there's no Hassy in your future, there'll be at least a nice trip.

Which reminds me... When my dad lost his job in 1979, my uncle got us tickets to go to Panama for a week. Even though we all had to face some severe cuts in our lifestyle, at least we got the trip and experiences to remember when tough times came. And memories tend to bond families better than anything else!

Chin up, friend! We're rooting for you!
 
What can I say that hasn't been said more eloquently by others?! Hang in there; you'll get a life line thrown soon. :)
 
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