Just got laid off - Page 2

kak125 · #16 11-16-2008, 11:53 AM

Hey Arlene
Thank you so much for all the nice things you said. Your post made me feel so much better. This is why I love the ledge so much is because everybody is so caring and wonderful.

I had my resume on monster years ago along with career builder but I havent updated them so I am going to do that right now. Thank you for reminding me to do that!
Your new job sounds awesome and I wish you the best!

kak125 · #17 11-17-2008, 10:21 AM

So I woke up today to 4 voicemails regarding different QA jobs in the area and 3 of my ex-coworkers wrote to me and gave me the names of different recruiters and offered to help with my job search. I am so lucky to have so many great people in my life that want to help me out so much.
I just talked to a lady I used to work with who is a recruiter and she is submitting me for the job that I really want at Highmark. I am crossing my fingers that they call me and setup an interview. There are also 2-3 other jobs in the area that I am very interested in too. I am thinking about interviewing for all of them so I can get a good feel for where I want to go. I want to be a little more choosy this time and hopefully I can get in somewhere that I can stay for many years. I will keep you all updated.

estranged4life · #18 11-17-2008, 10:23 AM

^^^Goodluck on your jobhunt from a QC (Quality Control) technician who may have to take a short-term job at Wal-Mart until the insurance issue is resolved.

kak125 · #19 11-17-2008, 10:47 AM

Hey estranged4life, I am so sorry to hear about your troubles. I can feel for you having to take a job at Walmart. A year after I had my first QA job I got laid off and it was around the year 2001. I couldnt find anything for a long time and had to take a job at Old Navy which sucked really bad. I was there for a year before I found another QA job so I know where you are coming from. Try to keep your head up and stay positive no matter what. I know that better things are ahead for you and I will keep you in my thoughts

RoseGarden · #20 11-17-2008, 06:52 PM

I am so sorry you got laid off!!!
Like a member stated---most of us are on the chopping block also and that leaves so much competition to try and bid for another job.

I , too , am very concerned as my company went from 150 down to 45 and the end of December has the talk of 20 more. As prepared as I've budgeted ---it's never enough. We all know that.

If it helps, all walks of education and skilled people are being given the slips. Has nothing to do with your loyalty and hard work. This country has been going down hill for 6 years and it is NOT the fault of the loyal workers but the allowance of jobs going over seas and some other cough cough things I won't even bother to say.

To all this is happened/and is happening to , I wish strenghth and courage to. We as a society , have to be more compassionate to those around us ---especially now that "Holiday" season is around us. Hugs from me to many of you!!!!

kak125 · #21 11-25-2008, 06:46 PM

Hey estranged4life, I am so happy for you and its about time some good luck started to come your way. I am glad that things are looking up for you. I have to say I find your strength amazing! I did hear from a guy at a local healthcare company about a job I applied for last week. I had to fill out a questionnaire and then the guy called me yesterday to tell me that next week they should be able to do a phone interview and if that goes well then the actual face to face interview. Oh I hope it goes well so that I can get in there.
Rose Garden, yeah the economy is so terrible out there now. Everybody I know is getting laid off and its really scary out there now. I cant tell you how many places I have worked at where the companies got cheap and decided to outsource to India or Vietnam. Its ridiculous because yes they are saving money but they arent getting anything for that money. I would come into work everyday and have to redo everything that they had done. Talk about a nightmare. Something needs to change fast.

RoseGarden · #22 11-25-2008, 06:51 PM

Hang in there!! Unemployment pays at least something.

Sorry to hear your another of thousands this has happened to. Especially now come winter time/ holidays. Be good to yourself and remember this is of no fault of your own!!! Economy and times are tougher than they've been in 50 years.

RoseGarden · #23 11-25-2008, 06:54 PM

Hang in there!! Unemployment pays at least something.

Sorry to hear your another of thousands this has happened to. Especially now come winter time/ holidays. Be good to yourself and remember this is of no fault of your own!!! Economy and times are tougher than they've been in 50 years.

My employer is so snakish ,it relocates the laid off person to a job 40 miles away for $5,000 a year less leaving a hell of a fight with the labor and unemployment board just to make the persons life tied up with crap so they'll just go so where else.

Times have gotten so hard. In my 40 years never seen it hit so bad. My best to everyone out there dealing with this!!!

ajmccarrell · #24 11-25-2008, 10:22 PM

If it helps, in 2001 I got laid off and I worked at Target, also as a part-time janitor at a school and also at a temp service. I ended up losing my apartment and had to move back home for about a year. It eventually picked up. Just don't stop looking and the laws of averages are on your side. It really sucked for a while, but it worked out after a year or two.

Macfanforever · #25 11-25-2008, 11:50 PM

I just got my hours cut to 32 from 40 two weeks ago.

skcin · #26 11-26-2008, 03:18 PM

I hope you get that job kak125.

Just wanted to jump in about unemployment & such. My husband was laid off last Jan & had to go on unemployment. Applied for a few different jobs but didn't get called. Got in for an entry-level machinist position in March - making $8.00 an hour. Other places pay a lot more, but they require at least 2 years machinist experience so he couldn't get in.

Anyway, after he got his first check, we realized he made more on unemployment.

He kept the job to gain experience which did eventually lead to a better paying job. BUT it's no wonder people sit tight on unemployment, or request extensions - in many cases you're better off financially.

David · #27 11-26-2008, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skcin

Just wanted to jump in about unemployment & such. My husband was laid off last Jan & had to go on unemployment. Applied for a few different jobs but didn't get called. Got in for an entry-level machinist position in March - making $8.00 an hour. Other places pay a lot more, but they require at least 2 years machinist experience so he couldn't get in.

Anyway, after he got his first check, we realized he made more on unemployment.

He kept the job to gain experience which did eventually lead to a better paying job. BUT it's no wonder people sit tight on unemployment, or request extensions - in many cases you're better off financially.

See, I did not know that. I thought your unemployment benefits were always a percentage of your previous employment income. I didn't know ... oh, wait. Yes. Now it makes sense. A percentage of your previous income, but even that percentage may be higher than what you land after layoff.

D'uh I'm a little slow this afternoon.

I hope you guys are doing OK.

**jbrownsjr** · #28 11-26-2008, 06:35 PM

so sorry to hear kak... i had to collect unemployment earlier this year and i had no health insurance... i was very afraid of getting seriously hurt for fear that I would go bankrupt paying hospital bills.... luckily i finally have a new job and insurance... but i do know what it feels like....

Betsy · #29 12-07-2008, 04:03 PM

kak125 --

What the latest news in your life? We are still thinking of you.

kak125 · #30 12-07-2008, 09:14 PM

Hello everyone!
Well so far I had one phone interview that was around 45 minutes long last week and am still waiting to hear if I will be brought in a for a real interview for that one but I do have a face to face interview at the university of pittsburgh on tuesday.
I am hoping i can get that job since I would get free benefits again, a pension, free bus pass, 2 weeks off at christmas, free tuition at pitt for me and my immediate family and a 20% discount off of pitt ticekts so it sounds great.
A lady I used to work with at a previous job called the director and told her I was laid off from my latest job so they called me right away. Its kinda ironic because the director called me 7 months ago for an interview there but it was right when I started my last job so I never went. So who knows maybe this job is meant to be. I will keep you all updated. I do have to say unemployment pays crap. I made a decent amount of cash at my last job and am now getting less than half since there is a max amount you can get. I am losing close to 2k a month right now but I am very thankful I can pay my bills so things arent all that bad. It coud be way worse.