And the shoe has dropped.
As of this coming Tuesday I'm laid off- or as you lot say, made redundant.

Or as we say over here, fucked royally without lube.

Shit.
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Wed 29 Apr 2009, 21:31, 21 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

Bad bad bad news big chief
I'm asking you the question you're asking yourself.

What are your options?
( The Disappointed Caravanner of the year, Wed 29 Apr 2009, 21:34, Reply)

Bugger
Thats unfortunate. I mean that in a truly sincere way. Although to me this doesn't read so well. :P Its rubbish trying to get a job right now.
(weekirst23 Is broken! Silly ice. Silly High heels!, Wed 29 Apr 2009, 21:36, Reply)

Aw, crap
that sucks.
( The Light in Chains don't touch the Pope's boner, Wed 29 Apr 2009, 21:44, Reply)

Damn Loon.
I'm really sorry to hear that. *shakes fist at whoever fired Loon* That's pretty damn shitty.
(Poppet some assembly required., Wed 29 Apr 2009, 21:47, Reply)

Canada?
Apparently they still have loads of jobs.


I just got a new one. 5 months after getting laid off from the last one. And i'm back down to minimum wage, like I last was as a lowly teen. I thought it was never going to happen (getting ANY job that is), but it did. I'm sure you'll do infinately better than I did and not wait nearly as long!!
(weekirst23 Is broken! Silly ice. Silly High heels!, Wed 29 Apr 2009, 21:54, Reply)

I don't know what options I have.
I have a few weeks' pay still to come, and my income tax return should hit- though I was going to use it to repair my roof.

I've not been seeing many jobs advertised.

I think the next thing will be to start calling everyone I've ever worked with and seeing if they have any leads.
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Wed 29 Apr 2009, 21:58, Reply)

That's a bummer bumming without lube
What are your job-prospects like? Or are you going to look on the bright-side and take an in-between job break?
( mistaspakkaman and the inedible shifting caterpillars, Wed 29 Apr 2009, 22:00, Reply)

Sorry to hear the Loon
I found out about this website earlier today. Might be helpful to you if you've not already tried it.
( Captain V, Wed 29 Apr 2009, 22:02, Reply)

condolences...
i've got a shitload of engineers in my family (on the inlaw side), and it's tough everywhere right now. my sister in law was laid off from one place about a year ago after it was taken over by a larger competitor. a competitor which is now struggling mightily. you're talented, you're experienced, and you seem like a pretty decent fellow (at least online), so as trite as it may sound, i'm sure you'll get something. and if you still have any bottles of that old rasputin around, that will surely help numb the pain in the meantime.
(tuqueboy has been in a medically -induced coma since, Wed 29 Apr 2009, 22:10, Reply)

I'm really sorry to hear that
I hope you find something else soon.

The state unemployment offices here offer additional education paid for by the state (college, university, etc) plus a small income if you've been laid off. Surely they have programs like that there? Will you be eligible for unemployment benefits? At the very least that could be some income while you are looking around for something new.
( flirting with badgers What? It sounded good at the time., Wed 29 Apr 2009, 22:22, Reply)

That sucks
I hope something comes up for you soon - in every sense of the word - small pleasures and all that.

;-)

We're both thinking of you.

(Not in *that* way!)
( chickenlady b3ta's very own Elizabeth Taylor, Wed 29 Apr 2009, 22:49, Reply)

Oh, bugger, TRL :(
I'm sorry.
( Batshitmentalist is sane for once, Thu 30 Apr 2009, 4:18, Reply)

b3taqotwot whip round for trl
( enoughblueskyforsailorstrousers, Thu 30 Apr 2009, 8:17, Reply)

Bugger Loon
Sorry. What a pile of steaming shit!
(Herr Doktor Lemminge Is bored, so cheer me up!, Thu 30 Apr 2009, 8:45, Reply)

Noes!
That truely is a great big pile of wank. I hope you find a job soon and get the cash flowing in.
(Potty Jag har smör i min rumpspringa, Thu 30 Apr 2009, 8:58, Reply)

Come and work with me!
In all seriousness, you might have to move for jobs. Some cities are much better off than others.
(Himjim died a little more inside on, Thu 30 Apr 2009, 9:00, Reply)

Oh shit loon...
but you are an engineer, so y'know, there's always work for a good engineer.
( Colonel Dracula Two manky hookers and a racist dwarf, Thu 30 Apr 2009, 9:24, Reply)

My dear chap
that's terrible. Best of luck getting more work - not that I think you'll need it.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Thu 30 Apr 2009, 10:27, Reply)

Fucksticks.
Bad news mate. Any chance you can step up your artisan production? I still think your furniture\stained glass idea has legs.
(porkylips looks better as the sun goes down., Thu 30 Apr 2009, 11:09, Reply)

Sorry to hear that mate

If you were British, we'd tell you to keep a stiff upper lip, but you'd better not try that. Anything else you could keep stiff instead?

Seriously though, if anyone can get through something like that, I know you can. Not saying it's going to be easy, but hang on in there and it'll work out alright in the end.

Keep us posted.
(Che Grimsdale Best before:, Thu 30 Apr 2009, 11:30, Reply)

Thank you all.
It really does help to know that there are sympathetic people out there...

My skills are many and varied, it's just a matter of finding someone to hire me for them! My degree is in mechanical engineering, but I worked in civil engineering for a lot of years, and in surveying. I also worked with injection molding for a few years, and in semiconductors, and now have some experience in piping and industrial matters. You'd think that with that much variety I could find SOMETHING...

The thing that people see is that I've been a short-timer at a lot of places, which is actually due to places falling on hard times and laying people off. But they see that on my resume and immediately think that I've been job hopping, and are reluctant to hire me as a result.

So until I find something new, yes, I'll be pursuing making things and becoming a craftsman... at least as much as I can without buying a lot of stuff.

*sigh*
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Thu 30 Apr 2009, 14:46, Reply)