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I thought that this job I have had for the last two years would see me safe, at least for a while, since the company is keen to hire people that are looking for a long term position, and it likes to hire experienced people rather than trainees.
Well it wasn’t to be, and as from today I am on the scrap heap for the second time in six years.
A few months ago the company said that it was cutting costs to try and avoid redundancies. A few weeks ago we heard that probably our bonuses and 401K matching would be cut. A few days ago we heard rumours that some people would be losing their jobs. A few hours ago I was called into the bosses office and it was my turn…
I have always worked in the IT industry as an Analyst/Programmer working on IBM Midrange computers (AS400 . iSeries), and for the last 10 years with J.D Edwards World Software (now part of the Oracle group). Up to 3 years ago, JDE were trying to phase out the software I work with and trying to get companies to upgrade to the new version that they had created, however the new version has had lots of performance problems, and for most companies to convert it would cost over $1million, since they would have to rewrite all their locally developed programs. Many companies did not want to change over, or tried and found so many problems that they reverted back, and so when Oracle took over JDE they found that not only did they have a large user base that didn’t want to move from JDE World software, but they also found that this was the most profitable area of their business. In the last 3 years Oracle have rewritten the system to make it work better for the future, however most companies have been slow to upgrade to the new version so far, but they have at least said that this will be supported for the foreseeable future.
What I have in my favor is that in the last 10 years, with the threat of JDE withdrawing support for this system, many of the analyst/programmers who worked in AS400 computers have moved onto other platforms. Now that the system is here to stay for the long term, there are fewer of us to fit into the available positions.
With the economy in the state that it is though, few companies are looking to take on new employees or contractors, and this is the most dire job market I have ever seen. The last time I was made unemployed, I was working in Elkhart, Indiana, a small town which this month has been in the news as having lost the most jobs and having the highest rise in unemployment. Even President Obama was in Elkhart this week.
I updated my resume on Monster.com and CareerBuilder.com today, and looked to see what jobs were open to me, and while there would usually be several in South Florida, there was absolutely nothing in the whole state of Florida, which is quite disturbing. However, jobs aren’t always listed, so I hope the recruiter who got me my last two positions down here can come up with something.
I also updated my profile on LinkedIn.com which is the professional equivalent of Facebook etc. I don’t know what good this will do, however in the last two or three years social networks have really taken off in a multitude of ways, so it’s worth trying.
Other than try to get another job in the same field that I have always worked in, I would love to change career, in fact I would love to be able to earn enough online to support myself, but I somehow can’t see that happening. I can however if I have the time, give it my best show and see if my efforts will make a difference. It would be great if I could somehow find a way to get paid for writing articles, or could get my web sites popular enough to earn a reasonable income. Watch this space…
Biggest problem is that there isn’t just me to support. If there was I could probably just about manage on unemployment benefit, however I have two daughters to support, and they go to private school, since the middle schools are awful. I would really not like to have to put them back into public school, as this would affect their whole lives, however I need to find the money to cover the school fees somehow. I am also paying into a fund which will help to pay their university fees, since by the time they start at university I will hopefully be ready to retire. I really don’t want to have to drop this either.
So please wish me luck, and if you are able to share this post, or our blog with your friends, I would be grateful.
Keep your fingers crossed that something comes along and soon…
Tags: 401k, analyst, career, careerbuilder, computers, contract, elkhart, facebook, headhunter, IBM, indiana, job hunting, job search, jobless, linkedin, lost job, midrange, monster, oracle, programmer, recruiters. permanent, recruitment, redundant, south florida, unemployment, world software
This is what I have been worrying about for people. I will keep you in my prayers that you find a new job soon.
Thanks so much Patricia, I appreciate the kind thoughts and prayers.
I am hoping that this is the start of a new chapter in my life, not the start of a new nightmare.
With luck and lots of energy and work I can hopefully turn my free time into an income generator, and then become independent and not have to rely on employers, especially in this economy.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Tony
Tony,
I am so sorry to hear this news. As of mid-December my husband has been looking for work since being laid off from the railroad. It really is a tough economy. In fact today he headed out to sign up with a couple of temp agencies in our area. That may be a short-term solution for you too. Good luck with your job search and my positive thoughts are with you always!
Correen’s last blog post..Sometimes Things Happen For A Reason
Thanks Correen.
Sorry to hear about your husband too. These are difficult times for so many people. Hopefully he will find something from the temp agencies, and hopefully your enterprises will help bring in more money as well.
Fingers crossed for you both.
Tony
I left you a note on the SquidU forum but I just wanted to send my heartfelt best wishes through your own site as well–you seem like a very eloquent and intelligent individual and I am sure that you will find a niche for your skills soon. I am thinking of you!! <3
Laurie Beth’s last blog post..New Ebay Modules!
Hi Tony…so very sorry to hear this news. It seems everyday more and more people are finding new struggles and challenges in this ever changing world. You have a leg up tho, you are intelligent, hard working and it seems very dedicated. I know this closed door will open a wonderful new window for you. My husband (in the UK) has been out of work for nearly a year now, with no hopes in the horizon of work. The UK has been hit harder then us it seems, and the rainbow we are looking for continues to elude us. He, like you, is smart and dedicated…but warehouse jobs are far and few now. He has lost his internet, phone and soon his gas and electricity. There is only “snail” mail now….and lots of prayers. I wish only the very best in this hard knock life…You will succeed….cheers my friend…..KayLynn
Thanks KayLynn, Yes it’s tough all around the world right now, and only going to get worse as the year goes on I think, maybe for the next few years.
I think we have to try to find something, but when you get to rock bottom, like it sounds your husband is financially, there aren’t many places to turn.
I am so grateful that my son (in the UK also) decided to join the Police. He is doing really well and at least his job should be secure.
I hope your husband can find something soon.
tony’s last blog post..The Poddyland News 6th February 2009
That is too bad Tony. Good luck in the job hunt. Hopefully it will be short.
Thanks Paula, I doubt I can find more work in what I do, at least nothing permanent, since nobody is hiring, but with luck I might be able with the extra time to create some better income streams and to get by.
tony’s last blog post..The Poddyland News 6th February 2009
Hi Tony,
Bad luck. I hope this will be just a short-term situation and you find another good job very soon.
Andy
Hi Andy, I hope it will be a short term situation too, but somehow knowing the industry I work in, I doubt it. Keeping my fingers crossed.
tony’s last blog post..The Poddyland News 6th February 2009
Good Morning,
I just read about your bad news and feel for you and your family.
Sending you positive thoughts and wishing that you find your niche.
Maria
maria’s last blog post..Don’t Forget To Squidoo!
Thanks Maria,
It might be hard to find my niche, I have been looking for so long, but sometimes bad luck can turn into good luck, hopefully it’s my turn this time. Fingers crossed…
I’m really sorry to hear about this. It’s nerve wracking in the best of times. I would definitely work with the recruiter and network with people you know in the business. My husband had this problem and found temporary work through companies that contract temporaries only. Some companies won’t make a committment to hiring a full time regular employee but will pay more per hour for temporary help they can get rid of if need be. Of course more time to work online is a good thing too. We’re pulling for you!
I think some temporary work is my only hope in the short term. In the long term my type of work is disappearing, so I need to look for new avenues of income anyway. I just hoped it wouldn’t be so soon and that I would be retrained on the job.
With luck I will come up with some good ideas that will take off. You never know, something might just work.
Ouch, I’m so sorry to hear about this! I’ve heard of so many big layoffs recently. It’s painful to go through — I’ve been there — and especially in today’s economy it’s hard. Your article shows though that you’re already approaching this in the right way. Yeah, network network network. You’re also an excellent writer and there may be some opportunities along those lines. I had a boss once who told me that everyone needs to get “repotted” every now and then. Something good will come of this. The hard part is hanging in there.
nutuba’s last blog post..Conner Prairie, Indiana: History Comes Alive!
Tony
As I have said elsewhere my thoughts and prayers are with you. If there is anything I can do to help let me know.
Take care
Paul
Paul Duxbury’s last blog post..How To Get Free Traffic To Your Blogs or Sites
Thanks Paul, I appreciate it. I’m still trying to sort out lots of paperwork and things I have to do, but come Tuesday (Monday is a public holiday here – Presidents Day) I will be actively pursuing whatever is open out there.
I am so sorry about your situation. My dad just got laid off as well and it is not an easy thing.
Good luck with your job search and I will be thinking about you.
Hi Michelle,
Sorry to hear about your Dad too. It’s not an easy time to lose your job. With so many people looking and few companies hiring, there isn’t a lot of hope for most of us. But if we can find something new that will bring in some money, that will help.
Hoping your Dad finds something soon too.
Tony
I am so sorry to hear this, Tony. You will definitely be in my thoughts and prayers. Times are tough, for sure.
Thanks Nancy, knowing people are thinking good things for you really does help. I appreciate it. Tony
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If I can do anything to help, please let me know.
Thanks Michelle, appreciate the help. Right now any visits to my lenses and blogs, and shares and promotions from anyone would be much appreciated. While I am trying to increase my promoting, I am also trying to create new ways to earn money as well as looking for work and doing my taxes. It’s hard trying to fit everything in. Hope you are having a great weekend.
Hi Tony,
I am so sorry to hear about your layoff.
You write so well have you thought about offering help with writing resumes and cover letters? It would seem that that would be a much needed service right now and it could be done online.
I’m also looking for work. It is a very difficult time to search though.
Keeping you in my prayers and thoughts,
Evelyn
Evelyn Saenz’s last blog post..Why Make a Lensography?
Hi Evelyn,
Thanks very much for the help. So sorry to hear that you are also looking for work. These are indeed tough times, with so many people looking for work and at the same time few people hiring. I think the idea of helping people with their resumes is a good one, you need a good resume to get past HR in the first place.
Sending out good vibes for you and hoping things pick up for you. Children still need schooling. Maybe there is more work up this way in Northern Broward or Palm Beach than in Miami? Good Luck.
Sorry to hear of your bad luck Tony, with any luck it is only a temporary setback or maybe it will become a blessing in disguise. If you want to work online check out this lady’s site, http://www.amylynn.org/home/virtualjobs1, she does highly recommend http://www.getafreelancer.com/ and I know that this lady isn’t one of the ones who are full of b/s. She makes sure personally, everything she posts about is legit and upfront. Hopefully something there can help you with working online instead of worrying about it.
Thanks very much Molly, I will check these out in the morning.
tony’s last blog post..Unemployed Again
Hi Tony, I am also really sorry to hear about this, I hope the hunt for a new job will be short, and with skills like yours, companies would be mad not to hire you.
Good luck and I will be thinking of you and your family
Tash
Thanks so much, my fingers are crossed that something comes along.
I will say a prayer for you. I am sure you will get what you want! Remember each road block is an opportunity!
Teddi
So sorry to hear this. Wishing you all the best.
katinka – spirituality’s last blog post..new most popular spiritual lenses
I have tried to stumble some more of your squidoo lenses but stumble won’t let me. If you want to send them to me (mish6886) I will be more than happy to stumble them.
Hmmm, I wonder why SU wouldn’t allow them to be stumbled. Most of my lenses are there. Unless you picked one that wasn’t and it tried to discover it. You need to stumble more pages before you can discover more Squidoo pages.
If that’s the case, let me know which ones and I can add them to SU. I have been stumbling a lot lately.
Actually a good way to do it is to use Squidaholic.com. Having selected one of my lenses, you can see a list of my lenses by lensrank on the left. Clicking on any of them will open the lens in a new tab/window. I use it a lot for going through all of my lenses quickly. Better than using the dashboard and haviong to then page back after each lens.
Thanks so much, I appreciate it.
tony’s last blog post..Unemployed Again
Oh Tony, that is terrible. I am so sorry to hear your news. It is amazing how many lives/jobs Bush destroyed while in office. I thought that IT jobs would be the safe ones. I guess I was wrong about that. Right now, I’d be happy waiting tables, but our restaurant closed down. I feel your pain.
You’re in my prayers Tony.
Your Friend,
Trina
Thanks Trina. I have been following your problems too, it’s not been a good time for either of us has it! No IT jobs aren’t safe either – when companies lay people off, it could be anyone unfortunately. I thought I would be safe this time around though, but I thought the same 6 years ago too then I got laid off. Keep working at things as I know you do, and with luck and hard work something will pay off.
tony’s last blog post..Unemployed Again
Hang in there Tony… I was out of work for months after leaving my job. The job market is tough, but the hardest part was staying positive through it all. Luckily, I had several self help programs to keep my spirits up and I was able to keep the faith that I would survive. However, after going on interviews in blizzards and freezing cold temperatures, I was ready to give up. I literally surrendered myself to God and asked him for support. Shortly after that my phone rang and the Universe sent the perfect job to me! Yes, through my best friend I was connected to the best job for me and the timing was perfect as well. Two weeks before Christmas!
Sounds PERFECT
You just never know when that knock on the door or phone call is going to come. Could be a chance meeting, who knows. I just have my fingers crossed (which makes it a little hard to type lol) that something will come along, and in the meantime I am working on building my passive income.
tony’s last blog post..Unemployed Again