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OT: well, just lost my job


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Just saw this Dan. Your loyalty to your employer is always seen as an asset, and you're obviously not a jumper. You're gonna get on your feet quick, I know it. And as a wise farmer from Iowa taught me, aint nothing so bad it couldn't be worse. You got this.
Hitting "Play" does NOT constitute live performance. -Me.
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I remember reading a long time ago that the average person changes careers five times in their life. So always have to be open to change I know for me change has been the thing that kept me moving forward over my working life. Skills from one area became assets in others.
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Hi Dan,

 

I am sorry to hear about this. I myself was let go after about 14 years on the job as a computer consultant back in 12-2018. The past year has been rough financially in comparison. About being prepared for an impending layoff: Don't blame yourself ! You are a specialist in your field and you are no doubt a really intelligent guy with transferrable skills. You can take this time to take a good look at all you have to offer potential employers and re-invest in yourself if necessary. No one could have predicted the extent that our country has been affected and this current health crisis has eliminated a lot of positions, both temparily and permanently. As I heard on an interview a couple of weeks ago on Bloomberg news, some employers are using this as an opportunity to cut dead wood from their organizations. So, Barbara Corcoran was advising that we should re-access our and invest in ourselves if necessary. This would be to better compete for available positions once they are made available.

 

Personally speaking, I think you are an extremely smart and capable guy who should have NO PROBLEM getting hired once positions become available. Ms. Corcoran was mostly referring to slackers or those people who weren't keeping current or making any active contributions to their companies. Again, in that regard ~ from your past post discussing your profession ~ you've seemingly made a great contribution to your company and was a valued employee. So, your layoff no doubt was brought about due to the current pandemic. Take into account, that there is always a posibility that this might be a temporary layoff and you may be asked back.

 

The only thing I can say in reference to all of this Dan, is that maybe looking into a temporary or permanent remote position might be an option. Are you able to perform aspects of your position remotely, perhapes for another company?

 

Also, please take into consideration that you have a completely different set of musical realated skills also that you may be able to monitize. Both in the creation of music / sound design and promotional aspects of live entertainment. Once our current situation is over, you may be able to turn these skills into profit as well.

 

The bottom line Dan is that I know from your post that your an intelligent man and a devoted father. Many people would aspire to all that you have achieved in your life so far. This current health crisis has caught all of us very much off-guard with far reaching personal and financial implications. Right now, it is a bad situation all around. But other types of professional opportunities may start to appear for you, as companies cannot afford to stay "closed" or have a reduced work force for the long term. As a computer consultant, I'm now looking into remote work at the moment (having been let go from a short term temp contract right before the pandemic hit the US).

 

I'm really sorry for your situation Dan.... sincerly. And if there is anything I may do to assist, I'd like to offer. Please know that your not alone, and that the keyboard community and yours personal friends and family are with you!

 

 

~ Anthony

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Thank you for all the well wishes, support, and advice!

 

I am fortunate to have many people flooding me with potential leads, though it's become clear that most people probably didn't really understand what I did. My conundrum is that some of them I may be able to do but would basically be practically entry level - that would apply to things like software development, programming, networking, IT....I've never done any of that as a career but have done some on the side including some contract work. If I have to do that, I could, but at entry level would be about 1/3 the income I need based on my current expenses (i.e. Mortgage, Utilities, kids' Tuition and extracuriculars, etc.).

 

As I'm beginning my job search, I am also preparing to sell the house before potential foreclosure has a chance to catch up with me. I spent a good part of my career with a fairly specific focus and anything outside of that focus will likely not yield the same level of income. That said, I do have a couple leads that would be up my alley. Either way, I have to simultaneously prepare for the possibility that I may have to live on a lesser income when things were already tight, and those kinds of changes are difficult to make over night.

 

Even adding a second income like a band with significant income isn't something that can happen overnight. Assuming you can find the right bunch of people, it takes a bit to get it off the ground, and then you don't just hit the ground making good money. I spend several years building the aforementioned 80s band to the point where the income was significant.

 

Finally, after being out of the job market so long, I'm feeling a bit of another condundrum. I feel like you only get one first impression. With some opportunities I want to jump in and make sure I don't miss out, but at the same time I want to make sure that my resume and messaging is as good as it can be to ensure I make the best first impression and get the interview. It doesn't help that I'm still caught up in the whirlwind of getting a personal vehicle registered and getting all of my accounts and online presence updated with new contact info and working on Cobra, Unemployment, etc...figuring out if the kids should go on my Cobra with the company contribution gone or on my Ex wife's which had not previously been the best option but may be now. My head is still spinning with all this.

 

Finally, the company did provide 2 months of a service with an agency that offers job search and other services to aid in finding a new job, so I'll definitely be reaching out to them.

Dan

 

Acoustic/Electric stringed instruments ranging from 4 to 230 strings, hammered, picked, fingered, slapped, and plucked. Analog and Digital Electronic instruments, reeds, and throat/mouth.

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Hey Dan,

 

Thanks for the update. I and many here are thinking of you and hoping the best for you.

 

I've been there more than once, and while it makes you stronger (a la Nietzche and that overused "what doesn't kill you..."), I wouldn't wish it on anyone else.

 

What little I can offer you is: You've entered the mental maelstrom of competing considerations. I found it hard to keep it all straight at times. Required vs. urgent vs. long term consequences vs. what do i do next.

 

Try to maintain discipline in your life and habits, and be rigorous about starting your morning early, and with time to settle your head and heart and prepare for this day's maelstrom. You'll make plenty of great decisions, and a few that in hindsight might have been better if you'd gone with the other option. Give yourself a break for those now.

 

Most important thing (IMHO) is to take control of the energy you bring into EVERY engagement. Be positive, vibrant, quick, energetic and seeking to build others up - every time you walk into the "room". Plenty of things you won't be able to control - but that you can ALWAYS control. Jack Welch said you start the hiring search with integrity and intelligence as non-negotiables - so bring that in spades, and then differentiate yourself from every other candidate they'll consider.

 

I'm sure you'll get plenty more great advice from folks around here. Hope my little 0.02 is useful to you.

 

Hoping the very best outcome for you.

 

Tim

..
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As I'm beginning my job search, I am also preparing to sell the house before potential foreclosure has a chance to catch up with me.

 

 

Before you sell be sure to check out rents where you plan to live, a lot of places now the rents are higher than mortgage payments.

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As I'm beginning my job search, I am also preparing to sell the house before potential foreclosure has a chance to catch up with me.

 

 

Before you sell be sure to check out rents where you plan to live, a lot of places now the rents are higher than mortgage payments.

 

But in a foreclosure I would likely lose my equity. The plan would be to buy a smaller house with a smaller mortgage. If I have to rent for a short while is fine, but my mortgage was already too high as I still have the house from when I was married that I bought her out of in the divorce. We originally split the mortgage and utilities between 2 incomes and then by buying her out of her half of equity, my mortgage went UP and I pay the higher mortgage and all the utilities. I had planned to eventually sell it but this expedites the process. Problem is that it was built in 1910 and has lots of little projects to be done to put it on the market and I don't have the budget. It's a 3 story, 5 BR, 3-1/2 bath. I'd like to downsize to a 3 BR, 1-1/2 bath - single story is fine if the basement can be used for practice space. Mortgage-wise - half the house. I was already fighting off foreclosure because a big part of my business was oil & gas in the Permian Basin (west TX) and with prices crashing, my variable income crashed. My business in other industries was keeping me afloat until this Covid-19 stuff, then that crashed as well, and the rest is history.

 

Long story short, If I can at least get a decent price and get all my equity out, it will be worth it if I have to pay a bit higher rent until I get a new house, but likely I would pay less rent. I've looked at it before and I can find suitable places to rent at half what I'm paying in mortgage, property tax, and insurance per month.

Dan

 

Acoustic/Electric stringed instruments ranging from 4 to 230 strings, hammered, picked, fingered, slapped, and plucked. Analog and Digital Electronic instruments, reeds, and throat/mouth.

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Hey Dan,

 

Thanks for the update. I and many here are thinking of you and hoping the best for you.

 

I've been there more than once, and while it makes you stronger (a la Nietzche and that overused "what doesn't kill you..."), I wouldn't wish it on anyone else.

 

What little I can offer you is: You've entered the mental maelstrom of competing considerations. I found it hard to keep it all straight at times. Required vs. urgent vs. long term consequences vs. what do i do next.

 

Try to maintain discipline in your life and habits, and be rigorous about starting your morning early, and with time to settle your head and heart and prepare for this day's maelstrom. You'll make plenty of great decisions, and a few that in hindsight might have been better if you'd gone with the other option. Give yourself a break for those now.

 

Most important thing (IMHO) is to take control of the energy you bring into EVERY engagement. Be positive, vibrant, quick, energetic and seeking to build others up - every time you walk into the "room". Plenty of things you won't be able to control - but that you can ALWAYS control. Jack Welch said you start the hiring search with integrity and intelligence as non-negotiables - so bring that in spades, and then differentiate yourself from every other candidate they'll consider.

 

I'm sure you'll get plenty more great advice from folks around here. Hope my little 0.02 is useful to you.

 

Hoping the very best outcome for you.

 

Tim

 

Great advice. Based on my own personality, how I think, and how I attack problems, I've pretty much settled on a plan moving forward. I work well with clearly defined goals, objectives, and action items. In my Engineering Management studies, when it comes to project management, as an example, we use gant charts to figure out dependencies and timelines. I've receive tips and leads, need to work out some variations on a resume, update various sites with contact info, as well as do some other logistical things to be able to efficiently function on my personal hardware/softwar after giving up the company resources I had been using.

 

So first, I'm going to create a spreadsheet to compile all of the potential job opportunities from various sources including LinkedIn, Email, FB Messenger, here, text, etc along with links to company web sites, descriptions, skills, rankings regarding my qualifications, favorability, pay scale, and some indication of appropriate resume. I'm going to develop a few resumes and figure out if one of the standard versions will work for each or if it needs modifications. I will also list every possible reference for each opportunity and reach out to them. From there I will prioritize and work my way down the list pursuing each with the assets deemed necessary.

 

Separately, I'm working on a list of logistics. Some of it is a remaining list of accounts to update with contact info. Some of it is as simple as updating my LinkedIn Profile picture. Much of it is compiling a list of resume building and job search workshops and education. Part of it is upgrading my home computer on as little budget as possible to increase my efficiency. And then finally, there's all that personal stuff regarding the house, insurance, unemployment, notifying banks and others of my employment status and working out any deals I can, etc.

 

So I'm going to try to take a very detailed, methodical, logical, reasonable approach to this, because I seem to be more productive when I can start my day with a clear set of goals and accomplishments to achieve for the day.

Dan

 

Acoustic/Electric stringed instruments ranging from 4 to 230 strings, hammered, picked, fingered, slapped, and plucked. Analog and Digital Electronic instruments, reeds, and throat/mouth.

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I seem to be more productive when I can start my day with a clear set of goals and accomplishments to achieve for the day.

 

I concur. Also, not having a hangover helps tremendously. (Don't ask me how I know this :facepalm: .)

:nopity:
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I seem to be more productive when I can start my day with a clear set of goals and accomplishments to achieve for the day.

 

I concur. Also, not having a hangover helps tremendously. (Don't ask me how I know this :facepalm: .)

I've always said that the secret to success is to set achievable goals. For example, my goal for tomorrow is to not start it with a hangover.
These are only my opinions, not supported by any actual knowledge, experience, or expertise.
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Dan, we're in a crowded market but don't let that discourage you. Probably the best words I received is although a door had been closed, a better one may open. Sometimes things happen for a reason we can't see right away. Your project management experience is a marketable skill that is in demand.

 

I have marketable skills and I don't expect to have much trouble finding a new job. I had worked 14 years for a company that valued their employees, but the collapsed economy hurt and they had to let go of hundreds of employees. Luckily I'm single with no kids, no house to sell (I was renting), so I can easily pull up and relocate.

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I continue to be blown away by the support not just here but through Facebook, email, text, etc. I have past customers sharing opportunities at their own companies when makes me feel good because obviously they think highly enough to trust me to fill positions at their own companies. If nothing else, I feel grateful for the outpouring of support. Thank you everybody!

Dan

 

Acoustic/Electric stringed instruments ranging from 4 to 230 strings, hammered, picked, fingered, slapped, and plucked. Analog and Digital Electronic instruments, reeds, and throat/mouth.

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