Anybody else waiting to lose their job!

[smallblock72]

I'm in a dying industry (furniture). Out county alone has lost over 2,500 furniture jobs in the last 3 months, because as many know importing is the furniture industry of the future. I'm in managment but as the imports come down goes the number of plants, which in turn decreases the need for office and financial personel. I'm in finance so I can go to other industries, but there aren't any in the area as trust me I've been looking. Not sure what the future will hold as moving to a different area isn't an option. Just thought I'd throw it out and get feedback from others who have experienced this or are in the same boat.

 

[OhMari]

I'm in a dying industry (furniture). Out county alone has lost over 2,500 furniture jobs in the last 3 months, because as many know importing is the furniture industry of the future.

This is crazy. We went furniture shopping for bedroom furniture and it has tripled in price. I bought my headboard, dresser, nite table and an amour 3 years ago for under $2500, now that same set is going for well over $5,000. We wanted to buy a simple dresser for my daughter and the cheapest we could find was running well from $350-$500 and you could tell the cheapest was really made cheap. If furniture is being imported, are we exporting wood and leather so it can be made cheaply in other countries?

Don't even get me started on my reclining/leather sectional-what a piece of junk.

 

[Tiggeroo]

i would enroll in classes now for something. Prepare ahead for what's coming.

 

[SC Minnie]

The company I work for makes particleboard, MDF, and hardwood plywood that is used in furniture so I see what you are going through. We are being forced to drive down prices because it can be made and shipped here from overseas cheaper than we can make here. Its sad.

 

[luv2nascar]

that really is a shame. It gets harder and harder to find anything american made to buy. I like to try to support american made products but they are getting fewer and fewer.

 

[Hillbeans]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051128/ap_on_bi_ge/merck_cuts

 

[experiment626mom]

Yep, I'm in the same leaky boat. We found out Wednesday (that's right, right before the holiday) That there will be a reorganization of the company. Jobs will be eliminated. I started putting out resumes yesterday on line.

 

[Rex Rules]

We are in the furniture area of NC, Triad, so we definitely know what you are talking about. Also, DH is in textiles and we have been around the block (and the Southeast, unfortunately) as has his friends from college. We are thinking that intensively learning foreign language might be a good idea at this point (Spanish and Mandarin being the leading candidates at this point).
DH is in a good position right now, but I honestly never know when the bottom may drop out for us. He is with a company with many other divisions, so hopefully he could branch out into something with the same company.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Since you feel losing your job is inevitable, start saving more, looking at other places to live, get rid of the house before the bottom falls out, get more education, look at other jobs, etc. Be prepared.

 

[ducklite]

i would enroll in classes now for something. Prepare ahead for what's coming.

I agree! You see the writing on the wall. Look now at career options that are not going to go overseas. Get trained in a paraprofessional career. Or something in the medical field--phlebotomy, ultrasound tech, etc. Be prepared with a second career.

Anne

 

[bicker]

that really is a shame. It gets harder and harder to find anything american made to buy. I like to try to support american made products but they are getting fewer and fewer.

To some extent, this is because consumers are making purchasing decisions by vigorously pursuing the lowest possible price. All other factors held constant, most customers would choose a lower priced product to a higher priced product, without any regard to the standard of living of the people who made the product.

Or something in the medical field--phlebotomy, ultrasound tech, etc.

Good advice. I saw someone advise folks to look into software as one of the choices for future careers -- that's a mistake. Software is already on the way out as a future career, being shipped off-shore to places with a lower standard of living and therefore lower costs.