Laid off--Support thread

[DebMcDonald]

I know how hard that is. I've applied to over 100 positions in the last year, been on 10 interviews, gotten 3 job offers only to have them rescinded because of budget cuts.

I'm so sorry, I can't imagine what it's like to be offered a job to have rescinded, I'm so sorry that you experienced that, let along once, but three times.

 

[Kathi OD]

So last week DH got a payment for the "extra" $25/week unemployment benefit. I figured that the $25 would be added into his next disbursement. It wasn't. I guess he'll get another $50 (for 2 weeks) deposited next week?

 

[Tabatha]

Hi all - I posted some professional advice on another thread which can be very relevant to some of you here. check it out:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2130508&page=2

the $25 extra in unemployment started 3/1/09. If you were receiving unemployment benefits before that date you will not be reimbursed. Most times unemployment is held for 2 weeks before being issued, so even though you just started getting the actual benefits, it could have been for weeks ago, which is why you are seeing the difference. Ask you local agency to make sure that there has not been an error.

 

[Mrs.Reese]

I'm so sorry, I can't imagine what it's like to be offered a job to have rescinded, I'm so sorry that you experienced that, let along once, but three times.

Thank you. It's been very demoralizing this past year. I'm working at the same kind of jobs I did before I even graduated high school. It feels as though $20,000 to go back to school to follow my dreams was nothing but a waste of time. What good is the degree if I can't do anything with it? I was a teacher so it's just about time for the main hiring season. I don't even want to do it. They get over 100-200 people applying for a position and then bring in 45 people to interview.

My husband (he's also a teacher) is doing a chorus concert soon. I really don't want to go. I'm tired of the looks of pity. Of the half-hearted "Oh I'm sure you'll find something," of people avoiding me. The worst part is I feel like some starving kid looking through the candy shop window and wondering why can't I just have one.

I know that I'm a good teacher but what does it matter if I don't use it? Ok, pity party done for the evening.

 

[disneymarie]

I got a part time job.
It is with an insurance company doing investigative work. Car accidents, tractor trailer, response teams for events to document, take pictures, interviews etc.
The pay is $3 more an hour plus time and half after 5:00 if I get a call out and mileage.

If a commercial vehicle has an accident, haz mat is called out the insurance carriers call me to go to the scene and document and interview if need be.

Being retired Law Enforcement this is great. I work from home, no office to go to. I can turn down if I am not available, or take on as much as I can. I hope it works out. Oh, no undercover stuff......

Crossing my fingers on this. My DH employer closed up last week and it is the only job he had since highschool, 42 years. Not even a GED to do security work.....
I really do need the income for the medical cobra and bills.

If any one has a TMG around them I know they are hiring for customer service from home too. No claims persons, but customer service.....
Di

 

[disneymarie]

Hi all - I posted some professional advice on another thread which can be very relevant to some of you here. check it out:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2130508&page=2

the $25 extra in unemployment started 3/1/09. If you were receiving unemployment benefits before that date you will not be reimbursed. Most times unemployment is held for 2 weeks before being issued, so even though you just started getting the actual benefits, it could have been for weeks ago, which is why you are seeing the difference. Ask you local agency to make sure that there has not been an error.

I started getting this 2 weeks ago. Today I got another $50. The one week I get the Uc payment, the following week the 2 @ $25. I guess I will lose the UC if I get enough referrals with this part time job, but the offset will be there.
Scary.....I really thought I would have to go back to midnight shift security work.
Di

 

[Kathi OD]

That's awesome!!! Good luck w/ your new job!

 

[DebMcDonald]

Question: need suggestions.

My DH has a phone interview on Thursday morning, it's more than a $20,000 pay cut, but at this point we'll consider anything and make it work. A headhunter brought this to my husband's attention and he has been talking to him over the past couple of weeks regarding this position. The headhunter says that when companies hear that it's 20% paycut or more that they won't even consider you because they think that you will only consider this position until you can find a better one. He has had several phone interviews and when they ask his salary, that's where it goes downhill. We know at any job he won't make the salary he was making. The headhunter that set up this interview has asked him to lie about his last salary. A friend tonight that works in management for an insurance company says her company asks for proof of your last salary, either pay check or w-2. What would you all do? Do you lie and chance getting caught if they ask proof or admit to it and know that they will not call you back.....

 

[Kathi OD]

Question: need suggestions.

My DH has a phone interview on Thursday morning, it's more than a $20,000 pay cut, but at this point we'll consider anything and make it work. A headhunter brought this to my husband's attention and he has been talking to him over the past couple of weeks regarding this position. The headhunter says that when companies hear that it's 20% paycut or more that they won't even consider you because they think that you will only consider this position until you can find a better one. He has had several phone interviews and when they ask his salary, that's where it goes downhill. We know at any job he won't make the salary he was making. The headhunter that set up this interview has asked him to lie about his last salary. A friend tonight that works in management for an insurance company says her company asks for proof of your last salary, either pay check or w-2. What would you all do? Do you lie and chance getting caught if they ask proof or admit to it and know that they will not call you back.....

We're in the same position. DH has been out of work since June. He's had quite a few interviews, but when they find out how much he was making, that's what seems to be the killer. I don't understand it, especially now that he has been out of work so long. He would much rather make what these companies are offering over unemployment, and with the economy in the toilet, there's not much chance of him getting an offer with a company that pays so much more that he'd leave.

Of all the interviews he's been on, only one asked for proof of his previous salary. I hate lying, but I think I might be tempted to tell DH to do it. You're caught between a rock and a hard place. If they know how much he used to make they might not hire him. If they ask for proof, they might not hire him.

 

[WDWBarb]

Question: need suggestions.

My DH has a phone interview on Thursday morning, it's more than a $20,000 pay cut, but at this point we'll consider anything and make it work. A headhunter brought this to my husband's attention and he has been talking to him over the past couple of weeks regarding this position. The headhunter says that when companies hear that it's 20% paycut or more that they won't even consider you because they think that you will only consider this position until you can find a better one. He has had several phone interviews and when they ask his salary, that's where it goes downhill. We know at any job he won't make the salary he was making. The headhunter that set up this interview has asked him to lie about his last salary. A friend tonight that works in management for an insurance company says her company asks for proof of your last salary, either pay check or w-2. What would you all do? Do you lie and chance getting caught if they ask proof or admit to it and know that they will not call you back.....

Never lie - it's too easy to get caught. It may seem like a harmless little white lie but it could easily backfire.

The question of salary ... I usually say that I understand that I spent XX # of years working to earn that salary and I realize that I need to find new opportunities to earn that money again.

Or I say that it's about the opportunity, not the pay scale and discuss the values I see in the position that are non-monetary.

And both are true!

 

[wall*e2008]

Question: need suggestions.

My DH has a phone interview on Thursday morning, it's more than a $20,000 pay cut, but at this point we'll consider anything and make it work. A headhunter brought this to my husband's attention and he has been talking to him over the past couple of weeks regarding this position. The headhunter says that when companies hear that it's 20% paycut or more that they won't even consider you because they think that you will only consider this position until you can find a better one. He has had several phone interviews and when they ask his salary, that's where it goes downhill. We know at any job he won't make the salary he was making. The headhunter that set up this interview has asked him to lie about his last salary. A friend tonight that works in management for an insurance company says her company asks for proof of your last salary, either pay check or w-2. What would you all do? Do you lie and chance getting caught if they ask proof or admit to it and know that they will not call you back.....

As a PP said - Never lie.

Have your DH stress that he is looking for the right position and not the same $$$. He needs to stress why he is a good fit for this position and that he has long term plans to stay where he is.

 

[golfgirl3613]

Anyone tried employment agencies? I have applied to dozens of companies with no success, thinking temp to hire or an agency is my only hope now.

 

[disneymarie]

Anyone tried employment agencies? I have applied to dozens of companies with no success, thinking temp to hire or an agency is my only hope now.

My older dd did that years ago, after the temp period they hired her full time with benefits.

I applied and tested and they had a lot of jobs available, some very long term, mostly a lot of data entry and I have carpal tunnel. I had a 98% test, with doing a lot of Excel, word doc. words per minute with accuracy. I had just finished a college class that did a lot of form creations and power point. We did typing from a booklet they gave us to do corrections to edit.

They pay was anywhere from $8. to 9. per hour.
The good part is if the employer is looking for a perm. employee without a commitment at first sight.
Worth a try, they have all kinds of options.
di

 

[reservations4five]

Just checking in- how everyone is hanging in there. I know that was getting harder for us in the past week or so. I was a really bad wife and pick a fight with my DH. I felt horrible about it afterwards. Money is so not worth arguing over. I was just really frustrated because it was my pay day and there was absolutely nothing left over for things that I felt were needed. Sometimes I can be very concrete in my thinking. lol

Things are slowly looking up for us. My DH got a job working for the census, and he is working with a contractor friend laying carpet, flooring for Lowe's as a sub contractor. He is working 2 full time jobs to try to keep us with our heads above water.

We also caught wind of a rumor that his plant has received some of the stimulus money and they are re-firing some of the furnaces. He was an operator before this lay off. The rumor is that they will all be called back by June. So we are praying, and crossing everything that we can.

I hope that everyone is doing ok. I am hoping and praying for us all.

 

[disneymarie]

res45,
It sounds like you are treading water for now. I will keep my fingers crossed, toes and eyes for the call back. Dh had a call back in March, but the owner could not get further funding so they closed up. There is talk of new owners, but there is also talk of stripping the machines and selling. Sad as they had orders, but the bank would not give them any more money.

I came up for a breath after sinking twice now. I got a job very part time from home and did the first assignment, for one day I got $90 and $40 for expenses. If I can do two assignments a week would be great, but it is on call. If a tractor trailer has a spill or accident I have to go out and take pictures, statements, and driver testing if the PD do not, for the insurance carrier. If there is a business catastrophe, like a fire or car crashes into it, I get called by the insurance company to cover beyond the officials for the client. Last week for a car accident, doing an appraisal and documentation for the ins. carrier.

I saw an AD for DH to do some work simialar to this, on call, locating clients, commision pay. If he will do it a day or two a week while on UC. We need it for the Cobra.
He is still believeing the plant will be bought and reopen. He is 61 next month....not anyone hiring when they would feel he would retire. Once he gets to 65 it is a different story.

The cable guy was here about that money, I had to explain we would have US money for both of us this week if they would wait until Friday. They were charging for Internet I did not even have....needed that adjusted.

We put the 401K money in an IRA money market fund to draw the mortgage from. Sickens me how in one year everything changes.

I do not agree with all the funding for the Auto makers. I think it should go to the consumers, and also into keeping vehicles they have on the road, like a refurbishing of cars for a lower price. Redo tranny, update motors, add fuel effeciency to them, and tax break for buying one....

Put people to work an affordable car, and do some effective good.
So far it is a Band-Aid.

I lose so much sleep waiting for money to come in.......
Hang in there
di

 

[ShellChelle]

I found out two weeks ago that at the end of my contract year (Aug. 30), it will not be renewed for next year due to the economy.

However...we are still 6 months away from our Disney trip, so that is still on! The airfare has already been purchased, and it is non-refundable, so we are still headed to the Poly in November.

I am going to look for a part-time summer job to hopefully make spending money for our trip.

 

[dizluvah]

I am late in joining this thread...but I am so glad to have found it. I am a week or two away from the end of my unemployment benefits (NH does not have the requisite % unemployment rate to get the 2009 extension) and I am freaking out.

I am willing to work part-time but jobs seem to be slim pickings in my area. The entire Sunday paper may list 52 ads total and many of those are medical field, nursing or other things I am incapable of doing. I do use many online sites for leads moster.com, indeed.com, careerbuilder.com. More recently I have been applying for retail positions from snagajob.com - but no luck so far.

I feel as though I have slashed our budget as thinly as I can but I do not know how we will manage without the $800 a month from unemployment. I have many health issues and fortunately we have medical insurance from DH's employer but I still pay $260 out of pocket monthly for RX copays - just for me.

I am trying to remain positive, I know we are fortunate that DH still has his job - his company had to lay off the entire second shift of the production floor. As of now, we are not behind on any bills, mortgage, etc.

I am just so stressed about how long it might take me to find any kind of work to supplement our income. While I do not need to earn much money weekly to get by; it is vital that I supplement our income in order to stay afloat.

Thanks for letting me vent

 

[kmjmom]

Just joining also! DH got his pink slip in February and it's bleak out there. We're fortunate to have my salary and benefits to rely on with his unemployment. I had already booked our trip, so we're still going and hoping for the best for a job for DH. I keep trying to convince him to relax and savor some freedom from the daily grind, but he can't. It's not easy to see him this way!

 

[windycitymom]

For those who are looking for temporary work, the Census Bureau is hiring for the 2010 Census. They still need more people. Call 1-866-861-2010 or visit 2010censusjobs.gov

I'm working for them now and the pay is $17.50 an hour plus miles. Not bad for part-time help. There is no benefits, but you can set your own hours and work up to 40 hours (not more than 40 hours because they don't pay overtime).

 

[jewelie121]

I'm so sorry that you are all having such a hard time. (((HUGS)))