Prayers for dh's Job Search

[me again]

Ok, I don't even know if its appropriate to post this. Its on the budget board because it definitely affects our budget. There again, I've seen posts asking prayers for people with health problems, don't know if asking for something material is appropriate, but here goes.

DJ has been laid off from the first of the year. He had a great job in the tech industry, but his company closed and his job was sent to India. He's been looking in vain for another job for ~ 6 months. He has tried everything, using all the resources he can, no offers. He gets tons of interviews, just last week had two back-to-back out of state interviews, practically met himself coming flying, both seemed really interested in him, then he go turned down for both, both today.

That's been the story for the last 6 months. he seems to generate a lot of interest, to the point where at least his resume gets attention, then phone interviews, then on site interviews, then turned down. I know he has to keep on trying, but its wearing thin. I hate to see him so knocked down. To his credit, he's "taking it like a man". He's in there right now culling the job boards, contacts, etc. not feeling sorry for himself--after all, he just needs one offer, can only work one job!

Meantime our money situation is wearing. I'm as frugal as I can be use many of the suggestions here on the budget board for budget cooking, etc., also have picked up some ideas for earning a few bucks, like surverys, part-time jobs like 800-flowers, etc., but we need a real job soon.

Well, I'd just like to ask for your kind thoughts and prayers during this time for us. I'm sure we'll get through it and emerge the better for it, already we're benefiting from being better at budgeting (amazing where it all went!), and being closer as a family. I do look at this as a time for dh to spend more time with the kids, something that won't come again until retirement, it has resulted in a closer bond all around.

If any of you think you have a connection with the Man Upstairs we'd appreciate dropping a word with him! Would appreciate prayers that our situation improves soon! Thanks, fellow Disers!

 

[pikafreaks]

Oh sweetie, first please take a big hug!
That is all so rough and it sounds like your handling really well.
and I think its great to post, at least process some it out in the open.

Its so hard to stand back and watch the man you love struggle, but your a great wife! and I bet he pulls tons of strength from you.

I will pray for you!

Athena~

 

[java]

You got it! My DH was out of work about 5 years ago now- I remember it as being a tough time- emotionally as well as financially. We still are dealing with some debt we ran up during that time as I was 6 months pregnant at the time it happened and his company was seized by the feds. Find out that the health insurance had not been paid in months- so we were scrambling. Nightmare! But it all worked out.
DH found a great job and is actually in Vegas right now on business! It really did work out for the best for us. And I know it will for you too! My DH found his job at an industry fair if you can believe it(I found it on the internet the night before- printed up a bunch of resumes and he was off. Luck was on his side that day.)
Good luck to your DH and it will happen. I know it will.

 

[me again]

Well dh has two more interviews coming up next week, prayers for success would be appreciated.

He has no trouble getting interviews, just never gets an offer. Makes me wonder if he's somehow not coming across right in the interview? He's using an outplacement firm that provides coaching, mock interviews, etc. Maybe he should lean on them more, obviously there's something at the actual face-to-face interview that is the deciding factor, wish I knew what!

 

[Mermaid2sea]

Thinking of you at this difficult time hope it all works out for you.

 

[Kimkimba]

Prayers and PTs that your dh finds a job soon!

 

[me again]

Thanks, all!

Your kind words have helped more than you realize. Even a cyberhug is a boost. Today is especially difficult, dh got 2 rejections today, back-to-back, and we were so positive about both that we were actually mentally starting to pack to move. Well, we don't count unhatched chickens!

Also, today is dd's birthday. My baby is 11 years old--where did the time fly? I really can't give her they type of birthday I used to in the past, but it will be fun, nevertheless. I'm taking her to a movie (have free passes), then Baskin Robbins (have coupons), then her gift is a gift card from Toys R us (used ff miles to purchase).. All in all a relatively cheap day, but one she will enjoy. Also dh just came in from Costco with a huge cake, got for $15!

In the past we've done more, but I think she will have a great day regardless. The important thing is not to be unhappy in front of her, I want her childhood to have fond memories, not memories of financial stress. She's only a child once, we can't wait until we're making $$$ again to enjoy life. so we put on our happy faces and enjoy!

 

[me again]

Oh sweetie, first please take a big hug!
That is all so rough and it sounds like your handling really well.
and I think its great to post, at least process some it out in the open.

Its so hard to stand back and watch the man you love struggle, but your a great wife! and I bet he pulls tons of strength from you.

I will pray for you!

Athena~

I think you summed it up well-standing back and watching the man I love struggle. For my part, I can do with a lot less. I'm not a trophy wife. I've lived on everything from unemployment to a 6 figure salary, and been happy at both ends of the spectrum. Our security is not in question at this point, we have an impressive retitrement nest egg we could cut into if need be, don't want to get to that point.

Finances have me concerned, of course. But its watching dh struggle that's killing me. For my part, its a long story, but I'm not in a position to work right now. I'm doing what I can with part-time jobs, did some substitute teaching, but that's out for the summer. Its dh I'm worried about, I've found women take things like this in stride better than men, when they fall its one big drop they never recover from. I've seen it time and again. Women somehow are more resilant. My main concern right now it to keep dh's self-esteem going.

Again, your prayers and kind thoughts are appreciated!

 

[Hedy]

for all of you. And happy birthday to your DD!

 

[pantherlj]

It sounds like you aren't working either? (you mentioned suverys and 800 flowers job). Have you thought about looking for work? My DH was in the tech field and got laid off when I was a SAHM. We both started putting out resumes and I landed a job first. 6 years later, I am still working and he is still at home with the girls! He has a home based business now as well.

Just a thought.

ETA - might not help his self esteem though if you go out and land a job quickly!

Hope something works out for him soon.

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

If he's a tech, has he considered contracting? At least in the atlanta area, there are a lot of good consulting firms that hire out IT contractors constantly.

http://www.matrixres.com/matrix/website.nsf/HomePages/Home

We know people who do contract work through Matrix, and they make a pantload of money per hour for IT stuff.

Good luck

 

[me again]

It sounds like you aren't working either? (you mentioned suverys and 800 flowers job). Have you thought about looking for work? My DH was in the tech field and got laid off when I was a SAHM. We both started putting out resumes and I landed a job first. 6 years later, I am still working and he is still at home with the girls! He has a home based business now as well.

Just a thought.

ETA - might not help his self esteem though if you go out and land a job quickly!

Hope something works out for him soon.

Thanks, but I can't work right now. I'm recovering from a fractured vertebrae, just had spinal fusion surgery. I can get around but wear a brace, use a walker, it should be better in 2-3 months. That's why I try to do whatever I can from home. I can drive, but limited.

 

[me again]

If he's a tech, has he considered contracting? At least in the atlanta area, there are a lot of good consulting firms that hire out IT contractors constantly.

http://www.matrixres.com/matrix/website.nsf/HomePages/Home

We know people who do contract work through Matrix, and they make a pantload of money per hour for IT stuff.

Good luck

Thanks, I will pass this on, but dh's field is hardware, not IT, but who knows, they might have something? Thanks again!

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

Thanks, I will pass this on, but dh's field is hardware, not IT, but who knows, they might have something? Thanks again!

Hardware's tough, Motorola's got some hardware sections still running but I don't know if they're hiring.

Can your husband take some courses to update his skills, if he knows hardware, then the software stuff should be a snap. Even if he just does a few courses in visual basic and gets a job as a programmer while he's further updating his skills, it's not bad and may get him into a company that'll let him do tech management if that's what he's looking to change to.

If you look at the jobs Matrix has listed, you'll see pretty quickly where all the 'hot' skills are, and maybe he can take some classes with those.

 

[pantherlj]

Thanks, but I can't work right now. I'm recovering from a fractured vertebrae, just had spinal fusion surgery. I can get around but wear a brace, use a walker, it should be better in 2-3 months. That's why I try to do whatever I can from home. I can drive, but limited.

Ouch! Gosh, you have had a run of bad luck. Time for a turn around!

 

[lonegirl]

We were in the same boat this time last year...and now count our blessings every day that DH has the job he now has...

My prayer during that time (and still) was for God to open doors no man can open and close doors no man can close.

You don't know how many interviews he went on and we prayed together before them, I did while he was there, etc., and he did not land the job. Now, looking back, I see God was waiting to bring us this job.

Now that he has it, we are playing big-time financial catch up, living just as frugally as when he was unemployed so all the money can go back into the savings we depleted.
However, we are taking ourselves and the boys on a frugal little Disney trip this fall, because that last year was a tough one and we're pretty darn proud of just how frugally we have learned to live (thanks to the lessons God taught and also the tricks from this board)

God Bless.

 

[me again]

Hardware's tough, Motorola's got some hardware sections still running but I don't know if they're hiring.

Can your husband take some courses to update his skills, if he knows hardware, then the software stuff should be a snap. Even if he just does a few courses in visual basic and gets a job as a programmer while he's further updating his skills, it's not bad and may get him into a company that'll let him do tech management if that's what he's looking to change to.

If you look at the jobs Matrix has listed, you'll see pretty quickly where all the 'hot' skills are, and maybe he can take some classes with those.

Yes, you're quite right, hardware is a tough field to get into right now. I like your ideas about transferring over. DH has been taking courses at the TWC (texas workforce commission--ie, unemployment) to update his software/programming skills. He says the courses are very good and you'd pay a fortune to get them privately. He has a good attitude, doesn't feel its "beneath him" to take whatever help offered, they do lead to a certificate which could help, also he's signed up for some community college courses, we might even get some reimbursement from TWC for the courses, keep in mind dh has 2 bachelors and a masters in electrical engineering so some might see community college courses as being way beneath him but he sees it as an opportunity to cross back into the job market.

I was thinking of taking some programming courses, too, but can't do much of anything right now because of my back. It bothers me the most when sitting for any length of time. I said I was looking at 800-flowers as a job, but those positions are currently closed, I'm on a waiting list, but doubt I could do the job now, anyways. Maybe in a few months. I understand they want you to work long shifts, 8 hours+, I just can't sit that long. I can't even sit through a movie with my kids, so I sit in the back so I can get up and stretch every so often without bothering others. Due to our finances I can't afford the physical therapy needed, but we are doing it at home. We went once, they set up a home ;program, and we just follow that. It would cost about $100 a visit (our copay!) and I really think we are doing just as good if not better at home.

We're settling into a routine while being unemployed. DH goes faithfully to TWC just about every day to take advantage of the courses (online but can't access from home), he's starting a community college course next week, he goes to Lifetime Fitness gym every morning (ok, please don' flame, I know LTF is expensive compared to other gyms, $40 a month for family membership, but its worth it. He needs to get out and work off the stress, plus a nice, upscale environment helps boost his ego, he does meet others there, and now he's taking the kids for a morning swim so we get good value for the money), now that summer's here I take the kids to the pool often (got a pool pass for $100), there's free movies at the mall 3x's week, we try to hit those, just to get out of the house, we're planning a trip to Dallas to visit some relatives, kids are signed up for 2 vacation Bible schools, I'm trying to keep a positive, upbeat atmosphere here, guard our health, my main concern is dh's self-esteem. I just wish I could work to ease the burden financially but can't even interview right now.

Well, long posts here, just rambling, but sometimes we all need to vent/lean on someone. I've found my so called "friends" just take advantage of me, no matter what the situaiton, best to not let them in on our situation. Thanks for letting me vent, better days will come!

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

He has a good attitude, doesn't feel its "beneath him" to take whatever help offered, they do lead to a certificate which could help, also he's signed up for some community college courses, we might even get some reimbursement from TWC for the courses, keep in mind dh has 2 bachelors and a masters in electrical engineering so some might see community college courses as being way beneath him but he sees it as an opportunity to cross back into the job market.

Everyone we know in the tech field is constantly taking courses wherever they can get them to keep their skills current, including my DH. The computer field is nuts, constantly changing, companies going under. We've learned to live with that hanging over our heads, and you're right, exercise is a great way to keep balanced.

Hang in there...

 

[mikesmom]

Has he checked Dell? Not at Round Rock, but the new campus in OKC. DS got a job there about 9 months ago. Promotions come fast because they are not fully staffed. Don't know if there is anything in his area of expertise there, but it might be worth a shot.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Our security is not in question at this point, we have an impressive retitrement nest egg we could cut into if need be, don't want to get to that point.

Have you and your DH considered other type of work? If you have retirement under control all you really need is to get health insurance and cover your living expenses. You could downsize to a less expensive home to live in and maintain.

This is what DH and I are planning on doing but we are not there yet. Eventually we will step away from our present jobs and do easier and more enjoyable jobs that will pay for everyday expenses and our nest egg will grown but not be added to.