Unknown territory - no job

[echo_four_romeo]

For the first time since I turned 14 I am about to be unemployed, I turn 31 this year. Been with the same company for the last 5 years and 3 months, they just up and said we don't need you anymore. Discovered that the job market is flush with young kids who will do my work(data analyst) for a fraction the pay. Put out a number of applications and stuffed my resume down some recruiter's throats...we'll see if that does any good. Unemployment might cover most of my bills and I have a bit in savings but damn this just seems so foreign to me. For those who have been through this or similar, how did you do? I've considered maybe changing careers but seems a bit risky. Any suggestions would be most welcome...

 

[Madhatter]

hate to hear about your job loss... feels like a betrayal for sure... all kinds of emotions come into play... just remember don't let your feelings dictate your actions... it will be a unsettled time for you , don't panic... you will survive this... it may lead you into another direction in life , be flexible if you can... and if you have to , go into the woods and scream.... it happened to me 2 years ago, I'm doing ok today.... and you will too...

 

[trikepilot]

Just finished the journey you are contemplating - albeit my impetus was self-propelled rather than forced upon me. I made the decision to pivot at age 40 and wrapped up the change at 45 - with two years of work in the middle. I am not sure how you feel about your work or where you see yourself in that work in 5 or 10 years - but there are enough people out there miserable where they are and "stuck" in that mode so why add to that number. 31 is young. Figure out what you really WANT to do and go for it.

 

[Checkswrecks]

Sorry to hear it. When I was working in the aerospace industry I got laid off or moved about every other year. It took a long time to get past that looking over my shoulder and all I can say is that nobody will beat the bushes for you as much as you need to, yourself. Wish you good luck with it.

Now get off my lawn kid.

 

[Dogdaze]

Sorry about your current situation, but on the upside, you are only 31, so at least another 3 decades to look forward to working. Take this time for a reflection, don't panic (easier said than done) opportunities will present themselves, just learn to recognise them when they do. I've been out of work for over 7 years, although my wife says it is work ( house husband) it terrifies me to think what I'll do when the time comes for me to look for work.

 

[Rasher]

I go through this regularly in the UK.

Been working as an IT contractor (self employed / freelance) for about 10 years and typically work 3-12 months before having to find another gig, I thought I would get used to regularly being out of work and having to hunt for a new job, but it always sucks and leaves me worrying whenever I get about a month out from contract end, but pay is good compared to permanent roles and generally something comes up almost as soon as one job finishes.

Maybe consider this type of work if it exists in your area, even as a stop-gap whilst hunting for something more secure.

At least in the US it is harder for companies to just shift all the work offshore, in the UK thousands of jobs are lost to India and Eastern Europe each year, if it can be done at a computer terminal then the costs of getting someone in India to do it is less than 1/5th of the cost of a UK worker.

 

[WJBertrand]

Happened to me twice. Laid off from my first job out of college after about 18 months due to a business downturn. Laid off from my second job after 14 years when they closed our lab due to a merger. So far still employed with my current job going on 24 years. Hope to hang on another year and half to retirement. I can say I've been fired from every job I've had since college! The second lay off was the worst, one income family with three young children to feed. In both cases I actually ended up with better jobs with more pay and new opportunities.

 

[colorider]

I was laid off twice in my career. The first was after 27 years with the same company. My initial job right out of the Navy at age 22. It was actually more of a RIF than a true layoff, but the result was the same.
It took me about 6 months and a relocation to the other end of the state for my second job. The next layoff came 12 years later and it was due to a buyout and my position was eliminated. That "layoff" was actually to my benefit as I was planning to retire anyway, so I got a "package" rather than just a handshake.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[silvergoose]

While I do not know the ins and outs of your job, I can add my name to the list of many here, layoffs, downsizing, plant closure in most cases will lead to many new opportunities.

Your age is a benefit. Sit down, think about what you like to do, do it and never work another day in your life.


Good Luck

 

[verboten1]

Last time it happened to me, I hopped on the KLR and went to James Bay.

 

[AVGeek]

I've only be laid off once, and it was a part time job I had while in college, so not as traumatic as it would be at an older age. However, due to the company I worked with for almost 20 years being merged with our largest competitor, I eventually left (at 42!) and went freelance. I've been at it for 2 years now, and I honestly don't see me going back to work for a company, even though I've had a few offers.

I used to conduct training with my old company, and one of the things I would always say is "be careful whose toes you step on today, they may belong to the ass you have to kiss tomorrow." Networking (especially in my industry) is crucial to staying busy and keeping the income rolling in.