Laid Off 1/30... Ride or Job Hunt?

[jmdaniel]

Well, the title says it all. Friday was my last day, (was told 2 days prior...), and I'm kinda torn. I've been telling my wife that if I got RIF'd again, I was getting on the bike for a month or so. She said if I leave her with our 3 dogs for that long, I better take all my stuff, as it will save the front yard from the fire she will set burning my stuff up. So maybe a month is too long, but something less might work.

I'm getting a bit of severance, and the mortgage is the only payment I have, besides the usual utilities, so the money isn't an issue. My problem is that I'm kind of hardwired to work. I don't live to work, believe you me, but I haven't been out of work, except for portions of college, for 30+ years. Couple that with today's economic issues, the fact that I'm, errrr....., getting older, and perhaps getting that next position might be harder/take longer than I expect. The fact that it's winter isn't a huge factor, as the riding could remain south of the Mason/Dixon, and with the winter most of the US has(n't) had, I could manage to not freeze to death.

Given those circumstances, what would you do? :huh:

 

[GeorgiaRoller]

Go ride for a week, unwind, de-stress, forget about money/work/life for 5-7 days.

Then come back and take a fresh look at your situation and cross each bridge as it comes.

 

[SwollenRaccoon]

Ride to places to look for work. Check out new areas in your vicinity. Your bride can't get too sore about that.

 

[Auburn]

Well, the title says it all. Friday was my last day, (was told 2 days prior...), and I'm kinda torn. I've been telling my wife that if I got RIF'd again, I was getting on the bike for a month or so. She said if I leave her with our 3 dogs for that long, I better take all my stuff, as it will save the front yard from the fire she will set burning my stuff up. So maybe a month is too long, but something less might work.

I'm getting a bit of severance, and the mortgage is the only payment I have, besides the usual utilities, so the money isn't an issue. My problem is that I'm kind of hardwired to work. I don't live to work, believe you me, but I haven't been out of work, except for portions of college, for 30+ years. Couple that with today's economic issues, the fact that I'm, errrr....., getting older, and perhaps getting that next position might be harder/take longer than I expect. The fact that it's winter isn't a huge factor, as the riding could remain south of the Mason/Dixon, and with the winter most of the US has(n't) had, I could manage to not freeze to death.

Given those circumstances, what would you do? :huh:

Go for the ride. Find someone to watch/feed the animals and take your wife. Might be a great way to spend some quality time together and see some great sites together.

secondary to that, what industry are you in?

 

[Bugnatr]

Park the bike and go find a job, slacker....

 

[jmdaniel]

Go for the ride. Find someone to watch/feed the animals and take your wife. Might be a great way to spend some quality time together and see some great sites together.
secondary to that, what industry are you in?

Wife doesn't ride. ER nurse, says she has seen too many smashed pumpkins, especially diring ROT rally time here in Austin. The last 4-5 years I have worked in B2B communications, with the 2 largest EDI providers in the country/world. Engagement Mgr/Solutions Consulting/Bid Mgmt. I have a lot of Supply Chain experience, and did ten years as an Industrial Engineer, so have a pretty broad experience base.

 

[DeweyIsgod]

Go ride first! It'll actually make it easier to find a job later.

In interviewing candidates for an opening I had last fall, there were several who brought the negativity of their last job into the interview. It masks the skills you have and depletes any optimism and enthusiasm for the new role. I'd think you'd be more attractive if you were able to answer that you took some time to enjoy hobbies for a while, but realized that you missed the challenges of your profession.

 

[wheatonFJR]

Go ride for a week, unwind, de-stress, forget about money/work/life for 5-7 days.

Then come back and take a fresh look at your situation and cross each bridge as it comes.

I agree. A week is enough time to decompress and enjoy the road. Find some good twisties and some good open road. Call the wife daily so she doesn't feel abandoned. Come back ready to rumble with your chin set for the next effort.

 

[slimsailor00]

I was laid off in October 2010 and spent 9 months looking for work. At first I hit the job boards hard to find anything in the US that had a decent salary. In a week I had applied to every job in the US that interested me/I was qualified for. I then started to notice that I had applied to everything out there, and I was bored. I filled that boredom with motorcycle riding and household repairs (basically honing my woodworking skills since wood is cheap and I had a lot of time). I would then go back once a week and hit the job boards to make sure that I was applied to every job out there and any new ones that popped up.

After 9 months unemployed I landed a helluva good job, and my regret is that I had 9 months off and didn't do enough during that time because I was too worried about money to enjoy myself...so get out there and enjoy it, because another job is out there and you won't have this much time off work again until retirement.

Chris

 

[Geezer]

I would immediately start looking for work, an hour or two every morning at least, and use the rest of the time to ride or otherwise enjoy some time off. If your riding takes you away from home for days or weeks at a time, you can take a laptop on the road and still look for work each morning for a couple of hours. Opportunities are scarce these days and you will not be happy if you find out next month that you missed the job you want because you didn't bother to look while you were traveling.

 

[Tyler]

secondary to that, what industry are you in?

+1 I have a friend in Austin who works for EA (hopefully that's not the same company you got laid off from!). I can put you in touch with him perhaps?

P.S. I say go for the ride... who knows when you'll have the time to do it once you get a new job... and if your wife likes to ride pillion with you, the two of you can have a great adventure together. If she doesn't like to ride, have her take the car and meet you places along the way. B)

 

[Tyler]

Oops... too early in the morning and double posted... need more coffee...

 

[thewoodman]

I would immediately start looking for work, an hour or two every morning at least, and use the rest of the time to ride or otherwise enjoy some time off. If your riding takes you away from home for days or weeks at a time, you can take a laptop on the road and still look for work each morning for a couple of hours. Opportunities are scarce these days and you will not be happy if you find out next month that you missed the job you want because you didn't bother to look while you were traveling.

I would follow this advise.

I was told December 7th my last day was December 9th. The day I was given notice I e-mailed all my contacts in the business and informed them to use my home e-mail and not my work e-mail any longer. I also kinda have jokingly mentioned that I will be moving back to the Seattle area and if anyone knew of any jobs to let me know.

Within minutes I had a call from a past co-worker who was working for a company based in Everett Washington. I spoke with the owner/President of the company that night and it just so happened they were creating a new position that was along the lines of what I have been doing for over 20 Years. I start March 1st with a a slight salary increase over what I was getting.

I was extremely lucky that all the pieces fell into place as they did. Had I waited 2-3 weeks the position would have already been filled.

Just my .02

 

[Sharif]

Let people know you're looking, take an initial cut at the boards, then ride for a week with a laptop.

 

[jmdaniel]

Great feedback, all. As far as bringing the wife along, I think I need a little decompress guy only time, and besides, she has to take care of the pups, or the kennel fees will make this a bit more stressful! I spoke a couple of days ago with an old buddy from grad school, and his advice was spot on with a couple here who mentioned that a person can't look for a job all the time; but needs to set aside a certain part of the day/week to do that, and spend the rest of the time enjoying life. That sounds like a good plan, and will help not dragging any bitterness along to future interviews, as Deweyisgod mentioned.

Anyone in the area looking for a little escape time? Maybe Big Bend, Ozarks, New Mexico/AZ?

Tyler, I would appreciate the connection. Could you PM me the info? There is a Senior PM job on their board that is right up my alley. Thanks!

 

[carlson_mn]

With no kids an a wife who is an ER nurse take your time, sounds like money should not be an issue. Go ride for a week and then come back and apply and then relax some more!

 

[NMRoadRunner]

When faced with a prdicament like yours I chose to ride for a while, It really helped my mental outlook, my phisical health and well being. I was eager and full of ideas when I rejoined the workforce and ended up better off then before. I didn't jump at the first job to open up, and it was nice to have the ability to look around first. Ride, even if you have to repair your front yard and buy new gear when youo return, your wife will like you better un-stressed!

 

[BikerGeek99]

Ride.

Take lots of pictures.

Share with us.

Then get a job, and just remember - you were looking for a job when you got your old job.

 

[cruppelt]

I have been in this position twice now, and the first time I was so blind-sided by it that it hurt bad enough that I ended up in a rock-bottom depression. It took me many months to get out of that again and I finally took a temp job that in the end opened the door for another much better position later.

The second time this happened (early last November) I hit all my contacts immediately, starting the day I was told. I never let up and networked my way to where I could actually stay at the company in a different position in a different product line.

So I guess my advice is

1) network for all you've got, starting NOW. Don't wait until depression sets in and your self worth goes down to ZERO.

2) post your resume on sites like monster and let head-hunters and temp agencies contact you. Sending out hundreds of resumes without having a person on the inside never resulted in anything for me EVER.

3) Keep busy right now to stay out of the downwards-spiral. I am afraid the "guy alone time" might make everything worse in the end.

I hope this helps.