Wife lost job today

[DELETE-PLEASE]

She was planning on quitting in about two months anyway to get ready to move with me to GA (moving in May, leaving in early April), but they fired her (the boss is a friggin' idiot and just told her, "Today will be your last day cause I heard you're thinking about quitting soon.")

So what is there available for someone who can only work about two - three months? We can make it on my paycheck, that's not the issue, but the issue is we're trying to save up for a wedding and pay down bills. My paycheck and budget allows VERY little wiggle room to save/pay down debt. We were going to use her money as "extra" money after our monthly needs to save/pay down debt.

So it's not a HUGE issue that she find a job, but if she can, what would be good to apply for for such a short period of time?

Alexi

 

[Fred W]

Where is she? That may help if someone on here is local to your wife (to be).

The one thing that springs to mind is that many of the shipping companies tend to look for extra people this time of year. But that will end right after the holidays...

Or, if you are OK with the kind of work, the fast food places are generally always hiring, and anyone with a decent work ethic can make pretty decent money if they can put up with the public.

 

[wheatonFJR]

Yeah, I would think about Christmas retail...

...she could look into a temp agency in the field she is qualified in.

 

[Warchild]

Since she was essentially "RIFfed" and did not discontinue employment on her own volition... what about Unemployment?

 

[user 213]

She can go to a temp agency and get work there. She will be 'hired' by the agency, and sent out to various employers to do work, but get her check from the temp agency. Many companies hire people through the temp agencies, then if they like them, offer them direct employment later. The temp agency will have her fill out some forms listing her skills, and try to match up a job that fits.

Bonus, if you don't like a particular job or employer, you just go back to the temp agency and let them know, boom, you're off to a different job the next day. Depending on the area, she may also have opportunities to try different things that she might not otherwise get a shot at. Downside is no benefits. This is the primary reason companies use temp agencies for hiring. They pay a higher wage to the temp agency, which pays the employee, but they offer no benefits and can terminate w/o cause or hassle if they don't care for the worker.

The common employer will have temps work at least 90 days before considering them for a full time hire, so she's not likely to get a full time offer through the temp agency in the time before the move. However, she can work as close to the move date as she want's w/o fear of getting canned just because she's planning to move.

 

[BikerGeek99]

Is she a good driver and can she handle idiots?

If so, look into being a limo / livery driver.

I used to do it on the side. There's potential there to make some decent money and, if she finds a company like the one I used to drive for, you're considered an independent contractor so she can just up and quit / leave without notice.

And she'll have stories. Oh yes, the stories...

 

[squeezer]

Her boss is a dickwad, but I guess you already knew that.

The temp agency tip is the best.

Lots of retail places will be bringing in inventory folks in January to do the counts for tax purposes. But they'll probably be working through the temp agencies too.

 

[CRMH Eagle]

Is she a good driver and can she handle idiots?
If so, look into being a limo / livery driver.

I used to do it on the side. There's potential there to make some decent money and, if she finds a company like the one I used to drive for, you're considered an independent contractor so she can just up and quit / leave without notice.

And she'll have stories. Oh yes, the stories...

+1 on the delivery stories.

See how much unemployment she would receive compared to working retail or pizza delivery. The economy has hurt food delivery but this varies city by city. When I worked at a domino's a few years ago I averaged $15 per hr after paying for gas. Around the holidays is a great time to make good tips delivering food. And as I learned it usually the middle-class and lower neighborhoods that tip the best. There will be college kids looking for seasonal employment as well but if she can portray herself as a mature and eager worker then that will help tremendously.

If she has any accounting/office skills then MY suggestion is she hound the CPA firms to work in the office for the next few months. CPA firms sometimes hire extra non-accounting-degree help during tax and pre-audit season. She should say that if they need someone to answer phones, sort mail, call clients, gopher lunch & office supplies, assemble tax returns, file papers, schedule pre-audit meetings, etc, then she is the person they need right now.

 

[ShinyPartsUp]

Unemployment sounds good, and she'd have time to pack, run errands before the move, etc. If she has a union she could file a grievance against the employer.

H&R Block and similar places are gearing up for the tax season. They need people who can handle making appoinments, filing, answering phones, etc.

Cleaning homes is good because many people don't mind paying under the table so that taxes aren't much of a problem. I know a couple women who make $10-15 an hour.

A lot depends on her skills. I wish you luck and future happiness.

 

[Aasland]

That's sort of an open-ended question. It would be easier for us to recommend something if we knew what her education and experience is, what she's good at and what she likes to do.

From my own bouts of job hunting years ago, I've found there are always jobs out there that nobody else would do for the money offered. But those tend to scrape the bottom of the bucket .. better to put her skills and interests to better use.

The other thing to think about is taxes. If you get married in 2010 all of her income will be taxed as married. Depending on your income, it might not be worth her time to work.

Years ago when we got married and moved to another state, my wife worked some odd jobs before something better (job, not hubby) came along. Some of them where temp jobs, most paid less than $10/hour. Taxes took half of her salary (fed + state + payroll + unemp ins) so her effective net pay was a paltry $250/week or less. Subtract travel, meals, lunches, etc. and it just wasn't worth it.

 

[bramfrank]

I don't know where you are, but was she entitled to severance? Or are you in an 'at will' state?

She may have some entitlement. The concept of 'I suspected you were quitting anyway' doesn't carry a lot of weight as an excuse for termination.

 

[SCWatts]

The one thing that springs to mind is that many of the shipping companies tend to look for extra people this time of year. But that will end right after the holidays...

Re UPS/Fedex: https://apnews.excite.com/article/20091220/D9CN1I3O0.html

 

[Bounce]

Is she hot?

Are you "open minded"?

The possibilities are greatly improved if you answered yes to both.

 

[wheatonFJR]

Is she hot?Are you "open minded"?

The possibilities are greatly improved if you answered yes to both.

Sounds like Bounce is revealing his other life as a pimp. :glare:

Before going down that dark road...I'm sure your wife has plenty of work skills to help get you guys through a rough patch. Good luck to you both. :clapping:

 

[Checkswrecks]

Craigslist is your friend. Click on your area in PA and then on any of the JOBS fields.

https://geo.craigslist.org/iso/us/pa

My college kids found temp jobs this way.

Good Luck!

Bob

 

[chrisflock]

Is she a good driver and can she handle idiots?
If so, look into being a limo / livery driver.

I used to do it on the side. There's potential there to make some decent money and, if she finds a company like the one I used to drive for, you're considered an independent contractor so she can just up and quit / leave without notice.

And she'll have stories. Oh yes, the stories...

+1 on the delivery stories.

See how much unemployment she would receive compared to working retail or pizza delivery. The economy has hurt food delivery but this varies city by city. When I worked at a domino's a few years ago I averaged $15 per hr after paying for gas. Around the holidays is a great time to make good tips delivering food. And as I learned it usually the middle-class and lower neighborhoods that tip the best. There will be college kids looking for seasonal employment as well but if she can portray herself as a mature and eager worker then that will help tremendously.

If she has any accounting/office skills then MY suggestion is she hound the CPA firms to work in the office for the next few months. CPA firms sometimes hire extra non-accounting-degree help during tax and pre-audit season. She should say that if they need someone to answer phones, sort mail, call clients, gopher lunch & office supplies, assemble tax returns, file papers, schedule pre-audit meetings, etc, then she is the person they need right now.

$15 an hour delivering? When I worked for pizza hut, I didn't clear close to that much...how much of that was tips and how much was base pay? A typical night for me was to work a 6 hour shift, an hour of which was cleanup after closing, run maybe 10 or 14 deliveries (usually 125-150) miles, have maybe 25-40 in cash and then go put 5-10 gallons in the car (at right around 2.50 a gallon) so I'd be lucky to have $20 cash at the end of the night...and then add in the 3.5 bucks an hour we got paid.

Of course, the farther deliveries, the ones that were 20 miles away and took 30 minutes just to get to their place, would usually stiff us...

After working there, I can't imagine getting a delivery job that would

 

[twistedcricket]

Lesson #1 - you work, you get paid. You aren't required to disclose how long you'll be there. Unless she uses the former boss for a reference, it doesn't matter whether she tells the next employer how long she's working.

Lesson #2 - NEVER EVER EVER TELL ANYONE YOU'RE THINKING OF LEAVING A JOB....especially in the office.

If there are autoparts stores in the area they're always looking for parts delivery drivers...(assuming clean driving record and can pass a drug test)

that is all.