Found out I'm being laid off

Do your best to create an opportunity out of it.

always have a plan
i'm constantly looking to move just never laterally
you are younger than me and you still have a lot of time
never sell out the idea that you might just be someone who sticks around
it happened to me recently and then i moved on
keep your options open
preparation is key and sounds like you have that going for you
good luck man :up:

^^ if his haiku poem doesnt inspire you. i dont know what will. chris, you know iam there if u need it bro, ive been there. call into my show tonight and vent :up:

consider yourself lucky for getting a notice now about being laid off in september. a lot of people get far less time, some none at all.

be prepared to take a job working harder, for more hours and less money... if you get one with how many people are out of work.

"unluckyluciano wrote:

you've been notified that you are being laid off for sure?

Pretty sure. I only have two years at this company and Im one of the youngest employees. Since most of us are on commission, my pay isn't an issue as far as my employment goes, so its not like theyre going to be looking at pay vs. experience as far as who theyre going to keep around. But for me, Im 90% sure at this point Ill be let go along with alot of other hardworking people. My company did say theyre not going to let everyone go, they still need some people, but Im quite sure I won't be one of them. Im already in that mentality that my job is basically gone and I better start looking around this weekend.

"eric wrote:

consider yourself lucky for getting a notice now about being laid off in september. a lot of people get far less time, some none at all.

be prepared to take a job working harder, for more hours and less money... if you get one with how many people are out of work.

Very true. I know Im going to have to make concessions, but I don't want to lower my standard too far just yet. I do have 5 years experience in grocery and Im sure I cna go to any grocery company, but with all these massive layoffs im going to have to compete with some of my former co-workers for those jobs. Going to back to Publix where I started is an option but not a very good one. For starters, they pay just about minimum wage, theyre is little opportunity to just get full time. Part time is a joke since you usually only get less than 30 hours. The benefits are decent for part time but insurance is too expensive when youre getting paid less than $10/hour. Publix is going the Wal-Mart way of conducting business with their employees, unfortantely. They used to be a good company to work for at one time but they changed alot these past few years and not only would I be starting all over again, I actually would be alot worse off.

So there's options and Im going to have to consider alot of them, but it surely could be alot worse.

"FinSane wrote:

Pretty sure. I only have two years at this company and Im one of the youngest employees. Since most of us are on commission, my pay isn't an issue as far as my employment goes, so its not like theyre going to be looking at pay vs. experience as far as who theyre going to keep around. But for me, Im 90% sure at this point Ill be let go along with alot of other hardworking people. My company did say theyre not going to let everyone go, they still need some people, but Im quite sure I won't be one of them. Im already in that mentality that my job is basically gone and I better start looking around this weekend.

update your resume, feel free to contact me if you need help with it. Im not great at it, but it never hurts to have a second pair of eyes. I would also recommend reading a book or two about interviews. It never hurts to have special advice. Monster.com is a great site do the paperwork , I'm sure it will work out. No matter what don't dwell on this too much. This sort of things happen especially when one company buys out another. Have confidence, get that swag, you'll land on your feet I'm sure.

"unluckyluciano wrote:

update your resume, feel free to contact me if you need help with it. Im not great at it, but it never hurts to have a second pair of eyes. I would also recommend reading a book or two about interviews. It never hurts to have special advice. Monster.com is a great site do the paperwork , I'm sure it will work out. No matter what don't dwell on this too much. This sort of things happen especially when one company buys out another. Have confidence, get that swag, you'll land on your feet I'm sure.

I might send you a copy. :up:

You can always fall back on Publix for awhile bro.

wow, sorry to hear brah :(

Ugh, sorry to hear it. Just went through a major shakeup myself which started with losing a job. Finally started working again after a few months off. I feel for you, keep positive and if you need anything get ahold of me.

"opfinistic wrote:

Ugh, sorry to hear it. Just went through a major shakeup myself which started with losing a job. Finally started working again after a few months off. I feel for you, keep positive and if you need anything get ahold of me.

Thanks opie and everyone else for your support. Hopefully things turn around for the economy and we wont have to deal with this bull**** as much.

"FinSane wrote:

Thanks opie and everyone else for your support. Hopefully things turn around for the economy and we wont have to deal with this bull**** as much.

Wish in one hand, **** in the other. We need to rethink the way we do business in America if we want to get out of this hole that we're in. We've cut our own throats by outsourcing manufacturing to other countries, outsourcing Customer Service jobs in call centers, we've become a nation of consumers that doesn't build anything anymore. That's gotta change. Sorry for the rant.

First of all, I am sorry to hear of your situation. That really stinks.

Second, you need to know you are already doing the right things. You are updating your resume, have already begun considering options, and are networking among groups you are a part of.

Other things to consider might be looking up getting more education. Large layoffs sometimes mean that the state is willing to give educational grants. That might help you get in pharmacuetical sales. Or if that is not your thing, look at what other industries may be similar to yours such as health and beauty aids to retail drug stores or tools/paint/hardware for home improvement stores. Do you play golf? I have a friend who used to make a very nice living calling of golf courses selling fertilizers, sand, etc. In short look at allied field where the skills of sales and ordering might still be in demand.

Keep at it and feel free to ask questions here

"finsane wrote:

i might send you a copy. :up:

dont talk just do it!!

"FinSane wrote:

Pretty sure. I only have two years at this company and Im one of the youngest employees. Since most of us are on commission, my pay isn't an issue as far as my employment goes, so its not like theyre going to be looking at pay vs. experience as far as who theyre going to keep around. But for me, Im 90% sure at this point Ill be let go along with alot of other hardworking people. My company did say theyre not going to let everyone go, they still need some people, but Im quite sure I won't be one of them. Im already in that mentality that my job is basically gone and I better start looking around this weekend.

while you can take the opportunity to have your resume professional written. Now------why you have the cash!! Trust me it is worth the effort and will pay off with a job paying more money. Do your homework though because not all resume writers are equal. Google articles about it and you will see what I mean.

Also do not wait until September to get your new job. Summer help will be getting let go and it will be harder for you to find another position because of the increased competition.

If you are considering a career change you may want to consider it now. Any thing medical will get it done. I hear the govt has alot invested in that field

Good luck brother

Bro sorry to hear about this. I appreciate you trying to hook me up when I was unemployed. First off get after it right away. You have to want it and be very hungry to get back out there and find a job. You have to study about a perspective company, re-tool yourself. By that make sure you re-invest in yourself by updating your resume, and make finding a new position with a great company your number one goal.

Here is a great company for your resume. Ever since I got unemployed in July of 2008 I have been with them, and have had great success with catching attention with my resume. I have had several HR people say that my resume format was very impressive.

http://www.rosshr.com/services.html

My old company that I left a week ago. They are world wide, but have a lot of service centers through out the country. You maybe able to land a sales job, warehouse/driver position or maybe something else.

http://jobsearch.monster.com/Search.aspx?brd=1&q=Pilkington&cy=us&lid=316&re=130

If the link didn't work, then just go to monster, and type Pilkington in the job description field, and it will list all the job openings they may have. Check back often. The division I worked for was the Automotive after market glass division.

I hope it helps. If I can help anymore please send me a pm. What part of the country are you in?:wink2:

"opfinistic wrote:

Wish in one hand, **** in the other. We need to rethink the way we do business in America if we want to get out of this hole that we're in. We've cut our own throats by outsourcing manufacturing to other countries, outsourcing Customer Service jobs in call centers, we've become a nation of consumers that doesn't build anything anymore. That's gotta change. Sorry for the rant.

Totally agree dude. We're too dependent on everyone else to do what we can do ourselves.

Sorry to hear the bad news Finsane. Hopefully everything works out for you and you find a job that pays more. Having been unemployed I can tell you firsthand it blows but keep your head up and get after it now since you have the advanced notice since it may take you a few months to find something. If there's anything I can do to help out PM me. :hi5:

"Boik14 wrote:

Totally agree dude. We're too dependent on everyone else to do what we can do ourselves.

Sorry to hear the bad news Finsane. Hopefully everything works out for you and you find a job that pays more. Having been unemployed I can tell you firsthand it blows but keep your head up and get after it now since you have the advanced notice since it may take you a few months to find something. If there's anything I can do to help out PM me. :hi5:

It does blow bro I agree. You don't know the unknown of when the job will come, but you have to know in your heart there is a company that is seeking your skill set, and as hard as it is at times, you must keep the faith and drive alive!:yes: I know first hand. I wish you the very best bro in finding employment.:up:

First of all, I wanna thank you guys for your kind wishes and advice, I really appreciate it. I usually try to keep my personal issues off this board, since I really don't like putting myself out there. But this is pretty heavy stuff and I'll take any advice I can get and I will consider it.

So today we had a telephone conference meeting. Basically the company just told us what we already knew. It looks like this has been in the works for some time now, and they're just now getting around to letting us know. Of course they didn't say that but I got that impression from the meeting. It's practically already set in stone and I don't think our jobs will be saved. Now our company says they will keep some of us, but Im guessing roughly 70-80% of the sales force is for sure going to be let go, and me being one of the newer ones thats younger and the fact that I was recently switched from commission to salary due to a change in my route, I'm pretty sure I'm going to be one of the first ones to go. Thats just the reality of the situation.

Now problem is, I could go to another vendor company, such as Kraft, Keebler, Nabisco, ect. However, it is only a matter of time before I'd have to go through the same thing all over again, since it seems Publix is determined to phase out of their vendors entirely and go directly to what we call "self-service". The obvious option then would be to go back to Publix, and that would make sense, but not for the long term, for the reasons I've already stated here. So I think I might have to get out of the grocery business altogether. Especially being here in south Florida, where there are no unions and grocery-related jobs don't pay well and the job security is virtually non-existant these days. Then again, in South Florida that seems to be the story when it comes to jobs all around. I dont want to be one of those who throws out excuses or looks at the glass as half-empty, but Im one of those who pays attention to the news, is well read up on history, and follows current trends in the economy, and Im telling you right now its very hard to be optimistic these days when it comes to jobs. I know Im capable of landing on my feet, I gained alot of confidence when I got this current job, I know I'll land another one sooner or later. But I can't help but be worried, with a car payment + insurance, bills, gas, food, rent...good thing I live with relatives, so my rent can be put off but I don't want to live here for free, I don't want to take advantage of living here. The whole point of me having this job was to continue to save up and eventually live on my own, which I couldn't do on a Publix salary. Now Im royally screwed, this is going to set me back at least another year, maybe longer, from doing what I had planned on doing. Im not even so much depressed as I am angry, because it seems like odds are against me. I feel worse for some of my co-workers who have kids and have a mortgage to pay. I feel for the guys who are in their 40s and older who are going to have a much tougher road ahead looking for a job than I will. I feel like Im on the Titanic and it just hit an iceberg and the ship is starting to sink rapidly and there's only so many boats to get onto and escape.

So once again I thank you all for your support and if you're interested Ill keep updating this from time to time.

"opfinistic wrote:

Wish in one hand, **** in the other. We need to rethink the way we do business in America if we want to get out of this hole that we're in. We've cut our own throats by outsourcing manufacturing to other countries, outsourcing Customer Service jobs in call centers, we've become a nation of consumers that doesn't build anything anymore. That's gotta change. Sorry for the rant.

No, please, rant on. This is a consequence from us converting from a manufacturing-based economy to service sector economy. Problem is in a service sector dominated economy, is that most of the jobs are dead end, low wage, part time only. In order to make ends meet people are working several jobs. The economy is being run by a cabal. Its becoming increasing clear that the middle is being hallowed out, and that's suicidal to me. The middle class is the class that supports both the very poor and the very rich. The middle class is divided by the upper classes who used to have nice pay and benefits and all the job security in the world, and by theworking class that consists of blue collar jobs that once paid living wages and decent benefits, mostly thanks to the collective efforts of unions and groups who fought for many basic job benefits that most take granted today. Some people really think paid overtime, weekends, paid holidays, 2 weeks vacation, ending child labor, social security, health insurance provided by employer, safety rules and regulations, anti-discrimination policies ect. have always been part of the fabric of the workplace. This is simply not true. I wonder if those running the country really want us to slip back to the days before the New Deal, back when the Industrial Revolution was its peak, when workers were wage slaves and have no voice in the workplace. The fact is, is that there is a war on the lower classes. When the poor and middle classes speak out about their grievances, the rich cry "class warfare". When the rich openly screw the lower classes, its called "business as usual". Even Warren Buffett agrees:

There's class warfare, all right, but it's my class, the rich class, that's making war, and we're winning.

* New York Times, November 26, 2006.

Go ahead Finsane and rant on. You have some sympathetic ears around here.

While you are likely right, is there any chance you are the one kept because you are new and thus probably lower salaried than the older veterans?

"Ohiophinphan wrote:

Go ahead Finsane and rant on. You have some sympathetic ears around here.

While you are likely right, is there any chance you are the one kept because you are new and thus probably lower salaried than the older veterans?

I don't think so. For one most of the salespeople are on commission, I'd figured they will cut the salaried people first, which includes the lower level employees like merchandisers and territory assistants. I also had a tough time with my previous Supervisor, who was laid off last month in the first round of cuts(which after they said we'd all be safe, ha so much for that), which I think may hinder my chances of being retained further. Im 85% sure at this point I'll be one of the first ones to go.

"FinSane wrote:

I don't think so. For one most of the salespeople are on commission, I'd figured they will cut the salaried people first, which includes the lower level employees like merchandisers and territory assistants. I also had a tough time with my previous Supervisor, who was laid off last month in the first round of cuts(which after they said we'd all be safe, ha so much for that), which I think may hinder my chances of being retained further. Im 85% sure at this point I'll be one of the first ones to go.

Sorry to be soo cynical, but that is par for the course, no information, "other' employees laid off, that creates false expectations that "you" will avoid their fate.

Watch your pennies, use your time (September isn't it?) to gather contact information for when the ship goes underneath the waves networking purposes, and use this time to organize one's affairs in the manner that will be most advantageous to ones own situation.

For a start, find out the facts of how your unemployment compensation will work as well as whether or not there are credits available for attending College once one has been laid off, and mainly look at this as an opportunity.

TBH, I'm sad to hear Publix has declined so severly, they used to be a high calibur company, now they are no different from a five and dime.