Laid off--Support thread

[momof1princess]

DH got to go back to work on Tuesday we don't know for how long, but it's a start!

 

[friskykitten]

I just got a job today too! I am excited to be working again but I am afraid it will actually be a loss in the end. With my UEI I am bringing in $300/wk, driving very little and so having very little to pay out in gas and am not having to pay $135/wk for childcare while I am home and unemployed. The job I have gotten is only for PT and will bring in a max of $165/wk (pre-tax). I am not sure how much that will lower the UEI or if I will qualify for it at all now. So my income could be being cut back by almost 50%. Add in that I will now spend about $40-50/wk for gas and the $135/wk for childcare and we will be in the red. But I will have a job. I am only hoping that I will be able to move into something FT as openings become available.

 

[vicb]

I have been reading these Boards, and in particular this thread, for quite awhile now. Even though I have never posted, hearing other people who have been going through the same issues that we have has been very helpful to me. I am beyond excited to say that as of this upcoming Monday I will be employed once again! It is something that is a significant pay cut for us, but it is full time with full medical benefits! I do realize that I have been luckier than most as I was only out of work for 4 months and there are many on here and all over that have been out of work for months longer if not a year. Luckily for us, I guess you could say, we had been saving up money for a down payment on a house, so when I lost my job and UPS slashed DF's hours in half, we did have some money saved and that has been what we have been living off of for the last few months. Hopefully now we can start rebuilding that and get our hopes of putting a 30 year mortgage on our shoulders back on track!

Anyways, I just wanted to thank you all. Hearing other people in the same boat, and how they were working through it, definitely helped.

Congrats to you! Also just wanted to say I heard a report on CNN radio this morning saying that the hours in the average american's work week has shrunk to an all time low of just 33 hours per week!

I only work part time 12-16 hours per week, my DH works 45-50 hours per week for GM (still grateful to have a GM job) not including his commute time. But it sounds like a lot of industries have been cutting hours back like UPS.

Continued good wishes for everyone on this board!!

 

[peggster]

How's everyone doing?

 

[Brendita]

I'm still out of work.
Confussed though.
Interview Monday 6/20, interview Thursday 6/23.
Call back Friday 6/24.
I need to bring in current I.D and S.S card Monday 6/27.
So I go in Monday with all my I.D.
She takes copies, asks a few more questions.
Gives me the paper-work to go get a pre-employment drug test.
I understand they need to run my criminal background also.
How long does it take.
I would be working at an assited living home.
So I understand they need to check everything.
So does anyone know how long it takes?

 

[mum4jenn]

I'm still out of work.
Confussed though.
Interview Monday 6/20, interview Thursday 6/23.
Call back Friday 6/24.
I need to bring in current I.D and S.S card Monday 6/27.
So I go in Monday with all my I.D.
She takes copies, asks a few more questions.
Gives me the paper-work to go get a pre-employment drug test.
I understand they need to run my criminal background also.
How long does it take.
I would be working at an assited living home.
So I understand they need to check everything.
So does anyone know how long it takes?

You better call. It should only have taken a few minutes to get a background check.

 

[mum4jenn]

My Dh's last day at Cooper Tire was June 26th. He has sent out lots of resume's but has not heard anything. So...he starts training on Monday to drive a school bus for the school system I work for and he has also applied for substitute teacher. Maybe this will at least give him something to do and some experience for other jobs and will show future employers that at least he was working and not sitting around waiting for a call.

You know what they say...you can't find a job unless you have a job!!

 

[disneymarie]

My husband has found nothing since Feb. The company was purchased and he never even was given an interview. He was there 42 years since high school the only job. He is 61. He has the experience to manage every nook and cranny....every vender, trucker, forklift and loading trucks etc.

I have been working extremly part time, like no time as a field investigator for a co. In addition I got my PI license and will start a home business. Primarily for more credibility to conduct supervised parental exchanges and visitations. Also to do locations on parents that skip out on support.

I am on social security disablity, so this is a big step at 55 to increase my work,
We had a story on local news and this week they are coming to do an update as to finding work as an older worker.
I am trying to find grants.

This is a video too
http://pahomepage.com/content/fulltext/?cid=80622

 

[blondietink]

I was laid off on June 25th and am still waiting for my first unemployment check. How do they expect people to live when they are so slow? I am told I have a valid claim and another person who was laid off the same day as I was got her benefits over 2 weeks ago! UGH! By the time I get approved, I'll be back to work after Labor Day. It is all very discouraging.

 

[golfgirl3613]

I was laid off Sept. 23, still nothing. Any job I am offered doesn't cover the expense of daycare. Financially we are on the brink of bankruptcy, maybe a month or two all will be lost for us unless I catch a break.

 

[MRDUCKIE07]

Been laid off since beginning of October last year, have only had a few job interviews but no offers, even went to school to learn a new career but can't find anything in that field. Starting to get very frustrated and irritated with the whole situation but trying very hard to keep my head up and realize things could be worse then this.

 

[Brendita]

Update.
I called back today.
The women that did all my paper-work Monday.
Doesn't work week-ends.
Talked to her asst.
She told me not to worry, sometimes it takes 2 weeks.
She did check my file.
Everything not back yet.

 

[Lisa_M]

I was laid off on June 25th and am still waiting for my first unemployment check. How do they expect people to live when they are so slow? I am told I have a valid claim and another person who was laid off the same day as I was got her benefits over 2 weeks ago! UGH! By the time I get approved, I'll be back to work after Labor Day. It is all very discouraging.

DH filed June 28th and hasn't gotten his unemployment check yet, however he has been approved. He called the other day (35 minutes on hold) and found out that in PA they don't send checks, it's a debit card or direct deposit and supposedly they mailed his card out on 7/1, but we never got it. So now we wait another 5-10 days for that. I had to transfer money from our savings to cover our rent, but with our expenses, the savings is dwindling.

Definitely call to check on your status, maybe they already sent it and you didn't get it.

DH spent 20 minutes on the phone with Wells Fargo trying to get a 2 month forebearance approved on his loan, the lady was insistent that she needed to definitely know that he would be working full time in 2 months, where and their phone number. He kept saying if "I knew where I would be working in 2 months I wouldn't need the forebearance." They went in circles about this until he asked to speak with a supervisor and miraculously, he was able to approve it. Ugh, too much hassle!

 

[blondietink]

Yea, I called them yesterday (on hold for 20 minutes) and they told me that if I didn't get a denial next week, then I would be approved and to expect my benefits in 2 weeks. My previous employment from over a year ago is being investigated. (I have worked 3 different part-time jobs over the last 2 years.) I signed up for direct deposit when I applied. So, I will keep my eye on the mail. We are leaving for our trip to POP in 2 weeks, so of course I probably won't get any money before then. I'm just glad my DH gets a retirement check (yesterday) and then Social Security on Monday. I'm also glad our trip is PIF and we are getting free dining!

 

[DISfan0829]

I am very sorry to hear about your job losses. It's hard to see how the economy is improving when we continue to get such bad economic news.

One suggestion I have to cutting costs that we have done is to eliminate our cable TV. When they switched over to Digital TV in June we got an antenna from Radio Shack and started using that. We get around 30 digital stations. The kids are watching less TV which is another advantage of getting rid of cable. That saved us over $60 a month.

 

[disneymarie]

DH spent 20 minutes on the phone with Wells Fargo trying to get a 2 month forebearance approved on his loan, the lady was insistent that she needed to definitely know that he would be working full time in 2 months, where and their phone number. He kept saying if "I knew where I would be working in 2 months I wouldn't need the forebearance." They went in circles about this until he asked to speak with a supervisor and miraculously, he was able to approve it. Ugh, too much hassle!

That was our problem too, for anything PHFA they would offer first we had to show income. That was just a pay back system. I guess they feel if no job it is just putting off the enevitable.

We are using the nominal 401K money we put in an IRA.
He is never going to get a job at 61. But then again he could do security work at least to contribut to cover the medical we have to carry.

Our income is down 2/3 of what it was a year ago. I am having such increased in pain trying to work and do things at the house. No help their either. I am beyond frustrated. He won't even cut down on smokes.

He is perfectly ok to not work. even in the house. All the added cost of medical is devestaing us. Like the previous poster said, it is only a month or two and we will be facing a difficult solution to sell a land we have that the son was going to build a home on.
We just got the tax bill the reassed our house at $100,000 more then its value. The lot I have they are saying with .9 acre and 40 year old mobile home it is worth over $50,000.

If I could get the $280,000.in tax assesment value, I would grab it and RETIRE.
What is wrong with the wrorld......

 

[SandrA9810]

Well I don't think my question really needs a new topic... but I would like some imput.

I wasn't laid off, I got myself canned... well I have other theories but in any case, it was involuntary termination. My problem is I'm not very good at holding a job or sticking around for very long. Not that I don't want to, but it's usually the job I like, but managers don't like me much. I can't say I don't have a stubborn personality, but it's who I am. I also hate major changes to way things are run especially when new management comes in. So I have less than stellar previous experience.

How do I go about filling out applications?? I've only ever had two interviews both were last year, and it's been almost a year now without a job.

I know if a company calls a former employer they're only legally allowed to say "yes they were hired from this date to this date. They are rehirable/non-rehirable". Do you lie about getting fired from previous jobs?? I'm worried about "lying can be terms for termination" that I don't want to do it, but do they really look into past employers?
My other problem is I've held 7 jobs, 1 store has close, 1 was with a temp agency, and I couldn't even tell you how much I made at any of those jobs other than not enough. I know for a fact that every previous store I have worked at the manager I had no longer works there or has switched locations. I barely remember my hire/quit dates. And my first job was at a company my aunt was in charge of and they don't want relative referrals, but she was my boss and boss of several other people. The owner is the only person higher up than her, and well he never paid attention to the work of the employees, he paid attention to bottom line numbers and getting new orders from major companies. He trusted my aunt with the oversee of work on a day to day basis. Do I put her as a bussiness reference, do I even mention that she's my aunt?? Do I even list all my jobs?? I'd like to put down my first job, I was with the company since june of 1997-2004, but it's kinda cheating since I knew my aunt wouldn't fire me and I was her little gopher of the office to get things done no one else had time for.

I've applied online at several stores near me, and all I ever get are emails or post cards saying
Thank you for your interest in such and such.
Based on the application information you provided and our current requirements, you will not be considered for employment opportunities at this time.
Thank you for taking the time to complete our application and best wishes in the pursuit of your employment endeavors.
Well at least something along those lines. I feel like a total failure, that I don't even tell Kari I'm applying to places any more. Even though she gets on my case constantly about not trying to find a job. I'd rather be seen as lazy than a failure.

Work is not something I've always wanted to do. Growing up and even in high school I knew the work force was not the place for me, it wasn't what I wanted. And never pursued college. Although Kari made me go to a few classes with her at a community college. I have no idea how many credits 6 classes are, but at least I can put "some college" on my application. Thank God for Lecture in British Lit: Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings class or intro to computers, I think I also passed New Testament History. I'm a better learner just by doing and some one showing me, rather than sitting in a classroom with a teacher talking. If I ever took photography classes at a college I probably wouldn't learn half the things I did working as a photographer.

The one job that I really did love doing, is the one I blew big time. And it was my first full time job, for 2yrs 3 months. In fact this is the only job that I know my hire/fire dates. Or course it's hard to forget a date such as 6-6-06.

 

[mum4jenn]

Well I don't think my question really needs a new topic... but I would like some imput.

I wasn't laid off, I got myself canned... well I have other theories but in any case, it was involuntary termination. My problem is I'm not very good at holding a job or sticking around for very long. Not that I don't want to, but it's usually the job I like, but managers don't like me much. I can't say I don't have a stubborn personality, but it's who I am. I also hate major changes to way things are run especially when new management comes in. So I have less than stellar previous experience.

How do I go about filling out applications?? I've only ever had two interviews both were last year, and it's been almost a year now without a job.

I know if a company calls a former employer they're only legally allowed to say "yes they were hired from this date to this date. They are rehirable/non-rehirable". Do you lie about getting fired from previous jobs?? I'm worried about "lying can be terms for termination" that I don't want to do it, but do they really look into past employers?
My other problem is I've held 7 jobs, 1 store has close, 1 was with a temp agency, and I couldn't even tell you how much I made at any of those jobs other than not enough. I know for a fact that every previous store I have worked at the manager I had no longer works there or has switched locations. I barely remember my hire/quit dates. And my first job was at a company my aunt was in charge of and they don't want relative referrals, but she was my boss and boss of several other people. The owner is the only person higher up than her, and well he never paid attention to the work of the employees, he paid attention to bottom line numbers and getting new orders from major companies. He trusted my aunt with the oversee of work on a day to day basis. Do I put her as a bussiness reference, do I even mention that she's my aunt?? Do I even list all my jobs?? I'd like to put down my first job, I was with the company since june of 1997-2004, but it's kinda cheating since I knew my aunt wouldn't fire me and I was her little gopher of the office to get things done no one else had time for.

I've applied online at several stores near me, and all I ever get are emails or post cards saying
Thank you for your interest in such and such.
Based on the application information you provided and our current requirements, you will not be considered for employment opportunities at this time.
Thank you for taking the time to complete our application and best wishes in the pursuit of your employment endeavors.
Well at least something along those lines. I feel like a total failure, that I don't even tell Kari I'm applying to places any more. Even though she gets on my case constantly about not trying to find a job. I'd rather be seen as lazy than a failure.

Work is not something I've always wanted to do. Growing up and even in high school I knew the work force was not the place for me, it wasn't what I wanted. And never pursued college. Although Kari made me go to a few classes with her at a community college. I have no idea how many credits 6 classes are, but at least I can put "some college" on my application. Thank God for Lecture in British Lit: Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings class or intro to computers, I think I also passed New Testament History. I'm a better learner just by doing and some one showing me, rather than sitting in a classroom with a teacher talking. If I ever took photography classes at a college I probably wouldn't learn half the things I did working as a photographer.

The one job that I really did love doing, is the one I blew big time. And it was my first full time job, for 2yrs 3 months. In fact this is the only job that I know my hire/fire dates. Or course it's hard to forget a date such as 6-6-06.

Have you ever taken a career counseling test? Most colleges have them where you go in and answer questions and based on how you answered/ and your interests are they give you ideas of what type jobs you would be suited for.


Other than that....and remember YOU asked..... It is time to GROW UP!!! Life is full of people that you have to be around that you don't necessarily like or like the way they do things. There is no getting around it. As you get older you will realize it more and more and you will either learn to adapt your personality to get along with these people or you will never be able to keep a job.
I am 48 years old and up until the job I have now I rarely stayed at a place more than 5 years. I am beginning my 10th year with my employer and I am always looked as the most adaptable person. Once you have a family and real responsibilities around you you will see that sometimes you just have to "go with the flow" or "suck it up and go". The more you adapt to other people and the many personalities you have to work with the more you will see that your employers think of you as a better person. It is not always easy to work in a place where everyone there has a different way of doing things or different temperaments BUT the sooner you learn to deal with others around you the better off you will be.
I don't mean any of this in a mean way. You asked and you need to hear this.

 

[dvcfamily41801]

Hi everyone. First of all lots of to all that have been affected by the lay offs. I lost my job of 21 years back in May. I have a couple of questions that may have been answered here (have not read all the pages of the thread yet)

Has anyone had a professional resume done? Has it helped? Did you use someone online?

Has anyone used or registered at a Temp Service? I was thinking of going to one in the area but I did not know how this affects unemployment. I just don't want to do anything wrong. I did not know if I contacted them if I am called for a temp job or what.

I am of to read all the pages of the thread.

Lots of luck to everyone.

 

[SandrA9810]

Well I think I adapted quite well at Disney. And I had some pretty tough managers, who most people absolutely hated. But I had an area manager take over that I didn't get along with at all, so on our next bid I transfered out. And well she ended up following to where I was because the area manger that I liked and got along with ended up being moved to a different dept. Then if that wasn't bad enough, a guy that I knew as a regular photographer got moved up to manager, it pretty much went straight to his head... and well he stood over my shoulder to point out every little wrong thing I did. Which truthfully wasn't that wrong or that bad as he tried to show it. But I had two managers that didn't like me, and well they always win when it comes to HR. (I've also talked with other photographers that are still there today that say the guy's gotten even worse, and Kari even has a horror story about him which just proves how evil he really is)

I am who I am, and I'm not changing. I get along with my co-workers to the extent that I have to, don't expect me to be great buddies with every one. I once had a discussion about not having enough friends in the dept from this manager. Now where in the rule book does it say I have to be buddy buddy with fellow co-workers and hang out with them after work?? I kept to myself, I did my job, and didn't find a need to be buddy buddy with others outside of work. I don't think I had any arch nemises at work, but I didn't treat any one like they were. Another discussion with him was I wasn't smiling backstage. When I'm backstage, that's MY time, not his, not the company's time... if I'm hot sweaty and grouchy and I want to be all pouty about it, then it's MY time to do it. And it's not like I'm going into base "it's so bleeping hot out, I want to go home now, I want this or I want that." No I go get my food, I take it to the lunch area, wipe the smile and sweat off my face for 30 minutes. And I know once I punch in and get my next assignment I walk out on stage with the biggest smile possible like it's the greatest most beautiful day in the world.
If some one hires me, trains me, knows I can accomplish my work... why do they have to stand over my shoulder?? None of my home room managers had any issues with my work. And once monthly we got photo reviews and passed every one with flying colors. My previous end of the year review I got flying colors and recieved the highest raise possible. But once those two managers showed up, everything went spiralling down hill.

I'm just asking, how do I make my application look better than it really is. How do I put I left because I didn't get along with managers, or left because the hours were horrible and I was making a 100$ a week?? (which you can't really survive on). I can't say I ever had a problem with my actual job and doing it. But my personality is just hard to get along with, no matter what foot I put forward. I really think there's other things that dictate who we actually get along with. Because Kari's got this wonderful winning personality and becomes friends with people quickly, and on several occasions I've told her, this person isn't good from the get go. Well sometime in the near future they backstabbed her, and all I could say was "told you so". I don't know what it is or why, but so far I've been pretty acurate. And when we're together, meeting some one new for the first time, people just gravitate towards her more than me, no matter how "charming" I try to be. And there were no actions to put me off like that.

Some of the questions I'd like to know, is do I have to fill out every job I've had? Sometimes they just ask for the past 3 jobs, if they're all within 5 years, can I pick any three, or do I have to put just the three most recent? If I left a job because hours/pay were horrible, how do I explain the two month gap in finding a new job? If there's something on my background check, do I bring it up before they pull the report?? How do I explain my year long gap now in finding a job? There's a whole bunch of things that went on as to why I put off looking for a job after I didn't find anything for the holidays. Do I just chalk it up to a bad recession? Is it better to look like you're wanting to stay with a company for a long time or is shorter better?? Like if I could have a full time job for about 1 year to pay off all this debt, my need for a job would become a little less. Since Kari's income is more than enough to cover cost of living.

When I look at my previous employment, it cast a much darker shadow than what really happened. I know where I fit in, I know where I don't. I've had Kari to support me all these years, so it's given me the opprotunity to try to find something different when I need to. But I just look horrible on paper and don't know what to do to make it look better.