Freethought & Rationalism Archive

seebs · 01-23-2003, 10:40 AM

I love it. You suggest government work, then *separately* ask if I've considered coming over to the dark side. You have a skewed view of the world, friend. :P

beyelzu · 01-23-2003, 11:52 AM

seebs,

I am sorry that you lost your job. I am sure that you will find another. Cuz you seem like a smart guy. I wish you all the best. Ps. I dont intend to have sympathy for you and go easy on you in any debates just because you loss your job

Bill Snedden · 01-23-2003, 01:03 PM

VERY sorry to hear about your job loss. I just recently (well, last year) went through that myself, so I probably know a little about how you feel.

BTW, my employer's corporate headquarters are across the river in Minneapolis (UnitedHealth Group). Although I'm not in the systems area, if you have systems experience (and it looks like you do), I'd be happy to forward your resume if you'd like...

Regards,

Bill Snedden
_______________
"When in danger, fear, or doubt, run in circles, scream, and shout." Lazarus Long

sakrilege · 01-23-2003, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by viscousmemories
by the fact that I have had responsibility for nearly every facet of building a computer network, from planning to purchasing, and from configuration to deployment, but employers seem more interested in how many years you've put in working with a single technology. Ugh. :banghead:

I'm also a generalist and will learn whatever is necessary to get the job done. When I was looking for a job last year, I would lose out because I didn't know 1 skill out of 5 required. Problem solving skills & breadth of experience are not important.

Marduk · 01-23-2003, 04:40 PM

Sorry to hear it. I got the boot in Oct. after two years of layoffs they finally got me. Good luck finding a job. it aint easy.

Giorgia · 01-23-2003, 07:00 PM

Seebs, Viscous... I emphathize and wish you both the very best .
If I may, I'll add my 1-1/2 cents of advice:
[] Seebs, yes, definitely apply for unemployment benefits NOW, so you won't have any gap in your income when your benefits run out. One of the often-overlooked benefits of doing this is that the state agency which covers unemployment also is the place to register for work and or re-training.
[] Both of you: if you don't have huge commitments to the area you're in right now, this might be a good time to explore moving somewhere cleaner/safer/less congested, etc. Especially if you have software or tech-manual writing skills which can be done off-site, on-line.
[] My experience with losing a job which I loved pushed me to change careers entirely, go into the "underground" economy, learn to live well at a very basic level, and ultimately led me to the freedom I have now to relocate to an area of my own choosing, instead of staying or going "where the job is."
[] You're both absolutely right: I've experienced that curse of the "generalist" as well: everywhere I worked, the bosses loved me because they could plug me in anywhere, my co-workers weren't so terribly fond of someone who could replace them (i.e., would stay on the longest during bouts of corporate belt-tightening). I also found that prospective employers generally don't appreciate the "genereralist" -- so I learned to emphasize that what I was really good at was "learning quickly." In the long run, however, the ONLY way all of your skills will be appreciated and utilized is if you work for yourself or as a consultant.

seebs · 01-23-2003, 07:29 PM

I'm pretty attached to where I live, but at least it's not silly valley. I am definitely looking for telecommuting; that's what I was doing, and I liked it. I can't imagine why people keep building offices.

I will check on the unemployment. I don't need the re-training thing - and in fact, the company benefits include an outplacement service thing. Still, for now, I'm gonna focus on freelance and consulting work.

lunachick · 01-23-2003, 07:37 PM

Hiya, seebs.

I've only just stumbled into this thread, and am very sorry to hear of your layoff.

I hope you are able to get back on your feet again soon.

Perhaps go into business for yourself? "EZ PC Services", or something? Get a business card made up, and/or some flyers. Put an advert in the classifieds, and an advert in the local yellow pages. Get out there and sell you services directly to businesses as a self-employed contractor? Would that work?

Good luck, whatever happens, seebs.

pescifish · 01-23-2003, 07:43 PM

seebs and viscousmemories, sorry to hear about the jobs. Good luck and I hope you can both find great new positions!

seebs · 01-23-2003, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by lunachick
Hiya, seebs.

I've only just stumbled into this thread, and am very sorry to hear of your layoff.

I hope you are able to get back on your feet again soon.

I have severance; I'm in no immediate danger.

Quote:

Perhaps go into business for yourself? "EZ PC Services", or something? Get a business card made up, and/or some flyers. Put an advert in the classifieds, and an advert in the local yellow pages. Get out there and sell you services directly to businesses as a self-employed contractor? Would that work?

Good luck, whatever happens, seebs.

I probably wouldn't do too well as a local contractor, but I may do some freelance work for a bit; I also write, and I may push that a bit for a while.

01-23-2003, 01:03 PM	#43
Bill Snedden Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Greensboro, NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,597	Ouch! Been there, done that and not that long ago... VERY sorry to hear about your job loss. I just recently (well, last year) went through that myself, so I probably know a little about how you feel. BTW, my employer's corporate headquarters are across the river in Minneapolis (UnitedHealth Group). Although I'm not in the systems area, if you have systems experience (and it looks like you do), I'd be happy to forward your resume if you'd like... Regards, Bill Snedden _______________ "When in danger, fear, or doubt, run in circles, scream, and shout." Lazarus Long

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01-23-2003, 10:40 AM	#41
seebs Contributor Join Date: May 2002 Location: Saint Paul, MN Posts: 24,524	I love it. You suggest government work, then separately ask if I've considered coming over to the dark side. You have a skewed view of the world, friend. :P

01-23-2003, 11:52 AM	#42
beyelzu Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: the peach state ga I am a metaphysical naturalist Posts: 2,869	seebs, I am sorry that you lost your job. I am sure that you will find another. Cuz you seem like a smart guy. I wish you all the best. Ps. I dont intend to have sympathy for you and go easy on you in any debates just because you loss your job

01-23-2003, 04:40 PM	#45
Marduk Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: the 10th planet Posts: 5,065	Sorry to hear it. I got the boot in Oct. after two years of layoffs they finally got me. Good luck finding a job. it aint easy.

01-23-2003, 07:00 PM	#46
Giorgia Regular Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: leaving Colorado soon, I hope Posts: 259	Seebs, Viscous... I emphathize and wish you both the very best . If I may, I'll add my 1-1/2 cents of advice: [] Seebs, yes, definitely apply for unemployment benefits NOW, so you won't have any gap in your income when your benefits run out. One of the often-overlooked benefits of doing this is that the state agency which covers unemployment also is the place to register for work and or re-training. [] Both of you: if you don't have huge commitments to the area you're in right now, this might be a good time to explore moving somewhere cleaner/safer/less congested, etc. Especially if you have software or tech-manual writing skills which can be done off-site, on-line. [] My experience with losing a job which I loved pushed me to change careers entirely, go into the "underground" economy, learn to live well at a very basic level, and ultimately led me to the freedom I have now to relocate to an area of my own choosing, instead of staying or going "where the job is." [] You're both absolutely right: I've experienced that curse of the "generalist" as well: everywhere I worked, the bosses loved me because they could plug me in anywhere, my co-workers weren't so terribly fond of someone who could replace them (i.e., would stay on the longest during bouts of corporate belt-tightening). I also found that prospective employers generally don't appreciate the "genereralist" -- so I learned to emphasize that what I was really good at was "learning quickly." In the long run, however, the ONLY way all of your skills will be appreciated and utilized is if you work for yourself or as a consultant.

01-23-2003, 07:29 PM	#47
seebs Contributor Join Date: May 2002 Location: Saint Paul, MN Posts: 24,524	I'm pretty attached to where I live, but at least it's not silly valley. I am definitely looking for telecommuting; that's what I was doing, and I liked it. I can't imagine why people keep building offices. I will check on the unemployment. I don't need the re-training thing - and in fact, the company benefits include an outplacement service thing. Still, for now, I'm gonna focus on freelance and consulting work.

01-23-2003, 07:37 PM	#48
lunachick Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: NZ Posts: 7,895	Hiya, seebs. I've only just stumbled into this thread, and am very sorry to hear of your layoff. I hope you are able to get back on your feet again soon. Perhaps go into business for yourself? "EZ PC Services", or something? Get a business card made up, and/or some flyers. Put an advert in the classifieds, and an advert in the local yellow pages. Get out there and sell you services directly to businesses as a self-employed contractor? Would that work? Good luck, whatever happens, seebs.

01-23-2003, 07:43 PM	#49
pescifish Beloved Deceased Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: rural part of los angeles, CA Posts: 4,516	seebs and viscousmemories, sorry to hear about the jobs. Good luck and I hope you can both find great new positions!

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