What do you do when you lose your job?

Very sorry to hear of your situation, Graph. I went through this several years ago myself, I know it's tough. My suggestions (based on my own experience), in order:

* Have a drink or four.
* Register for unemployment.
* Take a week or two off and relax (on confirmation of receiving unemployment benefits.)
* Start your own business.

- Atashi

Hugs Graph! Sorry to hear about this.

I became a freelancer about 10 years ago after my multimedia project I was working on ended. I called all my contacts in the tech and marketing fields to let them know I was available for project work. Well, I was back at work in less than a week. What I found was that it always came down to who I knew - I haven't even had to print up a resume in about 12 years - just had an online portfolio.

I hope this can help.
warmest regards,
Z

What Oryx said.

I got laid off once, and immediately went and got a part-time job in a Bar whilst I looked for another job in my field. It didn't pay what I was used to, but it certainly made a contribution.

If you have graphic design skills, could you start a business in SL?? It seems to me that many of the people who make money here (aside from Land Barons like Des ) are good graphic designers in RL. Skins is a fairly saturated market, but men's clothes has room for more, men's hair too, probably (and many more I can't think of). And I'm sure there is something you've thought "I could do that better"...

I'm sorry this has happened to you, but you might look back on it and see that it was one of the (good) turning points in your life.

Contact me.. give me an email address. I'll hook you up with my company website. We have job openings world wide.

If you don't mind, I'll give you a hug too. Then I am going out to see "Iron Man".

"CX"

Graph,

I'm really sorry to hear this. Ditto to what everyone has said about getting right out there and finding something.

Don't let job and money worries cut you off from friends, is my best advice, RL friends and SL friends. I tend to isolate when I'm down, and it's the worst thing to do. People care about you. Let them help, even if its just to offer hugs. It really makes a difference.

I did live on toast and jelly (UK Jelly not Jam couldn't afford jam) for 3 days...it is possible.

What ArchTx said. I'm in the middle of a career implosion myself for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that I hate the place I work. Like the people...hate the way they run their business.

At any rate, I don't know your business, but since I began my career, I worked to form a niche market for myself in my industry. Without going into it, people who can do what i do are in short supply, and that's not an accident on my part. I also made sure that I knew just about everyone in the area who does what I do. When it became clear that I wasn't going to be able to salvage the situation here, I made a couple phone calls and got the word out. I already have interviews set up, and if those don't work, I'll open my own place and do it how I want. It pays dividends to include business bankers in your network, because they can hook you up with whatever you need to start your own business. I know a great graphics and marketing guy who will cut me a deal on letterhead, advertisements, busienss cards, etc. I know a couple commercial real estate guys who can really plug me into some nice office space for a great price, etc.

That's the kind of network to develop. You have the skills you need - I'm sure you are excellent at what you do because you talk about it with passion. All you need is to do is market yourself.

I'm sorry for this, Graph. It's a huge source of stress, and it will get to you if you let it. Take a deep breath and know that this will work out for you. It always has in the past, right? You've faced challenges before, and you'll face them again. Nothing has killed you yet. So this is just a bump in the road. You'll be fine, and feel free to PM me if you want to comiserate.

Graph, I'm so sorry to hear you lost your job.

/me sends you a great big hug!

I'm sort of dealing with a "forced semi-retirement" right now as I call it. I've been working for the same company for 20 years (and mind you, when I had my 20 year anniversary, nobody even said a freaking "thank you"!). Last spring my bosses asked me if I minded temporarily working a reduced schedule for "a while" - 2 days a week because of difficulties collecting on payments from clients and lack of pending work (architectual).

At that time, I was ok with it, because my husband has a decent job and we have no kids to support.

But here it is now 1 year later, and truthfully, I'm not happy about only working 2 days a week. I'm the one that does the books so I know they aren't lying about their situation. They don't want to get rid of me and I don't want to leave so it's kind of a stalemate.

I'm putting up with it and we've made some necessary financial changes at home to cope with the salary loss. Thankfully - that did not mean having to curtail my SL activities LOL!

Ok enough about me - sorry for the tangent. Just commiserating with you Graph. It sounds like you're pretty level headed about this, and have a good way of viewing what you need to do.

And, several of us seem to be in the same shoes as you, more or less, so welcome to the club. Why do you think so many of us have so much time to waste on this Forum Don't use it as an excuse to decide not to post!

EDIT: I didn't do the poll either because there was no option for "I would do a happy dance if they fired me"

Huggs Graph, ever thought of opening your own company or free lancing? here in Seattle they are always looking for graphic artists. maybe you can tele-commute?

Sorry to hear you lost your job

I had to pick the office space answer just because that movie is too funny.

bump


Graph, I hope you saw CX's post above.

best of luck!

Graph,

S-H-I-T. I know exactly how you feel. And I am absolutely no help at all, because what I did was (I'm sorry to admit) break down and cry, and rave for a bit, and fall down into a deep dark hole of depression. AND I had to deal with the unemployment agency, which is a huge bunch of red-tape-loving a-holes in Germany. I can just offer you a hug. And recommend Trout as a virtual shoulder to cry on. His PMs back then were immensely helpful in giving me a morale boost-I hope you don't mind me saying this, Trout!

*hugs*

OMG! What a tremendously rich bunch you all are! THANK YOU!!!

Rich in compassion...
Rich in human kindness...
Rich in sound advice...

And the list could go on and on.

The posts in here can be an inspiration to anyone else out there who are going through the same thing...that is if you let them touch your heart.

I noticed there was one person who in taking the poll checked off suicide...and I hope... I hope...I hope, that you are not seriously thinking about that option because it really is NOT an option! There is so much potential in your life...and all is not hopeless, there is hope and light at the end of the tunnel! Just decide you are going to succeed, begin walking in that direction and if you don’t give up you will succeed!

QFT.. this is a nice bunch of folks!

and I lol'd at your poll, for I would have done most of those, it was hard to choose just one

I too am concerned about my main job going under, with the company being bought out.. fortunately I have 2 more part time jobs and plenty of freelance to keep me alive and kicking. If you truly are the graf guru, you should be able to stay stable for quite some time by picking up some freelancing gigs at least. Best of luck in your next venture wherever it may be!

Hmm then perhaps you should buy a heap of canned food, apply for a bunch of jobs in the first week off, while planning a cheap weeks holiday with any holiday pay you have regardless, go see/surprise some friends/relatives 6 hours away for a weekend or 2 , guaranteed to get job offers part way through any holiday you have planned, if not just enjoy the break, maybe after a few weeks they might get sick of you on their lounge
Could be worse, you got kids to feed and house to pay off, then ingore all above, and fix some stuff around the house, be with your family a bit or just get your butt to the nearest saltmine to work

Umm, I've done Vitabrix (Weetbix) and water for near a week, well I had milk for the first few days, never touched the stuff since
2 minute noodles go a long way and by sprinkling a few frozen vegies in them with some cheese and spices can get exotic

In general the best thing to do is to get another job.

It's happened to me a few times in my life............and EVERY TIME THE JOB I GOT AFTER WAS 100 TIMES AS GOOD AS THE JOB THAT DISAPPEARED!!!

Remember that.


Good luck.

I have to go in with Trout on this one. I think that infinitely more useful than making a lateral move into what may prove to be a similarly unstable situation, it's far better to make yourself into someone in inordinate demand. Nurses. MRI techs/ CT techs. Ultrasonographers. Cardiovascular techs. The demand for these people is enormous, and the money gets better all the time. Considering that they're all available for the price of two years at a community college (my oldest daughter got her RN in two years for a total of about five thousand dollars), the return on the investment is unbeatable. Lifetime employment, full benefits. Some hospitals will pay your tuition if you agree to work for them after graduation.

Graph, here's a BIG HUG to you!

Everyone has given you very sound advice and I can't really add much more. Except to suggest checking to see if you've thought of applying to this virtual world company office that is located down in San Francisco??? I think you could work online for them, it can't hurt to try. Just an idea I had.

I have every confidence that you will find a new job that will be challenging and satisfying. It won't matter if the job is with one company or freelancing with many. As long as you feel good about your work, that's what matters. And it is amazing how being able to pay the basic bills makes one happy.

I agree about turning off all those power vampire/parasite devices can really save you money. Got a anything with a recharger? Unplug them when you aren't actually charging something back up. Turn off your power strips for your pc, tv and anything else plugged in when you aren't using them. I'm switching to only having my microwave plugged into the outlet when I'm using it from now on. I bet if you'd take a walk around your apt, condo or house that you'll find more things that you can save power on which equals saving money.

Best of luck to you.

Well, gee...I dunno what I would do. I'm in the sort of employment that it's very hard to get fired from; but, very easy to be fired upon.

I agree with the advice about unplugging standby devices. I looked into this only the other day and discovered my TV was using almost as much power when in standby mode than off. Point here is that plugging it into a plug you turn off will save me about £15 per quarter.

But...re your job loss. Take ANY new job you can find at any wage, even if it is only stacking shelves at Tesco/Walmart or road sweeping etc. Explain on your CV you were unwilling to not work. Excepting genuine health disabilities

When you obtain a new job that reflects your professional qualifications and abilities that CV statement will be well received