Laid off, yet again.

[Garydean]

+1 Bob..... that was truly a genuine statement and very heart warming.

[Regis]

Hi Regis,
I don't agree when you say it's not manly to show fear....It takes a real man to admit to be scared, most of us fear something but we're not men enough to admit it and do something about it. What I'm trying to say is that you're a real man IMHO, and I'm sure you'll get out of this mess soon.

Good luck!

Bob

Thanks Bob, I just am really lethargic and stuck right now and have to pigeonhole it so I can get on with the job of looking for a job. For the past several days I've just been brooding and boozing, neither of which are good for me.

Now pardon my possible 'been out of it too long' question, but why the 1/4" reel to reel?

It's an old crappy consumer Sony that my old friend Tony gave me. It belonged to his father and I wanted to have something of his to remember him by after he died. It works but slows down after a while, dunno if the motors bad or belts or what, someday I'll have it refurbished when I'm flush again.

I record on the DA-78's and mix to the computer, I'm not a pro but get pretty good results. Certainly good enough for local bands wanting a demo or a cheap CD.

regis

[R.G.]

I sympathize with all of you who got the axe. I spent about five years ducking layoffs.

The corp decided that layoffs were bad for its image and started "handling excess resources administratively", the euphemism for trumping up poor performance issues and then firing for "cause". What was really funny was that most of the targets were people who would become elgible for immediate pensions if allowed to stay but would only get the lower vested rights if fired.

Yep, a few newly-minted MBAs had figured out a cost saving measure.

If it's any help, the companies that do this (i.e. all of them) are probably in trouble too. American industry is in a death race for the lowest labor cost per product sold. And they are sacrificing any and everything to stay in the race.

[bnwitt]

The corp decided that layoffs were bad for its image and started "handling excess resources administratively", the euphemism for trumping up poor performance issues and then firing for "cause". What was really funny was that most of the targets were people who would become elgible for immediate pensions if allowed to stay but would only get the lower vested rights if fired. .

In Marriott back in the crash of the late 80's early 90's we called that the 80/40 rule. If you made $80k or more or were over 40 years of age you had a crosshair on your forhead. Firing for trumped up cause is not an image issue for most companies however. It is a way to eliminate unemployment costs after the termination.

Yep, a few newly-minted MBAs had figured out a cost saving measure.

And it is still happening just like that to this day.

[Regis]

Yup. If it's any help, the companies that do this (i.e. all of them) are probably in trouble too. American industry is in a death race for the lowest labor cost per product sold. And they are sacrificing any and everything to stay in the race.

The company that is laying me off is a debt collection firm, and business is bad. People think that a company like this would be doing well in these economic times but if people are broke, they're broke, and an old credit card debt or similar will be bypassed for the mortgage or groceries. You can't get water out of rock, and this company is finding that out.

[tubeswell]

Well you can take consolation that its probably not lack of talent that is the reason for them letting you go. :-)

My working life has consisted perpetually shifting jobs. After I left school (and home) in 1980 I had longer periods unemployment than employment for the first 4 years, but most of the time I have maintained a steady stream of shifting jobs without unemployment. I never had any connections - I just decided soon into my working life that I was gonna stay a step ahead of redundancy by deliberately changing jobs every 1-4 years. Who knows how long that will last? (But crikey its exhausting!) My backup plan at the mo' (if I can get myself to France) is the French Foreign Legion (where at least there maybe I'll get fed and clothed).

Meantime I'm having the most fun building amps and playin' rock'n'roll.

Good luck with generating an income Regis (and Scott) and you other fellas

[PRNDL]

I've been in the same boat for a while now, but lately things are much worse.

I started designing and building custom tube amps as a hobby and now have 3 for sale at Real Guitars in Fort Myers. They asked me if I could fix some of their amps, and a new career was born.

Check out this blog on amp repairs
http://www.myspace.com/naturdoctor

Apparently, I''m the only repair tech in the area that does solid state and circuit board amps. Of course, there's the big stores, but they charge the moon and don't do vintage stuff.

My latest success is an old Acoustic 370 that needed everything. It's been back for more repairs several times, each with something else wrong. This time it was an electrolytic cap can. The owner is extremely pleased with my work, since its been to 3-4 other techs that charged a lot for not fixing it.

The hard part is getting the word out. I usually post ads on Craig's List, but hardly anyone is calling.

You can start with some of the easier warranties out there like Kustom, community, Korg, Mesa, Peavey who will let you work from your home.

How do you go about this?

It would be awesome if this could turn out to be a real income source!

Thanks!!!!

[fdesalvo]

What's your skill set? What do you do?

Got called into the directors office last week along with my supervisor and a co-worker and was informed I was to be let go on Jan 30.

We'll stipulate all the shock and depression, but I'm a lot more scared now than the last time, things are really bad in the country right now and I'm broke. I never got caught up from the last time I was laid off. I know it's not manly to show fear but that's where I am, and it's very hard.

The day I was informed was a year ago to the day I was laid off from my last job.

Ironically, I got a raise. This company automatically grants a COLA the first of the year.

I posted this in Repair and Maintenance because my whole life needs fixing.

[Regis]

What's your skill set? What do you do?

Primarily for the past 20 years I've worked as a computer operator/Production control operator in a mainframe environment. Also help desk, etc. This job is more of a Quality Assurance analyst, making sure files from customer agencies are formatted correctly and fixing problems that result. I haven't updated my resume with my current job but here is an example from my resume:

OBJECTIVE:

To continue to develop my career in Information Technology through a position as a Mainframe Computer Operator, Production Control, or Applications Support Specialist.

SKILLS:

Strong Production Control Skillset
Strong Computer Operations Skillset
Strong Applications Support Skillset

Detail Oriented

Customer Support
Problem Tracking
Very Web Literate
Strong Technical and Procedure writing skills.

Change Control

Help Desk
Self-Motivating
Quality Assurance

HIGHLIGHTS:

Operations Focalpoint on Disaster Recovery Tests, local and offsite
Operations Focalpoint for major system changes: IPL, upgrades, lifts, etc.
Developed and implemented QA Procedures where none existed.
Designed and implemented operations training program.
Created Operations and Production Control Documentation Library where none existed before.
Assumed supervisory responsibility in the absence of management.
Received KUDOS award for performance and dedication beyond the call of duty.
Received CARE Award for performance and dedication beyond the call of duty.

SOFTWARE:
Z/OS, OS 390, MVS/XA, MVS/ESA, JES2, VTAM, NETVIEW, TSO, TPX, CA-7, CA-11, CA-1, ZEKE, CONTROL-M, HMC System console, SAR, VPS, FTP, OMEGAMON, IDMS, MIM, $AVRS, SAMVS (Automation), SMP/E, RMM, INFOMAN, HEAT, MANAGE NOW, CICS, CACS, Connect Mailbox, Windows all versions, Microsoft Office, NT, DOS, Lotus Smart Suite.

HARDWARE:
IBM Mainframe, IBM compatible PC

EXPERIENCE:

VERIZON WIRELESS, ALPHARETTA, GA

03/07 – 01-08 Senior Application Support Analyst - Duties and Achievements:

Provided primary support for multiple application batch cycles.
Monitored batch cycles and CICS regions prevent issues before they occurred.
Worked with Production Control and Development staff to fix issues such as batch abends including space abends, FTP failures, NDM failures, missing VSAM and GDG datasets, CA7 scheduler issues, and other batch anomalies.

IBM GLOBAL SERVICES, ALPHARETTA, GA

02/01 - Present Computer Operator Specialist - Duties and Achievements:

Performed Production Control functions for multiple customer accounts, including intercepting and addressing abends, and job restarting for Production, Development, and Test LPAR's.
Monitored workload and daily production batch processing for multiple customer accounts using MVS, JES2, and multiple job scheduler tools including CA-7, CONTROL-M, and ZEKE.
Performed Operations functions for multiple customer accounts, including IPL's, Change Control, Starting Stopping CICS regions, etc.
Monitored multiple transmission jobs on both mainframe and client/server to ensure successful data transfer, reconnecting in the event of failure.
Monitor multiple CICS regions, restarting and/or calling support personnel in the event of failure.
Performed Production, Test, and Development IPL for multiple customer LPAR's. Monitored network and provided initial problem determination with support personnel.
Operations Focalpoint on high level changes, including hardware upgrades, customer reorgs, disaster recovery, and recovery during system outages.
Provided first level help desk customer support after hours and weekends.
Assisted Application/System Programmers with problem resolution including JCL errors and space abends.
Worked with Tape Librarian and Consumer Engineers in problem determination of tape related issues, Varying tape drives, VTS's, and silos on and offline, etc.
Revised shop documentation for increased clarity.
Wrote documentation for shop procedures where none existed before.
Trained other operators in MVS, JES2, etc.
Trained fellow operators on procedures for multiple customer accounts .

ALLIED AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, DECATUR, GA

08/00 - 02/01 Senior Support Analyst - Duties and Achievements:

Performed Production Control functions, including intercepting and addressing abends, and job restarting for Production and Development LPAR's.
Monitored workload and daily production batch processing using MVS, JES2, and ZEKE tools.
Monitored multiple transmission jobs on both mainframe and client/server to ensure successful data transfer, reconnecting in the event of failure.
Monitor multiple CICS regions, restarting and/or calling systems personnel in the event of failure.
Performed IPL for Production LPAR's. Monitored network and provided initial problem determination.
Provided first level customer support in absence of help desk personnel.
Assisted Application/System Programmers with problem resolution including JCL errors and space abends.
Assisted Tape Librarian in tape retention methods, off-site rotation, and documentation.
Revised shop documentation for increased clarity.
Wrote documentation for shop procedures where none existed before.
Appointed lead operator in less than a month.
Trained other operators in MVS, JES2, etc.

[fdesalvo]

REgis,

Yeah VZ has been cutting people left and right. Please sned me yur complete resume in word format to: fdesalvo@teksystems.com. I can't promise you anything. I will call you after my morning meetings.

[Regis]

REgis,

Yeah VZ has been cutting people left and right. Please sned me yur complete resume in word format to: fdesalvo@teksystems.com. I can't promise you anything. I will call you after my morning meetings.

Done, thanks a million!!!

regis

[jrfrond]

bnwitt,
I may be wrong about Peavey or perhaps they changed their policy. Interestingly enough her in Denver I see very little Peavey warranty work.

Same here in NYC. More from the Peavey's Crest division actually.

[FlyingZ]

If you know a trade, now would be the time to start using it or even to go into one. The money's not great because the worker shortage hasn't gotten to the point where companies will pay for talent, but pretty much every trade is in pain right now because they can't find good workers. Welders, machinists, plumbers, electricians...

I am a HVAC union journeyman off for two years in Wisconsin.

[gregsguitars]

I agree ,start an amp repair shop, use the net to inform would be clients and visit every music store in your town and pass out cards. I am in the Atlanta area and it took several years for me to find not only a wizard with amps , but a man that is fair and reasonable, Good luck.