Bloody Thursday

One of my biggest fears came to pass today. The economic downturn finally reared it's ugly head here in Houston and I, along with 9 other poor souls at my company, were unceremoniously laid off. Kapoot. Fini. Out the door with ye. So now I am up to my eyeballs in worry and anxiety just trying to figure out what to do next. I have never been unemployed in my entire working life and I hate the feeling it's giving me. I am pretty sure I will be taking this opportunity, if you can call it that, to find a completely different kind of job. There just are no other jobs, especially in this area, doing what I have been trained to do so I really have no choice but to find something else. Being 53 years old, that may be a feat in itself. Hopefully I will be able to find something soon and this feeling will be gone. For now though, it's very disheartening and depressing and I am doing my best, even here writing about it, to try and keep from slipping into a complete funk. Tomorrow I am going to try and not think about it too much. I have a lot of time coming up in which I will be dealing with nothing but this. Tomorrow I am taking a break from everything and going out to take some photographs. I am interested to see how my mood may dictate what I shoot and how I shoot it. At least for a little while, hopefully I will be able to clear my head, zone out totally, and just be somewhere good. I'll let you know how that goes.
James Newman

Bummer James!

I wish I had some sage advice, but after having been laid off or sacked 5 times in my 40+ year career, I can only say "that sucks."

The best advice I ever got came from a boss who eventually laid me off. He said "your only job security is your ability to get that next job."

I would do some "outside the box" looking at your experience and skills to see how you can "repurpose" the skills you've learned in your present job to one in another field.

Unless one of your strong skills is marketing, I wouldn't consider putting all your eggs in the photography business basket right now. With Craigslisters offering to shoot products for $39 a piece and wedding photographers offering to shoot for free, unless you can clearly answer the "why hire me?" question you will find a very tough row to hoe.

Best wishes,

Sorry to hear that James - it's a tough time we're living in. I hope you enjoy your day tomorrow and that something comes up before too long.

Mike

James,
That's truly disheartening news. You have my sincerest sympathy.
As with Charles, I too have found myself in similar circumstances. My best advice is to keep to your routine. Do not allow yourself to settle into a funk. Get up each morning as you normally would and dress for work because your new job is finding a new job. Draft a daily time plan and stick to it (i.e 2 hours reviewing ads, 2 hours calling anyone you can think of - your network may be larger than you realize), 2 hours on the internet, 1/2 for lunch, etc.

We humans are creatures of habit. Your psyche is already askew, so do your best to follow routines. It will help you focus and remain focused.

James, I'll be sending good thoughts your way. As articulate and creative as you are, I suspect you'll land on your feet.

Laid off at 53 is a scary thought. I'm the same age.

I am sorry to read of your misfortune, James. I know this offers little comfort, but your predicament is shared by many people who also have never been unemployed. You'll also be joined by many others within the coming 12-18 months.

I was "laid off" just once in my career, almost 20 years ago. But I remember the frightening, angry, hollow, helpless feeling vividly.

I don't know you, nor your particular situation. So I cannot offer any useful advice. I can only share with you how I responded. On my way home from my former office I resolved that I would spend the coming months and years ensuring that my fate would never again be in-range of someone else's whims. I succeeded in achieving that goal and permanently retired from payrolls by age 47. So my suggestion to you is to strongly consider breaking-away from the dependent "job" perspective so deeply woven into society. It's like a smoking habit in that it's likely to keep you perpetually unhealthy.

Time to make some good luck for yourself, James.

p.s. You should drop that "I'm too old" crap, too.

Hi James,

I cannot say how sorry I am to read this right now. You must be going through hell. The process of losing one's job is much like the process of mourning, you'll go through stages of shock, denial, anger, etc. So be prepared for that to happen. Just so you know, the same thing has happened to me a few days earlier. My (former) company has downsized almost 100 employees worldwide and I am one of them. I wasn't going to mention this here but I have now reconsidered to let you know you are not alone.

So give yourself some time to recover from this shock but do not take too long and do not, I repeat, do not fall into a depressive mood. If you do that, you'll never find another job and it will become even worse. Finding a new job is a job in itself. You'll have to force yourself to sit down and work systematically towards finding something new, each day. You must not slack and be disciplined. Brush up your resume and have an HR pro look at it objectively. Start building a network, use the one's you are already a part of as much as possible. When applying for a job, the critical success factor will be making it clear to your prospective employers (and even more to yourself) what your motivations are for wanting that job. And how do you exactly qualify for it. If you can do that, the age won't be a major problem. If you need any advice and or a listening ear, feel free to PM me any time.

Cheers,

James and Cem,

The unfortunate thing is that this is a widespread tragic blow happening to people scattered all over the globe. We just took a lot for granted. We have seen local arts programs gutted with the California government actually laying off the folk who gave the money out to organizations and schools to support the arts. Suddenly all these folk have no job and nowhere else to go. People here, are by nature, more creative than most. That extra energy, verve and ability to solve problems and share views with others mean that you are already in possession of skills that give you a major advantage in tough times. You can learn new things and share approaches to complex problems. Just get these ideas into your C.V/Résumé.

This wave of layoffs is hitting all levels of workers including the young whiz kids who till just before Christmas 2008 were advising the rest of us on protecting any savings we had! For some place like Flint Michigan, where General Motors has been killing off local plants, workers get sent home 10,000 folk at a time! That's been happening for the past 10 years and now that town is gutted with broken down empty homes, the former inhabitants long ago evicted. However these folk had little else going on for them. Dallas Texas is an important US City. There are still opportunities. Same with Amsterdam, one of the most important gateways in Europe.

Cem_Usakligil said:

The process of losing one's job is much like the process of mourning; you'll go through stages of shock, denial, anger, etc.

Click to expand...

For all doubts one has about one's own worth, eventually one gets used to the given's in life. You know you are going to wake up, shave, grab a bite and go off to work. Suddenly it's not there. Instead there's an obvious emptiness.

As Cem points out, this is a real tough thing to go through since one starts to question oneself. In fact, it's like some bird craps on your clean suit. Somehow one has to believe it's misfortune and not our fault.

I think it's good to use this as a chance to give yourself a rebirth. I've known guys starting new college training and totally changing ones direction. Write down all your good qualities and job skills. Yes, including using Microsoft word, Excel, Photoshop and more. There are specialist career counselors in Dallas, for sure. So when you have a new Curriculum Vitae, or Résumé, you will be able to market yourself. an network. Think of the fields where you can operate. Have cards printed, even several cards for say "Engineer" or else "Photographer" or just "Consultant". That way you have a card for the occasion.

Locate partners for walking running or some physical activity you can do every day. You need to build up your physical spirit as well. We're here for you, at least in spirit.

BTW, this is just January. Not all the wave of May and June brides have picked their photographer. If you are competent and have a portfolio, make sure it's beautiful and you have a printed price list of packages ready. Weddings yield from $200-700 for an afternoon as an assistant to being able to charge $1000, 4,000 or the sky's the limit. Are there folk you know who you can work with? You might be able to find a pro who needs an assistant and maybe this will give you some ideas. If you are going to do this, expect to work your arse off but it can be emotionally rewarding if you love your work... and get paid!

If you already have a color managed workflow and a little printer, you can take on work. Maybe start to talk to real estate places, as they need many pics of the properties. Could you offer them something better such as rapidly getting online a walk through of the property? This is a tough time for selling real estate but things are selling. For more expensive places you can set up a Virtual Pano. Yes, that's ambitious, but all the skill is already here. I'd consider investing the time and energy in making one virtual tour of a hotel with a gym, swimming pool, massage room, bar, roof garden, luxury suites etc. Even do it for free so you have something to show prospective clients.

Whatever you do, we wish you lots of faith in yourself. We value you a lot! You're a creative hard working fellow and you will rise above this.

Asher

Hi James & Cem

So sorry to hear your news, I know just what you're going through, we've been through this 4 times in the past and know exactly how hard it hits you, but I must say that I think the advice of John Angulat here is spot on - well said John!

John Angulat said:

My best advice is to keep to your routine. Do not allow yourself to settle into a funk. Get up each morning as you normally would and dress for work because your new job is finding a new job. Draft a daily time plan and stick to it (i.e 2 hours reviewing ads, 2 hours calling anyone you can think of - your network may be larger than you realize), 2 hours on the internet, 1/2 for lunch, etc. We humans are creatures of habit. Your psyche is already askew, so do your best to follow routines. It will help you focus and remain focused.

Click to expand...

The last time it happened to my husband he decided to take a completely different direction in his career, took another degree, and is now lecturing full-time, it is possible to do this, don't give up hope, don't allow depression to set in, look after your physical health, do a lot of walking - it's free!

Hi James and Cem,

I am truly sorry to hear of your problems. As others have mentioned, do not spiral down into self pity and
depression.

You have to believe first in yourselves and from there shall come the strength to convince others to
believe in what you can offer to them as an employee.

It might sound old fashioned, but the greatest strength and courage I have had during times of trial is
prayers. I have always put my faith in Him. Then went about solving my problems.

My prayers are with you all in these trying times.

Regards.

Very sorry to hear that, James. Hang in there. You never know what opportunities lay ahead. Sometimes life works out for the better and that happens when you least expect it.

I'm employed in the offshore oil and gas industry, and we're just now getting wind of layoffs, cutbacks, etc. The downturn is creeping into this industry and it will be a tough year ahead. Good luck to all!

James,

I've been in those same shoes a couple of times. The main thing that I learned, was that I am NOT my job. I used to say that I was a Systems Engineer when someone asked who I was, as i equated my self worth with what I did. Now I say, "I am Tony, and I do xxxx." It will take some time to get over the hit, but you will survive AND you will learn that you are worth more than just what you do.

Who you are and what you do are two separate items. To the ones in whose lives you are important, it's you they value, not what you do. Take some time, you'll get angry, you'll grieve and you'll recover. You will be better for the experience, as bad as it is to you now, it will get better.

Take care,

Thank you so much, everyone. You are a wise and extremely caring and helpful group of people and I am honored to have found this forum and had the chance just to be around you. I am taking all of your suggestions, advice, and words of wisdom and will be trying my hardest to put them to practice in my life. Today was actually a good day and I got a good start on some of the things that have to be done. I also am extremely lucky to have a wonderful, loving, and supportive wife and just knowing that makes whatever is to come in my life, bearable and not nearly as frightening.

I know I am only one of many, many thousands or perhaps millions that are or will be going through something similar before this is all over. I only hope thay have similar, supportive people in their lives like I do. Things will be better and I will survive. I am certain of that. Thanks to some great, sage advice and input from you fine people, I think that will now happen faster for me. Thank you all.
James Newman

Hey James,

Shocking. Very sorry to hear this news.

Been there, done that, couldn't afford the t-shirt. No doubt, it is difficult, no way around that. However, looking back, well, lets just say it's in my past and I'm happy to be right here, right now.

So, by now I'm sure you know your not alone but the good news is the number of opportunities in your life just exploded!

Hoping for even better in your life,

Ed.

PS: If you're interested, here are some links to articles written by Marci Alboher that I ran across the other day while I was contemplating "what if" scenarios...

http://shiftingcareers.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/24/laid-off-from-my-non-job/

http://shiftingcareers.blogs.nytimes.com/feed/

http://marcialboher.blogspot.com/

Bonsoir James

As you may know I've been abroad for 10 days and discover your post, late today.

I just want you to know that I feel plenty sorry for you.

For sure it is one of the worse moment one can live.

You have had already some good advice here, I'm sure you'll find the necessary strength needed within our solidarity.

Life desserves it!

Please keep us updated, we're with you (and Cem also, but this I had the chance to meet and tell him, instead of writing)


Kind regards