What would you do??

[mhall]

If you lost your job now in this present economy.

You know I'm worried and I'm confused as what to do if faced with this very real prospect for myself. I have been at the same job for 28 years. I make good money and I'm very comfortable with what I do everyday.
Maybe I'll finish some education and head in a whole new direction.
Might start my own business doing yard work and landscaping as I love that kinda work. I would be able to land alot of work quickly just through acquantices I have now, may be enough to sustain me and mine.
My strengths lie in construction but would like to get away from that if I loose this job.
Maybe the economy turns around and I don't have to worry about this, lol.

What would you fellas do???

[DJD]

Alot of business' get started during the hard times and if I had the background and could produce a good business pan I would borrow a little money and jump in the business owner world. Work the landscaping thing in when you can to keep some cash rolling in.
Hopefully you guys stay in business and don't have to worry about this. Good luck!

[Devils Horse]

If you lost your job now in this present economy.

You know I'm worried and I'm confused as what to do if faced with this very real prospect for myself. I have been at the same job for 28 years. I make good money and I'm very comfortable with what I do everyday.
Maybe I'll finish some education and head in a whole new direction.
Might start my own business doing yard work and landscaping as I love that kinda work. I would be able to land alot of work quickly just through acquantices I have now, may be enough to sustain me and mine.
My strengths lie in construction but would like to get away from that if I loose this job.
Maybe the economy turns around and I don't have to worry about this, lol.

What would you fellas do???

Dang good question. If you think you could make a go of it with your own business, IMO it's worth a shot. Hopefully you won't have to find out.

If I got whacked, I'd probably have to move to a bigger city to maintain my salary. Hopefully I won't have to find out.

[ironhead70]

well good luck with that been off for 5 months now tried the yard thing this spring just to many of them around this area and to get some of the factorys around here takes some big start up money so i have been looking for a differnt line of work because i would like to have a little more job seciurity and i dont think i can make it to 55 doing what i do and so far the only thing i have been contacted about is selling insurance yep u see me coming to ur door you would call the cops
id say if u were out of a job today u will have pleanty of time to fish because i have and aint no one hiring out there right now

[cra97]

One guy I know has made a go of FISHING, since he lost his job. He is not getting rich, but it IS paying his bills this year. He concentrated his time on ONE area, KY Lake/Barkley (and it may be lucky he is so close to that body of water too), and is not making it on necessarily "winning" but rather the "bonus monies" his boat manufacturer pays out. I believe he has made somewhere around $43K so far this year, which you obv have to deduct expenses for entries/gas/ect, but even so it is keeping him above water for now. I don't know how many guys could actually do this, since it requires knowing a particular body of water REALLY well and having the right "rewards programs" to participate in. IF you have any of this at your disposal it may help you a bit, or if not you could always try and hook up with someone who does and see if you could "supplement" Unemployment a bit.
I know this post is not going to be realistic to many, but for those who "could" do it, its something to consider until you can get back on your feet and running. Good luck guys.

Rob

[JD7.62]

Be a commercial fisherman. As many people Ive seen lately selling their catch (drum, carp, buffalo, and other trash fish) to the "hood" and getting some good change I would imagine it could be woth a shot. Heck even if it just pays for my boat and a few bills and I net free fishing time...well, that aint too bad.

I talked to a feller a couple years ago that made over $30K just on paddle fish eggs from the Ohio!

[kyfanatic]

If you can afford to MHall take classes and get a degree in something different,I'm in the same boat as you,I've only worked in construction since 1982 and hardly remember anything else anymore.I've been laid off since Mid-May and after being laid off 6 months last year,we've drained our savings down to nothing.I opened a DBA Bank Account,but really haven't come up with a winning idea yet,I've had several ideas,but no funds to kick them off,or they get shot down beforehand.
Went and took the physical and I'm studying the CDL book to take the test as a backup plan.I wish I would have stuck out the scholarship I had in engineering back in the 70's,but no way I could afford to attend school fulltime anymore,too many responsibilities and too little money.Wife isn't getting rich,but has steady work ay a pharmacuetical supply company.Medical is the most stable work,but I'm not cut out for that.
Tried to get back into Oilfield work again,but I guess they think I'm too old or something,I've applied all over the Gulfcoast and never hear a peep.I worked on an offshore drilling rig from 78' to 82' and made good money.All I can say is Good Luck,if I have a brainstorm,I'll let you know.
Glenn P.

[GeoFisher]

Guys, you're NOT a kidding.......I've done the same line of work for 25 years, and 18 of them for a LARGE firm in Louisville. If Obama gets his way and passes some of his reforms, the company I work for may be in trouble, and I really don't want to look for work.

I've looked in the past, and the stuff around here is not that good, and a LOT has already been outsourced.......I've ALWAYS put myself into a position of being important, and being 1 of the last to go if layoffs, etc, etc happened, but DISMANTLING of the industry is something I hadn't thought of.

I will be competing with LOTS of young SNOTS willing to work for 1/4 what I make. Or worse......Offshore contractors.........HUGE 10,000 man firms willing to work for 1/8 what I make.....

SCARY.......Funny thing though........I have GUBMENT agencies calling all the time......Maybe I might have to become one of those gubment employeees I so dispise ......

Oh well........I'm still employeed......for NOW.

Later,

Geo

[apb]

Weird, thought I responded to this one last night Believe I would check with friends in my industry first to try and least get something temporary to hold me over. Worse came to worse, whatever job I could get locally to pay the bills or at least keep the creditors at bay.

Andrew

[pontooner]

Had a friend that tried the yard work and landscaping thing last year after he lost his job in March and it didn't work out to well with all the dry weather. He had plenty of yards lined up but people were going weeks without needing any yard work done and he had already told people when he was trying to get their yard that if it didn't need mowing that week he was fine with it so nothing he could really say or do after that.

He wound up selling all his mowing stuff last fall and I think he said he made a little money after everything was accounted for.

Of course he is kicking himself now because this year he could have made some decent money but thats mother nature for ya.

Oh yeah the gas prices last year didn't help things either.

[HURRICANEBOB]

"What would you fellas do???[/QUOTE]"

M,

You're already doing it. Explore options, take time to look at each objectively. Take some time for yourself and the family. If it happens, catch up some house choirs, do some home improvements, but just don't rush into something. I can say with all honesty, I know what it is like to have the job go nighty-night after a whole bunch of years.

I would go up to USAJOBS and the Army Resume Builder (google them, they will pop up), set accounts up and do up a resume. Can't hurt, especially if in construction as there are MAJOR govt building projects going on at Fort Knox, and many other post including Fort Campbell, and some at Lexy Bluegrass Depot. Army Corps of Engineers is nearly always looking for project managers, construction managers, etc. Most Corps of Engineer jobs are announced from the Louisville Corps office. And remember, the work at Lake Cumberland Wolfe Creek Dam is Corps of Engineers.

Some resources:
USAJOBS: http://www.usajobs.gov/
Army Resume Builder: https://cpolst.belvoir.army.mil/publ...lder/index.jsp

Knox One: This website, on the BRAC Update, will show you all the construction projects going on, down at the bottom. http://www.oneknox.com/brac_update.php
and do look at the presentations under "Construction Contracting & Subcontracting Opportunities at Fort Knox.

Worked at Knox for years, PM me or email to [email protected] if I can help you get oriented to the post or if you might want to take a ride around with a tour guide(free) sometime.

[bassin_bug]

http://www.Monster.com

This is a site for job searches worldwide and some of the world's largest companies post their jobs on this site. Check the drop down on "Jobs" or click on "Browse Jobs" (just below Power Search at the top of the page). You can post resumes with lots of companies in your own state, other states, or overseas. Remember that it may improve your chances to follow up with a phone call on jobs you have applied for.

Also, if you are interested in furthering your education, you may want to consider college grants, lottery scholarships, technical college, etc.

With so may jobs being lost, people are having to take jobs away from home in order to survive. Other people won't leave their hometown, some won't leave their state, and others will take a job anywhere; it all depends upon the person. I'm not trying to influence anyone on their decisions but I have never had a problem moving when my husband was needed in some other state. Every time we have moved my husband has had to leave me behind alone, but the company has taken care of me very generously. They make sure I have everything I need, send packers and movers to get me to my new destination, unpack and set up my new house, and pay the bills for everything, even my phone, food, motel bills, and a rental car (if I need it) until I'm settled in with my husband. I used to tell people that I was a Gypsy and Samsonite was my home. lol

I wish that nobody would lose their jobs and I will pray for those who do because I know that times can get hard very quickly.