Disturbance in the Workforce

UnscathedFlyingObject · Wed Dec 03, 2008 12:28 am

I just got laid off.

Zero warning. Told the last minute.

Group hug!

Skykid · Post by **Skykid** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 12:34 am

Shit! Sorry mate...

junkeR · Post by **junkeR** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 12:34 am

Sorry to hear that... What were you doing at your job?

jonny5 · Post by **jonny5** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 12:36 am

sorry to hear.....been there myself before.....not a nice feeling.....

jpj · Post by **jpj** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 12:38 am

sorry to hear that dude

i know the feeling...

what happened? did the company go bust?

UnscathedFlyingObject · Wed Dec 03, 2008 12:39 am

Associate Cisco engineer. I just graduated from school, and I'm still kinda green, but I did setup basic configs for routers and switches. Also did a lot of miscellaneous crap for senior engineers. Still, I loved my job.

I'll be out looking again tomorrow.

jpj wrote:sorry to hear that dude
i know the feeling...

what happened? did the company go bust?

Nah, the numbers were green last corporate strategic meeting. They weren't exactly raking in the moolah, though. So I guess they decided they could let go of some people and work the rest harder.

GaijinPunch · Post by **GaijinPunch** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 1:07 am

As the youngster you are unfortunately the first on the chopping block. Also working for a big corporation during these times is pretty awful. I got laid off from Bank of Shit Japan (Bank of America) after my group had our best year on record, and we were only 1 of 2 groups that made *anything*. Yes, they kept groups that scratched or lost money, but shit canned one that floated the whole firm. Rocket scientists.

Post by **BulletMagnet** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 1:32 am

GaijinPunch wrote:Yes, they kept groups that scratched or lost money, but shit canned one that floated the whole firm.

But hey, they're SO much smarter than the rest of us that we couldn't even begin to comprehend how far ahead they're thinking! The same reason they give themselves bonuses after running their company halfway (or more) into the ground - we normal people couldn't begin to understand why they'd deserve it, but they do, and that's why they're on top and we're not. And because they must be motivated completely by Infallible Market Forces, they can never be wrong, just like you must deserve your dead-end garbage position because you're too lazy/incompetent/unmotivated to get anything better, or keep making excuses about imaginary "barriers" in your way. Shut up and work harder!

Twiddle · Post by **Twiddle** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 2:28 am

BulletMagnet wrote:
GaijinPunch wrote:Yes, they kept groups that scratched or lost money, but shit canned one that floated the whole firm.
But hey, they're SO much smarter than the rest of us that we couldn't even begin to comprehend how far ahead they're thinking! The same reason they give themselves bonuses after running their company halfway (or more) into the ground - we normal people couldn't begin to understand why they'd deserve it, but they do, and that's why they're on top and we're not. And because they must be motivated completely by Infallible Market Forces, they can never be wrong, just like you must deserve your dead-end garbage position because you're too lazy/incompetent/unmotivated to get anything better, or keep making excuses about imaginary "barriers" in your way. Shut up and work harder!

Seriously. The only right way to solve the crumbling bank problem was to let everything collapse. The Great Depression was working so well until FDR fucked it all up.

GaijinPunch · Post by **GaijinPunch** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 2:47 am

Bailing out doesn't mean people get their (often cush) bonuses. In fact, nobody at any of those companies should get a bonus this year -- not the clerks, and definitely not the execs. Having worked in the industry most of my carrier, you should only get to eat what you kill.

Twiddle · Post by **Twiddle** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 3:05 am

If they all used the bailout cash improperly we would have another Great Depression on our hands, something they would avoid if it comes down to it (and firing people definitely will NOT help, so I'm going to watch Bank of America crash and burn.) Then again the free market types would go "they're execs, they deserve to fuck people over for their own good!"

GaijinPunch · Post by **GaijinPunch** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 3:11 am

If they all used the bailout cash improperly we would have another Great Depression on our hands,

Subjective, but I promise you quite a few undeserving people are getting bonus checks come January.

and firing people definitely will NOT help, so I'm going to watch Bank of America crash and burn.

My story was from 2003, actually. My point was, that large corporations idea of "trimming the fat" is often quite skewed and stupid. I have a much better job now and literally make 2.5x what I did then, so I can't complain much. Still, wasn't the best Christmas Eve I ever had (not joking).

The n00b · Post by **The n00b** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 4:32 pm

UnscathedFlyingObject wrote:Associate Cisco engineer. I just graduated from school, and I'm still kinda green, but I did setup basic configs for routers and switches. Also did a lot of miscellaneous crap for senior engineers. Still, I loved my job.

I'll be out looking again tomorrow.

jpj wrote:sorry to hear that dude
i know the feeling...

what happened? did the company go bust?
Nah, the numbers were green last corporate strategic meeting. They weren't exactly raking in the moolah, though. So I guess they decided they could let go of some people and work the rest harder.

I was just laid off as well. Strangely my job was much like yours except I did it in addition to my telecom duties. I have noticed that jobs involving Cisco equipment are getting more and more rare these days so this just might be a trend. Really if this doesn't change I might just jump into Unix administration and leave the whole network communications thing to india.

Michaelm · Post by **Michaelm** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 6:43 pm

Twiddle wrote:Seriously. The only right way to solve the crumbling bank problem was to let everything collapse.

I agree completely !
But don't worry ! It will for sure eventually.
They haven't saved anything. Only postponed the whole horror.
It's just such a damn shame that you will end with much less then compared to what you would have had now.
I've heard banks now even want more of our money. Free money always tastes good. Especially if you are in a position to multiply that easily and keep all the profits for yourself.

Twiddle · Post by **Twiddle** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 6:57 pm

Michaelm wrote:
Twiddle wrote:Seriously. The only right way to solve the crumbling bank problem was to let everything collapse.
I agree completely !
But don't worry ! It will for sure eventually.
They haven't saved anything. Only postponed the whole horror.
It's just such a damn shame that you will end with much less then compared to what you would have had now.
I've heard banks now even want more of our money. Free money always tastes good. Especially if you are in a position to multiply that easily and keep all the profits for yourself.

I don't think that post meant what you thought it meant

neorichieb1971 · Post by **neorichieb1971** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 8:00 pm

Sorry to hear that mate.

I had a meeting once. Told its nothing to worry about but must attend. 9am the next morning some WWE wrestling lookalikes wearing sunglasses bounced the exit as I walked in. You know when that happens your not getting the employee of the month award!

Shit happens man. Sounds like you can bounce back from it though with those skills. Good luck!

The n00b · Post by **The n00b** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 8:30 pm

neorichieb1971 wrote:Sorry to hear that mate.

I had a meeting once. Told its nothing to worry about but must attend. 9am the next morning some WWE wrestling lookalikes wearing sunglasses bounced the exit as I walked in. You know when that happens your not getting the employee of the month award!

Shit happens man. Sounds like you can bounce back from it though with those skills. Good luck!

Hey at least you guys knew what was up. I had received a crazy amount of compliments and commendations the few days and weeks leading up to the "meeting." So when they called me in for a "private talk" I thought I was getting some kind of big raise and a promotion. I was so psyched when I was being walked over to the executive offices. It was kinda weird though that people in the hallways there were looking away from me or giving me wan smiles as I greeted them....

Then I got in the meeting and the hammer fell. Tons of emotions flooded through me at once. I think I went up and down that chart of acceptance in just 30 sec. I hardly heard a thing they said to me as my mind was just so clouded with anger and frustration. It wouldn't be till I got back to my apt and worked out like mad that I could begin to cope with such a serious life tragedy.

RGC · Post by **RGC** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 10:52 pm

GaijinPunch · Post by **GaijinPunch** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 11:31 pm

Really if this doesn't change I might just jump into Unix administration and leave the whole network communications thing to india.

The advantage of any technical field is that you can jump across industries. They all don't pay the same (finance by far pays the best) but you can still put food on your family working as the tech admin for some non-financial corporation. In my experience though, the network admin team is usually a fraction of the size of the Unix/Windows admin team. Doesn't hurt to diversify yourself.

CIT · Post by **CIT** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 11:54 pm

The trick to any job, is to become the only person who knows how to do something really important. Everybody hates me at my current job, but yet they can't do without me.

GaijinPunch · Post by **GaijinPunch** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 12:42 am

CIT wrote:The trick to any job, is to become the only person who knows how to do something really important. Everybody hates me at my current job, but yet they can't do without me.

Unfortunately doesn't always work (but doesn't hurt). How many times has "that person" gotten fired, only to make life for everyone that didn't get axed miserable?

CIT · Post by **CIT** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 12:55 am

Haha, so true!

The n00b · Post by **The n00b** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 1:36 am

RGC wrote:
The n00b wrote:...I could begin to cope with such a serious life tragedy.

Okay my problem cannot be solved by turning pirate and scoring some mad loot. Though it would be cool if all of us could do that. Avast matey!

UnscathedFlyingObject · Thu Dec 04, 2008 3:47 am

Well, I sent my resume out like mad to everyone I know and posted it in a couple of online sites today. My old boss knew somebody that is looking for help desk. I'll be going for an interview but not necessarily take the job. If I begin to feel desperate, I'll take it to put food on the table while I look for something better. I hate help desk positions.

RGC · Post by **RGC** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 8:16 am

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 12:11 am

UnscathedFlyingObject wrote:I just got laid off.

Zero warning. Told the last minute.

Group hug!

I'm sorry UFO, I really am.

That's always how it happens; it makes it so heartless.

I don't see however, how letting the banks just fail would help anyone. And I hope that was a joke about FDR, because he's the one that got this country back on it's feet.

Sly Cherry Chunks · Post by **Sly Cherry Chunks** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 1:02 am

Big companies jerk you around like youre an expendable nothing.

I worked for a small company where everybody was close-knit but ubfortunately it went bust. The site I worked on was part of a larger press group and we were closed by head office to cut costs for everyone else. There was a 30 consultancy period (which somehow lasted from June to October) during which I was able to find another job quite easily. I think the change did me a lot of good.

Then I quit my new job and left the country. Now it's illegal for me to find work.

jpj · Post by **jpj** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 1:22 am

sorry to hear that RGC

RGC · Post by **RGC** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 9:03 am

power UP · Post by **power UP** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 3:39 pm

This is one of the reasons I want to be able to stand on my own feet and work from home. Being my own boss/freelance contractor. Probably won't pay as much as a steady job at a big company, but I'll have more freedom. At least thats what I hope it will be like

(Currently @ UNI for computer science)

shmups.system11.org

Disturbance in the Workforce

Disturbance in the Workforce

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