[biglenr]

Many of you know this...

On 12/16, my company split into two individual companies. On 12/17, my director called me into his office and told me that my new, smaller company didn't need an ecommerce site, the site was being closed, and my position was being eliminated at the end of the year.

Sucks. But I got a few months severance, so not horrible.

Been searching since.... I have had a ton of interviews, but I kept being the finalist but not the guy who gets the job. I'm fairly certain that that's one of the joys of being over 50 in a fast paced hi tech field....

But next week, I have 3 on site visits with 3 different companies (Raleigh, Greensboro, and Mooresville (hmmm... I might have worked at that one before)), and a 4th (Charlotte) is making the final decision next week for another position I interviewed for last week. I've have multiple phone calls with each of these companies in the last few weeks. All of these are jobs for which I am fully qualified, and which will be sufficient for income and benefits.

I hope and expect to get at least one offer from this streak of interviews....But I will accept any prayers for this y'all might be willing to send my way. I'm doing everything I can to help myself, but think I might need a little more divine push to seal the deal.

I was unhappy and unchallenged at the job I was laid off from, I'm hoping this is God's way of closing one door so that a better one will be opened. I just wish it would open a little faster.

Thanks for any prayers you can send.

 

[BigE818]

You got it my friend......

 

[mikeski]

Sorry to her that Big. I have been duck dodge diving and ducking the hammer since 1994 at IBM. I made my 30 years in July and then 55 in Nov. So I am looking to retire and move on to a new place before it's my turn. And if you read the news you know how people feel there. I am just starting the process myself but the advantage I have is I still have my job while I am looking. I wish you much luck my friend.

mikeski

 

[sundrop]

I feel your pain. I thought I had a nice little job all set up and they just packed up and dumped us before Christmas suddenly. Ive been beating the bushes ever since. I have a life of experiences but no degrees, no certificates. And 48yrs old. Too old to use my back and no papers to prove I can use my brain.... Share the Prayer! Good Luck to you my friend!

 

[cmckearney]

Wasn't that BE Aerospace?

 

[mikeski]

Don't let the lack of paper get you down. The right job will not care about that as much as they care about the skills you bring.

I have no paper or certs either. My common sense, years of experience and proven capabilities are all I have. That runs circles around paper pushers with no common sense. The ***** is instead of getting rid of those that can't do they promote them to managers where they still can't do but make decisions they have no reason to make other than they are the manager.

In my case many companies want a CISA. It's an IT audit cert. But it does not do anything to help you do the job. My technical skills allow me to do my job.

The only time I can see a cert doing anything is if you are a consultant to companies. And where I work no one with a cert got more money when the acquired it, no promotion, nada. So I have had no drive to get one. I would rather fish or hunt.

One thing I am seeing though is a difference of opinion associated to my time in the Navy. In two pre-screen interviews I was actually thanked by the screener for my service. This is such a different thought compared to 30 years ago. I really feel for the Vietnam vets. They were treated like crap when they came back. I served in the late 70's and they seemed to just brush that off when I was looking for a job back then. Today, people are thankful. At almost every Hurricanes hockey game there is an active service member or vet thanked for their service with a a short bio and a standing ovation from the crowd. Most are embarrassed by the attention. But thankful just the same that they are noticed in a positive way.

The market is much better today than a couple years ago. Keep your heads up and keep on trucking. There is good work out there for you.

mikeski

 

[RouseD]

Prayers from the Rouses Len, and sundrop.

mikeski, you sound like a carbon copy of my son. He had 4 years in the navy, and is currently doing IT work at a small plant, and has no IT cert so far. He was working on his IT cert, and had to get some Englishes and other classes behind him. He has done that with flying colors. He did this on his computer from home. Now he needs to take the IT courses, but his work site will not work with him on actual in school class time, so he is blocked from finishing unless he can find a way to just take computer classes. He may not need it either. He is 45 yo now. So far he has a good stable job, if there is anything like that anymore. I was thinking that if he did have IT cert. and his work run out, it may be easier for him to find other work in the same field at his age. Hope you make retirement Ok and can do what you wish.

 

[sundrop]

I think what hinders me the most is I don't have a chain of years of experience in one field. More of a "Jack of all Trades" so it doesn't carry much clout. A lot of companies are now looking to the Vets as well, which I support fully...

 

[RouseD]

You have a lot of personal references if you need them Brent.

 

[mikeski]

Prayers from the Rouses Len, and sundrop.

Now he needs to take the IT courses, but his work site will not work with him on actual in school class time, so he is blocked from finishing unless he can find a way to just take computer classes.

So far he has a good stable job, if there is anything like that anymore.

Hope you make retirement Ok and can do what you wish.

Ya, and that's another reason I do not have a cert. Big Blue stopped helping with cost recovery for cert tests and maintenance 10+ years ago. And getting the cert is usually the easy part. It's the time for continuing education hours and cost you have to absorb if your company will not help. I have had team mates with multiple certs slowly loose them because of that.

If you are working for a company that is offshoring it's work to other countries like Big Blue has been for about 15 years. It's just a matter of time before your job will be moved. I been watching friends and coworkers leave for to long. They just had another round and more will be gone the end of the month. And there will be more over the next couple months cuz they are not done yet. HR can only handle so many at a time.

I can call it retirement because I have 30 years and am 55. Under normal guise it would be quitting. I can't retire yet. But I do look forward to it cuz dad always told me "Retirement is good".

mikeski

 

[RouseD]

I can vouch for your dad. I got extremely lucky and made it 42 years with DuPont. Saw it go down hill fast. They had a new product (Sorona) that kept my job for me. Went from almost 4,000 DuPont employees in 1966 to 37 DuPont employees around 2005. Another company bought the Dacron and made it about 3 or 4 years, and left.
Retirement is good.

 

[Drum Runner]

Prayers from the Rouses Len, and sundrop.

mikeski, you sound like a carbon copy of my son. He had 4 years in the navy, and is currently doing IT work at a small plant, and has no IT cert so far. He was working on his IT cert, and had to get some Englishes and other classes behind him. He has done that with flying colors. He did this on his computer from home. Now he needs to take the IT courses, but his work site will not work with him on actual in school class time, so he is blocked from finishing unless he can find a way to just take computer classes. He may not need it either. He is 45 yo now. So far he has a good stable job, if there is anything like that anymore. I was thinking that if he did have IT cert. and his work run out, it may be easier for him to find other work in the same field at his age. Hope you make retirement Ok and can do what you wish.

I work for a worldwide company. Fortune 500. The education benefit is not what it used to be. They will not pay for the schooling for courses that would actually be beneficial to me and them in what I do. For instance an AutoCad certification.
It has to be schooling where the end result is a degree. MBA, Doctorate, etc.
That may be well and good for a young guy that has plenty of time in his future to pick his way through a college degree bit by bit while he works 10-12 hours a day. but for those of us that are on the back side of life, we just need to get the job done.

 

[biglenr]

Thanks all... I'll keep you posted.

Brent - Good luck in your search as well. Unfortunately, today, so many job apps are online, and the "degree" or "Certification" check box being left unchecked might make your application, regardless of qualifications, not appear before a real person who can judge you for what you really are. Personally, I have no idea what value a degree I earned 30 years ago, when I was more interested in beer and women than studying, has in today's world. Probably nothing, everything I learned in college is pretty much obsolete.

Mikeski - Yeah, i'm having that issue now. I earned my PMP project manager certification, but my company wouldn't pay for the CEU's to keep it, and I couldn't pay the $300-$400 a year to keep it.

Hope to see many of you at Kerr Scott in May

 

[dbeam]

Prayers and best wishes to both of you.

Darrell

 

[dbeam]

Prayers and best wishes to both of you.

Darrell

 

[biglenr]

Weather has been a big problem... Trip to Raleigh has been rescheduled 3 times (now next Wednesday), and Mooresville is going to reschedule for next week as well.

Charlotte gave offer to someone else...

But Greensboro (VF) is supposed to give me an offer next week, apparently my interview blew them away. It's a good opportunity and I'd be thrilled to have it.

Keep the prayers coming.... They seem to be working.

 

[dbeam]

Praying it works out for you Len.

Darrell

 

[RouseD]

Prayers continued Len. If these companies knew you like we do, they'd jump at the opportunity to get you.

 

[Yak C]

Father,
We thank you and we praise you, we magnify your name. Though we don't know your design for our lives we know with a surety that it will work out for the good and we thank you for that. We come each of us attached to this forum post asking that you meet Len's needs according to your will. Help us as iron sharpens iron to be there for Len, some for encouragement and others for help where they can. For we know that You are in control and is already working this out for Len and we thank You. Lord be glorified in all that we do and may Jesus be lifted, we pray this prayer in Jesus name, Amen.

 

[blugil]

I am in a very similar boat. I have worked on this site for 17 year, 7 as a contractor and 10 as full time employee. I along with 900 others were told Dec 2014 that we would be phased out over 2015, and R&D operations closing. Luckily, I am still working, bit not sure for how long. I have been looking for something to roll right into. Like someone mentioned above, I am over 50 and have no papers. I have even been told by a company, we like your experience, but we do require a BS degree. Well, like y'all, I learned by applying myself with what God blessed me with.

Pray for me to find the job God has for me. I will lift y'all up as well for God to provide you that special job. <>< blugil

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