Jay M's thread got me thinking about what I'd do. Would you travel the world? Find another job in the same area? Make a career move? Go back to school?

Discuss...

immediately being looking for another one.

edit: since jay's edit to include more of a question. i would first try to find a replacement job in the same area with other companies. i would not go back to school(it cant pay bills). i would probably beg for short term photog gigs to help the transition

Find another job.. regardless of the pay. Money is money.

find another job, same field. i like what i do.

I'd pack up the bike and disappear until my savings ran out. I'd find a way to make money along the way to see if I could make it around the world.

Is this a rhetorical question?

It depends on the individual. It also differs if you have a family to look after.

If I were single with no attachments, I'd opt for a change of scenery by finding a way to make a living elsewhere. But since I have a sizable family that I am responsible for, I need to hunker down and get a job comparable in income to the one lost. I don't buy "I'll do anything" bull****. There's no better way to shoot yourself in the foot in your career by going backwards with giant steps.

Originally Posted by tbert

Is this a rhetorical question?

It depends on the individual. It also differs if you have a family to look after.

If I were single with no attachments, I'd opt for a change of scenery by finding a way to make a living elsewhere. But since I have a sizable family that I am responsible for, I need to hunker down and get a job comparable in income to the one lost. I don't buy "I'll do anything" bull****. There's no better way to shoot yourself in the foot in your career by going backwards with giant steps.

What he said - mostly - Since I'm a Gov't employee I could bounce around in other lower jobs to get by. I also have a knack for making money here and there. Between diving and other little things, we'd get by but it would suck.

If my wife did not want to leave the area:

Work from home doing what I do (BIM modeling) I currently do it for two compaines and we have about 8 other companies in town that I also draw for (and they pay my company)

so it would just be me and no overhead so un-beatable prices and exclusive knowledge of the software.

I use to do it on the side till my company agreed to pay me more so that they could have exclusive rights to my services.


If my wife did want to leave the area:

Move to a flat in Berlin and work at a shipping company a friend of the family owns over there...or be some kind of english speaking tour guide.

in my current situation: sign up for unemployment. Start looking for similar jobs locally. Take Elias out of daycare (that and unemployment would be very close to what I make now! ). Start shooting a lot more (landscapes a few times a week, find sporting events, arch/real estate). Push my images into galleries a lot more. Possibly sell a car and drive Nikki to work. Forclose on the house as a last option, but list it and start renting (for less/month) would be key. Oh, and monetize NSOP even more and write more tutorials/lessons etc.

if I were single? I would have quit this winter or earlier. Sold everything but my car, camera and ski gear. Taken off on an epic (US) roadtrip out west (going through NE first). End up staying out west and picking up a blue collar job and renting the cheapest efficiency I possibly could.

I HATE owing people money. Our mortgage is our biggest issue right now, then a school lone. We own both cars. But if I were to start from scratch, getting rid of ALL debt would make things much easier. I could live like a king single in MT working at McDicks and probably love life...

Don't get me wrong, I love my wife and son, but with them comes financial responsibilities that change EVERYTHING. I also HATE our house (but like the neighborhood).

In my industry it's always a possibility.

Emma and I would probably finish our round the world trip that we started when we came over here... We are lucky in that we aren't tied to anything.

I would find something to do. Im not really fussed what, so long as i enjoy it. I would try and get back into the industry im in and doing the same thing. I love my job! I would be gutted if I lost it.

I want to change jobs, I've been slowly paying off what debts I have. Got rid of the nice car. If I we're in crisis mode I could sell my camera gear.
A guy I worked with, he's single and doesn't own a house. He saved up his cash, had all his bills payed off and quit his job here. He then backpacked through Europe for a month. When he came back he found another job. I was pretty jealous.

Most likely I would find another job close by, would it be the same industry ? I don't know.

I know there is at least one opening in JB

The only issue with just getting up and going is the apartment or home. Most apartments have year contracts. Homes are near impossible to just sell quick and move out instantly.

Originally Posted by jacobsen1

Forclose on the house as a last option, but list it and start renting (for less/month) would be key.

Our mortgage is our biggest issue right now, then a school lone. We own both cars. But if I were to start from scratch, getting rid of ALL debt would make things much easier. .

Can you rent it out now and move to a rented place?

Im a big fan of owning a property. Emma and I still have our place in NZ and even though eveerytime we are home I want to sell it. (Especially when there is a maintainence issue!) I convince my self That it is money that isn't going anywhere. Even if it's value has moved backward or isn't moving a whole lot, it will eventually generate some equity. Not having it hanging over my head would be a nice feeling at times.

It may be different as Emma and I own more than half of our place so the rent more than covers the mortgage, it changes things.

If I had enough money, I'd sell the house and move the family to the west coast, probably Oregon... and then I would try to find restaurant work until I could get a photography business or something going.

I would collect Unemployment and hit the ground running and try to go full time in Photography.

Originally Posted by jjswee

The only issue with just getting up and going is the apartment or home. Most apartments have year contracts. Homes are near impossible to just sell quick and move out instantly.

efficiencies. or rent a room.

Originally Posted by WRXJIM

Can you rent it out now and move to a rented place?

thought about it, but this:

maintainence issue!

we bought at the worst time... if we sold now we'd cover the note but lose our down payment basically. That's even with the "improvements" I've done (hardwoods upstairs, new deck etc). You'll see saturday.

Pack up and move back to Sydney where my family and now my gf lives

Last time I lost my job I packed up, drove cross-country and moved to Boston.

I moved back to California 5 months later

Originally Posted by The Monster

Last time I lost my job I packed up, drove cross-country and moved to Boston.

I moved back to California 5 months later

Originally Posted by The Monster

Last time I lost my job I packed up, drove cross-country and moved to Boston.

I moved back to California 5 months later

I thought CO was in there?

My plan is a mix.

I'm with Ben and Ted in that my single plan would be to just jump ship and travel, ending up somewhere cool. I've got the bike, the gear, etc to make it a go, and with savings I've got I could go for a few years easily.

But, with Kris and Noah, everything is different. I think my inclination if I lost the job would be to do the same - collect unemployment, travel, enjoy stuff, etc, but at the same time I'd be looking for permanent work to get us a house, stability, etc. I think realistically we've have a few fun months traveling, I'd shoot a bunch and probably make efforts to sustain our way of life there, but really we don't spend much money - currently it's rent, insurance, and one loan for Kris that's like $100/mo. If I could bring in $2k/mo we could break even.

I can tell you though, once our lease was up in June next year we'd move somewhere cheap and fun. I would do pretty much any job inbetween to sustain - bartend, manual labor, etc. My guess is Kris would probably get something like that too that would be opposite scheduled of mine so we could focus on Noah when we're home.

Originally Posted by jacobsen1

I thought CO was in there?

CO was 2 years later, and purely for some ass.

find another part time job that hopefully offers benefits and a steady paycheck. That is if it happened within the next year or two. I'm thinking after that I might be married and the business will have picked up enough that I wouldn't have to worry about medical or income...

I won't lose my job per say, but I would have to do something that is not like me to get thrown out...that being said I retire at 20 years in the service, which I draw 50% pension at that point...that is 5 years from now, then I go get grown up job...which I will probably be working for a guy that when he got out was senior to me by time in, but junior to me in rank. So I might be a Navy Chief when I get out, and end up going to work for a guy that was a way lower rank. Nice to have friends in low places that are now defense contractors.

Just so you know, I lost my job in July 2009 and been looking for a similar one since.

Originally Posted by tbert

Just so you know, I lost my job in July 2009 and been looking for a similar one since.

Seriously though, is it related to being stuck in your house etc? I understand your point about taking a lower position is back peddling in your career, but which reflects better on the person, taking the job, over-performing, and potentially moving up internally (since that seems to be the trend in this economy) or holding out for the same or better?

There's a point where holding out just starts looking like arrogance.. just saying.

Goes back to my original point, I'm lucky to have a job in this economy, I have bills to pay, I sure as **** have enough money to pay them while I hunt for the right job, but I'm not going to bankrupt myself in the meantime.

I was offered a manager's position at BestBuy when I was a Junior in college. They asked me to quit college and come work for them fulltime, I had been working there for 4 months, I told them that was insane and irresponsible. They countered with a ballpark salary of $50k.. I laughed it off and told them no thank you. I left the job after about 8 months when my first Co-op job came onto my plate, that was one of the factors that made me leave the part-time role. Just saying, if you've got a college degree you're ahead of the game in some parts of the country.

In some fantasy if I were laid off I'd collect unemployment and travel the world. Realistically? I was lucky as hell to be selected for the job I'm currently in, and I got in right before the huge down turn. While I currently loathe the situation, it pays the bills and floods my savings, but I've been looking for the next step(out) since Aug/Sept of 2008. Based on those facts, I reject any notion that picking up some work in my field is easy, and as a result I would take any job that I was offered.

Wow, you're kind of a dick

I did not mention that to get your pity, dude.. I am trying to point out that the hypothetical question the thread throws out, in fact, has been very real for me. And I have considered doing many things, but could not, given my family circumstances.

I have a MS in Management and a BS in Management Engineering. It's not that I am holding out. I am simply not being offered any jobs... Over the last year, of all the applications, resumes, etc. I sent out, web forms I completed, I only received three phone screenings and one actual in-person interview. It's very tough out there.

And my MIL just suggested the other day that I get into McDonalds management training program for $20K a year...Well I earned more than that 12 years ago. There is no way it can sustain us until I actually become a "manager."

Originally Posted by The Monster

Wow, you're kind of a dick

I guess, if saying to be aware of the economy, cut your losses, and get back to work is being a dick then yep.

Originally Posted by tbert

I did not mention that to get your pity, dude.. I am trying to point out that the hypothetical question the thread throws out, in fact, has been very real for me. And I have considered doing many things, but could not, given my family circumstances.

I have a MS in Management and a BS in Management Engineering. It's not that I am holding out. I am simply not being offered any jobs... Over the last year, of all the applications, resumes, etc. I sent out, web forms I completed, I only received three phone screenings and one actual in-person interview. It's very tough out there.

And my MIL just suggested the other day that I get into McDonalds management training program for $20K a year...Well I earned more than that 12 years ago. There is no way it can sustain us until I actually become a "manager."

I didn't mean holding out as in you had offers, holding out as in you're not willing to take income regardless of what job it is. It is tough out there to get -THE- job you want or a similar job, but there are jobs.

Originally Posted by Blazin

I didn't mean holding out as in you had offers, holding out as in you're not willing to take income regardless of what job it is. It is tough out there to get -THE- job you want or a similar job, but there are jobs.

dude, do you have a mortgage? do you have a wife? do you have multiple kids? do you have health insurance? do you have ANYONE besides yourself DEPENDING on you?

i think you'd do well to walk a mile in tberts shoes before you go making smartass posts of violins.

My dick comment stands, you're not kind of a dick, you're just a dick.

I was done arguing over the internet with arrogant pricks when I left Nasioc. I am not about to restart that. Let's just hope for your sake, Eric, you won't get canned any time soon.

no matter what i can work on my uncle's lobster boat

Right now, while I'm single? I really don't know. I could try and extrapolate the situation, but it would depend on my circumstances, emotions and finances at that time. I guess it would depend largely on the near future job market.

If it was good, and say I had a year to do whatever I wanted, I'd:

Finish the hot rod, although on a different budget
Once I got that finished, I'd travel around the country and see some of you people
Take a crap-ton of photos - my photography is directly un-proportional to my other hobbies
Attempt to bang some hippie chicks
Maybe do a tour of south america
Learn spanish

Otherwise, if the job market was nil, I'd just start searching for another job. However, I probably wouldn't work for an EPC. I'd change things up...maybe work at a design firm of a different capacity. I've always wanted to take a job designing things that involve Solidworks or something that involves intricate parts. Most of those jobs are less pay than oil and gas though. If I couldn't find one, I'd have to cash out a few figures and take a loss on some stocks.

If the job market was really bad, I'd just whore myself out to really hot chicks. The only hiccup I could foresee would be if the hot chick(s) tried to tell me that they were in fact the prostitute and try to get me to pay them. That wouldn't be good at all. Silly hoes. Or I'd just go back to the Middle East

Depends on how successful the business gets and if I can work out the logistics. I have some high expectations, and working hard to realize them. If it works out, then I'll be a school teacher while shooting 20-30 weddings a year.

But if the business doesn't pick up, I'll probably go into engineering full time. Lots of jobs in power engineering, and it'll start me off at 60k, potential to take me up to 200k in 10 years. A lot of it depends on who I end up with also

Originally Posted by ride5000

dude, do you have a mortgage? do you have a wife? do you have multiple kids? do you have health insurance? do you have ANYONE besides yourself DEPENDING on you?

i think you'd do well to walk a mile in tberts shoes before you go making smartass posts of violins.

Actually, everything you just asked me about is all the more reason I'd take any job that was out there regardless of the pay. Some income is better than no income. I don't see how that's something to argue.

Take the envelope full of money I found in my bosses office, burn the place down, and go to some tropical resort complaining about the margaritas and how they put salt on them while I asked for no salt... and threaten to have the place condemned.

--kC
(I'd take a job to pay whatever bills couldn't be paid via my 401K cashout. This may mean stepping up my freelance work in the meantime)

401k is a compulsory retirement fund or what?

Originally Posted by Warus

401k is a compulsory retirement fund or what?

Completely voluntary, but anyone with half a brain has one.

We have no safety net in 'murca.

And I'd whore my wife out. But that goes without saying. Right? ... Right?

--kC

Ok we have a compulsory 9% contribution by employer as part of your pay

Originally Posted by Warus

Ok we have a compulsory 9% contribution by employer as part of your pay

That's a good idea, but essentially un-American

Yes I know we are commie bastards but I like that we have Medicare and other safety nets but do disagree with some of the benefits paid to the useless. I'm all for supporting unemployed but only those that have shown contribution to the workforce previously and not permanent bums.

^ MA State employees have to pay varying % based on when they got in, right now all employees since 2002, IIRC, have to pay 12%.

Tbert, sorry to come off as a dick.. obviously everyone's situation is different. Just wanted to lay my thoughts out it was never intended to be a slap in your face, rather some food for thought.

i'd take whatever job i can get. probably sell my house and move into a rental.

actually i'd probably bump one of the people below me in the union and take their job.... very much a dick move, but 1 doesn't have kids and wants to move out of the area, and the other is divorced and talks about leaving constantly.

Originally Posted by Blazin

Actually, everything you just asked me about is all the more reason I'd take any job that was out there regardless of the pay.

you could have saved us both some time and simply said e) none of the above.

Some income is better than no income. I don't see how that's something to argue.

if working for "some" income prevents you from having the time/availability to search for "enough" income then you're going backwards.

there's a lot of things you might not "see," but that doesn't mean they don't exist.

Originally Posted by s7khan

Depends on how successful the business gets and if I can work out the logistics. I have some high expectations, and working hard to realize them. If it works out, then I'll be a school teacher while shooting 20-30 weddings a year.

do you have any background in education? Don't you need it? I also think teaching would be fun, but I thought you either had to go the private school route (and good luck getting a job there?) or have a degree in it?

Originally Posted by Blazin

Some income is better than no income. I don't see how that's something to argue.

you do realize that as soon as you get another job unemployment stops right? And unemployment from a $50k job is more than a $20k job right? So effectively, until the government cheese goes away, you actually make LESS taking any old job. So in that case, work it until it's done done, THEN go get some random job at McDicks if it's the only source of income.

Originally Posted by The Monster

Completely voluntary, but anyone with half a brain has one.

Originally Posted by KC

And I'd whore my wife out. But that goes without saying. Right? ... Right?

--kC

wait, did Ken login as KC somehow? Oh, right, Krissy already whores herself out (online).

Originally Posted by Warus

Yes I know we are commie bastards but I like that we have Medicare and other safety nets but do disagree with some of the benefits paid to the useless. I'm all for supporting unemployed but only those that have shown contribution to the workforce previously and not permanent bums.

I agree, I wasn't suggesting the American way was better, just different.