Welcome to the "Hard Times Saloon!"

8/6/2003 | Luke Skyfreeper

[cyborg]

I think I'm going to write Rush and ask him to post that old 'prosperity show' again. That was an excellent show about people who were downsized and started their own businesses.

I just saw my AMEX bill and foresee a long tour of duty in the Hardtimes Saloon myself. Oh well my life could be worse. I could be dead or something.

[rdb3]

So how's it going for you?

It's going fine now. My former company called me back the first week of November. Although I'm not developing anymore, I am in the wireless/data security (integrity assurance) side of the game now.

They sure have become paranoid since I left. But no matter. I'm now a paid geek again!

[Luke Skyfreeper]

No more car sales? Wow! That's what you were doing, right -- some kind of sales manager gig at a car dealership?

[rdb3]

No more car sales? Wow! That's what you were doing, right -- some kind of sales manager gig at a car dealership?

That is correct. I did that for about 14 months after I had to shut my biz down due to people like CompUSA. That's just the market, you know?

I was a fleet manager at a Ford dealership here in the DFW area. When I got the call to come back, all the folks at the Ford dealership felt was a sudden, cold breeze. That breeze was me leaving with the "hurryupness."

Car/truck sales is a bad gig in more ways than one. Even experienced salesmen can't make it like they used to due to competition which depress price margins. The only folks making it in that field now are those who live in smaller areas where dealerships aren't owned as much by major corporations (like AutoNation, Sonic Auto, or Van Tile) and finance managers.

[Luke Skyfreeper]

Car/truck sales is a bad gig in more ways than one.

I can imagine. I've been doing some jobs that really suck, too.

Remember the telemarketer trying to sell you phone service, that you slammed the phone down on about a year ago? That was me. :-p

[Scott from the Left Coast]

Well...I am very happy to say that about 2 months ago, after 6 months of being on unemployment, I landed the best job I've ever had -- in financial terms as well as the work itself. And I've moved to a new city to take the position and bought a great new house (it was a requirement of my work that I live in a particular city).

I urge everyone to hang in there and keep on trying, sheer persistence seems to win the day more often than anything else. And it seems like nothing will ever work out (I know I sure felt that way a lot and for a long time), but if you keep trying you give yourself a chance.

I'd have never thought it while I was going through it, but the hard times too, they pass.

[TexNotMex]

I lost my job on Feb. 6th of this year. I did railroad maintenance for a company based out of Minnesota. We worked 80 to 100 hours a week and I made the most money I have ever made in my entire life there. The job was hard and always being on the road away from home really sucked too. My last boss was the biggest hypocrite asshole I have ever met and on top of the 14 hour days it just made it that much harder. I read earlier in this thread that a bad job can kill you quicker than being unemployed. That is so true.....
I have just exhausted my unemployment benefits and am unable to look for work. I have been sick for the last 3 months with some kind of tonsil infection that refuses to go away. At first it was bacterial and then it turned Viral and just recently, I found out I had mono. The doc says I probably wont be able to do anything for the next 3 months until (if) I get better.
I am just about broke and every day it hurts to get out of bed. I had to turn down a job doing some trucking because I was too sick to work. That really sucked because descent paying jobs in El Paso are almost nonexistent and getting a trucking company to hire me with my driving record was hard to do. I look in the newspaper and see jobs that require a masters degree and a minimum of 2 or 3 or 4...years experience and these jobs are only paying about $30,000/year. I am trying to get out of this town and maybe move to Seattle for a fresh start, but that is proving hard to do right now. Hell, maybe I'll write me a country music hit....

[RaceBannon]

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Manager of Quality Control & Engineering Testing 

Company:	Continuum Search
Location:	US-TN-Brentwood
Pay:	80,000.00 - 100,000.00 USD /year
Status:	Full Time, Employee
Shift:	First Shift (Day)

Job Category:	Manufacturing and Production
Education Level:	Bachelor's Degree

Use the employer's preferred method to send your resume - click Apply Now!

Job Description

We are currently working with our client Murray, Inc., a leading manufacturer of lawn and garden power tools, in a search for a Manager of Quality Control & Engineering Testing for their facility in Suzhou, China.

Functional Responsibility:
Manage Engineering Testing and Q/C functions at the Engineering and Q/C Lab in Suzhou to test, inspect, and audit component parts and whole goods exported to Murray U.S. operations/customers. Work closely with China Sourcing functions and Murray U.S. Engineering and Sourcing to achieve objectives and expected benefits.
• Manage, supervise, support, lead and train all employees in the Engineering test and Q/C Lab organization.
• Responsible for performance, documentation and communication of all test, Q/C, and audit functions to support objectives.
• Organize and establish test and Q/C priorities, processes and procedures and manage completion of activities on schedule.
• Communication of drawing, specification, test and Q/C requirements and test and Q/C results with China suppliers. Assist Sourcing function with supplier development.

Objectives:
Improve Murray U.S. Sourcing of China-sourced components and whole goods by:

• Rapid, prioritized Q/C inspection, testing and audit in China
• Improved China supplier technical communication and response
• Technical documentation and communication to Murray U.S. Engineering and Sourcing functions, China Sourcing function and suppliers
• In-county Q/C inspection and verification of all production lots before shipment to U.S.
• Audit China Suppliers
• Assist China Sourcing function in supplier development



Position Requirements:
• BS Mechanical or Electrical Engineering. U.S. professional engineer license not a requirement but a plus.
• Ten years minimum personal experience in the design, development, and testing of outdoor powered products similar to all Murray product lines.
• Proven experience and success in managing people , product engineering and testing to tight schedule requirements in an Asian/U.S. multicultural environment.
• Ability to clearly and concisely document and communicate test and Q/C results in English in a timely and appropriate manner.
• Thorough knowledge of U.S. market testing, standards, compliance and Q/C requirements and processes.
• Assignment is either expatriate living in China, or frequent requirement for China-U.S. travel, 2 to 3 weeks in China every month, or about 65-75% of time year-round.
• Ability to speak clear and fluent technical English. Bi-lingual a plus but not a requirement.

Contact Information

Company:	Continuum Search
Address:	105 Westwood Place Suite 325 Brentwood,TN 37027

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[FR_addict]

Thanks for the ping. I'm unemployed again, this time by choice.

I enjoyed the work very much at my new job, and didn't mind the long hours, but it was tough to get off to visit the family on the weekend, since the job was out of town in New Jersey. The cost of temporary living arrangements was also very expensive.

I had to have surgery, had an auto accident, and made a decision to go home after eight months. The loneliness was getting to me. I have to pay back the moving expenses now.

I'm unemployed again in the Research Triansle Park area, but my spouse is working. I had a great Thanksgiving with all the family. My daughter was married yesterday. Now, I'm ready to try again with a positive attitude. So far no interviews, but I am hopeful that this is the beginning of a real recovery.

In the meantime, I'm working on a software project of my own to keep up my skills and maybe sell it.

At the job I had, I'd estimate about 80% were Indians, and most were Visa workers. I'm keeping up with the offshore story. It looks like some companies are starting to re-evaluate this option.

I hope everyone is starting to do better.

[FR_addict]

Hi FoxPro,

I found your story very interesting. How is your work with the offshore team going? Or have you found something else?

[FoxPro]

It is going OK. I still am having a hard time selling development services like Oracle, SQL Server, JAVA, C#/++ and a whole lot of other stuff for under $20 per hour. We did save this trucking company $200,000. Boy, are they happy. I made $7000 off of that one. Home Depot keeps delaying their project. I am also working on some beltway bandits. The tech sector is still in a bad slump. There are going to be tons of computer systems to re-write after this economic mess right itself. I hope to be in the middle of it.

[FR_addict]

There are going to be tons of computer systems to re-write after this economic mess right itself. I hope to be in the middle of it.

I hope that is true. I'm surprised at the quality of software or more accurately lack of quality software out there. It's scary when you are having trouble selling software expertise for under $20.00 an hour. I am convinced that some of the large offshore companies are giving kickbacks to get in the door. Have you tried contracting yourself at some of the large contracting houses? It sounds like you have good skills at requirements gathering and putting projects together. Good luck to you.

[expatguy]

Another idea is simply to do business for yourself.

Consider the Import Export business.

There are a lot of freepers such as myself who live and work overseas and would be more than happy to ship items to the States.

People are amazed when I tell them the prices of some items in Southeast Asia. Buying peppercorns and exotic spices by the kilo, tradition herbal medicines, textiles and clothing. All kinds of things that you can purchase here for very cheap and make a good profit selling in the States or Europe.

The last time I travelled back to visit my family I brought a few pareos (sarongs) for my family and some big thirsty bath towels that cost me only around 2 dollars each. The same items sell in shops in the States for 20-30 dollars and more.

Imagine getting a little cart in a shopping mall or doing your own distribution and selling a few of these items. Its not really that difficult.

[expatguy]

Here is an example of a guy in Hawaii selling stuff from S.E. Asia.

He sells pareos (sarongs) for 150 pieces at US1000

The things are manufactured where I live in Malaysia and the cost is a lot less.

[July 4th]

I guess I'll chime in since I am a student, but currently (and unsuccessfully) searching for a job. I'm in my last year of law school, and just blew a few thousand dollars on 200 letters and about 10 interviews. Nothing positive yet, and there's only on interview on which I haven't heard back. This means I have to do it all over again next semester.

I don't care so much about the letters/interview process, it's just that I'm essentially trying to find a job while having another one to do. I still have to go to class, take exams, and do well at a top tier law school. Juggling the two is not the easiest of things to do, especially when interviewing means missing an entire day of class.

The real disappointment was getting rejected from the Presidential Fellows program, which was essentially a ticket into the executive branch of the government. As a Freeper, I already feel like I have the inside track, because just being here and reading here has given me more real-world political experience than people I know who live in Washington. I'm sure a lot of other applicants feel slighted, but honestly, if they don't even want to talk to me I have no idea what kind of person they're looking for.

Anyhow, exams start soon, so I need to get back to work. Wish me luck! (And by all means, let me know if you have any leads...particularly you guys in DC).

[Gabz]

I missed this thread when you first posted and just now discovered it.

The enthusiasm of some of the posting is contagious.

Your story is super - and I particularly like the gore/Bush analogy!!!!

I've been self-employed doing lobbying and media relations type work for more than 15 years, mostly via the internet....but about 2 and a half years when we decided to move, the last of my clients decided they didn't need my services any longer - it taking so long to sell our house has really put a hurt on us financially. And there is not much call for the kind of work I did in this area.

I'm hoping that doing some freelance writing will work for me. One local paper has brought me on as a contract writer and I hope I can either get more work in other areas like that or at least do well enough to land a more permanent gig with the paper.

Good luck to all and I hope this thread keeps up!!!!

[Noumenon]

I'm happy to report that my sole proprietorship, StarLAN Consulting Services is starting to pay its way. It's only been up and running since May of 2003. You've got to really scramble for the business here in the Inland NorthWest, but it's the price of living in such a fantastic and deeply conservative and liberty-loving place.

[Marauder]

Since my sources for IT contracts have dried up, I've been doing several things, including playing music (it paid my tuition in college, and helped even after graduation), and now I'm working in a retail store where the owner wants me to design a web page at this ungodly low hourly wage (I've refused). He actually complains even when I stop long enough to trim my fingernails. So I flipped him a quarter for the time, and then he complained of my attitude ... but he kept the 25 cents.

This is a nightmare, but I'm learning stuff even now, plus it continually prompts me to keep looking for a real job as well as considering options for opening my own business. Anything to get out of that store.

[LibertyAndJusticeForAll]

I found a job 500+ miles from home in my field (programming commercial s/w), although it is a contract job. From 4/03 to 11/03 I sent resumes all over, but it wasn't until a month ago that I found anything. In twenty years, I've never seen a job market as bad as this one. It is and has been tough financially and emotionally.
I'm slightly hopeful that the job market will pick up. However, I'm still angry with how much of our technology and manufacturing is being given away; even to hostile governments like Communist China. America will not survive as we know it if our corporations and Congress continue with the current trade policies.

[TaxRelief]

Gee, Luke. Who suggested the free lance work?