Unemployed Freepers?

self | April 14, 2002 | self

[SpyderTim]

Lucent to Cut 5,000 More Jobs - Source Reuters | April 11, 2002 | Ben Klayman

Posted on 4/12/02 11:59 PM Pacific by SpyderTim

Lucent to Cut 5,000 More Jobs - Source Thu Apr 11, 4:28 PM ET By Ben Klayman CHICAGO (Reuters) - Telecommunications equipment maker Lucent Technologies Inc. plans to cut about 5,000 more jobs than previously expected by the end of June because of the slowdown in the telecom sector, a source close to the company said on Thursday.

See the link for the rest of the article.

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Just got to thinking, with the economy supposedly recovering, and layoffs continuing all around us, how many Freepers are currently out of work? How are they finding the job market?

1 posted on 4/12/02 11:59 PM Pacific by SpyderTim [ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies | Report Abuse ]

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To: SpyderTim

Luckily the coapany I worked for Did Good and accelerated my options when I was voluntarily laid off. Job market is pretty bad out there in high tech (programming). At one time or another 10 friends of mine were laid off this past year.

2 posted on 4/13/02 8:31 AM Pacific by lelio [ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies | Report Abuse ]

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To: SpyderTim

Just got to thinking, with the economy supposedly recovering, and layoffs continuing all around us, how many Freepers are currently out of work? How are they finding the job market?

Agreed. I know more people in the last year that have gotten laid off, and have remained laid off, than I do those who had no work and found it. This "recovery" is pure fabrication and spin pushed by the WH. The facts are that over half the new jobs created are being done by the government! GDP has increased primarily because of government spending!

Smoke and mirrors.

3 posted on 4/13/02 8:35 AM Pacific by Kobyashi1942 [ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies | Report Abuse ]

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To: Kobyashi1942

My company announced its office relocation way back in April of 2001. My last day was November 30. I've been networking and interviewing since then but haven't found quite what I'm looking for yet. It's not a bad job market if you know what you are doing, but it isn't as good as when I first graduate from college in 2000 either.

4 posted on 4/14/02 1:53 PM Pacific by SpyderTim [ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies | Report Abuse ]

[Dinsdale]

I quit my job about a year ago intending to take six months off in the mountains (It had been an insanely hectic six years, last summer was glorious).

What I saw after september was lots of people unable to make discisions (including me, I'll admit to sitting stunned in front of the tube for what seemed like weeks at a time).

The job market in northern California has picked up in the last month, now they are returning e-mails and calling for interviews. I'm still optimistic and have the ability to say no (If you can't say no catbert will torture you just for fun, she can smell it).

The saving grace for me was that I saw that the crazy times could not last forever. I still have two more years of burn in the bank. But damn I'm BORED (but not bored enough to go back to the previous employer). Time to learn another new skill.

For those of you over 50 you could have it worse, you could be 24, expecting six figures and a ping-pong table in the office.

[LocDoc]

The great state of KY. Land of the Bluegrass

[wku man]

I keep telling this story on this forum, so if you've already heard it, I apologize...

A telecom company I worked for last year (based in suburban DC) had about 15 illegal aliens working for them as "contractors"...on 1099s so no taxes were withheld, from what I understand. I shared an apartment with one of them while we were working on a project in another state. Damn scumbag always bragged about how he didn't have to pay taxes. So, illegal aliens are another reason Americans are losing telecom jobs. Gee, and we keep hearing about how they take jobs "Americans won't take".

Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!

[Dinsdale]

Snitch out your former employer.

If the illegals where not properly contractors (and that is a high hurdle) then the company will be forced to pay the illegals back taxes. That will stop that particular flavor of BS.

[Unknown Freeper]

bump for more suggestions

[Yup!!]

bump

[Young Werther]

Today was my last day. I received a severence package including 2 months pay, 6 months medical benefits and 1 month's outplacement services.

I'm scared!

[bleudevil]

I suggest those out of work or needing a part-time job consider security guard work. Flexible hours (work in the evenings and have days free to interview for better jobs) and depending on your location, you can get an assignment in an office building where you're more of a receptionist than a "rent-a-cop." If you're willing to work odd hours, you can get paid overtime to sit in a guard shack and read.

[bazbo]

BTTT to help other freepers! Maybe those of us that are still employed could post jobs that are available where we work. I work at the Space Center in Florida and there is a list of inside posted jobs that were not filled. Most of the jobs are technical. Last time I looked at the list, (about two weeks ago) there were about 20 jobs available ranging from secretary to HR manager with the largest majority being mechanical and electrical technicians. I'll check the list Wednesday if there is any interest. By the way you can fill out a customized online job application at http://www.unitedspacealliance.com/apps/hrapp/jobs.cfm

[SpyderTim]

Please don't be scared. I'd suggest not letting it get you down for more than two minutes. Take a few minutes, clear your head, and definetly take advantage of the outplacement services. The corporation I worked for is owned by the same corporation that owns Drake Beam Morin. If your company isn't offering a good outplacement firm, I'd recommend contacting your local DBM office.

Network, network, network, and good luck!

[SpyderTim]

Sounds like a good idea. Anybody have a plan? We could set up a web-site or somehow separate threads for different states and freepers can post available jobs that they hear about, or make suggestions for people to consider. Any other ideas?

[glorygirl]

Since you don't want private mail, I'm not going to attempt to explain my initial reaction to your first post. Suffice to say that when you try to be "cute" during your first encounter with a person you are often subject to being misunderstood.

And, since you accused me of accepting a bandage, I'll accept it. But what you proffer isn't much better, and is highly unrealistic, given the "mixed economy" that's been in place in the U.S. since the 1930s. Not to mention what's developed since the 1960s.

So you don't want government handouts, and you don't want free trade. Guess what? None of the rest of us, do, either. If we did we wouldn't be at this place --Free Republic.

But the fact is,many, perhaps most of the jobs open right now, are going to younger, darker, cheaper candidates. And since we effectively "pay" for unemployment compensation, since our employers factor that cost into our wages, why shouldn't we accept it?

What's the realistic alternative? To food stamps and unemployment compensation and government grants and contracts and all the rest? Would communism be a better choice? What if a group of powerful people said the only way to do away with "government employees" is to throw everything in one big pot and make sure EVERYBODY is working for the government. That could become reality much more easily than the scenario you describe.

Are we REALLY going to create an all-volunteer congress and executive branch? The only people able to serve would be those who are already richer than the ones we have now. Are we REALLY going to do away with taxes, not to mention federal highway funds? What happens when the roads get grown over and the signs fall down? I was in Hurricane Andrew in Florida in 1992, and believe me, it is no easy trick to navigate the interstates without road signs, especially in the dark. And if the army hadn't shown up as quickly as it did, there would have a lot more crime and chaos, and very quickly, too.

However, I am a big believer in the line "all politics are local." If you're so very concerned about all this, alien, run for office. Go to your local school board meetings and scream a lot about how much money they're spending on YOUR KID. Bitch about all the stupid laws and revenue collection methods, like traffic and parking tickets. It doesn't win you many friends. And it's a big committment. A lot more difficult than making snide comments on Free Republic.

Ask anyone who's been actively searching for a job and is currently unemployed how easy it is to find a new job and they will back me up. Haven't seen a post yet to disagree. And Freepers are NOT whiners, as a whole.

Anyway, I'm grateful Free Republic is around in a time of uemployment. It helps keep you sane, and gives you the opportunity to "converse" with intelligent people, and get some support in the process. From most of the posters, anyway.

[bandlength]

it's also a ghost town due to more crime/drug murders per capita than NYC due to ridiculous policies by "marion barry" type mayor.

[bandlength]

i hope ernbatavia's story turns out well (post #71), but he sounds just like my dad back in '85 (when the economy was definitely on the upswing under pres. reagan)

my dad was about 51 at the time and in marketing for a (insert name of major health insurance/HMO company here). my dad was educated in the school of "hard knocks" and was always quite the charmer, with a subtle english accent, thus perfect for sales. he was disatisfied at the way "young managers were ruining the company." he IS the most "power of positive thinking" optimist i will EVER meet; NEVER gets discouraged ordinarily, however, he had a HELL of a time finding a job.

he moved out of NY and for almost a year, he couldn't find employment. after my mother was worrying herself to a frazzle, he finally relented to working for the SAME insurance company; just in a different state; and this was a state that was entering an economic boom at the time.

my dad found out in a hurry that there is no such thing as the "experience card" anymore (even after 30 years experience in the sales field).

me thinks ernbatavia is in for a MUCH rougher time than he thinks.

[Snowy]

Sounds like a good idea. Anybody have a plan? We could set up a web-site or somehow separate threads for different states and freepers can post available jobs that they hear about, or make suggestions for people to consider. Any other ideas?

That sounds like a great idea. We should also have a listing of Freeper-owned businesses and websites.

[Quilla]

I agree as well. This is as good a place to start as any. I noticed this ad in our local paper this morning - seems like a perfect fit for any freeper since we are all a tad 'news addicted':

General Help Wanted - news director WTVY-TV, a Benedek Broadcasting station and CBS affiliate, has an immediate opening for a News Director. If you can take a solid, #1 rated news operation to a higher level, then this is an excellent career opportunity for you. Candidates should possess strong writing, producing, creative, management and leadership skills. Must be able to effectively recruit, train and motivate, If you believe you have the proper qualifications and abilities, tell us why by sending the appropriate information including references to General Manager, WTVY- TV, P. O. Box 1089, Dothan, Alabama 36302. EOE.

[gcruse]

Experience is priceless. And the more you get, it gets to be worthless. That's 'cause you got to get older to get there. It's amazing.

[gcruse]

I'm just cynical. I see all the wrinkled greybeards on the Supreme Court and in government, see a minimum age requirement to be President, but no maximum, and wish the best of luck to the demographic bump that is now hitting the wall. In the last fifty years, that bump has changed its environment to suit itself as it went along. Maybe the next growth industry is going to be geriatric litigation support.