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Old 09-07-2017, 08:55 AM   #141
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Originally Posted by fired_need_help View Post
I've had continuous employment since age ~21 till today. S/w development... C++ / Scripting / GUI / etc. Latest salary was ~140k.
I sincerely doubt you will have trouble landing a decent-paying SW development job with those credentials. If you were making around $140k, you're likely in the realm of a "software architect", which usually indicates highly advanced skills. So I wouldn't worry too much about being able to find something comparable. You just need to get yourself out there, contact a few local recruiters, network on LinkedIn, etc.

Regarding what to say about why you resigned your former position, keep it very generic and pleasant. "Oh... well I was looking for some newer, more exciting opportunities where I could grow my skill set and work on more challenging/interesting projects." If they ask why you resigned before securing another job, just say your wife works and can easily float the family while you look around for the perfect new gig... or something like that.
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Old 09-07-2017, 08:59 AM   #142
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Originally Posted by fired_need_help View Post
Question: How would it sound if on the question on why I have quit, in addition to saying that I am looking for new career opportunities, I'd add that "I like to travel and I like to take my family on vacations to Europe (or international in general), but it has become a problem in my previous employment"?

It is actually true, since as I wrote above, it could've been one of the first red flags that has started the whole issue and I've also been grilled multiple times on where I am going, why, etc.... and that in addition to the mountains of the paperwork.
(In fact, my older sister has been telling me for years that I should start looking for a non-government related job because of my love to travel, but salary was so good that I've ignored the advice).

Thanks.
Definitely not.
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Old 09-07-2017, 09:16 AM   #143
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Talked to several head hunters today, who have replied after I've updated my profile / submitted resume on job search sites.
Couple of them have asked "that question" and I've replied with my above answer. Don't know either I've passed the sniff test or not, but at least one of them has submitted my profile to an open position.
Thanks for a great suggestion on simplifying the answer.

Unfortunately, all decent opportunities are in 100+ miles range. So, I'd need to make some tough decisions on what to do with the house / location / etc.
Posters, who were questioning my sanity above about selling the house, don't realize what it means to look for a job in a city where X/10 people work on government-related jobs.
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Old 09-07-2017, 09:21 AM   #144
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Why do you say people were "laughing" most of them just said don't rush out and plan on selling your house the first day you lost your job.

That chip on your shoulder won't help you going forward.
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Old 09-07-2017, 09:22 AM   #145
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Why not keep it simple: "I WANTED TO TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT?"

Several of us have left cushy government jobs to try something different. I know I did. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't. But they can't ask you what you did when you were working for the government. They can ask you a kind of skills you have but not actually what you did. Aread you overthinking this? Like you're concerned that your skills won't transfer to a non government position?
There are multiple reasons why I am overthinking this:
- Still in shock, since I've lost job < 48 hrs. ago
- Never had a formal or phone screening interview in my entire career. Got a job via Co-op / intern out of college and then switched jobs once after a short discussion.
I've applied for more jobs in the last 24 hrs. than in the entire life.
Yeah, I am clueless about everything in the job search process.
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Old 09-07-2017, 09:25 AM   #146
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Why do you say people were "laughing" most of them just said don't rush out and plan on selling your house the first day you lost your job.
That chip on your shoulder won't help you going forward.
I've changed it to "questioning my sanity"
Gotta be a realist.
Sorry, by selling the house, I did not mean that I was about to put house on sale, but rather that my chances of finding a job where I currently live are pretty slim.
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Old 09-07-2017, 09:25 AM   #147
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Originally Posted by fired_need_help View Post
There are multiple reasons why I am overthinking this:
- Still in shock, since I've lost job < 48 hrs. ago
- Never had a formal or phone screening interview in my entire career. Got a job via Co-op / intern out of college and then switched jobs once after a short discussion.
I've applied for more jobs in the last 24 hrs. than in the entire life.
Yeah, I am clueless about everything in the job search process.
If that's the case I suggest you google job search in your area and find someone you can pay to help you navigate, resume, applications and practice interviews, it will be money well spend. Slow down on the job apps and work on that before your overseas trips.
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Old 09-07-2017, 10:16 AM   #148
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I'm thinking I smell a troll, sounds a lot like the troll we had last year.
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Old 09-07-2017, 10:25 AM   #149
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I'm thinking I smell a troll, sounds a lot like the troll we had last year.
+1 since about the second page but I just can't stop..
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Old 09-07-2017, 10:34 AM   #150
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fired_need-Help, FYI - For some of the kicking you while you are down posters there is a feature in this forum where you can put specific posters on an ignore list.
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Old 09-07-2017, 10:40 AM   #151
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My DH has been a soft wear engineer for over 30 years, most of those at IBM. He was laid off from IBM when his division was sold to AT&T. He was pretty bitter.

For the past 9 years he has been self-employed, working at home designing and developing forensic soft wear and has made a very, very nice income doing what he still enjoys greatly. During that time he attended college part-time for 4 years and now has a Master's degree in digital forensics, so he has made a nice niche for himself in that industry as an "coder" who truly understands the process of forensically searching large computer systems. He is 64 years old and I can't get him to even think about retiring....he says he's having to much fun.

My suggestion is to take time to think about what area of IT you enjoy most, then pursue a career there. Go back to school if need be. Learn different computer languages that are currently in vogue. Where is the demand.....and go there. Don't sell yourself short.
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Old 09-07-2017, 10:52 AM   #152
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Originally Posted by fired_need_help View Post
There are multiple reasons why I am overthinking this:
- Still in shock, since I've lost job < 48 hrs. ago
- Never had a formal or phone screening interview in my entire career. Got a job via Co-op / intern out of college and then switched jobs once after a short discussion.
I've applied for more jobs in the last 24 hrs. than in the entire life.
Yeah, I am clueless about everything in the job search process.
I think you're in panic mode to uncertainty instead of embracing a different kind of challenge. I'd be more concerned about this coming through on an interview and I've sat on plenty of government interview boards.

Plan: go on vacation / ask wife if she WANTS to work (no pressure - maybe her statement that she can't find anything in a field that's got a 2% unemployment rate is because she likes being home. If you're comfortable with that, awesome) / relax. You are actually FIRE- eligible now, you're just not ready mentally, you have time / $$s and will be back to the grind b4 you know it
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the games we play..
Old 09-07-2017, 11:54 AM   #153
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the games we play..

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Originally Posted by fh2000 View Post
CC company does not like this. They are the loser in this game when card holder did not really spend the money, because they now need to pay out the bonus. In the case of Chase Sapphire Reserve card, the bonus is worth more than $1,200 dollars with 100K points.
I've been in this "world" as a hobby since 1998 ish (see my username). I have been able to provide many a "free vacation" for our family. In the world of credit card issuers, we are known as "deadbeats" because we pay our full balance each month (no interest going to credit card companies). But it's completely legal and it hasn't stopped the credit card issuers from providing more opportunities. I've never gone into the territory of MS (manufactured spend but I did consider it).

What I'm guessing is because of a laundering process (credit card purchase to gift card to money order), it caught the eye of govt folks who track money laundering. And since OP has a security clearance and works for a govt contractor, he's been subject of further investigation. Honestly, I don't see anything wrong with what he did. Since it's legal and he didn't do it for illegal drugs or anything else, I don't see where it's so horrible.

Once I got called on the carpet at work for using the internet (which I only did during my authorized lunch time). I even kept an excel spreadsheet of my lunch times (thank goodness) since my boss let me flex them depending on my workload (some days I took 1 hour and some days 2 hours). I was at work an extra 90 min each day due to a carpool w/ my hubby. I used the extra time during lunch and would check my yahoo mail or whatever (nothing porn, nothing shady). Anyway, the security folks had a special software tracker and were able to identify those who appeared to be overusing the internet while at work. OMG..could not believe I was called on the carpet. My manager knew very well I was on the up and up. But the HR manager said "it's the image" that is created. I have to say I did agree that if my office door is shut for 90 min w/ a LUNCH sign on the door, it gave the appearance I was taking an extra long lunch and people unaware would think I was stealing time from the employer when in reality I was working my full 8 hour day. So, I had some scary days while the investigation was being considered. In the end the HR manager said they wouldn't take any action.

My opinion on the employment lawyer is that OP would probably win his case in a heartbeat! He didn't do anything illegal whatsoever. It's just the part of does he want that job back or does he want to teach his former employer a lesson and does he want to go through the effort? If it were me, I'm thinking YES! It's wrong what his employer did to him. He took advantage of a loophole that's legal to get points and miles. And he stopped doing it now that he knows it's a murky area.
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Old 09-07-2017, 02:11 PM   #154
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wow, I just finally understand what manufactured spending is. So you get Credit cards with some cash back offers, then buy debit cards and suck out the cash and reap the freebie rewards? I need to look into this, I have a lot of time on my hands,. I m seeing people in here saying they saved over 10k by getting rewards.
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Old 09-07-2017, 02:16 PM   #155
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wow, I just finally understand what manufactured spending is. So you get Credit cards with some cash back offers, then buy debit cards and suck out the cash and reap the freebie rewards? I need to look into this, I have a lot of time on my hands,. I m seeing people in here saying they saved over 10k by getting rewards.
Try it, you will enjoy it, as long as you are retired and don't care what your employer thinks .

You know, the funny / sad part was that when I was doing MS, I was learning it as a backup in case I'd lose my job, since I did not really need the rewards. But the fate has twisted things the other way.

Anyway, I've learned my lessons....
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Old 09-07-2017, 02:27 PM   #156
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Manufactured spending is a new concept for me as well. Doing a little research I found this interesting first person report:

I Was Detained By The Police For Manufactured Spending

Quote:
Disclaimer: I was at no time arrested. Anything you read on this post is indicative of a personal experience that occurred and should not be used as advice.
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Old 09-07-2017, 02:34 PM   #157
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Manufactured spending is a new concept for me as well. Doing a little research I found this interesting first person report:

I Was Detained By The Police For Manufactured Spending
I've seen and read this report long time ago. If you'd read into details, this guy was doing outrageous amounts of MS, which were clicking red flags for FinCen.
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Old 09-07-2017, 02:37 PM   #158
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Ok, I googled it, what is VCG? I cant find out what it means. UPDATE< Visa Gift Card. Guess Im dyslexic too.
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Old 09-07-2017, 03:01 PM   #159
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Just got off the phone with USAA, they will take visa or Mastercard gift cards for premiums. Hello! Now Im a man on a mission.
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Old 09-07-2017, 03:16 PM   #160
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Just got off the phone with USAA, they will take visa or Mastercard gift cards for premiums. Hello! Now Im a man on a mission.
I've been using my VISA card to pay for auto and home insurance premiums for a few years now. The insurance company doesn't charge a processing fee. I guess I am MS'ing without intent!
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