My brother just lost his job

[Walt34]

Sorry to read this about your brother, but at least it sounds like he did some planning ahead and has the cash cushion to give him time to job search without being in a state of panic.

[antmary]

Best to your brother, Michael. It sounds like he has a good support system.

[eytonxav]

Sorry to hear about your brother. I wish him good luck in his next steps what ever they may be. Unfortunately, regardless of whether you are 25 or 55, this job market sucks

[Sarah in SC]

Michael, I was thinking about your brother in framing a discussion with my DH about his future. He plans (okay, "plan" might be too strong a word to describe any of his actions) to stop working for the crapola company he now works for in the next year.

I've been encouraging him to look at taking his rather specialized skills to a consulting type business rather than the same-old-same-old in his industry.

I wonder if your brother might be better served and more excited by opportunities to do contract or consulting work instead of changing industries?

[hakuna matata]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarah in SC I wonder if your brother might be better served and more excited by opportunities to do contract or consulting work instead of changing industries?

This is what I did. The company I worked for is going through huge internal upheavals and I was 'reduced' as part of the collatoral damage. So I got a nice severance package, opening my own business and my first client out of the gate was my old company where I am still at, in fact will be at least through the end of this year. But it has been great. First off they paid me severance over the past 6 months while also paying me consultant fees. Don't ask me how that makes any financial sense as I don't understand it myself. So for the past several months I get a severance check deposited AND I submit an invoice and get paid for that too

Alas the severance checks have now stopped and so I am being forced to pay my bills now out of my consulting fees. In fact I just took my first draw out of that money. So for me the consulting work is much more lucrative + I get to do outside work, something I wasn't able to do while an employee.

They did offer me back my position about a month ago but I turned them down. I had planned on doing my own gig in a year or two anyways and this just started the ball rolling. It isn't like I feel I have job security by taking my old job back. My benefits are covered by my wife, so for me, it was a good move to get shown the door. YMMV of course.

[Nuiloa]

One of the smartest people I know addressed the age issue like this.

He told an interviewer that, statistically, young people stay in jobs 3 to 5 years. Companies have to pay thousands of dollars to constantly re-train replacements.

As a 50+ person, he had different values and prized stability and loyalty. Given his age and the fact that he was settled into the community, it was a sure thing that he would not be looking for a new job and therefore the company could reap the rewards of having him for at least 10 years or more and he would be available to train his replacement before he retired.


I told my brother about this approach. He was laid off at age 53 (and he looks about 63). He got the very first job he interviewed for - and said they were impressed by his argument.

Good luck to your brother.

Nui

[Alan]

Sorry to hear about your brother, Michael. I hope things work out for him.

[Walt34]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nuiloa As a 50+ person, he had different values and prized stability and loyalty. Given his age and the fact that he was settled into the community, it was a sure thing that he would not be looking for a new job and therefore the company could reap the rewards of having him for at least 10 years or more and he would be available to train his replacement before he retired.

That is a solid point to make.

[MichaelB]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarah in SC Michael, I was thinking about your brother in framing a discussion with my DH about his future. He plans (okay, "plan" might be too strong a word to describe any of his actions) to stop working for the crapola company he now works for in the next year. I've been encouraging him to look at taking his rather specialized skills to a consulting type business rather than the same-old-same-old in his industry. I wonder if your brother might be better served and more excited by opportunities to do contract or consulting work instead of changing industries?

Sarah, he's thinking about that. If there were a way to get steady part time or project based work he probably would do it.

I've passed along to him the suggestions here, and he thanks everyone, as do I. He's still in a bit of shock. He is also just beginning to decompress - and those of us that have left high intensity jobs know that feeling.

[Sarah in SC]

I really like Nui's approach, too. That is a great point to make for older workers.

I hope your brother gets to enjoy a bit of "what's next" daydreaming before the next gig kicks up. Might be nice to do--the old "when one door closes, another (better) one opens".