Shit i just lost my job

The BBQ Pit
1

Shit shit shit.

I was due to start paying back my student loan next week (£109 a month for 5/6 years - fucking vampires, but that’s a whole other story). The money situation was just starting to look less like train wreck. And now i lose my job. It’s a shitty job anyway - admin work. I’m gone because the company’s going down the pan and they “can’t justify keeping me (and 20 other people) on”. Now i can look for something i’d actually like to do. Maybe work in a book shop for a while.

But shit, i wasn’t expecting that today. I am genuinely feeling a bit shakey with the shock.

It’s my SO’s birthday next weekend. I’ve got to buy him a present.

Any words of advice on managing unemployment fallout?

Sorry if this should be in MPSIMS or whatever - i put in the pit for the language.

2

Sorry to hear that- I got laid off last November (turned out to be temporary) so I know how shocking that is.
All I can say is that if your biggest worries are your boyfriend’s birthday and student loans, consider it an inconvenience and move on. Your boyfriend will understand if his gift is late! You can renegotiate with the student loan sharks (usually).

You’ll find something better that you like. I feel really bad for the people who suddenly can’t pay their mortgage or car payment, or feed their families when layoffs happen. Our area was recently hit with several hundred layoffs from plant closings, and things are ugly around here.

I’m not trying to invalidate your shock and life upset (because it’s very upsetting, no matter what), but I’m glad you aren’t worried about where you’re going to live or anything. I hope you’re back on track soon!

Zette

3

Thanks for that Zette, i appreciate it. You’re right - i’m damn lucky i don’t have a mortgage and/or family to support. Good perspective.

4

No chance of a tidy redundancy fee then?
what kind of contract did you have?

It’s bad luck but hey there’s a lot of places out there that need admining. Shouldnt take too long till youre somewhere that’ll appreciate you.

5

I don’t usually post in the Pit, but this calls for an exception.

That’s crummy news, Francesca.

One thing to investigate, though, is the possibility that your student loan payment may be deferred if you are unemployed or “underemployed.” Most lenders would much rather extend your payments than have you default.

Look into it, and good luck.

6

Sorry to hear your news. But, FWIW, you’re in good company. Losing one’s job doesn’t seem to carry the stigma it once did. Heck, I’ve been laid off a few times (unstable high-tech companies), so I may be qualified to answer your question:

Make an unemployment insurance claim. I don’t know what the unemployment insurance situation is like in your location, but in mine, there is a waiting period for all claims that begins the day you make your claim. The sooner you file a claim, the sooner you can begin to wait, and thus the sooner you collect. And once you collect, you can cover the rent, food, and perhaps even portions of school loan payments.

Stay busy. It doesn’t matter what–your bookstore idea is a good one, or there is volunteer work for a local charity, or something else that will get you out and keep you occupied. If the hours are flexible, so much the better: you can arrange job interviews during business hours. What you want to avoid is bumming around the house brooding on your situation; staying busy keeps your mind focused on the tasks immediately at hand and not on what happened to you.

Don’t be afraid to take any job if it comes to that. In other words, if you’re trained as a rocket scientist and no jobs are available in that field, but jobs are available digging ditches–well then, dig ditches. Call it temporary, call it a stopgap, call it whatever you like, but you’re going to have to pay your way eventually, and the money earned from digging ditches can be used for the same purposes (i.e. rent, food, etc.) as that earned from rocket science. Keep up with advances in rocket science through professional organizations and publications during this time; then, when jobs in rocket science open up, you can go back to working in that field.

In the past, I’ve had to take jobs that I never thought I would. But even though I kept up with my field at those times, I met some great people in the blue-collar world and learned some skills that may come in handy if there is a next time.

As for the SO birthday question, I think he will understand if you cannot do what you originally planned. I know that when my fiancee (now my wife) was in a bad patch, it meant a lot to me that she just remembered my birthday with a card. I’m sure yours would understand too.

Hope this advice helps. Good luck, Francesca!

7

Thanks for your concern Dahmna and KneadToKnow.

I’ve calmed down a bit now - i rang the student loans company and a deferment form is on the way and i’ve rung the bank and sorted out a few things (Greenpeace is gonna have to do without for a little while i’m afraid).

I knew the job would end sometime this year (and i only started last year) because it’s only a semi-permanent position got through a temp agency, but i was given the overwhelming impression that i would definitely be here for a good while longer since they’ve trained me and given me my own office and shit. That was the real shock, since i had stuff pretty much planned for the next few months. The problem is that i’m still employed by the temp agency so no redundancy money, although i’m looking into the possibility of taking the holiday pay i’m now entitled to.

I’m now looking on this as an opportunity (oh dear god, i sound so middle-management don’t i?). I’ve asked the temp agency to give me a little slack for the next two weeks while i scout around checking out what i can and can’t do - i’m liking the idea of choosing for myself what i apply for. I was lucky with this temping job in that i got to work with people i really liked but i’ve done others that were horrendous. So now, i shall be in control.

And what’s more - i didn’t succumb and have a cigarette. Hurrah for me.

Spoons - i’m with you on the staying busy. I’m not fussy about having a “good” job (although i do occasionally want to scream “I have a degree!”). The only thing i won’t do is waitress. I’m never doing that again. But i shall definitely be checking the bookstores to see if they’re hiring. Thanks for your advice.

This isn’t really pit stuff is it?

slinks away

Fran

8

Three years ago I had the good fortune of being laid off at the end of spring. I was burnt out and tired of the career I had chosen. I was depressed and felt rejected by my profession.

I had trained the year before as a white water raft guide for a fun weekend job, and since the season was starting up I was able to work on the river full time that summer. It was the best summer I have had since I was a kid. I got up late, put on shorts and sandals and a Tshirt that didn’t smell too bad, then went to the river to tell jokes all day, get in water fights and drive rafts through one of the prettiest sections of the country.

At the end of the summer I was trim, tan and emotionally recharged.

So, my advice is to find a job that is fun, like your book store, for a while. You have the rest of your life to knuckle down.

9

Well I would give you a cyberhug, but… :wink:

Good luck with sorting out your finances etc. I’ve done lots of temping (short and long term), and while it usually doesn’t pay very much, at least it’s flexible.

10

I really like it when these sensible conversations erupt in the middle of the Pit. hehehe!

Franch- babyas the thread has moved forward you seem to be handling things well. Can I just add that from my reading of what you post to the Boards, you are obviously bright and sensitive and resourceful. You are better-equipped than most to make the best of this set-back. I know that this doesn’t actually make the situation better on its own, but perhaps it will help lift your spirits slightly.

Ciao, bella!

11

Wow thanks Redboss, that’s a lovely thing to say. Much appreciated.

I’ve been scouting around my local town but it’s not looking good (General thought pattern: I’m sorry, did you say you expect me to work full-time for 9 grand a year? Er, that would be a great big NO then. 9 grand! What are these people thinking?). So next week i go to Reading and pray that Waterstones is employing.

And i still haven’t had a cigarette.

Fran