Doom & Gloom - Part II

[Mr S]

Hi All,

Well, my last post concerning changing over from using AutoCAD to Microstation and other issues has now become redundant.

As have I.

All the staff at my office were called in to a meeting yesterday and told that due to the economic downturn a third of the staff are being "let go".

In about 2 weeks time I will be joining the millions of other unemployed.
As the company I work for is an "investors in people" they have told me I can apply for a new position which is basically an admin role that pays less than half the wage I am currently on. Nice!

So, I am faced with wasting my skills and applying for a tedious paper shuffling job or "signing on".
As I still have bills to pay and I cannot stand the idea of being unemployed I will have to apply for this position. I believe looking for another job whilst still in employment is "easier" than looking for a job whilst unemployed. This is a belief my parents have always held. I hope they are right.

If anybody knows of any jobs going in Merseyside, England, I would be more than happy to hear from you.
I can dream can't I?
(If only I had chosen a career in banking).

Regards
Mr S

[Gaieus]

Hi Mr S,

If it weren't so bad, I could say "welcome to the club"; I got unemployed just about two months ago.

Funny though; you have just been the European Capital of Culture (with all the "supposed" economic advantages) and we will be ECC next year (with the same "advantages"). So much about them.

[solo]

Sorry to here this Mr.S.

I believe your parents advice is sound, regardless of how humiliating it is.

There are many folk here that have recently been laid off or under employed, so you are in good company.
It may not seem it at the moment but I truly believe all will work out soon and who knows this may end up being a turning point towards something different and even better.

[Mr S]

Thanks for the kind words, Pete.
Especially for injecting a little bit of positive thinking.
I really need to hear that at the moment.

Regards
Mr S

[EscapeArtist]

What a terrible position to be placed in, sorry to hear about your pending layoff or "underemployment". Unfortunately, this "layoff but reapply for a job at half pay and half benefits" seems to be SOP for corporations this side of the Atlantic and I'm sorry to hear of it catching on over there. I'd take the job too, and light a fire under my chair so I don't get comfortable with it.

[watkins]

Dear Mr. S,

The posts so far pretty much say it all, but I can add my commiserations and wish you good luck.

Kind regards,
Bob

[boofredlay]

So sorry to hear of your situation Mr. S.

Keep your head up and don't define yourself by your employment. I have known some exceptional people who worked 'menial' jobs, it is all about attitude. Hang in there and things will turn around. Look at this as opportunity, not a downfall.

Regards.

[glenn]

Some great advice & great sentiment shared here.
I too feel your pain.
Good luck,
Glenn

[Roger]

Hey, Einstein worked as a clerk in a patent office.

[Mr S]

Thanks for all the kind words and advice guys.
I really needed a boost after seeing the sadness in my wife's eyes as I delivered the news to her.

Regards
Mr S

[Doeko]

@unknownuser said:

Self employment is great fun and you have the skills for it!!
Goodluck!!

I would take the job, write applications for new positions but in the mean time also try to get a portfolio and website together and see if you can make it on your own. Because of the downturn many businesses may also be looking for cheaper services (i.e. one guy instead of a big firm with a lot of overhead). The main downside is it takes more time to do three things at once, but since it's an admin position you may be able to accomplish some things while at work too.

[linea]

Modelhead, Pete, Eric, those are inspirational words.

Mr S, it's certainly hard up north! I am having similar thoughts about paying the bills; accept that work is thin on the ground and take a menial job just to get by, or strive to stick with the career plan. I've been self employed for about 2 years which up until recently definately had more positives than negatives. Now, in the downturn I'm surviving on a week by week basis. First and foremost, I too want security for me and my partner. I wish I knew what the answer is, but I'm trying to look at the glass as half full.

[Mr S]

Hi modelhead (and others)

Just to thank you all again for your thoughts.
I have taken a while to respond to these posts because I wanted to re-read the posts, especially modelheads contribution as there were a great many points made that I wanted to carefully consider.
The upshot is I applied for the menial position and was offered the post.
24 hours later I informed them that I had changed my mind and no longer wanted the job.

I am 50 years of age so I am no spring chicken.
Being made redundant was a bad enough kick in the teeth but this "alternative" was just too humiliating for me to deal with.
Yes, I know, "Pride before a fall" and all that.
But in my previous position I had played a role in helping the company win millions of pounds worth of business.
In the six years that I was with them I was given three fairly substantial pay rises and told it was because they regarded me as a highly valued member of staff. Then the economic crisis hit and I was told that I was a luxury that they could no longer afford. So, along with eight other members of staff I would be made redundant.
No matter how hard I tried to sell it to myself, I couldn't persuade myself to, as modelhead put it, "throw your time away for a company that has essentially thrown you away".

This is my decision and my responsibility.
Fortunately, I have a wife and family who support me.

I was not being "snobbish" in turning down the "menial" job.
If I end up having to stack shelves in a supermarket to help pay the bills I will do so.
But to have been reduced to the level of "tea maker" and "photocopy" guy amongst my former colleagues was too much.

Hopefully, I will weather the storm and find something else in the not too distant future.

Thanks again.

Regards
Mr S

[watkins]

Dear Mr. S,

Good luck with all your endeavours. I believe you have made the right decision. May we know (Royal We) what kind of work you did for the company? Knowing this, perhaps the Forum could make suggestions on what areas of freelance work might be available to you.

Kind regards,
Bob

[Mr S]

Hi Bob,

I was responsible for producing all the "bid" materials that were required by the Senior directors when pitching for new business. This could include Powerpoint presentations, portfolios, brochures, leaflets, large display prints, animations, videos, photography and of course 2D and (using SketchUp, of course!)3D visuals.
I believe that the high quality professional results I supplied helped win many of these bids.
Much of the work we do (did?) was in the public sector such as Healthcare, Schools, Universities etc.
Most of the potential clients involved in choosing which Architectural practice to award the bid to, are lay people.
2D CAD drawings mean nothing to the them. Only when they see 3D visuals do they understand what the proposals mean.
The quality of the supporting literature gave the potential client an indication as to the professional standards employed. After all, if an Architectural practice can't even produce a professional looking sales presentation what kind of building are you going to get from them?
My background is in Graphic Design. I can't design buildings, I leave that to the Architects.
Architects aren't Graphic Designers. They left the graphic design to me.
Or they used to. Now all the staff have been told that they have to produce it themselves.

I was also the unofficial desktop IT support guy. If any staff had software or hardware issues they came to see me.

Regards
Mr S

[watkins]

Dear Mr. S,

Well, your wide skills base suggests that you shouldn't have any problem finding another job, but one possibility that comes to mind would be to re-train as a Design and Technology teacher http://www.tda.gov.uk/recruit.aspx?ilewa=10000437.

On the freelance side, I suggest you put a portfolio of your work together and mail-shot all the small architectural practices in your area. Most will be shedding staff (my neighbour is a young architect, and so I know what is happening), but they still need to work, and so buying in help as and when they need it makes sense as then they don't have to the meet the monthly overheads (salaries, NI, pensions etc). I cannot imagine you not getting work, particularly if you can offer complete confidentiality, something I think many architects would worry about. Signing a confidentiality agreement should sort that out.

There may be a niche market in helping people visualise and plan a new house extension before employing the services of an architect and/or builder. It has been my experience that architects tend to design what 'they' think you should build', and not what was requested at the initial briefing meeting. This leads to delays and extra costs as a compromise is sort.

Just a few thoughts.
Good luck!

Kind regards,
Bob