So long and thanks for all the fish. Downsizing happens!

Damn, you guys (that's a non denominational guys, I call my wife and daughters guys collectively) are awesome.  I really appreciate the good vibes.  I still have a surprising amount of paperwork to sort out for benefits, health care, HSA etc. on top of still technically working right now.

Contract work, yes I may look at contract work.  The only downside is I was agency (Contract) for the first seven years I was in the country, although all at Ford in different positions.  Back then contract work was far better compensated than today in that I ended up better compensated than the direct hires in the same position, that was the trade off of the lack of security.  These days I don't think that's true anymore.  While I will never turn down a good paying decent job, I'm not going to jump at the first thing that comes up if it's a $50k pay cut and no long term commitment just top get something.  Now, a pay cut with excellent benefits with good long term commitments with a stable company, let's talk.

Thanks to people hitting me up on LinkedIn.  I will accept you all soon.  The only reason for not doing so now is I've been advised to prepare in advance and update LinkedIn in one go, not pick away at it.  

I will happily be looking at OEM's, Tier 1's and 2's.  I'd rather be in a larger company, but I'm not opposed to smaller companies as well.  Let's face it.  The big three are here, Toyota, Nissan, several Chinese OEM's, Mahindra, VAG still have a presence and there are literally hundreds of suppliers.  The market is still strong, although changing.  I'm equal parts scared of change and excited to have a chance to go somewhere new, face new challenges and have a chance to add too and build something new at somewhere new.  

I really need to stay in SE Michigan for the next few years due to family commitments as we have four generations living withing a 2 mile radius of where we are.  Now, needs must and all that so if the perfect job came up a bit further afield, nothing is off the table.  I was kicking around the idea of finding something up in the Traverse City area and doing the weekly commute to get a start up in the area, which is where we want to retire in 10-15 years anyway.

Thanks for the support and letting me muse.  

One other thing--keep a search out for "Remote", "Telecommute", and "WFH" or "Work from home". It is becoming more and more common everyday, obviously with the caveat that not all positions are conducive to it.

I'm actually more productive at home, and the one large downside to it is that you don't get the facetime in front of folks. That wouldn't really matter at your career stage; for me at 29 it is a concern.

Sorry to hear about the job.  Being in IT I have been through this a few times and it sucks but I have a feeling you will be OK.

BTW, any sales experience or interest to get into it? 

mtn said:

BTW, any sales experience or interest to get into it? 

No prior experience.  It's something I've never considered, but as I've made a complete and successful U turn from total introvert to total extrovert over the last 50 years, I'll never say never.  

So, you know the old saying it never rains but it pours?  The day after I got the news I was out of a job someone caught the rear bumper of our Company Flex.  No biggie, I never mentioned it here as I figured I could buff 95% of it out and the slight nick in the bumper cover I could probably get away with.  But I get home last night and see the passenger door (below)  I go in and ask my wife and mother (who's visiting from the UK) and they hadn't noticed it.  Some kind considerate upright citizen obviously did that while they were parked and did a runner.  There is no way I'm dodging the $250 deductible out of pocket on this one.  Yes, Ford insure the car, but like any insurance I am responsible for the deductible.  Sucks.  We only picked this one up six months ago and it gets hit twice in the week after I'm told I'm out of a job.  What pisses me of is I've hit cars twice in my driving life.  Both times I could have driven off and got away with it, but that's not me.  I've found the owners and paid out of pocket for the repairs.

Pity party over, back to your regularly scheduled up beat job hunter.

Don't want to say too much, because it isn't me or my company, but my brother was asking if I knew of anyone in the area with sales/medical experience, but then went on to say that they're really looking for someone who is at least is smart, capable, and well organized--the sales and medical bits would just be a plus. Probably not a match, and I don't know if the income would be there, but send a PM if you're interested and I can send my brother your info. 

Fortune 500/SP500 company. Territory would be Michigan/Indiana/Illinois/Wisconsin. MAYBE parts of Ohio and Missouri. 

Probably not much help, but if you are still looking and would consider relocation to Washington DC, drop me a line and I may be able to assist on the job front. 

Man downsizes suck. I have only been out of college for almost 8 years now and have been through two of them so I know the pain. I don't feel like the company I am with now is doing so well so I guess it is time to start looking at the job market again. Job hunting is pretty much my least favorite thing to do in the world and I have spent way to much time doing it.

Good luck with your job search.

Adrian_Thompson said:

mtn said:

BTW, any sales experience or interest to get into it? 

No prior experience.  It's something I've never considered, but as I've made a complete and successful U turn from total introvert to total extrovert over the last 50 years, I'll never say never.  

Successful sales people are the second highest paid profession after doctors.  

The trick word is successful.  99 out of a hundred either don’t make it or make a very modest living.  Modest enough that they would likely do better working hourly.  

The career demands a monumental ego, you will hear a lot of no’s. Which discourages those without a strong ego, because it’s really a pure numbers game.  The more calls you make the more success you’ll have. It’s  so easy to get discouraged and since you tend to be your own boss once you are out of training it’s all too easy to goof off or pamper yourself.  That’s where self discipline and motivation comes from. 

Yet you cannot let your ego get in the way of achieving your goals.  You have to use your ego to get past the discouragement.  But be open and listening carefully enough to understand when a no doesn’t mean no, it means no the person doesn’t have enough or the right information to give you a yes.  

If that last sentence makes sense to you you might have the potential to be successful.  

93EXCivic said:

Man downsizes suck. I have only been out of college for almost 8 years now and have been through two of them so I know the pain. I don't feel like the company I am with now is doing so well so I guess it is time to start looking at the job market again. Job hunting is pretty much my least favorite thing to do in the world and I have spent way to much time doing it.

 

Good luck with your job search.

I've been out of college for almost 14 years. Every job I've had, I either didn't get caught up in the layoff (and others were), or twice I was laid off. I'm not too worried about my current place since we are just now really starting to tap a lot of international markets.

Aerospace is hiring bigly. 

id take that company car to the PDR guy and see if he could work the door for less than your deductible.

AngryCorvair said:

id take that company car to the PDR guy and see if he could work the door for less than your deductible.

Zero chance, it's too far gone, the center of the dent is in pover and inch and it's close to 2 feet long.  Then there are several creases in the feature line.  My out of pocket is only $250, it's just such a royal kick in the nuts right now.

Adrian_Thompson said:

AngryCorvair said:

id take that company car to the PDR guy and see if he could work the door for less than your deductible.

Zero chance, it's too far gone, the center of the dent is in pover and inch and it's close to 2 feet long.  Then there are several creases in the feature line.  My out of pocket is only $250, it's just such a royal kick in the nuts right now.

Alanis Morrisette could write a song about it if it was hit by a Ford employee.

John Welsh said:

ProDarwin said:

Very cool.  I do something similar, but in aircraft seating.

Yeah, the buzz around new developments in aircraft seating are hard to overlook. The internet is a flutter with questions like, "have you seen the new bolsters for 2019?"

To be fair, it must be hard work to make them as uncomfortable as they are, and still LOOK like chairs. Impressive feat, that.

I got downsized in '08. I found a job in 3 days. Then got downsized again 5 months later. That period of unemployment was almost 2 years.  You'll bounce back.  
As far as posting here, it's actually the first and best thing to do. You let folks know you're out of work and those that care will try to help. You've had a few folks here asking if you want to do X or move to X to do Y. As has been said, that's how you find a job. It's been YEARS since I found a job the 'normal' way.

This period is hard to bear, but you will definitely find something much better. Good luck.

Took me 6 months the first time, a year the second.  Best of luck to you on finding something fast!  Let me know if you need help with anything, I am pretty current on resumes and LinkedIn and such.

Cicliesik said:

This period is hard to bear, but you will definitely find something much better. Good luck.

see, even the canoes feel your struggle!

Good Luck Adrian!

Reading what you do, there is a lot of crossover into the Tech world. Give you an example, here with Dell we have a whole team that does just what you said only with notebooks and Alienware and not cars. Product launch coordinators are a big part of the business. 

I know you are needing to keep in Detroit area for the kiddo but look outside the Auto industry and I think you'll see you have a very favorable skill set. 

In reply to frenchyd :

Not necessarily. I would classify myself a successful sales person (Manage a $1.2B annual sales account and have been doing IT sales for 16 years) and I would say I have none of those traits.

There are so many different levels of sales that require different traits. What you describe is the classic direct sales guy. But there are many different levels of sales like Distribution account managers, Partner account managers, Etc. that all require different skills. I spend much more time teaching and developing sales strategy as I do "going for the close" 

I just hate it when people put sales guys into one bucket because there are so many differences. 

bmw88rider said:

In reply to frenchyd :

Not necessarily. I would classify myself a successful sales person (Manage a $1.2B annual sales account and have been doing IT sales for 16 years) and I would say I have none of those traits.

 

There are so many different levels of sales that require different traits. What you describe is the classic direct sales guy. But there are many different levels of sales like Distribution account managers, Partner account managers, Etc. that all require different skills. I spend much more time teaching and developing sales strategy as I do "going for the close" 

 

I just hate it when people put sales guys into one bucket because there are so many differences. 

I’ve found teaching to be the most effective way to close too. Educate the person on how your product solves his needs is extremely effective in overcoming objections.  “Going for the close” isn’t a way to get long term success or referrals, solving problems/ issues is. 

For over 2 decades I dealt with Fortune 500 companies and we were their  major supplier ( at the time)  Even at that level persistence and diligence is required. The idea that anybody can do sales is just wrong. Too often I was hired to replace people with the right credentials but the wrong personality or temperament.  Some even can achieve a measure of success but at too great a personal cost.  

But you still need to get the appointment/ meeting/conversation.  You still need to deal with financial issues.  Dealing with organizational timetables,agenda’s, and personal interests can be completely frustrating.  Even when I’ve been referred or requested dealing with the individual’s reluctance requires persistence and tact.  Not to mention ability to accommodate. 

How a person uses that time between meetings, appointments, schedules etc. determines their  level of success.  Even then it’s rare when things go exactly as planned or scheduled.  

bmw88rider said:

..Product launch coordinators are a big part of the business...

I would add to this that reading his responsibilities looks like he does a lot of event coordination / management.  It looks like he wants to stay in the automotive arena, but that skill is also very valuable in almost any large company.  There are always product launches, sales meetings, management meetings, employee events that need coordination.  Maybe not something you really want to do, but be aware those out there.

I'm gonna hate to see you go! You were a great little engineering backdoor to help scoot things along!

Theres lots of engineering in the area, so maybe the nice folks at Williams International or the Tank Armory will have something fun.  Heck, maybe Haggerty needs a GRM liason...we know this crowd has enough weird cars around!