I lost my job....

[Thor Von Clemson]

Yesterday I lost my first real job since graduating from college. I knew someone in the new home construction business who needed an office assistant. I worked in the bookstore office all throughout college doing shipping and recieving, computer operations and maintenance, and customer service so we figured why not try it out. I would also be going out on site doing odd jobs as they came up (laying sod, cleaning, etc) The problem was I had no experience or knowledge about the construction industry. Well yesterday they decided that while I may have the dedication and drive to do whatever it is I would be doing, not having the knowledge of the industry would make me not work out in the long run. I guess the worst part about it is, as many of you know, I am getting married next year. We are having a house built for us... (her dad is owns a building company) Basically, for coming right out of college and having no experience this was a pretty sweet deal. It feels like something I will not be able to replace. I made a lot of money, it was close to home, and I worked with some decent people.

I suppose I can not sit and dwell on it too long. Bottom line is I need to find a decent paying job and soon. This may sound like a rant or something, but does anyone have any advice for a guy who lost his first real job?

[sully]

Re: I lost my job....

how long did you work there? sounds like you now have some experience, no? seems odd and uncool that your employer wasn't willing to train you a little so that you'd eventually have the knowledge needed. granted, they may not be staffed for that kind of thing, so it's not unreasonable, i guess.

sucks, though, i'm sorry to hear this. you do, however, have some marketable skills in shipping/receiving, computer maintenance, and customer service. perhaps try a c/s job in a larger company? they'd have training classes. granted c/s isn't a fantastic and wonderful gig, but there is some satisfaction to be found in it.

good luck man, you'll find something.

sully

[Drsracing]

Re: I lost my job....

Just get out there today and start looking, I lost my first real job after 4 years almost 2 years ago, I was pissed for about an hour and then started hitting the streets, had a new job in 2 weeks and have been here since

[charvelguy]

Re: I lost my job....

Not a rant.. we've seen much longer posts going on about similar incedents over bands firing a guy or guys losing thier girls etc..

Sorry to hear tho..file for unemloyment online right away... extend the cobra (at least the dental) if you wish to continue same benefit coverage. If your wife works, I believe you can rely upon her benefit plan for the both of you if you elect no cobra.

I got laid off from a company closure in my mid twenties at my first 'real' job.. it was something that stays with you for some time and I believe it is harder on a man if that isnt too sexist. You just cope and get a resume together and get out there with your chin up. You have a college education and some work experience.. so that does account for something..but you may have a difficult time finding a job that starts you at the same pay level if you don't have 2-5 years experience in the line of work you want to be in. Not a bad time to consider a career change if you do so and you will likely go thru at least a few before your 40.

[charvelguy]

Re: I lost my job....

[ QUOTE ]
Just get out there today and start looking, I lost my first real job after 4 years almost 2 years ago, I was pissed for about an hour and then started hitting the streets, had a new job in 2 weeks and have been here since

[/ QUOTE ]

was it you with the Marina job?

[Drsracing]

Re: I lost my job....

I'm senior parts Mgr at a Yacht dealer now, before I held the same job for a Heavy duty/industrial/marine parts warehouse

[charvelguy]

Re: I lost my job....

scary I recall that post.. which reaffirms the adage "I know I spend to much time here". [img]/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img]

[Thor Von Clemson]

Re: I lost my job....

[ QUOTE ]
was something that stays with you for some time and I believe it is harder on a man

[/ QUOTE ] .. I could not agree with you more. Still I feel like I can not really think about that right now and I have to just keep on keepin on.

Job hunting is not my favorite thing to do, however I have been sending out resumes all morning and will continue to until I run out of people to send them to...

[VulfgangPfuck]

Re: I lost my job....

Sorry to hear GMS....but keep your chin up bro, and hit the pavement...something better will turn up...it almost always does!

In related news, my girlfriend just lost her job as a veterinary emergency clinic director. She took it hard, because only a week ago, they told her what an awesome job she was doing (she had been there just over a month). My guess is two things. They didn't want to cut her into their benefits, because they were already paying a lot for her...also the owner of the hospital has a daughter that just graduated college, and we think they are going to turn the position over to her.
At any rate....it was without warning (NJ is an "at-will" state) meaning they can fire you without warning for no reason at all. You can also walk for no reason at all. But again...losing that kind of salary sucks for us with 2 kids to feed. But....on the bright side of it, she already has an "in" to the hospital she worked for, where she was making a great lump of change. So things may turn full circle for her anyway.

[wulfe13]

Re: I lost my job....

Can you go to work for her Dad? You said he owns his own construction company... Sounds like a good place to get some of that experience they said you need. Just a thought. Good luck!

I'm job hunting right now too..... it SUCKS!

[Thor Von Clemson]

Re: I lost my job....

Wulfe- No can do bro. Her dad's company is pretty small and they really do not need any help. The company I worked for will be building 120 houses this year, so they could afford to hire people. Her dad's company only builds 10-15.

[charvelguy]

Re: I lost my job....

Take a look at the "Hot Jobs" or "Top Jobs" section of the Star Tribune online. http://jobs.startribune.com/js.php?l...dstartribunefj

Unemployement will also have a resource as does the county you're in.
http://www.mnwfc.org/

Believe me.. word of mouth & networking and the newspaper are still probably above and beyond the best sources for finding a job outside of the internet.

I realize there is a sense of security and purpose that goes out the door along with the job but trust me, you will be ok. You know how to keep your attitude together, try to assess yourself positively and promote that and not worry.. you know, take up the plow and not look behind ya. Have faith my friend ..something will come up.

Worst case senario...I have a couple friends with businesses here that may be able to hook you up with something in bathtubs as an installer/laborer.

[Joe_Steeler]

Re: I lost my job....

Best of luck man, I think pretty much all of us have been down that path at least once in our lives.
Never gets easy.
Keep yuor head up, it wasn't your fault.

[Newc]

Re: I lost my job....

[ QUOTE ]
not having the knowledge of the industry would make me not work out in the long run

[/ QUOTE ]

Is this their exact words, or close enough? If it is, it sounds like a line of BS to me (on their part, not yours) - how in the f*k do you GET experience in that industry unless you DO IT in that industry?
Sounds like they had a relative on the line for that job, and will probably end up as manager within 3 years [img]/images/graemlins/eyes.gif[/img]

[img]/images/graemlins/rant.gif[/img] I swear, Nepotism oughta be against the law.
Sorry for your trouble, dude. Been there, heard that line before, and it usually turned out to be that they had a nephew they were grooming to take it over, or a fat-ass lazy niece that they wanted in that job.
I let 'em know about it whenever I saw 'em, too. I waited until they mentioned one tiny little thing about the replacement not doing so well and I let them have it about fucking me over in favor of their own flesh and blood. I also steered potential customers away from them every chance I got. So I burned a few bridges - you screw me, I screw you [img]/images/graemlins/rant.gif[/img]

[Thor Von Clemson]

Re: I lost my job....

Ya it sounds a little fishy to me.. They said I was not motivated to do some things I was supposed to be doing. Problem is I did not know about those things. I was good at what they taught me and I was good at the things I knew I had to do. If they had someone who had experience, who knew everything that needed to be done, that person would work out. Everything they gave me to do I did well and then some. When I finished those things, I would ask "what else can I do. What else can I learn" Then I would say something like "I would like to learn as much as I can so I can do it on me own because I like working here." The boss told me as long as I put in an honest days work, I would always have a job. That confuses me as well because I went in there every day and busted my ass for them...