Well damn, guess I won't be buying parts for awhile!

Today I was laid off. This will be like a OWP Story time.
I'm a Software QA and for the last 4ish years I've worked exclusively from home, I lucked into the gig during the pandemic. Today I wake up, walk across the hall and log in, get coffee and sit back down and see an email marked important about a re-org and if you are affected you will be invited to a meeting with the VP who sent the email and the HR person. Two messages up from that I see the meeting invite.
I message my manager to ask, she says she doesn't know, can she have my number to call me. I ask what kind of manager is she that she doesn't know my phone number? I like to mess with people She calls and says she has a meeting too and this is all new to her (out of state company, tech layoffs don't happen there like they do in Cali), anyway 30mins later she is laid off.
My meeting is scheduled at 10AM but I have a 9:30AM meeting to run which I do 4 days a week. I tell the people who didn't know whats going on, by now the person I work closest with on that team was also let go. I let them know its looking like my last meeting with them but we'll see.

Now the 10AM starts and right off the bat I ask the VP is this finally my chance to tell him what I really think of him? HR looks nervous then realizes its a joke, I mentioned messing with people and I used to report directly to this guy. So sure enough its a standard lay off and they give me details on the package etc. HR mentions my question about my ins rep status (I don't sell ins but I can see so many transactional details that they have me go through the process for legal coverage) was the best question they have gotten so far today. I let them know I always drop gems like that, this is what they are throwing away. Maybe I'm just insufferable and thats why they are getting rid of me.

So I saved some money and am not in any dire straits, but I will cut back on things because thats just how I am if money is not coming in. I'll even go to the extreme of cooking for myself, which I've not really done since I took this job. Hope the oven and stove still work!
I guess I will also pay more attention when someone says they are interested in buying any of my cars, for the right price they are all for sale after all. There is a good chance I will sell the 2022 Maverick back to Carvana since I'm close to even on the loan and it would eliminate my biggest monthly bill. I'll be bummed, I really like the little truck but it is an easy sell and I can get a better one later.

life in Silicon Valley, I tell ya.....

That stinks. Just look at it as an opportunity to get something better.

51 working years of advise and 40 of them come next week working for myself with over 100 employees... Never burn a bridge.

Good luck! Been there. One door closes, one opens. True.

In my 42 year engineering career I've had the pleasure of navigating four layoffs. I've never worked longer than 9 years and 10 months at a company. It's just part of the professional landscape in today's times.

Be open minded. Be willing to accept a pay cut. Don't turn your nose up at long commutes or relocating. Get back to work as soon as possible. You can always look for something better while you have a job. It's always easier to get a job when you have a job.

It's a growing club. Consider yourself on the leading edge!

Happens to everyone one time or another.

It happens, thing that sucks the most, you have free time to do those things you wanted to do but now's the wrong time to spend money....

Good luck finding another opportunity..

Billccm said:

In my 42 year engineering career I've had the pleasure of navigating four layoffs. I've never worked longer than 9 years and 10 months at a company. It's just part of the professional landscape in today's times.

Be open minded. Be willing to accept a pay cut. Don't turn your nose up at long commutes or relocating. Get back to work as soon as possible. You can always look for something better while you have a job. It's always easier to get a job when you have a job.

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I think this is my second layoff in 25 years, there was an in between not quite a layoff when a company knew they were close to being sued which is like half a layoff. I am gonna avoid anything with a long commute. I spent years commuting a couple of hundred miles a day, I’d hate to go back to it and frankly I’m not sure I have the stamina for it anymore.

1 Wild R/T said:

It happens, thing that sucks the most, you have free time to do those things you wanted to do but now's the wrong time to spend money....

Good luck finding another opportunity..

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Well the nice part is I have a lot of parts I purposely bought for projects to do when I get laid off. Not just car stuff. I knew this day was coming as soon as I was hired, so that was part of my planning. Put money aside and also take advantage of the fact I’m earning to buy some stuff for later.
I had too many unemployed periods where sat around with stalled projects. It’s not like I have a 440 sitting around but I have stuff for the 4bbl carb swap for example.

For those people fortunate enough to work in an industry that isn't ripe for corporate buyouts, a layoff like this is a shock.
Guys that have worked in the trades are USED to layoffs. The project ends, the next one hasn't started yet so there is down time until the next job is up to speed.
That describes the construction industry. I was used to layoffs. I looked forward to them. It allowed me the time to get caught up on stuff I had to put off while working.
Good luck. Hopefully something comes along that is an even better opportunity.

OneWheelPeel said:

Today I was laid off.

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That sucks, maybe it was meant to happen and a new door will open up.

Good luck, you can always apply to be an I.C.E agent. $50,000 sign on bonus, that will buy a lot of parts.

You can always apply for unemployment.

Kern Dog said:

For those people fortunate enough to work in an industry that isn't ripe for corporate buyouts, a layoff like this is a shock.
Guys that have worked in the trades are USED to layoffs. The project ends, the next one hasn't started yet so there is down time until the next job is up to speed.
That describes the construction industry. I was used to layoffs. I looked forward to them. It allowed me the time to get caught up on stuff I had to put off while working.
Good luck. Hopefully something comes along that is an even better opportunity.

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Thanks. I had a short career in construction because my dad did it and told me I’m doing it too until I find another job, and yes there was always the gap between jobs. After that I moved to construction security which could still have gaps.
A good thing that I carried with me into the high tech world was the work ethic of construction/mechanics, because of that I’ve spent most of the last 25 years working while others were laid off. Obviously didn’t make me fully immune!

Mopar Hunter said:

That sucks, maybe it was meant to happen and a new door will open up.

Good luck, you can always apply to be an I.C.E agent. $50,000 sign on bonus, that will buy a lot of parts.

You can always apply for unemployment.

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I made a joke about that in the last meeting I ran. I wouldn’t do it tho even if I wasn’t in my mid 50s, my feelings on that are more complex than some would assume and that’s all I’ll say at the risk of this taking a political twist.

If you can get back into construction security, that should pay well, isn’t that usually around high-rise buildings though?

Mopar Hunter said:

If you can get back into construction security, that should pay well, isn’t that usually around high-rise buildings though?

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When I did it in the 90s it was a mixture of things, some were high-rise, but even on those I was just expected to hang out on the ground. I would either get killed or get in trouble doing security in this town.

OneWheelPeel said:

I would either get killed or get in trouble doing security in this town.

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That’s too bad, I wish you the best. It’s rough out there in the workforce, jobs are scarce.

Sorry to hear.

We complain about there being so many crappy workers in the work force, but then again, companies are poorly run, and treat employees crappy. All seems to be working out. I wonder which came first.

Unfortunately it leaves good employees doing good work vulnerable.

Sounds like you have a balanced view of it all and are likely pretty marketable. Good luck

Sorry to hear your news. I've been thru it 4 times so l understand what you're going through.

I've always lucked out getting a new job from networking with my contacts, longest l was out of work was 8 months during the 2008 recession.

Something will pop up soon l'm sure as the tech industry is in high demand.

Many years ago I worked for small manufacturing company and ended up being laid off which, in hindsight was for the best. It got me out of a hazardous environment and, after a few weeks to decompress, into a job that led to the one I just retired from after 30 years. As it's been said here before, when one door closes, another opens. And in my situation, it led to a very rewarding career that afforded me the opportunity to play with old cars. What could be better than that!

That sure does stink. Like one said on here. One door closes and another opens. I'm a big believer in that.