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

[68BabyBlue]

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

I had a good reputation in the tank truck business. When I left the small company I started with to work for a competitor, I maintained a respectful relationship. When I got into management, I instructed my drivers to never pass our competitor on the side of the road, if they had a breakdown. If they had an unloading failure, we would unload them at no charge.

When I was severed from my corporate employer of 20 years, in the final round of layoffs after they went Chapter 11, I walked into the place where I had left, and was re-hired on the spot, 20 years later, to the day. I took a 50% pay cut, but went to work full time two days later. They were acquired by another carrier a year later, then another, and finally the last one survived. I leased my truck to all of them, and nearly bought the second company.

After I retired in 2022, I got a call from a former boss, asking me if I'd consider going back to work for him on a consulting project he was on, transitioning a family owned carrier to the next generation. In a cutthroat business, I was amazed how long my positive connections had endured.

That layoff in 2004 turned out to be one of the best things that happened to me. For the first time in my life, I ended up with a trucking job that got me home every night, and the drop in stress is probably why I'm still alive today. I wish you a similar result.

 

[Nxcoupe]

That sucks to hear for you OP. I know how that feels. Just remember it's not personal even tho it feels that way right now. I am older, 68, and I was 62 when I took this job. I look much younger than I am, which helped, but the point I'm trying to make is, it's never too late to snag that dream job. They're out there. My only advice is to not sit idle on unemployment. Gaps in employment put your resume in the round file. I have a good friend that got laid off when he was in his 50s, and he waited around for a similar paying job and just the 'right' opportunity. Hes 69 now and still unemployed. I gave him this same advice, don't wait, jump on the first opportunity that comes your way that you can stomach for the time being, and fire up that resume and don't stop looking after you've taken that job. That will get you the one you really want. It's like breaking up with a hot chick and dating a fat girl til another hot one comes along, they think you're sensitive and not shallow. J/k, but you get the point.

 

[ckessel]

Don't be hesitant to try another type of work to bring money in. I've had several changes throughout my life. Farming, automotive, turd farm, construction, pest control, welding/fabrication, general grunt. What ever it takes. And whatever you choose to do, learn as much as possible. Don't treat it as just a way to fill your pocket.

 

[Triplegreen500]

Don't be afraid of changes. My life is NOWHERE I'd have expected it to be right now...but I have a good life, a good job, a FUN job...and it's turning into offers all over the nation. I'm in a position now where my reputation is generating more work than I can handle...and my most recent inquiry was "hey...have you ever thought about moving to Vegas?" As it is now, I'm set to work 11 weeks in Miami, after New Years.

If you're good at what you do, and (more importantly) have a good work ethic, you'll go far in today's market.

Go to work to work.

Do your best, every day.

Be cordial to coworkers and clients. Make them remember you.

And - in my case - run circles around the youngsters, while staying accurate, cordial, and safe. While they're all on a latte break, I'm still out on the site, making things happen, doublechecking my work, and saying "free hands here, gimme something". It's worth more than you could imagine.

If you keep your head on straight, and stay focused...plenty of doors are out there. Don't be afraid to walk through them - you never know, even if it's not "your field"...it could still be a great adventure! Even if you don't know the field...as long as you know how to work, how to listen, and how to LEARN...the possibilities are endless. Literally.

 

[Budnicks]

One door shuts another come open...

sounds like you're a resourceful type guy

good luck with the next opportunity

maybe time to start your own

 

[1 Wild R/T]

One door shuts another come open...

sounds like you're a resourceful type guy

good luck with the next opportunity

maybe time to start your own

Couldn't agree more...

 

[ckessel]

Don't look down your nose at "lesser" jobs like washing dishes, cleaning bathrooms etc. You do it at home, why not get paid for it.