I’m back for your great advice again

Laura14 · ‎06-09-2014

Some may remember my employer sold us and I am being flipped to a new owner in about a week. This is my fourth flip. Met one of the new guys once who told my GM we were all good if we wanted our jobs, the team would remain intact.

But now I got told today that we were "misled" by this guy and my very best coworker is being replaced by the current GM who is being demoted into his position so this new guy can be GM over us and a nearby property.

The GM is sick over it and I've spent tonight crying. I have just reached that point of stress. My friend is handling it really well so far and holding out that they'll find a place for him.

I know I need to give it up and move on like you've all encouraged me to even though I've not been told I'm also out but starting over is daunting. I can actually feel how emotionally fragile I have become and how unlikeable.

My friend mentioned it to me again before we left that I need to go find happy no matter what. But it's harder than I thought it would be to leave a building behind that I've worked in for almost 20 years with the only source of income I've got.

Has anyone left a long time job midlife, took a break to steady themselves again, and then tried it all again in a different career?

I guess I'm looking for hope that it can be done. I am completely stable financially for a good bit and I have another career path I can probably quickly jump into at some point so on paper I should have walked long ago. I've also toyed with trying to monetize a hobby of mine that I've been strongly encouraged to try.

It's just foreign to me to not have a job or any money coming in. I've been working since I was 16 which is a few decades now. Anyone have any words of wisdom for me while I try and figure it all out? You guys share the best perspectives so I'm hoping you'll guide me through my first midlife crisis.

Goldengate8361 · ‎01-27-2014

with great compassion in my heart, i would advise you to simp!y "put your big girl pants on" and dont automatically quit because your friend got demoted. instead, you should show up, be outstanding, and see how you can help the new GM. At the same time, start networking!!!! Look for ankther job while you are still employed. Companies everywhere need good people, so find another position. Yes, you absolutely can do this!

sunshine45 · ‎03-09-2010

being that you are of "mid life" age, i personally would NOT quit my job just because someone else lost their job. i think it is a bit scary to find yourself without a job and a gap on your resume can sometimes be off putting to potential employers. my suggestion.....stay at your job, do your best, and continue to pursue other avenues of employment if that is what you really desire. there is something to be said for stability when you are above a certain age.

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"The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing." - Albert Einstein

godi · ‎03-09-2010

I second @Goldengate8361 Good luck to you.

pigletsmom · ‎11-21-2011

I don't think I would go out of my way to take time off from working. That can get away from you pretty fast. And the one thing I know from looking for working and being the interviewer, if you're going into a different field and it looks on your resume like it would be a step down that might make it tougher to get in the door so you need to be proactive. It might look to people going through the resumes that your are just looking for something to hold you over. So if you can write a cover letter explaining why you're switching careers that could help.

I would definitely start looking since you're interested in leaving anyway. I went through a company wanting to go public. We were all led to believe there would be no big changes and I assume I had nothing to worry about since I'd always had great reviews. Should have known when my boss went out and got a new job but instead I sat there and got caught in the layoffs. Just because it was easy to take my territory and cut it up.

On the hobby issue, you really need to get moving on it before you take a pay cut to see if it will be something you can live on. If you can do well with it while your'e working then you can juge if full time at it would get you to a liveable income.

alicedee · ‎07-25-2010

When change is in the air, long-time employees are often at risk of being let go...cheaper to train new people at lower salaries and who will be perceived as accepting new procedures and policies more openly (not saying you wouldn't...but a lot of long-timers are resistant to changes).

If it were me, I would be actively looking for another job, and be prepared to take it if a decent one comes along.

Lindsays Grandma · ‎03-10-2010

@Goldengate8361 wrote:
with great compassion in my heart, i would advise you to simp!y "put your big girl pants on" and dont automatically quit because your friend got demoted. instead, you should show up, be outstanding, and see how you can help the new GM. At the same time, start networking!!!! Look for ankther job while you are still employed. Companies everywhere need good people, so find another position. Yes, you absolutely can do this!

@Goldengate8361 ...Great advice, hope Laura paid attention.

The moving finger writes; And having writ, Moves on: nor all your Piety nor Wit Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line Nor all your Tears Wash out a Word of it. Omar Khayam

Lindsays Grandma · ‎03-10-2010

@sunshine45 wrote:
being that you are of "mid life" age, i personally would NOT quit my job just because someone else lost their job. i think it is a bit scary to find yourself without a job and a gap on your resume can sometimes be off putting to potential employers. my suggestion.....stay at your job, do your best, and continue to pursue other avenues of employment if that is what you really desire. there is something to be said for stability when you are above a certain age.

@sunshine45 ...You and Goldengate8361 are running neck and neck.

The moving finger writes; And having writ, Moves on: nor all your Piety nor Wit Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line Nor all your Tears Wash out a Word of it. Omar Khayam

deepwaterdotter · ‎03-09-2010

@Lindsays Grandma wrote:
@Goldengate8361 wrote:
with great compassion in my heart, i would advise you to simp!y "put your big girl pants on" and dont automatically quit because your friend got demoted. instead, you should show up, be outstanding, and see how you can help the new GM. At the same time, start networking!!!! Look for ankther job while you are still employed. Companies everywhere need good people, so find another position. Yes, you absolutely can do this!
@Goldengate8361 ...Great advice, hope Laura paid attention.

I agree.

RoughDraft · ‎03-09-2010

You mention in your OP that you were encouraged previously to "give it up and move on," but you are still where you were.

We can all give you instances of our life experiences, but we are not you and you are not us. You must know what works for some does not work for others.

Have you considered career couseling or any sort of counseling that might help you boost yourself up and prepare for the world you live in? I say this because no owner, boss or corporation makes moves with its employees in mind. We have to find our own answers.

~The only difference between this place and the Titanic is that the Titanic had a band.~