dondoboy Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 So, now that I rank among the nation's unemployed, I wondered how things are outside of Michigan. How bad is it where you are? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Moss Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 So, now that I rank among the nation's unemployed, I wondered how things are outside of Michigan. How bad is it where you are? I lose my job I'm screwed in Colorado. Not exactly a biotech hotbed. I think we are doing as bad as anywhere. Seagate just up the road laid a bunch of people off recently. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bigshoulders Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 Sorry to hear that, Dondo. Depends on where you live in NC, and in what industry. Moss, do you mind what I ask what you do for a living? I'm in the Biotech field as well-- I work for a Pharmaceutical CRO. Research Triangle Park in North Carolina is a veritable hotbed for these types of positions, as long as you don't work for GSK, who are down-sizing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Moss Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 Sorry to hear that, Dondo. Depends on where you live in NC, and in what industry. Moss, do you mind what I ask what you do for a living? I'm in the Biotech field as well-- I work for a Pharmaceutical CRO. Research Triangle Park in North Carolina is a veritable hotbed for these types of positions, as long as you don't work for GSK, who are down-sizing. I'm a Manufacturing Manager at Amgen. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
NightOfJoy Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 Please remember this......the unemployment rate for degreed professionals is still pretty low.......last time I looked it was around 3.3%.....thats not bad at all. I'm a headhunter so I live and breathe this stuff.....lemme tell ya, the job market (at least in Chicagoland) is not that bad. Ignore the doom and gloom. Hell, I just placed a person today (20k fee for me, hooray!). Companies are still hiring!! The requirements are higher, companies are being much more picky, they're moving much slower, offers are less competitive but still, the market is way better today than it was in late 2001/early 2002. For all you laid off people, put out the news to your network that you're looking, get your references lined up, develop a relationship with 1-2 reputable recruiters (you should have done that already) who've been in the business awhile and start pounding the pavement. Oh yeah, lay off the wacky weed too. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Atticus Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 vibes dondoboy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bigshoulders Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 I'm a Manufacturing Manager at Amgen. We've done work for Amgen before. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Three dollars and 63 cents Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 Sorry to hear that, dondoboy. Good luck getting things figured out. I'm a non-tenure track college professor, and things are pretty awful among my ranks. Many colleges have hiring freezes, so there are many fewer jobs than usual this year, mostly at community colleges. I've already had a few jobs I've applied for get canceled, especially one I was feeling really hopeful about. If enrollment is good I could get rehired here for next year, but I'm losing hope that's going to happen. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Moss Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 We've done work for Amgen before. Cool, I know a few people that moved to RTP in North Carolina. Not even sure where though. So that area is still strong? Is it a nice area to live? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cryptique Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 Vibes, dondo. And nice thread title. Only fellow Michiganders are likely to get it... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lamradio Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 I work for a global IT service provider and things are real bad.. The big companies aren't doing so well these days, so one of the first places they look to cut cost is IT.. My company has lost several contracts recently and they are starting layoffs, pay cuts, etc.. My dad works in the automotive industry, and obviously his job is also in jeopardy. Things suck pretty bad right now. The wife and I have a baby on the way, and we're pretty concerned about the future.. But I said it before and I'll say it again, there will always be beer. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
isadorah Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 i work for a non-profit and we are hurting, had layoffs and are fending off more. we have had pay cuts, benefit cuts, and massive budget cuts. each day i wonder if i will be next. i've been searching since October and have had 3 interviews, 1 was in the for profit world, 1 was a position dependent on state funding (that still hasn't come through), and the 3rd my fingers are crossed for, I am 1 out of 3 candidates interviewing from a pool of 75 applicants. the job market in my field is slim these days. am not sure what i would do if my current job is cut and can only hope I find something else before that happens. hang in there dondo! my thoughts are with you. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lammycat Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 Hope it turns into a blessing in disguise. Things tend to work out. Best of luck. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
deepseacatfish Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 Unemployment in Iowa is actually pretty low compared to the nation, somewhere around 5% But there is a reason this state has one of the highest 20-30 year old flight rates (ie. no new jobs for younger people). I'm unemployed right now (kind of) and doing a little substitute teaching and looking for work for next school year. Not sure what the requirements in your area are for subbing, but I know many states you can get away with just having a college degree (and possibly taking a short course or something in teaching). You might want to look into that in the meantime. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dondoboy Posted February 20, 2009 Author Share Posted February 20, 2009 Non-profits are getting hit pretty hard. That's what happened here. Nothin's gonna get me (or Rick Astley) down. Thanks for the thoughts y'all. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Wilco Rules Me Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 dondoboy I left Michigan for DC. The unemployment rate is much less here, but the competition and lack of hiring is making it just as difficult. Also it is wicked expensive. I Pray for everyone's success. Where you at in Michigan? What type of work did you do? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJkeVkYq8Es Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dondoboy Posted February 20, 2009 Author Share Posted February 20, 2009 dondoboy I left Michigan for DC. The unemployment rate is much less here, but the competition and lack of hiring is making it just as difficult. Also it is wicked expensive. I Pray for everyone's success. Where you at in Michigan? What type of work did you do? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJkeVkYq8EsI'm in Detroit. I is/was (wink) the production manager at a ceramics manufacturer. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mfwahl Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 dondoboy I left Michigan for DC. The unemployment rate is much less here, but the competition and lack of hiring is making it just as difficult. Also it is wicked expensive. I Pray for everyone's success. Where you at in Michigan? What type of work did you do? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJkeVkYq8EsI thought for sure I was gonna get rick rolled. Vibes, Dondo. I could very well be next. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lamradio Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 I wish I had the option of being unemployed if it came to it... But I lose my job, I'm royally fucked.. I'm the sole bread earner in my family.... Maybe I shouldn't be taking that trip to Gettysburg after all... edit: and that's the way many folks feel these days.. They are worried they are going to lose their jobs, so they don't take vacations, buy cars, etc. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
yermom Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 Just today, I checked online to see if the local places that have always had lots of jobs posted in the past had anything posted for me to apply for and where there are usually dozens and dozens of jobs posted, there were only enough to count on one hand! It's pretty alarming. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mfwahl Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 Just today, I checked online to see if the local places that have always had lots of jobs posted in the past had anything posted for me to apply for and where there are usually dozens and dozens of jobs posted, there were only enough to count on one hand! It's pretty alarming. This is exactly why I could be laid off at any point. I'm in employment advertising. Yay! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
isadorah Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 dondoboy I left Michigan for DC. Also it is wicked expensive. here here, I'm looking to relocate out of DC because income simply does not keep up with the cost of living. It is a lot more expensive than it appears on the surface. and the job market is thinning out. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
poppydawn Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 Things are pretty rough in St. Louis. Lots of factory closings in the past few years. My husband's job's pretty secure, though. So much so that he recently got a raise. I landed a good freelance writing job last week with a regular schedule. So it's not hopeless. Not great, but there are good things happening out there. Good luck, Dondo! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
froggie Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 i'm also looking for jobs at the moment.. its hard down here as well. they're predicting the rate to jump to 8% next year, when it was only 4% a couple of years ago. most things i've applied for label me as either over or under-qualified for the position Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Speed Racer Posted February 22, 2009 Share Posted February 22, 2009 I work for a small business that helps companies retain benefits for certain employees; our business, therefore, is contingent upon our clients actually having employees. I've come to understand, though, that retaining clients is a lot like investing: diversify. To the best of my (SLIM) knowledge, I think my employer has done that well. My workflow has gone down in quantity of matters I'm working on, but the time it takes me to complete my work has increased dramatically because of circumstances in the industry. I've been working a lot of evenings and weekends lately - some of that, though, is simply me knowing how to do my job better and therefore working on more complex business. I'm one of the newest hires, and I know I'd be one of the first to go if it comes to that. I was really nervous in November/December, but now I understand that it is what it is, and I'm grateful that the owners are very open about our financial situation. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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