looking for a job

[big r]

Just got let go from my job of 17 yrs. Anybody need an old truck driver,turning 60 next month. Big R

[Antonn3]

big r, I know that feeling!!
Lost my job after 14 years, I'm coming on 52yo and my job was so specialized I cant do anything with it in BC !!!
Thing is, the company still makes $2.7 BILLION a year  and they still make cuts ...

arghhhh

[RD56]

Just got let go from my job of 17 yrs. Anybody need an old truck driver,turning 60 next month. Big R

Never like to hear this from anyone. I worked for one of the 2 largest Corp's in the world. Worked for the President for 10 years. Top guys from the company who were on the board were cradle to grave employees. After 3 Corporate downsizings, the Chairman decided it was time to sell. He would have lost his job. This was 1998. Corporate loyalty ended. Thousands of people lost their jobs worldwide. I was 51, still haven't found anything that comes close. Could be time to start a bike shop. Anybody IN? Use your imagination.

[bcguide]

There are lots of jobs for drivers up here in nothern BC and Alberta

[bcguide]

check out kijji fsjnow or just use the yellow pages for fort st john and grand praire alberta you will be working by the end of the week and l bet making more $$$ to

[Jeff0308]

I also know the feeling of losing a job in printing after 13.5 years. Have got a part time job 16-18 hours a week, yes it's something but its still a struggle. Here in Australia I believe we are in for more of a down turn. I work in the food retail industry now. I deal with about 300 customers a month. Since the start of the year I know of 12 people who lost there jobs. I'm taking the opportunity to try and start a part time business of my own in reproducing stickers for bikes as well as novelty stickers and business stickers (eg) signage and also trying my luck in vehicle paint protection film. It's a hard task as the competition is fierce but you have to try stay focused and also believe that you can be better than your competitor. I'm 49 next month. Still have a mortgage, a loving wife and 2 kids who believe I can do it. I have a moto YOU CAN DO ANYTHING IF YOU PUT YOUR MIND TO IT.  I no nothing in these industries other than yes I did printing but this isn't printing as such. Only related in the respect that they are writing in a different form. I still look for full time work but am also enjoying the new challenge. My wife works part time as well so we do find that we go week to week. My advice to all affected in the same way is get out and have a go, think outside the box, keep a positive mind and never give up. Hell I know that feeling as well.

[Bill_Rockoff]

Damn, Big R, I hate to hear that.

It gets better.

I hope you find something and that it starts getting better soon.  Four years ago, the company I had been with for 15 years let a bunch of us go.  I don't think I slept 10 hours all together during that next week.  (I skipped the FJ rally the following month because I was so unsure of the future, I didn't want to spend the hundred bucks on fuel and camping.)

I got extremely lucky and stumbled into something similar (enough that I could dive right n) but in many ways better (a LOT more opportunity.) In hindsight, it was a good thing that happened to me at the perfect time.

But I remember not being able to sleep at night, and not being able to get myself going at all during the day, and literally feeling like I was losing my mind.  I probably slept 10 hours total during the first week, and I didn't know what I would do or what I even wanted.  I think I will remember that feeling for the rest of my life

You have my sympathies. I hope you find something else soon. 

- Bill

[rktmanfj]

That sucks.   

While I was at the 2012 ECFR, I found out (via a Facebook message... no cell coverage at Hunt's Lodge) that my employer of 10 1/2 years had called in all 43 others in my department and fired us all.  Not unexpected, and I'd already told several people there that's probably what would happen at the end of the 3rd quarter.

Everyone there thought I'd be pretty mad, but it was the final push into entrepreneurship, as I'd already been laying the groundwork.

I'm still not making near the money I was before, but I can see from here that it's coming. 

You'll come through this, but you can't see the opportunities before you if your head is down... keep going! 

[bcguide]

You working yet
We are urgently looking for Class 1A Truck Drivers.

We offer for our drivers:

1. Pay 575$ for day or night 12 hour shift
2. Provide housing 1 driver per room
3. Meal allowance 30$/day
4. Rotation 20 /10 or we consider your schedule
5. Cover 50% of your flight ticket if you work 20/10 schedule
6. Benefits after 3 month of employment.
7. This is full time, year around work.
8. We provide training for H2S, PST, SCA, TDG, WHMIS and Standard First Aid accredited with ENFORM.

Its posted on the fort mac kiiji

[motohorseman]

Back in 2005 I lost my career of 25 years.

A friend called and I was immediately a manager of a Honda motorcycle service department. After a couple of years, it was hard to consider my "friend" a "friend", and we parted ways.

I started at a company that promised me the earth, moon and stars. They said they lived up to higher standards, and it was a line of bull. It ended up being a horrific job, with horrific people I did not know could even be employed, much less promoted, but hey, no one said life was going to be fair.

Went right back into motorcycle service management for a huge multi-line dealership. 6 techs, hundreds of customers and owners who only cared about their bottom line. Sales sold maintenance contracts to buyers of new bikes, they were given the ability to ride in without an appointment and be given priority service. After more than a few rode in and needed valve checks, yet, they would not accept the fact they needed to leave the bike and management basically said change the oil and kick'em out the door, I left, and swore to never ever again make my hobby my job. On the bright side, I was able to ride about every motorcycle out there - and yes, the 2nd generation VMax is bad to the bone and the ZX14 series is on my want list, again.

After than, being discouraged, I sold some items for a dealership on eBay. Took one job that another "friend" got me that was the worst job ever, lasted 2 days and that was 2 days too long. I eventually tool my eBay selling to another level and made a really decent living at it for more than a year - but if anyone tells you it is easy money, they have no clue. 24/7 literally, but I was my own boss.

About a year ago, I approached one of my suppliers for a sales position and after meeting with the owner a few times, we came to an agreement. I'd never done outside sales before. With an account base of dead accounts, I took it to hundreds of account and was on the brink of making things happen, when I realized, the company was operationally dysfunctional to the point that I did not want to be associated with them.

For example, in October I found an item in stock that was labeled incorrectly. I advised the warehouse and office manager - I needed the correct item to fill a customer commitment. In November, nothing was done, I advised the sales manager and owner. In December, at inventory, I was sure the error would be corrected.

Inventory, the count sheets were generated by vendor, so we had to search the warehouse for the items. And the sort was random, this was beyond acceptable. I went and spoke to the senior office manager and the owner. I was told the computer would not sort by part number, my suggestion. I asked to see the screen, and I said - lower left hand corner, select sort - uh, that went over like crap.......

A few days later, I heard the owner and the office staff talking, they were not going to change how they did inventory, that was a waste of everyone's time.

A week later, I needed some more of the item that was labeled incorrectly, guess what, it was counted wrong at inventory and entered as it was, again. I brought it to the attention of those that needed to know, no one cared, I can not work in that environment, and prayed for guidance.

Within 10 days I had 4 solid opportunities in front of me. Stunned, I looked at each, knew one would be better than where I was at, and put in 4 weeks notice.

Longer story short, I've selected a new sales position that so far seems to be the best thing ever. I still do eBay part time, vintage motorcycle parts, and plan to continue with that for several months.

This latest, greatest gig, they are training me, 6-9 months worth. Everyone is happy - I see smiles everywhere. My health insurance is going to be about $350.00 a month - last employers wanted $1200.00 a month.

401K, lot's of benefits, and lots of expectations to perform - and I like that.

Bottom line, never give up. You may take some hits, it might be a painful part of your life, but work through it.

Good luck, hope it works out for you, and you are not alone.

[big r]

BC Guide I sent you a PM. I don't know if it got through. Let me know. Big R

[CanDman]

  ..... where else can you find such a tight knit community..... I love this site !!!! .....keep us posted guys........a true Canadian story 

[Zwartie]

Big r - hope everything works out for you. Sounds like you may have a good lead based on the responses.

I've been fortunate to have worked for the same company for almost 22 years. That being said, we've definitely had our ups and downs. We were a private company with about 65 employees when I started and have something like 700 worldwide now. Went public in 1994, had our first down-turn in '99 (when someone in accounting suddenly couldn't account for $10M) and have had two or three down-sizings since then, the most recent last fall. I've also been fortunate enough to do a variety of jobs  - service tech, tech support, training, engineering and now sales (the dark side). It's given me a well-rounded career and pushed me out of my comfort zone more than a few times. I spent three years working in engineering as a "redeployment" when our company was acquired and restructured. I never would have pictured myself not only working in engineering but leading a team of engineers (as I am no engineer, I'm an electrician). That being said, I am acutely aware that my relationship with my employer could be terminated at a moment's notice - by either of us. The thought of job security is just that - a thought only. It doesn't exist. Anything can change at any time. And in today's ever-changing world it really helps to be flexible and never stop learning. I have two boys - 15 and 12 and when they enter the job market who knows - they may have jobs that don't even exist today.
It may seem like obvious advice but I've seen too many people "hold out" for the right job and spend a year or more without employment. I'm not saying you should jump at the first job offer, but you gotta do what you gotta do to keep food on the table and pay the bills and it's always easier to get a job when you have a job.

Good Luck!

Zwartie

[CanDman]

Big r - hope everything works out for you. Sounds like you may have a good lead based on the responses.

.......(when someone in accounting suddenly couldn't account for $10M)
Good Luck!

Zwartie

....where's the accountant now........?   

[rktmanfj]

Big r - hope everything works out for you. Sounds like you may have a good lead based on the responses.

.......(when someone in accounting suddenly couldn't account for $10M)
Good Luck!

Zwartie

....where's the accountant now........?   

Working for Hillary Clinton, apparently.