A Door Closed Yesterday... Another Opened

[hockeypuck]

Your attitude is more than admirable. I used to be in the engineering field and now am an electrical contractor. This country has lost many manufacturing jobs. I can think of a number of companies in the Spingfield VT area that are no longer there who used to be heavy tool manufacturers.

You are in the enviable position (hopefully) of choosing your next career for pure enjoyment. Do not sell yourself short. Start out by looking for a new job on Monster.com. You can at least see the opportunities in your area.

I hope you and your family have a great thanks giving. Just got done sending up a prayer for you.

puck

 

[jinman]

So with that I would like to wish everyone a great Thanksgiving holiday, and enjoy what you have !!!

Amen !

Scotty, I'm sorry for the turmoil in your life that has come at a time when most of us will be in a holiday spirit and celebrating. I don't know why for sure, but the holidays seem to be a popular time for companies to do layoffs and cutbacks. Ironic, isn't it? As you said, you have a nice severance package and time to redirect your efforts, so you too have reason to celebrate and be thankful.

In my field, business aviation training, our business is growing by leaps and bounds. All those offshore business deals mean execs have to travel. They do it in corporate jets and we cannot get enough pilots to teach. Any of them who can fly have good jobs flying. My company even pays employees up to $3000 for a referral of a pilot who is hired as an instructor. So, while it is doom and gloom in some sectors, the global economy is driving business aviation through the roof. I don't know if you are interested, but a man of your talents could surely find a niche in aviation. Heck, I'd even suggest my company's simulator manufacturing company if it weren't across the border in Montreal.

The medical field is another area where great opportunity abounds. New surgical techniques and new instruments are constantly in demand. We are getting into medical simulations in my company for training surgeons. This is a new field with a bright future.

Alternative energy is another possibility. You don't have to look far to find new companies and new equipment being manufactured.

So, while it is a blow to your confidence, on greater examination, it's timely opportunity and your severance has "bankrolled" your opportunity to branch out and find exciting new ways to use your talent. I'll bet you land with both feet squarely planted and a big grin on your face. You'll do just fine.

Happy Thanksgiving to both you and Kathleen.

 

[cp1969]

Hi Scott,

Let me, too, express my sympathy for your situation. No one wants to have to deal with that at our (I'm the same age as you) age.

My suggestions would be, if you want a change of pace, to use this paid time to attend a training class in another field that you might be interested in. I think I would take up HVAC repair. It is not going to be shipped overseas any time soon. I would also be interested in land surveying but each person has his own likes/dislikes.

OTOH, if you want to remain in the tool and die machinist trade, at least in the Kansas City area, you could have a job tomorrow. If you're interested, PM me and I will give you some names of shops that would probably put you to work tomorrow (seriously). I know if it was me, I would not want to pull up stakes and move halfway across the country to chase a job. I won't do that and maybe you won't either. When you're looking for a job, though, at our age I would advise not spending too much time looking at any company big enough to have an HR department. They are so programmed into looking for non-work related characteristics such as age, etc., that they can't see the value of the man standing in front of them. You will probably have much better luck at a shop that is run by a man who himself came up thru the ranks and can tell by talking to you what you can do.

Third option is if you can think of something that many people find difficult and/or distasteful to do, but it comes easy for you....you have a niche and will be wildly successful in filling a need for other people. I have no such talent but hopefully you do.

You know, this may be a very good thing. Maybe it isn't a coincidence that it happened at Thanksgiving, and maybe you have more to be thankful for on this day than you thought you did a month ago.

Good luck and Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.

 

[DUMBDOG]

Do not know any of the details, but one of my classmates from high school lost his job due to outsourcing, he was able to get some type of government help to go back to school. This was quite a while ago, but something to check out.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

Scotty I'm posting a picture of my wife who retired this June. She worked for Verizon for twenty six years and then in the middle of May they let everyone know they needed to lose nineteen people. She took the opportunity to leave with a little incentive to make it less painfull.

 

[escavader]

SCOTTY,
YANKEE INGENUITY. You have it.Ihave read most of your posts.There probably isnt any thing you cant do[even climb ladders ].Now you need to decide ,what you WANT to do.Too bad restored farmalls wouldnt make you rich,you have the know how.Start your own business.Get started now,while you got your severance to help.With all your knowledge,and great personality its a win win situation.CHANGE IS GOOD.It is hard to change careers mid stream,but youll find your place to hang your hat each day and enjoy yourself.
Ive been thinking on getting a career going in a tractor dealership.Its a subject i love,i like fixing things etc.Pay would be crap,but as long as i keep wifey at her current job who cares
Mabey even a job for a contractor doing tractor/excuvator work and or plowing winters
The possibilities are endless

NOW you do the same...Think of the things you like most in life and make a career out of it.
ALAN

 

[RichZ]

Hi Scotty!!

I'm sorry to hear about your job, but like everyone else said, this will be a good thing. Maybe it's time to move up here full time!!! I think that you'll find that there are lots of job and business opurtunities here, and I know you love this area as I do. I think it's time for you to join me in the goat dairy business!!!! The demand for goat milk around here is high, I freshened 40 does last year, and I'm in the process of breeding 80 does for freshening for this spring. You've got the time to build your barns now, and I'll help you get into the market, if you're interested.

Hang in there, buddy, I know you'll come out of this ahead of the game!!!

 

[RedRocker]

Harvey, I hate to see your wife suffering like that, what a horrible place to have to hang out.
Scott, I've been cranking handles on Bridgports and Clausings for 40 years or so my self. Our company was going through a buyout with GE in March and everybody was up in the air with that deal till it fell through. These times sure aren't like our fathers time when a guy could work at the same place his entire life and retire with a comfortable pension. You might go look for Harvey's wife, you can see how she's suffering having to look at that awful scenery. I may just have to check that out myself!! Good luck to ya.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

Harvey, I hate to see your wife suffering like that, what a horrible place to have to hang out.
Scott, I've been cranking handles on Bridgports and Clausings for 40 years or so my self. Our company was going through a buyout with GE in March and everybody was up in the air with that deal till it fell through. These times sure aren't like our fathers time when a guy could work at the same place his entire life and retire with a comfortable pension. You might go look for Harvey's wife, you can see how she's suffering having to look at that awful scenery. I may just have to check that out myself!! Good luck to ya.

Red, it was terrible, no cell signal, no television, just terrible. We were stuck there for nine days. Every day was the same, breakfast, hike to see spectacular views, lunch, nap, hike again, then supper and a roaring fire, then early to bed. We were in our toy hauler and dad was parked across the fire ring from us in his motorhome. When we arrived the oaks were green amongst the Ponderosas. When we pulled out they'd passed into yellow and losing their leaves.

That photo is my favorite. I was behind her and my father as we approached the rim, Mogollan Rim. She walked out and threw her arms out embracing the world and I caught it with a bushel basket of pixels.

 

[Skipholiday]

Goodluck my friend.
It will all work out for the best.

For today God Bless and Happy Thanksgiving.