I just got laid off.

I literally just got the word moments ago.

For the last several years I've been working as a contractor with IBM. I don't like working for the big boys, but I do need to put food on my family.

In my "spare time" i've been trying to do things I do feel good about. For those familiar with the Solar Bus, that's my outlet... (http://solarbus.org)

Anyway, I just got the phone call, my contract is being terminated, not due to performance... just because some financial dudes decided there have to be some cutbacks and my number came up. Now some other folks will be doing more work to cover for me, and surely without more pay.

A part of me has just hated doing this work, working for a big company that is the biggest polluter in our state. But the people I worked with were generally very nice (excluding the management), and I was able to work at home most of the time, being an administrator for part of the IBM website. But my heart was not in it.

So I'm still in shock mode, not really realizing the repercussions of not having a steady income for my mortgage, utilities, food, etc... I'm sure that will settle in soon and I'll need a stiff drink (or two).

Looking forward I'm hoping to do something that's more in alignment with my heart. Maybe now that I have more time to put into it, the Solar Bus project will take off to more than a hobby. I know the project has been stifled because of my fulltime work at IBM, so maybe this is a blessing in disguise and I can spend more time on my projects that I really feel good about and maybe then they'll start to generate some income. I guess a part of me has been secretly hoping this was going to happen, so I can do something else that's a better fit for who I am. But I've been there before and I know work is hard to find and this is not going to be easy.

So I guess it would be unwise to close without a plea... if anyone knows of work for a website designer/activist/solar energy guy let me know.

I know I'm not the only one in this boat. Good luck to everyone.

peaceout.

Don't you ever feel bad about doing what you must do to take care of your family. That's what all of us are doing, as best we can, whether we admit it or not. You're gonna get through this, just like you've gotten through everything else. Meanwhile, there'll be good vibes coming to you from Switzerland. :pals:

best wishes to you. I hope you get an even bettrer job soon.

or so when they give us the final details. I'm all over the place emotionally about it. I'm in between depressed and denial.

I hope this creates new, positive opportunities for you.

As a contractor, I've been through this many times.

the good vibes has an effect.

Outsourcing is killing America. My son was just laid off last week. He found a temporary job but then in this day and age I guess they are all temporary. Good luck in your job search.

Been there, done that. I don't mean this to sound trite or to belittle your situation, but in my experience these things tend to turn out for the best. Do take the next few days to take good care of yourself. Have that stiff drink (or two) -- you deserve it!

well, will think of you

I'm an engineer for a company that manufactures shipboard furnishings for the Navy. There are only a handful of companies nationwide that make these products. Only two in San Diego. After two weeks of worrying I went to the other place and applied. I start tomorrow morning at 6:30 AM.
Dont let it eat away at you. Apply for unemployment and any other public assistanceyou can till you are back to work again.
I will send you all the good mojo I can my friend.

I've been let go from two contracts at IBM over the years. The last one was last November.

I'm working on trying to have my own business. Not saying I'll never accept another contract again (not IBM, though) but I want a practice to build up that no one else can willy-nilly decide to take away.

a new life.....one that you'll be happier with. I know it's hard....we've had two years of mounting debt coming through something similar and are on the threshold to building a environmentally friendly community of small homes....it's our dream and we're content with our choice....even excited about it!I hope this period in your life evolves into the same....best of luck! K&R

So, I figure I take a few weeks off, start a Doctoral Program and look for work....then we get 9/11, so, things sucked for over a year........I was working under contract for IBM in Somers, NY......

in one thread. What are the odds?

:crazy:

edit: Maybe we should start an ex-IBMers Club here. :-)

And you all don't hook up - online consultants?

There's still some small business owners out there that may need your expertice, no?

Here's to landing on your feet.



:grouphug:

alas-they loved our contracts-not us. Lost the job I loved. The firm I work for now has just brought in a temp who was just laid off from IBM too.
before the acquisition-my (french) boss asked me what company I would most like to work for, and what company I would like least to work for. I couldn't answer the first question, but the first thing that came to mind when he asked 'who least' was IBM. I had at that time no clue they were in the process of acquiring us.

this is actually the 2nd time i've been laid off by IBM. the other time was right before 9/11 also. I was unemployed for over a year. never really thought I'd get hired back. i'm up in Burlington.

the thing that really irks me at the moment is that my IBM manager STILL hasn't said a word to me. I was in a meeting with him yesterday... nothing.

I got the word from my contracting company. silence from my IBM manager. what a jerk.

as an aside, I think there's some really screwy stuff going on with the IBM Contractor world. They hire many contractors just so they don't have do pay benefits. I worked there for almost 10 years as a contractor. I did everything the employees do. I don't think that's legal.

"my IBM manager STILL hasn't said a word to me. I was in a meeting with him yesterday... nothing.

I got the word from my contracting company. silence from my IBM manager. "




And you won't. My manager didn't say boo to me either time. It was always the contracting company that did the dirty work for them. It may be something contractual between IBM and the contracting companies. On a personal level, I find it unethical and unprofessional.

my IBM manager, which technically is not my manager, gave me the word. she also gave us all warnings several weeks ahead of time. I think it's up to their discretion. Certainly after the fact, he could just let me know that he appreciated my work and that it had nothing to do with performance. Saying nothing is downright rude.

and was told look for a box to put my stuff in.

and even suggested that I see the 2 weeks as severence and don't work while I take home my last two paychecks. he also said lots of nice things about the work i've done... then he told me the job is being farmed out to india... :)

it sucked in 2001.....the guy to whom I was to return it said he didn't want it back, so I sent a registered letter etc etc etc, and nothing ever came of it.

I was hired through Analysts International's Danbury, CT Office, which has since gone belly up. This happened at the same time Gartner shedded thousands of System Analysts in Connecticut.......

So, we loaded up the truck and headed back to DC......

And, my guess, probably talented and creative enough to turn this from lemons into lemonade. I know it's scary. Been through a LOT of financial insecurity, myself. My positive thoughts and energy are with you and your family.

Good luck.

I'm a contractor, too. So, I know what it's like to have to scramble for work sometimes.

Hang in there. Be sure to take some time to yourself.

I'm so sorry to hear this.

As you say, you are not the only person in this boat.

However, when it happens to YOU, YOU are the only person it happens to.

Hang in there. With all the support and good thoughts coming your way, something good is bound to happen.

Maybe some good will come of it. ~Peace~

look at any and every way to be self employed. look to fill a need in your local community. and as you think about your options, try to keep as a top consideration what you can do that will make your clients or customers want to tell their friends and family that they should also be your client or customer. see http://www.creatingcustomerevangelists.com/cce/

i need to be my own boss.

I am also self-employed -- really like the link! Earlier this year I lost a big client -- today I heard I picked up a new one! yay!

that there will be good karmic repercussions from this. Shifting your focus from your evil corporate golden handcuffs to the environmentally-friendly solar bus sounds like a good karmic move to me, at any rate.

Here's wishing you strength for the journey, and success in your dreams for your own future and the future of our planet!
:toast:

It's a bummer. Can you get unemployment to help pay bills for awhile?

A site I love which does great work on putting a bit of light on dark areas of government

their hiring page says this



Otherwise, I recommend going down the list of blog rolls of your favorite sites and checking out who is looking for people.

Of course you have to realise that working for the left side does not get huge paychecks you normally get working for the IBMs of the world.

Peace

You are in my thoughts :hug:

On edit - check your PM :)

isn't that nice. :)

:rofl:

the bush economy is slowly bleeding us all to death...i've been unemployed the past two years, so i know where you come from

Good luck to you; will keep an ear out for your area of expertise.

I fear we will all revert to hunting and gathering eventually. I don't understand the need for so few to have so much, especially when the massive under-middle class that's being created won't have the strength to make anything for the money folk to buy.


:shrug:




(((((((((GOOD VIBES))))))))) coming your way...

I was out of work for three months last year and I'm just starting to catch up. I can empathize, seriously.

Plenty have been there and done that. Nothing is more valuable than the belief that somehow, someway, you will land on your feet.

For now, though, you need to go do something fun. Go to a funny movie (matinee if you're worried about the expense) and laugh your head off. You'll feel refreshed.

:toast: Here's to hoping you find something real fast.

the first thought is always of providing for the family. It sounds as though you certainly have superior skills so I hope that your search will be a short one. Yes, perhaps this is one of those 'doors' opening for you to find another path.
:hug:

Best of luck to you.

literally 1 hour before quitting time on a Friday, I was handed a "letter". 5 other people were also laid off that day in the same manner.

There was no discussion, no meeting, nothing - just the letter.

Fortunately, I was able to find a new job almost immediatelly (started new job last week)

Found the ad for my new job on MONSTER.COM

I would suggest hitting all the Job Search websites like Monster, HotJobs etc.

Pennsylvania as a "CAREER LINK" site connected with their unemployment office - if your state has one, you should sign up there too

:hug: to you, and I wish you luck -- I'll keep my ears and eyes open for you

This seems to be happening all over the IT industry these days.

My wife and I have each had similar events a few years ago (not at the same time, thankfully). It wasn't easy and we still are in debt from it but we both got back on track. We're software developers and what we did in response was to get certifications in skills that were more attractive to us and we ended up in jobs doing stuff we liked better than the jobs we lost. Just a thought.

From your posts on DU and your solarbus work it's obvious you are talented, smart, and resourceful and I'm sure you're going to work it out. But a bit of luck never hurts, so, Good Luck!

Small campaigns especially, from city council on up, they all need websites and maintenance. You could approach candidates you support and offer your services. Voila! You combine your skills with your activism.

Outsourcing to India. What a crime.

Article in "The Nation" about a former IBM Senior VP.

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20070430/greider

>>>
The church of global free trade, which rules American politics with
infallible pretensions, may have finally met its Martin Luther. An
unlikely dissenter has come forward with a revised understanding of
globalization that argues for thorough reformation. This man knows the
global trading system from the inside because he is a respected
veteran of multinational business. His ideas contain an explosive
message: that what established authorities teach Americans about
global trade is simply wrong--disastrously wrong for the United States.

Martin Luther was a rebellious priest challenging the dictates of a
corrupt church hierarchy. Ralph Gomory, on the other hand, is a
gentle-spoken technologist, trained as a mathematician and largely
apolitical. He does not set out to overthrow the establishment but to
correct its deeper fallacies. For many years Gomory was a senior vice
president at IBM. He helped manage IBM's expanding global presence as
jobs and high-tech production were being dispersed around the world.

The experience still haunts him. He decided, in retirement, that he
would dig deeper into the contradictions. Now president of the Alfred
P. Sloan Foundation, he knew something was missing in the "pure trade
theory" taught by economists. If free trade is a win-win proposition,
Gomory asked himself, then why did America keep losing?
>>>

I went through that a couple of years ago, it's no fun. Good luck with the job search.