How is the economy treating you?

[Rett Mikhal]

Just interested how everyone is dealing with this "economy crisis." I put it in sarcastic quotes because I'm of the firm belief if people stopped covering their own asses and did something the economy would pick back up in about 28 seconds. But I digress. I'd rather hear about you people, any stories relating to it, how you dealt with it or are dealing with it.

Myself, I graduated last August with a degree in Mechanical Engineering that has been collecting dust in a drawer. Absolutely no one on the planet (not exaggerating) is hiring entry level Mechanicals.

See the problem is all the companies have been flipping out and firing the 20+ year guys because they cost too much. It's no big deal to them, everyone wants to hire a juicy 20+ year guy. The problem is just that. All those people that get fired take the jobs normally taken by the less experienced, the "Springboard" jobs. Meanwhile the companies that fired them want to hire 5+ year guys, not realizing in a short 15 years they'll be right back where they started minus millions in training capital spent.

I'm all for those companies failing under the weight of their own stupidity, but it's been really tough. I think by this point I've applied to 300+ jobs, including the really low level stuff like technician, machinist, welder, CAD Drafter.

So, that's my story, how about yours?

 

[Dukat's Major]

Eh, I'm doing all right. I'm really lucky to be in a company and industry that's weathering the downturn well.

 

[ares93]

i've decided not to participate in this so called crisis. it just has a bad ring to it...

 

[Lindley]

Well, the whole Euro thing took about 10% off my 401k, but other than that I'm fine.

 

[Amaris]

Like a red headed stepchild.

 

[Lookingglassman]

I'm doing pretty good actually. I work for the Fed govt so that is a pretty much steady paycheck. I dont have to worry about my job being "out sourced" to India or Mexico or China.

I'm also a disabled vet so I get a nice hefty tax free check each month courtesy of the Fed govt along with free VA medical care for anything so evenif I lost my job I can still survive.

 

[Mary Ann]

The recent UK election results have me worried as I'm in the social services sector, which is bound to be slashed. I know the centre where I work is safe for another year but I don't know what my long-term prospects are.

 

[Kestra]

Other than the fact we can't sell the house, we're doing fine. Even that is okay because we've saved and we have a really good support system (things like my parents letting us live in their condo downtown for free). My husband's making more money than ever before and has as little security as he always has; I'm back in school. We've been in a better situation than most.

 

[Finn]

The past two years has been the greatest in my life, ushering me into my glorious thirities.

 

[propita]

Our IRAs lost a huge chunk. But since we've always been careful with money, we're actually doing fine. I graduated last year owing about $20K. That'll be paid by the end of this year. My car will also be paid by the end of the year. And we'll be done by all the expensive Pella windows for our house this year, too.

Hubby and I are seriously considering travel. The only problem would be time available (we have no kids or pets, though I can be childish at times). He's considering seeking leave without pay for a week next year, just to give us time, since he's using some time off to take care of his parents. Neither is doing too well, healthwise, lately.

All in all, we're doing fine, despite the economy. Pays to be careful.

 

[Yeoman Randi]

Fortunately, my husband's job is secure (so far) and he is doing ok as far as his salary goes.

I've been selling on ebay as my "job" for the last ten years, since i left my 'outside the home' job. I do feel the crunch. People aren't spending on ebay like they use to. Things i could sell with no problem and get $40 or $50 for it are now going for $10, if at all. It sucks!

 

[kimc]

Still working and my job seems secure so I'm doing better than many. The value of my house has fallen about $20,000 since I bought it but since I don't need to move now I can sit tight.

 

[Goliath]

I'm doing pretty well. Enrollment is up, I've just been awarded tenure, and I get to take a sabbatical after this year, so the sailing is pretty smooth right now.

Those seven years in grad school are paying off. I've been very fortunate.

 

[The Boy Who Cried Worf]

Put it to you this way. I wish I was this guy.

But hopefully that will change soon. I just finished my pharmacy technician class on Saturday and I got an A in it. I started my 120 hour externship today as well. Once that is finished I can get licensed and hopefully find employment. Now I am off to the Lounge to complain about my day and how I don't wanna be a pharmacy technician anymore.

 

[The Boy Who Cried Worf]

Fortunately, my husband's job is secure (so far) and he is doing ok as far as his salary goes.

I've been selling on ebay as my "job" for the last ten years, since i left my 'outside the home' job. I do feel the crunch. People aren't spending on ebay like they use to. Things i could sell with no problem and get $40 or $50 for it are now going for $10, if at all. It sucks!

I know how you feel Randi. My girlfriend is a long time E-Bay seller. She is a thrift shop genius and can turn three dollars worth of nothing into a $50 sale. Mostly clothes. We sold designer jeans for a long time to get through the lean years, but that market has kind of dried up a little. She got her aunt starting selling too. For awhile she was making some good money, but has had some lean months lately. Of course her aunt always panics if her sales change from just the month prior. Sometimes she finds really good deals, sometimes it is just nothing. One tip. When Novemeber comes get the ugliest green and red sweaters you can find. Those go like hotcakes.

 

[Rett Mikhal]

Like a red headed stepchild.

Watch the slurs, buddy, some of us may be red headed. Course I'm not a step child, so I guess I can't be offended.

Fortunately, my husband's job is secure (so far) and he is doing ok as far as his salary goes.

I've been selling on ebay as my "job" for the last ten years, since i left my 'outside the home' job. I do feel the crunch. People aren't spending on ebay like they use to. Things i could sell with no problem and get $40 or $50 for it are now going for $10, if at all. It sucks!

I know how you feel Randi. My girlfriend is a long time E-Bay seller. She is a thrift shop genius and can turn three dollars worth of nothing into a $50 sale. Mostly clothes. We sold designer jeans for a long time to get through the lean years, but that market has kind of dried up a little. She got her aunt starting selling too. For awhile she was making some good money, but has had some lean months lately. Of course her aunt always panics if her sales change from just the month prior. Sometimes she finds really good deals, sometimes it is just nothing. One tip. When Novemeber comes get the ugliest green and red sweaters you can find. Those go like hotcakes.

Ebay's days seem to have come and gone. The only way to effectively use it are to sell very rare/expensive things (my friend fixes up old boats and sells them), or to operate a store. Everywhere you look its power sellers, power sellers, power sellers. Hard for the little people.

I think that's the only (and I mean only) reason Craigslist became popular, because it doesn't differentiate between big business and small business. Course it's such a mess right now with spam and sting operations, it's hard to get things done. You might say "but the sting operations are only in the naughty section", well, you're wrong. See the spammers/drug dealers learned to just sell using very specific code words in the sections not monitored by the police. I couldn't tell you what they are, but I know they're doing it. So, it's only a matter of time before everything on Craigslist is a fake spam ad or a fake sting ad.

 

[sidious618]

It treated me pretty badly but things are getting better now.

 

[Ward Fowler]

Put it to you this way. I wish I was this guy.

But hopefully that will change soon. I just finished my pharmacy technician class on Saturday and I got an A in it. I started my 120 hour externship today as well. Once that is finished I can get licensed and hopefully find employment. Now I am off to the Lounge to complain about my day and how I don't wanna be a pharmacy technician anymore.

Best of luck. You have a good sense of humor and that should take you far.

 

[trampledamage]

But hopefully that will change soon. I just finished my pharmacy technician class on Saturday and I got an A in it. I started my 120 hour externship today as well. Once that is finished I can get licensed and hopefully find employment. Now I am off to the Lounge to complain about my day and how I don't wanna be a pharmacy technician anymore.

*taps foot* I'm still waiting for that lounge update...

Congrats on aceing the course! I know the drug-stores and supermarkets up here are crying out for pharmacy techs, so I hope it's a good job market in your area too.

 

[TheBrew]

Pretty well. Applied for one job after college last year, got it and have been working it ever since.

I know, I suck.