"Plan B"

[HoleshotHolset]

In this day and age - nearly everyone is susceptible to, for lack of a better term... corporate downsizing.



In light of this fact, does anyone have a "Plan B"?



The more I work in a corporate world, the more I realize that I can be suddenly eliminated.



If anyone has a "Plan B" they would like to discuss in public - here's the place. If they would like to share their plan, but not make it public - I can be reached via email or PM.



I'm just trying to look out for #1 - and hopefully help others that may be considering similar courses of action.



Matt

 

[Bob Wagner]

I thought "plan B" was always lunch at hooters

 

[RT66DOC]

No Bob, as I recall, lunch at Hooters was not plan B - it was plan C ---> most likely 36 C :-laf

 

[fkovalski]

Plan "B"

I have liquid savings (no, not beer) for at least one year of expenses. So, I could go a year with out having to work if need be. The "years" worth is not what I would actually make in a year, but rather the actual outlay needed to pay rent, truck, food etc... The difference is the amount that I would not be able to put away or save. I still have my tools of when I used to work as a mechanic, so I 'spose I could go back to turning wrenches in some form. I would continually be seeking another position as an architect and I would move if I had to. Would hate to leave the year round playgound of where I live now.

 

[QRTRHRS]

If your plan "B" involves finding other work, I suggest you have your resume up to date for starters. Then take a look at one of the online job finding sites and start plugging in some info.



It helps if your free or willing to pack up and move. Not wanting to give up my farm (which is going to be my retirement once I can't handle the work), I am stuck with extremely specialized skills.



Falling back 25 years before I went back to school for electronics, I went and got a CDL. Like cycling, it's like I never left. It will do while I search for something that pays better.



You know what really bites? Loosing five weeks of vacation.

 

[Straight6Jeff]

My plan B includes having other skill sets besides what I am currently doing. I work in the biotech field (Haz waste management) and I am amazed at how many of the scientists and researchers have no other job skills besides the laboratory. Having other professions to be able to fall back on is my plan b.

 

[TPCDrafting]

I went to plan B coming up on 4 years ago. I went to work for myself. With good motivation, I think I can sustain the drafting business for a long time. If not, I'll go back to construction and/or go back to working for someone else making them money. I could also go back to bridge inspection working for the gubment, but I hated working that SLOW!

 

[MFalkinham]

Straight6Jeff is exactly right. I believe you need the skills (and the willingness) to work in another field temporarily until another position in your primary field comes along. I faced this situation in 2002 when I was downsized from my position in Information Technology. I immediately found a job as an armed security guard, and that paid the mortgage (but not much else) for the next 15 months until I found the job I have now. Bottom line is you have do whatever it takes to provide for your family.



- MikeF

 

[Sled Puller]

Plan B and C. Have used both already, quite a few times.



A-Equipment Operator.

B- Carpenter

C- Keep my CDL current.



Its not just pencil pushers that worry about losing their jobs.

 

[FATCAT]

CDL Info ...

Anyway to get your CDL with out having to drop a ton of cash at those "Truck driver" schools? Sure would be nice to have just in case ... other wise Plan-B is (to the wife) "... keep the car running while I make a withdrawal from the bank ... ".



Oh wait ... thats my retirement plan. Top of the world ma!!!

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

FATCAT - Find a local owner - operator to go riding with, like a logger up there in NH. A buddy of mine did just that a few years ago, hooked up with a guy a few houses down and drove with him all winter. Got to do a lot of off-road driving on icy mountains, bet they don't go over that in truck driver training school. My brother did the same thing with a local Owner - Operator about 20 years ago and has been driving ever since. One thing to think about with the CDL, if you don't like driving with the morons out there in your pick-up you'll like it even less in a big truck.



My plan B - win the lottery, plan C on the other hand is be as versitle as possible, I went to machine trades school in high school (machine shop) and took up gas turbine electronics in the Navy. I have worked in the power industry since getting out but have taken up welding. I worked at a wood buring power plant for a while and operated a Cat 966 loader quite a bit even though I was management, figured it would give me a little experience. My family was basically mechanics until they needed to make a better living so I grew up around working on cars. I am basically a jack of all master of none. I've worked on 115,000 volt switch gear and 5 vdc circuits, built gas engines for jeeps by myself and performed major maintenance on diesels and gas turbines, I've welded exotic metals inside of gas turbines and brazed together mild steel. Some of the guys I work with say they are control room operators and don't need to learn new things, good for them I say, it makes it easier for me when we need to look for new jobs because this place gets sold or something.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Okay - everything said so far is pretty much what I was thinking. I wanted to make sure that I was not thinking irrationally about any of my 'plans'.



I have some skills as a mechanic (6+ years) mostly diesel stuff - I'm slow, but thorough. And I can buzz together metal pretty well... I'm good at TIGging stuff. If I got canned today - I wouldn't mind turning wrenches again... or even getting a welding gig.



With the number of apartments/rental properties around here - there has to be some jobs in maintenance... even though I didn't find much online.



There's no way in heck I have enough money to last a year - maybe a few months... but nowhere near a year.



I looked on monster.com and found lots of industrial stuff - as well as stuff just like what I'm doing now.



It's good to see that people have a 'plan B'... it's a fact of life today.



Thanks for the good info - I'm sure other people have contemplated similar situations.



Matt

 

[JLEONARD]

My plan "B" involves a few different stages. .

1st would be to sell our house and many/most of our possessions.

2nd is to cruise for a year (or 2) in my boat... doing the great loop (up the Hudson, Erie to the lakes, down Miss R, Ohio R, into Tenn/Tombigee, etc) You can live really cheaply doing this as well as see the country/explore.

3rd is to relocate (if we get tired of cruising) somewhere south of New England (Md, Va,NC) and do boat surveys and boat moving (Capts licence hopefully in 04) at my leisure.



Well, its a plan at least!

Jay

 

[TORQUE THIS]

OK Matt, stop beating around the bush... tell us the real story!

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Mark: There is no 'real story'.



Things have been quiet around here. Almost a little too quiet. I get worried when it's too quiet...



I'm just trying to plan for what could happen. I have no reason to think that I might loose my job, but the possibility always exists.



Matt

 

[fkovalski]

Plan "B" -the alternate...

... could always revert to the Y2K theory of a plan "B. "



Gold buried somewhere... cash under the mattress... freeze dried food... a good water filter... plenty of ammo...



Hell, Matt- just go camping for a year!

 

[TORQUE THIS]

OK, just making sure everything is kosher!



Would you consider any job if need be? I mean think of the worst things to do, would you take a job like that?

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Everything is Kosher, so far.



I would do darn near anything for work if I had to. I've been blue collar all my life. Now I feel as though I'm not even wearing a collar...



I could go camping for a year - live off the land... eating bark and twigs when food gets really scarce. The TDR sure would be quiet, though. :-laf



MTY



On edit: Talk about bad timing - I fell in love with 3rd Gen Friday night... and now I'm writing about how I'm worried about my job. Not that I would have bought a 3rd Gen even if I wasn't worried about my job. I just don't have enough of a down payment to justify it... . not YET!

 

[QRTRHRS]

Some other things to consider:



If a few hundred or even a thousand coworkers get hit at the same time, it can make the worker pool a bit overcrowded.



Age is a factor. It's real easy to discriminate, you simply don't meet "our needs".



The company you worked for may have a reputation. There can be the fear you will go back if called. There can be the fear you may be a slug.

 

[barbwire]

unemployment office

Look on the bright side. If several hundred, or thousand coworkers get layed off, "be the first one to open a employment search office"