1741

Go online and search for assisted housing in your area, Between Section 8 and other programs, there are options for people who have lost their source of income.

The key is to not just sit back and throw your hands up and say woe is me. There are options out there for work (as others have posted,) for housing, for food, etc. But you have to go work at finding them, applying for them, and getting them. Get whatever work you can in the meantime, no matter what it is or if its minimum wage, then you go follow up on the type of things people have posted here (e.g. BSNF, etc.) Others have done it, including people older than you and with disabilities. And it is hard. Hell, the board is filled with people facing hard times, cancer, other tough times (see jpinard (sp?) for someone who faces a tough life on a daily basis,) job loss (this entire thread) and more.

But at the end of the day - it’s your life. Your choices. If you decide to just roll over and give up, OK, that’s your choice. But it is a choice. Good luck.

1742

divorced,

I can’t imagine what you are going through between the loss of a family business, difficulty obtaining employment, pending loss of your home, your wife leaving you (and acting like a complete ass in doing so it seems)… that is a lot of shit to pile on one person at one time. You have my sincere sympathy and all the positive thought vibes I can muster and send your way. At the risk of sounding cliché, I think you are the current poster child for “things can only get better” at this point.

With that in mind, I agree with many others who have counseled leaving your current location. I’m not sure where in Louisiana you are located, but I am originally from southern Mississippi and know that both states only have a couple of cities large enough to really support a professional job hunt, and none of them are great prospects. While you still have a roof and internet access, I would urge you to get online and scour national job search sites like CarreerBuilder.com and others and do job searches in other cities that are outside of your current state. Texas is a good place to start. The corridor between Dallas and San Antonio (which includes Austin and Waco) is a good place to start. Lots of growth there in the past few years. Just look for a city that seems to have numerous job offerings that might be appealing to you or compatible with your skillset, then head there.

I know, that sounds crazy. Move to a new city, no job waiting, no place to live, who does that? Well it sounds like you may be in the perfect position to do so and make it work. You don’t seem to have any ties remaining to Louisiana at this point, and you mentioned having enough money after liquidating your assets to be able to at least get started in a new location. If you can identify a city with more employment prospects than your current one, then what is there to lose? Getting away from the place where so much negative has happened to you in the past few months could even prove to be a catalyst for positive change.

Whatever you decide, I wish you the best of luck and hope that a change for the better is in your very near future. Please keep us updated if you can, and let us know where you end up. Maybe it will be in a city where there is a QT3 member who knows someone who knows someone…stranger things have happened!

1743

Another update. The company have come back to me and said they woudl like me to meet the Operations Director and discuss our options. The only thing is, he is off on holiday from tomorrow until the 17th July.

For me it’s no issue, I am sure if there was nothing they would just say and waiting rather than making me wait and waiting a couple of weeks is fine but my wife is not happy, she seem to think I should just get another job somewhere else like now.

I can apply for other jobs if needed but this company is the only one in my job field for around 150 miles and I am keen to stay within my industry rather than trying to persuade another company to take me on.

There is always the chance nothing could come of this but financially we are fine for up to a year and I would like to make the right decision not a rushed decision. A friend of my wife, her husband took a new job last week in a rush move and has quit after working 2 days and now has no job something I am looking to avoid.

So I am pleased and it’s looking good, this job could pay an additional $25,000 a year over my last job so a big step up as well but my wife not so much.

1744

Good news, Reemul! I know these waits can drive you crazy, but, as you say, they wouldn’t want you to meet the Operations Director unless they were really interested. As for the wife, the anxiety is understandable, but even if you apply to a new prospective employer now, there’s little chance of anything concrete happening before July 17.

1745

I agree with Jason, you should never stop applying to jobs. There is only upside - for example, you might find something you weren’t expecting, or pay could be higher, giving you leverage in your negotiations. Don’t stop submitting resumes!

1746

I agree re applying, one of the issues I have is my job is in Document Management and Solutions and they are few and far between so this is a job I am really keen on, obviously I know I may not get anything but what I dont want to do is apply for a few other jobs and interview and either have to turn it down or take it and quit if I get offered this one which is in my field of expertise. Especially for the sake of waiting for just 2 weeks.

I am going to look for other stuff and see closing dates etc but as my wife is a teacher and the summer holidays are here in 3 weeks it would be nice to have 6 weeks off with them and not worry about jobs too much.

I think my wife would rather have the 6 weeks at the beach with all the family and have me working with a 2 week break in there rather than under her feet all the time :)

Also I do not drive, I have my theroy test on 16th July and then aim to do an intensive driving course over a few weeks so starting work later also works. I have a full motorbike licence but really at 44 it is time I could drive a car as well.

1747

Interviewing can be a pain, but I feel like the more interviews I go on, the better I get. Going on more interviews is like free practice. Personally I think its smart to keep interviewing, even if you think the company is one you would probably reject.

I always like to take multiple interviews because something can always go wrong. The job that is “the one” and feels like its going well can always hit snags. It just makes sense to follow up on every possible lead. But also, if you can get multiple good offers, then you have options (and potentially you’ll have leverage if you want or need some).

1748

nKoan is absolutely right. I’ve had one “sure thing” job get pulled right out from under my feet (company eliminated the position) after getting a TOL. It’s a good thing to stay sharp. Also, for me at least, it helps me feel less antsy.

1749

Congrats! Sounds very promising. As others have said, I’d keep working at finding other opportunities, applying elsewhere, etc. The worst thing that could happen is you get more opportunities and have to turn some down!

And 100% on making sure it’s the right job. If you REALLY need the income, and don’t really have other options, OK, then you take the job, and if it sucks at least you have an income while you look for something better. But if you have the time to look, yeah - we spend most of our waking hours at work, and it has such an impact in so many ways on our quality of life, be picky. It’s why the best time to find a new job is when you have one, you can afford to be selective.

And let’s face it, the reality is that taking a job after a couple of interviews is already like getting married after a couple of dates! We don’t really know a company until we’ve lived with them for a while, so make your “dates” as informative as possible! :)

1750

This happened to my wife twice now. Nothing is ever certain until you sign a contract.

1751

Looks like I’m joining the club. Just got informed I’ll be losing my position at the end of the year (been there for 9 years). Guess I have 6 months to find something new, so am still relatively hopeful things will work out… Need to figure out a new direction and if I’m willing to move to a new town/country. Not sure how many realistic options I’ll have though.

1752

What field are you in, Cormac?

1753

And what location?

1754

I’m in Cologne, Germany at the moment and currently working as an editor/technician at a TV station. Originally I’m from South Africa, but don’t really want to leave Europe yet…

1755

Okay, my life took a fairly unexpected turn. Got an offer. Pays not awesome, but enough and with benefits after 90 days. It’s in the same industry that I was in before, but with a company that wants to branch out into the area I live. I have 3 months to prove my worth to her and then get a substantial bump if I make it work. I have no doubt I can. Her big obstacle is finding employees and I have 20 years worth of former employees that I can tap to come work. Downside is I now have only 6 days to move out and no idea where I’m laying my head on July 1. So I guess I’m now in liquidation mode to get the money to put down on a small apartment. It would have been real nice if this has come through a month ago, but I guess I gotta play the cards dealt me. It’s a step in the right direction. I just hope I can get enough. Without a roof, it falls apart. Nobody wants someone living in their car working for them. I’d appreciate some prayers that things like my couch, bed, etc. look real appealing to someone else!

1756

If you all have a local YMCA, they are a great “crisis time” temporary home. I’d of course be wary of bringing in anything super valuable with you, but having someplace to rest and shower each day is pretty key. A membership is way less than an apartment (especially when you account for first month’s rent, security deposit, plus activation fees on utilities), letting you stretch out a little money till you have enough to make it to something more permanent and stable.

good luck!!!

1757

So pleased for you, think back a few days when things looked so bleak compared to now. Fingers crossed for you.

1758

That sucks a bit, the 6 months fly by, i’m finding it hard to believe I have had 8 weeks off already and the 9 months it took for my lay off seemed to go so quick.

1759

It’s a good thought, but there’s nothing even remotely like that here.

1760

Holding thumbs for you too, divorced! Really hope you manage to work out a solution.