Ouch! just ouch. On Wed, Aug 12, 2009 at 11:03 AM, Scott Williamson < [email protected]> wrote:
> At least everybody here has a job. I lost my job in March.. The recession > hurt our online sales (50% drop in sales). The owner, who had no clue when > it came to SEO/SEM, decided to make all these changes to get it in top of > the search engines. He ignored the employees, including our marketing > person. We said this would hurt us even more. Boom!... an 80% drop in sales. > From over $40,000 a day in online sale to just over $8,000 in six months. > The owner kept assuring us that the company has been through this before and > we will weather is out. The company has over $2 millions in reserves (found > out this was not true). > > The owner quietly sold the business under us. We came to work and it was > closed. Your paychecks will be sent in the mail. It never came. Company > filed for bankruptcy the same day it closed. I went from 115K a year as the > IT Director to $450 a week on unemployment. If figured with 15 years IT > experience, a Masters in Information Systems, a PMP, A+, Network+, MCP, and > advanced ColdFusion certified, I could find a job. > > Nope... Over 200 positions I have applied or sent my resume to and I got > only one interview for an System Administrator making $55,000. The only way > I got the interview was because I has to dumb down my resume. Did not get > the job. They found someone with more experience and the HR person said that > over 300 people applied for the position.. Three years ago, they could > barely get 5 to apply. Recruiters are no help. > > I do have family in the Dallas area, and got a couple hits from companies > in Dalles. But the both stated that because I am out of town, they feel I > will leave when things pick up. Not true. I am looking to get out of > California! > > So.. it is now August. My savings is dried up and my wife makes $40,000 a > year as a dental assistant.. Not enough in Southern California. Mortgage > company will not do a forbearance so we have to move out of our house and > live with my brother. But the rent wont cover the mortgage and we have > already accepted the fact that we will lose our house. I have spent $3,000 > on two attorneys to help us with the mortgage company.. no help. > > I get a kick reading that IT jobs are the hot jobs and they are hard to > fill. Not enough skilled workers. I have not experienced that. > > ------------------------------ > *From:* "Ziots, Edward" <[email protected]> > *To:* NT System Admin Issues <[email protected]> > *Sent:* Wednesday, August 12, 2009 3:34:23 AM > *Subject:* RE: OT: Salary rant > > I agree, right now, a lot if not most companies are “bleeding a nickel” > when it comes to getting maximum productivity out of workers, on top of > reducing costs any and every way they can. I don’t see this trend ending for > a few years to come. > > > > Like its been said before for those that get raises ( Ours have been frozen > too, and possibly for longer for just this year) along with the raise in > paying more for your benefits, less in the 401K, 403B, and no training > budget) be happy you have a job and a roof over your head, it could be a lot > worse, and quiet quickly.. > > > > I agree use the opportunity to stand out, put in the time, (and we all know > it isn’t a 40 hr work week, you are lucky if you get away with 60-70 hrs a > week now a days) learn all you can learn with new technologies, and bide > your time. > > > > Z > > > > Edward Ziots > > Network Engineer > > Lifespan Organization > > MCSE,MCSA,MCP+I, ME, CCA, Security +, Network + > > [email protected] > > Phone:401-639-3505 > ------------------------------ > > *From:* James Kerr [mailto:[email protected]] > *Sent:* Tuesday, August 11, 2009 7:17 PM > *To:* NT System Admin Issues > *Subject:* Re: OT: Salary rant > > > > Guess I shouldn't complain about our 1% raise company wide. > > ----- Original Message ----- > > *From:* Sam Cayze <[email protected]> > > *To:* NT System Admin Issues <[email protected]> > > *Sent:* Tuesday, August 11, 2009 6:49 PM > > *Subject:* RE: OT: Salary rant > > > > Well put, nice words Andy. (And others). > > > > They might be lowballing to find someone serious about the position, not > the paycheck. If you bite, they may make it worth your while if you are > committed. > > > ------------------------------ > > *From:* Andy Shook [mailto:[email protected]] > *Sent:* Tuesday, August 11, 2009 4:27 PM > *To:* NT System Admin Issues > *Subject:* RE: OT: Salary rant > > Chris, > > It’s tough out there no doubt and I feel your pain, many of us that are > employed are right there with you. Salary cuts, benefit cost increases, > insurance coverage decreases, 401(k)s turning into 101(k)s, furloughs, > FREAKIN’ COMISSION PLAN RESTRUCTURES (I fell better). The cut sucks, I > understand, but you’re standing there with an FULL TIME OFFER LETTER. To > many IT guys that are stupid smart are now bagging groceries… > > > > I encourage everyone in this situation to look long term; the here and now > is not fun but it is temporary. “This too, shall pass”, wrote the psalmist. > I would use the opportunity you have been given to rise above the morale, > fear\doom & gloom and stand out; i.e. all of you be the rock star in your > current position(s). It’s a killer opportunity, as the fat has been trimmed > and orgs are now focusing on everything & everyone with laser precision. > > > > Be the best… [1] > > > > Shook > > [1] This could be perceived as an unintentional Karate Kid reference > (tournament music….*You’re the best, around. No one’s ever gunna beat you > down*) but that was not the intent. J > > > > On Tue, Aug 11, 2009 at 3:49 PM, Christopher Bodnar < > [email protected]> wrote: > > I know I’m not going to get a any sympathy here, due to the unemployment > rate, and the economy in general, but needed to vent a little. Was hired as > a contract to hire position last year. Great company, close to home, good > salary. 6 months in they cut my salary by 10% to the contracting company, > which was then passed on to me. I was told at the time, that if/when I was > offered full time employment, I would be brought on with the initial salary > I had started at. Just go the official offer, and it’s 5% below that. I know > I should be thankful I even have a job, which I am. But I still feel like > they are low-balling me just because of the economy. If the economy would be > better and more IT jobs out there, I’d tell them to take a hike and see what > happens. Can’t afford to do that right now with a mortgage and 2 kids. For > once I just wish someone would offer me what was promised. Sorry, not > looking to offend anyone out there. Just blowing off some steam. > > Chris > ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ > ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ > > > > > -- > Organization and good planning are just crutches for people that can't > handle stress and caffeine. - unknown > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- Organization and good planning are just crutches for people that can't handle stress and caffeine. - unknown ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~
