Downsized blues - 14 years down the drain - anyone know what I mean?

Question

I was downsized (along with 10,000 of my co-workers) in 2002, after being with AT&T for 14 years. I know people who worked for AT&T for 28 years and were downsized.

Since the downsizing (my second with the company), my wages have dropped 50% and the company I work for is the worst place I've ever worked. People are leaving in droves, but I haven't been able to find another great job with decent pay.

Sometimes it really gets me down. I'm a union person, but, when it comes to layoffs, when you're in a union, you're just a number on a layoff list. Sometimes I feel like I'll never make good money and have a job I love again. I'm 54 years old and the clock is ticking. No jerk answers, please.

Answer 1

Let me tell you - union or not - layoffs/down-sizing ("right-sizing"?), whatever you call it hurts a lot and, in my experience, it is hardly ever "logical." Who stays and who is let go is a matter of luck. In my opinion, the people who stay are the un-lucky ones!

The good news is you can't take it personally! Whether you stayed or left had very little to do with the quality of your work! You weren't fired for the quality of your work. You were laid off for being in the wrong place at the wrong time!

I was let go in 1994 after 13 years at my employer in a year when the company dumped about 40,000 "extra" employees. They dumped another 20,000 people in 1995, and on and on. It was the 2nd largest computer company in the world during the 80's and 90's. It disappeared in 1999 (I think). Gone and, for the most part, forgotten.

Now, I'm making more money than I did then, and very happy for the "opportunity" to get on with my career somewhere else. It will happen to you too!

With good networking skills (people, not computer) and good work skills, you should be able to get a better job. There are "alumni" groups of former employees and retirees of Bell Labs, AT&T, Avaya, Lucent, et al, linked from this page on the Bell Labs Website - http://www.bell-labs.com/topic/alumni/. You may be able to connect with some former colleagues through the groups on that page.

Target some good employers in your area, using the tips in this article, Job Hunting Over 50 - http://jobhunt.typepad.com/jobsearching/2006/07/job_hunt_over_5.html - for some networking tips and ideas.

Hang in there. 54 is young! You'll end up very glad you left AT&T.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Experiences like these is what is pushing the economy into being driven by Entrepreneurs. The only way to be free of problems like yours is to be your own boss. I can say that I have been fortunate enough to only face cutbacks at a job during the off season and never at a job I had dedicated a large portion of my life to. It just goes to show at the end of the day your only as good to the company as they think you are and that it is all about the bottom line. If you are interested in an opportunity that might be the best thing you ever did take a look at my "honest opportunity" yahoo 360 blog.

Either way I wish you the best of luck and it sucks that the economy is driven by the bottom line.

Answer 3

I know what you feel. Not working for 15 years and "downsized" but I got hit with a similar situation.

I was "laid off" 1 month after buying a house and 2 months after getting married and relocating to Kansas City for a brand-new job. It crushed me mentally. I still haven't completely recovered emotionally and we certainly haven't recovered financially either.

I would rather be fired than laid off. When you get fired, it's because you screwed up. Getting "laid off" is because they screwed up. But the hardest part is that it's 100% their fault and 100% your problem...

Yeah, I think I know how you feel. Not exactly, but close enough.

What to do? The only thing you really can: take care of yourself. Exercise. Take a course. Read a book. Join Toastmasters. Go to chruch/temple/whatever.

Don't go to church/temple/whatever? Pick one and go anyway--what have you got to lose?

The bottom line is to get active. Get your body to move and your emotions will follow.

I recommend reading Harvey Mackay's SHARKPROOF book to anyone that has been laid off, or his program on building a network.

Answer 4

14 years - i am sure you have learnt a lot in these 14 years....
look back and think about what expertise you have gianed in these years. why did caompany have dyou all the way for 14 years...
in te answer to that question lies your strength , you r exeprience...
then look for new job , where this expertise is utilised to the maximum.
i am sure your life will take the turn again.

Answer 5

Oh man that sucks so bad! I don't have any advice, but I would like to offer my sympathy and wish you good luck!