Losing My Job | Dealing with Income Loss and Emotions
This is my worst nightmare.Here I am one week into my one month notice and realizing how bad the job market really is. You hear about it all of the time but you just don’t think you will ever have to deal with that dreaded task of finding a new job.
For the last seven years I’ve been working as a customer service representative via live chat and email. Telecommuting with this position has allowed me to stay home with my two young children. After seven years it has come to this and to be honest I’m scared.
What am I supposed to do?
Well first reaction is to get my resume ready. I’ve posted my resume on every website I can think of. The problem is when a remote position for part time customer service becomes available there is a swarm of people who apply for them. My application becomes lost at sea and the chances of me getting an interview is like finding a needle in a haystack.
Second reaction is to figure out where I can help supplement my income. I’m a hair stylist on the side and have always provided services to close friends and family. Maybe this could help my family? I’ve printed out business cards and sent out emails to everyone I know.
Of course I thought about my blog as well. Things have been quiet around here because I’ve been in survival mode, the last thing I wanted to think about was writing a product review. However, I’m realizing that maybe my blog can help save my family during this time. If only I had some guided support to make changes that could help make me more successful.
So my third reaction started yesterday. Taking a look at finances to see where costs can be cut. After looking over our bills the first one that stood out to me was the cable bill. $70 dollars a month! I can’t believe we have been paying this month after month, this could cover half of a weeks worth of groceries!
I’m hoping that all of this is going to bring better things, perhaps the job of my dreams working with customers over Facebook and Twitter will land in my lap! I can wish right :)
Have you dealt with job loss during the recession?
What did you do to get your family through the loss of income until you found a new job?
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Having spent the last two years searching for a job, I can really identify with this. There’s something to be said for the security that comes with even the simplest job. =/
We did a week before Christmas 2010– I haven’t been working and hubby was let go; I was able to find so work at the food court -a friend runs a Chicken place and that help for the imediated need and after three months of looking hubby DID find a job– we had talked about ME going back to teaching and him being a stay at homke Dad;but he was honest with himself and knew he just couldn’t hack it. In time things WILL work out—its hard to see it when your right in the THICK of IT, but something will come =)
Sorry to hear about you loosing your job. My company is not doing so well and this could possibly happen for me if we don’t survive. Its a scary idea as I have been at my job for 12 years. My job is close by so I don’t have a long commute. I see all these things about working from home but I think most of them are scams. I would think a great blog like yours is making you some money, hopefully it will bring in more money for you and hopefully you will be able to get a replacement job.
Sorry to hear about your job. Hopefully you’ll find something soon.
So sorry you lost your job. This happened to me a few years ago just two months before moving into our new home and 1 month before having our baby. To make up for lost income we sold one car and I enrolled in a medical transcription class. Now I am working from home, set my own hours. Never easy but I’m making decent money now. If this is something that would interest you email me and I can get you the info. You can finish the course in 6 months- sooner if you have time and you can extend it up to a year
Thanks for the tip I will check that out Monika :)
Thank you Meg! I appreciate it
Thank you for your kind words and encouragement :) Stories like that bring hope
Hi Amanda, it sucks to lose your job and I’m sorry this happened to you.
I lost my dream job (copywriter for an amazing manager) 4 years ago (gosh this recession is never-ending!!). This was about one month before my wedding and I was devastated and angry. My husband and I really wanted to start a family right away, and it was terrifying to start looking into a career while I was making that transition.
Since then, I have taken on a number of opportunities and we have a almost-two year old daughter. I work for a school part time doing admin work (my parents are able to take care of my daughter while I’m in the office, but I work most of my hours from home), I do freelance content writing, I take care of two older children after school once a week, and I have a shop on etsy. I’m able to pull together a pretty decent income and I am home with my kid 95% of the time. It’s possible and if you are looking, you will find a way. Best of luck to you.
I’m sorry you lost your job. It sounds like you have some great ideas – in terms of building up your hair stylist business as well as starting to cut bills. I can’t believe how much cable is too – pretty much ridiculous.
If you like working at home and since you have the experience you should check out http://www.workplacelikehome.com. I’m new to working at home and have found SO many valuable resources to point me in the right direction. All the companies that they list have been tried out so there isn’t scams and they post all kinds of info and experiences. Just thought I would share it’s a GREAT community. Hope this helps.
I feel for you Amanda, we’ve been there and are still dealing with some financial hardship but things are looking brighter now.
My husband is the only one working, and to make ends meet we sold one of the cars to cut out on one loan and got a much older car just for him to commute to work. We cut off cable and signed up for netflix instead (you can watch it straight to your TV via Wii or XBOX or even a computer CPU hooked up to the TV – this is what we do. We had to get a wireless keyboard and mouse so you can browse from the couch but it was easy to find it on the internet), we cut off land line phone and use just our cell phones instead. Now it all makes sense, because I never had chance to sit and watch the shows I like on cable anyways, with netflix or online it’s always there when I am ready. The phones, same thing, everyone is always calling us on our cel phones anyway.
I am so sorry you are going through this:( I do home daycare and it has been steady but this past month my income was cut in half. Times are tough. I hope something comes along for you.
Hang in there Amanda! I’m sure it will all work out. Just take one day at a time.
By the way I LOVE the new blog design!! It looks amazing. Great job!
Thank you for your kind words :) I appreciate them greatly!
Thanks Brenda! I’m actually talking with one of my readers who sells Thirty One and hosted a giveaway on my blog. I’ve received the packet and have seriously considered the option. Thank you for taking the time to comment :)
I own my own business working from home but business has been slow so we have seen a loss of the income we have been used to. I am signing up to become a consultant for Thirty-One Gifts. I have spoken with many who have went this route and have added to their income to the point that they have not went back to a “full time” job as this has turned into one for them. You can go to their website http://www.thirtyonegifts.com and learn more about becoming a consultant. I love the product and it is a faith based organization with no hidden agendas. You my want to check it out.
So sorry to hear about that. I think that is everyone workers fear, certainly is one of mine, no one is ever safe. But I hope things work out for you and you find a way to make things work out! I wish you the best of luck!