We've been sold, I have 4 weeks to find a new job!

[patkennedy78]

Well the company I work for announced on Thursday that they've been bought by a larger corporation. And guess what, the corporation has their own art department, so yours truely will be out of work in about 4 weeks! :eek::eek::eek: And if by some odd chance they do decide to keep me on, or offer me job, I'd have to move from Denver to Tuscon. :( Which you can tell by the smiley really does not excite me, or my wife.

So I'm totally bumming, spastic, thinking the worse, and unable to concentrate. Of all things I flew out on Friday to see a friend for the weeked in SC, so I missed the Art Director coming in to talk to my boss. I actually think that was a good thing, gave me some time to cool off, and collect myself. But now I'm super stressed out and just mentally off.

I've got to rebuild my portfolio, update my website, resume, and everything else that goes along with it. I'm freakin out and just feeling the pressure. I've been layed off before, not from a design job, when I was single, and it was terrible. My wife is optimistic, and says it will lead to something better, and I'm trying to stay positive, but it's not working too well.

Now I'm trying to compose an e-mail to my designer friends / aquantences asking for help finding a new job or any leads. I always think I sound like I'm begging for favors. What do you think of this:

"I just wanted to send a quick e-mail asking if you knew of any openings for design jobs or other related opportunities. The company I work for announed last Thursday that it was bought by a larger corporation. So I have about 4 weeks left here. I'd really appreciate any information or leads you may know of."

I think that's all for now. Thanks for the ranting room!

[D-Frag]

nothing to wrong with tucson, but its a big change from denver. but if you did make the move down here the job market in phix is booming.

good luck pat, keep your head up, and i think the leads email is fine

[Exodus]

Man, that sucks Pat! The tone sounds fine on your proposed email. They should understand. Good luck! Like your wife said, it will work out for the best.

[MikeTheVike]

That sucks man, good luck with everything. I feel like as long as someone has the skills, both artistically and socially, they shouldn't have much of a problem finding a good job.

[Jackimalyn]

im sorry pat! i hope everything works out well for you. who knows maybe youll find a better job!

[morea]

I am so sorry. The email sounds fine. If there is any way that we can help you, just ask.

And in the mean time, don't be afraid to check up on your local unemployment laws... it can help bridge the gap until you find something else.

[balou]

Change is good - but you usually get to decide when it's going to happen. At least you get 4 weeks to figure it out. Wish you the best of luck finding something new.

[Satchel]

Damn, sorry to hear that Pat... best of luck!

[patkennedy78]

Thanks everyone. I scrapped the blanket e-mail asking for job leads for lots of individual e-mails. I'm so humbled right now, I feel like I've been begging and groveling to my friends for jobs. All the while the didn't beg and grovel to me for anything. Man, this sucks. :(

[morea]

(((hugs)))

[EC]

Thanks everyone. I scrapped the blanket e-mail asking for job leads for lots of individual e-mails. I'm so humbled right now, I feel like I've been begging and groveling to my friends for jobs. All the while the didn't beg and grovel to me for anything. Man, this sucks. :(

Stop that.

Listen, friends and aquaintences want to help you, they want to be proud of you, and they want to know what's going on so they can keep their eyes and ears out for you. Put aside your pride, it's not about that. You're simply using the strongest links in your network. The time will come when you can return the favor, in the meantime -- keep putting your feelers out.

Good luck!!

[patkennedy78]

Thanks EC, you make a very good point. I think I needed to hear it.

[MSGQuixo]

So sorry! I just went through something similar. Scary but very exciting.

I signed up with a freelance agency just to know I could get work if I needed it. And luckily, I've had so many projects roll in, I've been kept busy. In fact I may need to hire people! Sheesh.

Try and use the time to pick an even better next step!

Best of luck!

[Virgo Nightingale]

Sorry to hear about your recent turn of events. But I think your wife is right that this will end up leading you to something better. Let us know of anything else we can help ya out with!!

[budafist]

That sucks. How many in your art dept out of a job??

"I just wanted to send a quick e-mail asking if you knew of any openings for design jobs or other related opportunities. The company I work for announed last Thursday that it was bought by a larger corporation. So I have about 4 weeks left here. I'd really appreciate any information or leads you may know of."

announced.

[urstwile]

That's too bad Pat. I hope your wife is right and it ends up working out for the better. Good luck!

[Red Kittie Kat]

I'm sorry Pat ... good luck with everything darlin http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v54/RedKittieKat/smilies/hugs.gif

[Ned]

Gee Pat... That is some shocking news. Hopefully, it'll work out well for you. Maybe you'll end up getting a job that you enjoy better - and at least you have this opportunity to change, and a month to look around (not long, I know, but better than 2 weeks).

If it makes you feel any better, Tuscon is a BEAUTIFUL city to live in! I have stayed there before, and I love the area... Such a beautiful town, with its adobe structures, wonderful weather (bet you've never been so warm, moving from Denver), great culture, and lovely people. There's always a lot to do in Tuscon. The nightlife is active, and even the homeless are decent, as they are all trainhoppers.

[mitzs]

Thanks EC, you make a very good point. I think I needed to hear it.

Pat, I'm in a different field then you are. However I do belong to several certification IT boards. EC is right, what you are doing we call networking. To network you must use your resources. You just happen to be lucky that your resources are in the same field as you are. There is nothing wrong in what you are doing. A lot of techs get their jobs this away. As a matter of fact I know of more then just a few people who have their jobs now because someone that belonged to these sites came on asked if any people were in a certain area looking for work because their company was hiring, and actually let them use that person as a reference if they had know them for a while. So you see this is something that is done everyday in all fields. Don't think of it as a handout, or groveling, it not like you are asking people to go to their bosses and beg them for a job. Instead think of them as your very own personal want ads.;) I know what your going though can be scary, been there and done that. However, having feelers out in your field makes you one of the luckier ones. :rolleyes:

OK, I'll shut up now and I hope you don't mind me butting in. I wish you all the best in your job search.

[patkennedy78]

That sucks. How many in your art dept out of a job??

Well our Art Dept was my boss and myself. He's going back to California to retire, so it makes things easier for him. :rolleyes: We also have some 'designers' in thailand, but I'm not sure how the new corporation is going to utilize them, probably just for product developement.

I got a few responses to my e-mails, so I have a couple little glimmers of hope out there. I've never really had to establish a network of professionals and friends in an industry to rely on. So I think what I have in my head as begging for a job appears to the rest of the world as networking. The part I'm having a hard time with is the fact that I'm not contacting people to sincerely see how they are doing, but because I want something. But as time moves on I'm hopeing that will fade.

Thanks again to everyone for your kind words.

[morea]

just remember... if one of them needed you, you would help them if you could... so when you're in need, let them help you!

I am sure that things will work out for the best... of course it's really scary right now, but try to look at it as an opportunity rather than a setback. Attitude can really make a big difference!

[patkennedy78]

Well I'm happy to report I've got some great leads, from some great friends!!! It was so wonderful to see people reply, and offer their support. I've got 2 solid leads for actual job openings (both from friends already employed at the companies), 2 contacts to creative directors (although one is 1.5 hours away, I'm still going to try and meet up for a portfolio review), and one person who will give me a good word when apply to The Creative Group.

I feel so much better now than I did on Monday. So thanks again to everyone here who's given words of encouragement!

The next two or three days will be my portfolio marathon. Little by little I'm getting things updated, knocked out, and ready for print, pdf, and web. What an undertaking! I hope to dominate the Showcase section soon! :)

[CamarotaDesign]

Thats great Pat. It seemed like you were working at a company that limited your creative abilities (like most in-house jobs) maybe this will lead to a job that will allow you to really grow your creativity! All for the better!

[morea]

glad to hear about the leads. On to bigger and better things. Keep those spirits up!

[Red Kittie Kat]

That's wonderful Pat - sounds like you will be settled again before you know it ;)