;Just needed to talk tonight and share this briefly with any Forum folk who might have ever been in this situation..

We (300 of us in my city alone, but almost 1,000 world wide) have just been cast out of the company (our positions were "eliminated" as part of a merger and outsourcing over the past two years to India and South America/Mexico.

Soooo, within a short time, we will be without incomes, and each of us has our story. I won't dwell on mine, except to say that there is a hefty mortagage and solo status involved.

Still reeling, I have now spent some sleepless hours examining my priorities in life (nothing like a job loss to help spark that thought process, except death or divorce).

And I have rediscovered the fact that my travel times are some of the most fruitful times of my existence. They are lifegiving and a source of spirit, and there is just no way I can give up traveling. Or the new language i have learned well, and the other languages I have started to learn. Or the cultures that have expanded my awareness.

So Travel is way up there on a very short list of what will drive me forward in searching for my next (and better) job, even as much as keeping a roof over my head!!! I am determined to continue bringing stories of the world home to my niece, which she has learned to love so much.

Thanks for listening, and I guess now I'll be splitting my online hours between this wonderful forum and jobsearch sites. I have tried to give Italy information here occasionally, but maybe I'll finally have time to write a decent trip report!

PS, if anyone has suggestions or knows of an NY opening for a designer who has great computer skills, publishing experience and an excellent working knowledge of the Italian language, please email me at
[email protected]

Buona notte for now...

Bellastarr, I am very sorry to hear of your layoff. I hope your involuntary time off is as short as can be.

Hi bellastarr, I have not been in your situation but offer my encouragement and support anyway. I know that travel fills me with joy unlike anything else in life, so I can relate. I hope that you find an inspiring and travel-friendly position in the near future.
JenV

With an attitude like your's and that list of qualifications, you'll be working in no time and racking up those FF Miles again.

It may sound as if that is easy for me to say, but I lived it, not too long ago. UPS bought DH's company, and within two years, closed the local offices, and moved most of the employees to Alfaratta, Georgia. We choose to stay in San Francisco.

It was a long time between jobs. Fortunately we had six months warning and saved like crazy.

People (his parents especially) thought that we were nuts because we continued to travel - not as long and not as far away, but neither of us were willing to change our lives in that respect.

A few months ago out of the blue through a personnal recommendation from a former co-worker, he got a much better job that he really enjoys.

So what are we doing the first chance we get .....we are going to Paris over the holidays when the office is closed!

Don't forget that trip report.

Nina

Bellastarr, speaking from the same experience, being "downsized" presents a great opportunity for you to take the next step in your life. To quote my favorite expression, Morto un Papa, se ne fa un altro. Sure it will be tough with the finances for a while, but you'll make it through. Have you considered taking a trip, while you have the time, before you get a new job with zero vacation days? You might want to think about taking advantage of this opportunity, taking a budget conscious but fulfilling trip, and then coming back home and dedicating yourself full time to finding another position. Best of luck to you!

I'm so sorry you're having to go through with this but when a door closes, usually a window opens. I'm sure there's something better for you down the road. Keep up your wonderful attitude.

Sorry to hear about your situation, but your attitude is so good you'll probably do fine. But just a few thoughts... I don't know your travel style but if you haven't been a "budget" traveler I can tell you it's great. I could afford to spend more than I do on my trips but I feel better knowing I'm not dipping into the kids college fund or the retirement fund so I spend very little when I travel and I doubt anyone has a better time than I do (it's also how I can "afford" to spend a month a year in Europe). Two and even one star hotels and B&Bs, picnics instead of "nice" dinners, the bus instead of taxis, etc. I know so many people who don't travel, or only go once every few years, because it "costs so much". Again, I don't know what you were spending to travel, you may be a budget traveler anyway, but if you weren't, being forced to try a different style can sometimes be a good thing. And on a non-travel note, I know some people who when they were between "real" jobs, worked for temp agencies. Sure the work was way "below" what they had been doing, what they wanted to (and eventually did) do - but it provided some extra money, and they said it was even sort of fun - better than just staying home waiting for the phone to ring. Good luck.

Hi everyone, I left this post for a fitful night of sleep and awoke this morning to all these responses.. your kind words mean alot and will really help me get through this day-thank you so much!

Thanks Nutella for that Italian expression, which I love, and to Nina66-I'm so glad to hear of your happy ending. I won't forget the trip report!!

I just returned from traveling in Italy 2 weeks ago and yes, I hope to take another trip before I get locked down again, if I can find a way. And I applied to take the CILS exam at the Italian Cultural Institute here in October. So a plan is emerging.

All of you Fodorites are truly wonderful to offer such encouragement to me- now I know why I keep coming back here!

Hi B,

Sorry to hear of your crisis. Glad to hear of your upbeat attitude.

>...opening for a designer who has great computer skills, publishing experience and an excellent working knowledge of the Italian language,...<

I think that it is time to start your own business.

The experience of my next door neighbor: Several years ago, his company was bought out and several dozen employees were let go.

Peter got the resumes of all of his co-workers, organized a network of consultants and started taking work away from his former employers.

He know earns more than twice what he used to be paid, works out of his home office and only gets dressed when he has to make a presentation.

Best of luck to you.

Would someone be kind enough to translate that phrase? (Morto un Papa...)

My all but non-existent grasp of Italian has me guessing it's something like "The Pope is dead, let us make another." Or, "We must make another" or similar.

Bellastarr,

I'm sorry to hear about the loss of your employment. I've been there, too.

If you want to get in some travel while you're free, try this website out. It isn't for everyone, but who knows, you might enjoy it.

www.couchsurfing.com

Best wishes, bellastarr. I live in an area where many people are losing their jobs because textile production is going to Asia and South America. Your attitude about the loss and how you plan to go forward is such an inspiration, I wish more of those here felt that way.
Have you considered work as a Flight Attendant or tour guide?
Good luck with the search.
And Rob, thanks for the chuckle. I had a similar confusion.

Bellastarr, I'm sorry about your job loss. I've been 'there' myself more than once.

Don't be afraid to reinvent yourself. In other words, don't necessarily see yourself as a designer, but maybe as a teacher who employs design in her courses, a housepainter who designs a good colour scheme, a realtor who can design a winning sale.

There's lots of ways to travel, including in your imagination. As for your real experiences, nothing can take those away from you. Good luck!

These things are so hard to deal with but you seem to have the right attitude. But, and this is my sage, about-to-turn-26 advice: don't think that a change this big will not change what you do and how you do it. The worst thing when things change quickly is to think that you can keep up with how things were before. Yes, you will find another job. Yes, you will continue to travel. Yes, things will come together, but when they do, be ready for them to be different. Our lives can change for us or because of us, and being in the latter group is the best (in my opinion), so be the cause, not the effect.

Hi Bella,
I'm sorry to hear about your being downsized but could you please tell me -- you say you're a designer but of what? Have I misssed this somewhere? Can you be a bit more specific about what kind of job you're looking for and at what level? I don't mean salary but junior? senior? years of experience?

Can you tell I'm in HR?

Was it Eleanor Roosevelt who said, "Adversity does not built character; it simply reveals it." Yours is commendable.

I believe God must block our path when He wants us to take another. With an atitude like yours, you will find your footing and your right path.

GodSpeed,
s

BELLASTARR, what kind of a designer? If graphic, maybe you could combine your love of travel with your job and try working in one of the other major graphic design centres, such as London or Sydney.

The design business is booming here in London. I can't find recruits for love nor money.

Hopefully you will have a healthy severance package that will allow you to spend several months it Italy if you would like. We are in the midst of many 'mergers/acquisitions' right now so I feel it is only a matter of time before my group is impacted (& yes, outsourcing as well). Best of luck in your search & travels.

I am sort of in the same situation but I left before new management could move me out of my position. Have you considered contract(temp) work? I am doing that now and a number of contractors have been hired as full time employees. Since I am an accountant, I am not sure this will work for you but if possible you might want to consider it. It is also a great way to network and keep the cash flow coming.

I had a similar situation about ten years ago. With today's technology, people with computer skills like yours can work out of their homes for clients all over the world. I was able to network for clients and enjoyed interviewing sources across the globe, in my PJs from my home study. I worked with lots of graphic designers, too. But it's pretty competitive and the workload is very unreliable. Also, if you do it, be sure to charge hourly, not by project, so when the project changes course (as they always do), you won't end up eating a lot of the expenses in re-designing.

Another thought, though. If you speak Italian and want to travel, could you find a position teaching Italian to American students? Because when college students go to Italy to spend a semester, they usually don't know ANY Italian and are immersed in a quick course of conversational Italian for their first two or three weeks in the country. Or teach a seminar in design, speaking Italian. What is you found a job like that? You can Google "study abroad" and find lots of resources to investigate.

Good luck in your search and career re-birth.
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