Last night after I was done with a long day of work and ready for the weekend the owner of the business for which I have worked over two and a half years installing and servicing audio video equipment pulled me into the conference room and told me I was being laid off. This couldn't have come at a worse time (financially) and what really makes me angry is that I was their senior installer. I had more knowledge about my job than most of the people that work there. The guy that did not get laid off was hired only three months ago, knows very little about the field, hates the job, and is getting paid more than I was! If that is not screwed up then I don't know what is. I also find it aggravating that an employer asks for two weeks notice when an employee is going to quit but they have no problems terminating a senior employee due to "the economy" with absolutely no notice at all. They did this all while my boss and good friend was on vacation for the week. He would have fought this with all he had.
I am so depressed. I wouldn't go back there after this even if they beg. The term, the world is not fair, certainly rings true today.
That is most unfortunate, but all too common at present.
Take heart, you are not depressed. You have not had enough time to qualify for depression! You have a depressed mood appropriate to your sudden change of circumstances. However you will drift into depression over time if you don't keep your wits about you and make a plan.
I bet that new employee will get a big cut in salary.
First decide if you want to stay in this line of work. If not train in something else. This is a good time to do it.
If you want to stay in this business, if you are not CEDIA certified then get it.
In the meantime try and generate some cash as independent installer. Try and get a web site up.
Above all stay flexible. The bankers, captains of industry and a series of governments here and abroad have run up a hell of a ticket. Unfortunately I have a feeling there are quite likely more Bernie Madofs out there. I personally don't think he could have continued so long, unless there was corruption at some of the highest levels of government. Despite our President elect's good intentions, serious problems are likely to remain intractable for a few years.
A very large number of businesses will not survive this. The last estimate I read thinks that 3000 to 5000 major American retailers will go through bankruptcy in the next 2 years. I think it highly likely Best Buy will be right behind Circuit City. They have laid off 400 administrative staff at their headquarters in Richfield MN recently, just to give one example.
However, we will emerge from this. How and when remains unclear, so you have to be flexible and look for opportunity as things shake out. It may well be that the age of big business has already been eclipsed. It is quite likely, that we will be entering the age of the ascendancy of very small business.
