[quote=SD Realtor]Put AMCC on the list. Looks like about 2 weeks from now the group I am in will get whacked along with alot of others. [/quote]
SDR, I’m really sorry to hear that too. You know, I’d like to bring a couple of things positive things.
1) If I recall you’re an engineer by day and have a Realtor off to the side, along with other side businesses. In economic conditions like this, I think that is definitely a leg up from most others. In fact that’s just plain smart. Plus I’m sure you’ll find something soon.
2) You’ve done a relatively good job conserving cash. So compared to others, you’ll weather this better than most people
3) Lots of squeezing going on right now, even profitable co’s. For example, despite my co is still profitable, I just got word that we need to watch our budgets, expenses, most likely no bonuses, and a directive to try to move even more stuff to free/low cost stuff (cut down on software licensing costs), RIFs will happen. The issue isn’t whether a company needs to cut cost or not. Even if they are profitable, they are doing so, because they *can* get away with it.
4) At least you still have your health. I just found out that I got a nice genetic condition, and it involves removing some organs and being bedridden fora few months (yeah, I’m gonna have issues with not being able to do anything). Anyway, I might very well have no position to come back to myself, but oh well. I guess positively, my tax bill will be lower this year, and I get to recoup some of the disability benefits that I’ve been paying for (assuming I don’t get a nice fat IOU from CA).
Anyway, if you haven’t gotten my point, I’ll be blunt…
Flu Rule #945: Since some people have it worse than you, and since in life everything is relative and all ends the same way, you’ll not nearly as screwed as the guy next to you.
Flu Rule #946: An economic downturn is like a sinking ship. The last person out is the one that does the most work in vain and receives the least benefits. In a sinking ship, be the first person to secure a lifejacket and jump before they run out of them. (I use to say this about severance packages…But ironically, this could very well be the CA unemployment benefits).
As far as reentering as an engineer in the future. Not sure what to say. You do have your other businesses. I guess it depends on whether you would enjoy doing that fulltime versus your engineering work. Personally, I’d rather work for myself than an employer if I was completely self-sufficient now. Sometimes I feel I need an occasional push to motivate. This might very well be your push to make this decision.
