The downward spiral

[DMZ73]

All,

I am sad to say that our economy has reached a point of diminishing return.
As I left Chrysler on Friday, there was an announcement made that they were going begin to cut white collar jobs and then cut into the blue collar jobs untill they right sized the company for the given economy.
As Iread my e-mail from Mr. Nardelli this morning, that cut means me. I have an offer on my desk to consider.
Then I think about the reality of the situation.

I have a house that I can't sell. A wife that is a school teacher and two munchkins in Daycare.

I know there are some potential jobs out there, but it looks like I will be competing with 30,000 other people.
Who needs a designer with a Bachelor's in Fine Arts?

Last one out, turn out the lights.

Geez. This sux.
I have worked some odd jobs in the past.....

Dan Zimmermann

[NoMope Greg]

Dan,

Sorry to hear about this.  I've been fortunate that I've never really been faced with this. I was forced to resign once and had the company close under me once, but I had another job within days each time.  But there are times when the prospect of "What would I do?" has kept me up late.

 Just as with Jeff (ViperMan) several months ago, something good will come up - you gotta have faith.  Hopefully the offer is good enough to allow you some time to look for something else or maybe go into business for yourself.  Just know that we'll all be pulling for you. 

[ROMI]

I work down the street from you.  Different OEM is taking us over.  They're not even telling us anything, we can just see the proverbial handwriting on the wall.

I hate working in automotive.

[ChallengerHK]

I feel your pain, Dan. I never actually worked for an OEM but I was a contractor for 10 years, and I don't think that a 6 month period went by that I didn't think I was losing my job for one reason or another. I still know lots of people up there who, like you are tied to the area by family or by real estate. I know several folks who were very surprised by the Volkswagen NA HQ move.

Good luck, man. My advice, for what it's worth, is to try to find a way to get out of automotive and into some other field. I always thought that working in Detroit would be my dream job, but I left because I didn't see the American manufacturing business improving for at least the next decade.

[matt63]

I sympathize with your situation.  If I had stayed down east I could well have gone into the auto industry.  Instead I moved out west and have to live with the ups and downs of the oil industry.  Hopefully all can weather the storm until things turn around once again.

[71chally416]

I'm afraid it's going to get much worse before it gets better. With the probable new President promising to tax capital gains and small buisness owners people are bailing out of the stock market in droves (No, it's not just a coincidence..) and big buisness and those that actually hire people and create jobs are squarely in the sites of the Democrats to help "spread the weath". There's little incentive for any buisness to expand or hire anybody. I expect Jimmy Carter Act II. 

[matt63]

I'm afraid it's going to get much worse before it gets better. With the probable new President promising to tax capital gains and small buisness owners people are bailing out of the stock market in droves (No, it's not just a coincidence..) and big buisness and those that actually hire people and create jobs are squarely in the sites of the Democrats to help "spread the weath". There's little incentive for any buisness to expand or hire anybody. I expect Jimmy Carter Act II. 

I'm sure lots of folks would like to have some capital gains to pay taxes on. 

[tactransman]

DMZ73,I am right behind you I am afraid. 

[BIGSHCLUNK]

As I see it here, we went through the same thing in the 80's. Business is slow at the shop and slow at the shops that are my customers. Our retail end is down at least 35% at the moment. Scrap is so low we're not shredding anything. Although this gets very depressing we will ride out the storm. And although it's not in the imeadeate future to hire anyone, i'M NOT PLANNING on any lay-offs either. On and on we go......   

[71chally416]

I'm sure lots of folks would like to have some capital gains to pay taxes on. 

I'm lucky that I got out of the market the February after 9/11 when I got layed off. They asked me if I wanted to keep my retirement money in there but I yanked it out and invested it in my houses. It had lost just 30% of it's value then. I feel sorry for the people still working there when they get there statements in January. I'll bet half of it or more is gone for the people with 25 years of service who are close to retirement. The market will continue to tank IMO.

[ViperMan]

I'm really sorry to hear this, Dan.  I truly hope you can find something quickly to keep your family stable.

Yeah I got real lucky at the beginning of the year, and you can only imagine how much I'm hoping that remains.  I don't see any writing for me, but you just never know these days.

Best of luck.  And BELIEVE me - I know all about the fine arts issue!!  Here's my best tip - call your dad.    Eh - worked for me...

Jeff
BA In MUSIC - PennState University

[ChallengerHK]

Jeff
BA In MUSIC - PennState University

Wow. I've been feeling bad about getting degrees in English 

[Rare_T_A]

Best of luck for all of you in this position. I hope and pray it all works out. There is and end to this I just don't know when.   

[bb71challenger]

So sorry to hear this Dan. Here is hoping you find something in your field soon with little to no downtime in between. Good luck and keep us posted please.

[JS27N0B]

Best of luck in finding a new job. If you keep positive I am sure you will find something quickly. I too wonder about the trickle down effect of the rumored GM merger, this would effect me at the dealership level eventually, of that I am very sure. Chrysler has a lot of great new products coming out now and within the next year, it's only a matter of time for a turn around I hope.