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Unemployed, What To Do Now???
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microcarl

Posted: Sep 18, 2007 - 08:05 PM

Joined: May 30, 2004
Posts: 8118
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio

Jepael wrote:

When I first saw your post, I thought that could happen to me too. And now it did.

Sorry for your mis-fortune! I can relate to the gut-sinking feeling.

Jepael wrote:

One good thing about social security is, despite of high taxes, that being a house dad gets you 70% of income what you have earned at work.

Not here in the U.S. We can't even get close to Social Security until the age of 62, unless there is some hardship (not loosing your job) that over rides the age limit.

I applied for un-employment last week. I still haven't heard whether or not I'll get it. Yet, I'm required to comply with all of the idiodic rules that come with the application.

I received a letter yeasterday about an employment opportunity that might possibly match my qualifications. Looking up the job listing on the unemployment web-page showed that the job only paid $10.00 per hour, less then a third of my normal wages.

Being compelled by the unemployment office to respond to their job match notifications, I called them and talked with them about this job listing. As this prospect is unable to support my financial requirements, they (the unemployment office) simply marked that employment opportunity as unsuitable.

I now have about 50 resumes out there - each with a custom taylored cover letter. No responses, to date.

It could be a long Fall/Winter season.

_________________
Carl W. Livingston, KC5OTL
microcarl@roadrunner.com

"There are only two ways to sleep well at night... be ignorant or be prepared."

The original Dragon Slayer !

Long live the AVR!!!

jayjay1974

Posted: Sep 18, 2007 - 08:08 PM

Joined: Oct 30, 2002
Posts: 5715
Location: The Netherlands

Quote:

Why does anyone work? 70% of your income and a few side jobs would equal more than your salary now? I'd just stay home and play with the kids!!!

In Holland we have the same kind of social security, but hey, it doesn't come for free Very Happy

Here you have to do at least one job application per week, and after a few months you've to accept every job, even if it's toilet cleaning. And it's only for a limited time, depending on how long you've worked before. One month per year iirc. After that you fall back to normal social security of which you can only survive really. And if you own a house, you've got to sell it, and use the money to eat before you can use the social security Wink

microcarl

Posted: Sep 18, 2007 - 08:26 PM

Joined: May 30, 2004
Posts: 8118
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio

I think here, if I'm approaved, I'll get about 16 weeks at something like $150.00 per week. About 3.5% of my normal income.

The housing marked right now is way down so, I doubt I'll be able to sell it. More then likely, if I can't make the mortage payment, I'll lose it.

But, there is some time before that would happen.

And if it does, I have a safety net in place.

If I do end up losing the house, I have the 35 foot travel trailor. I'll set it up along side of my daughters home. We've (my wife and I) have already lived in it for more then a year, back when all of the kids still lived at home.

And then too, maybe I'll just move where all the real jobs are like California, Arizona, Texas, Washington state, Oregon, etc...

Hey, zbaird, what are the job prospects like up there in Washington state??? My oldest son is stationed at Ft. Lewis. I have been to Washington state only once (for about 24 hours), while I was on a service call. It was absolutely gorgeous!

jayjay1974

Posted: Sep 18, 2007 - 08:29 PM

Joined: Oct 30, 2002
Posts: 5715
Location: The Netherlands

Move to Silicon Valley and get a job at Atmel. Maybe you can access the Dragon schematic then Smile

bloody-orc

Posted: Sep 18, 2007 - 08:34 PM

Joined: Dec 17, 2005
Posts: 1498
Location: Europe- Estonia- Tallinn

hehe... We Estonians tend to joke about, that an unemployed Fin (Finnish guy) gets better "pay" than some of our employed people. Don't you get 1 free newspaper, Free TV, smaller taxes etc?

Sad to hear, that you lost your job though, both you, Jani, and you Carl. I know it's devastating for you Americans as your whole life depends on it (as you have mentioned). That's the only reason I'm happy with higher taxes. I know, that if something like this happens, our government will try to keep me alive (at least for some time).

Cheers and keep your heads up,
Rain

zbaird

Posted: Sep 18, 2007 - 08:42 PM

Joined: Aug 13, 2006
Posts: 6694
Location: Bellingham, WA - USA

Quote:

Hey, zbaird, what are the job prospects like up there in Washington state?

If you're in Seattle, they're great. If you're in Bellingham, they're so bad you'll starve (if you're a techie). People commute from here into Microsoft, about 90 miles, but I choose to starve rather than spend most of my life on I5. I've had steady work about 4 of the last 9 years.

But it is beautiful. East of the Cascades it gets a little nasty weather-wise, as Tom will surely tell you.

_________________
Chuck Baird
"It's better to catch the trapeze than test the safety net" -- RPi book
http://www.cbaird.org

Jepael

Posted: Sep 18, 2007 - 08:51 PM

Joined: May 24, 2004
Posts: 5994
Location: Tampere, Finland

AllN wrote:

PS:
Why does anyone work? 70% of your income and a few side jobs would equal more than your salary now? I'd just stay home and play with the kids!!!

Heh, well you are not allowed to do any side work if you take care of the kids full-time, and the parenthood benefit period is about 6 months for the dad or something. I have studied for so long that I have not received any student benefit for three years now, so in this event I am not regarded as a student by the social security, so this is why I can just write the stupid thesis and receive money based on my salary. But while I still am enrolled at a university, the union unemployment benefit board regards me as a student, so I can't get unemployment benefit from the union (there are exceptions), so I could only get government unemployment benefit, except that when taking care of the kids at home, I am not regarded as unemployed, and therefore get the parenthood benefit.

But in real life if one is a student without regular income and receives student benefit, well, it's either the very low student benefit or the minimum parenthood benefit, but you can't have both. I think the minimum parenthood benefit is more than student benefit, but I am not sure if one is allowed to study when receiving parenthood benefit. It's kind of complicated, and I have to figure all this out anyway in few days.

Too bad the notice period for me is only 1 month, because I have worked less than 4 years in this firm. If I had 2 months, I could easily take it easy for 1 month before applying for the parenthood benefit.

- Jani

GregoryC

Posted: Sep 18, 2007 - 08:52 PM

Joined: Apr 27, 2007
Posts: 136

microcarl wrote:

And, if you mess with me, I'll have to turn my wife loose on you! Laughing

Okay, you win! Smile

I'll stand down... Wink

Jepael

Posted: Sep 18, 2007 - 09:29 PM

Joined: May 24, 2004
Posts: 5994
Location: Tampere, Finland

bloody-orc wrote:

hehe... We Estonians tend to joke about, that an unemployed Fin (Finnish guy) gets better "pay" than some of our employed people. Don't you get 1 free newspaper, Free TV, smaller taxes etc?

In a way you are correct. A newspaper or TV fee are considered somewhat as basic rights. Perhaps a phone too - but I am not sure about cell phones. Hard to get land lines these days, but a phone is required so that the unemployment officials can call you and give you work the instant they have something.

But you seriously need to work on that get so unemployed, you really have to show there has been no money for a long time in your bank account or other savings or that you don't own a car or a apartment etc.. It's not glorious, but I once saw a documentary about a guy who just thought that the "rat race" is not for him - he likes things simple. So TV, newspaper, phone, very small apartment where he lives alone, and some coupons to get food every week. No money to spend on anything, but he didn't want to anyway.

- Jani

Edit: oh and it is better to be unemployed than a student, you get more money that way. Some students who don't study hard enough cannot get student money, but then they are eligible for basic support money which is more than student money, but then you cannot be unemployed because you study.

And if you happen to be unemployed, it is better to stay unemployed, because if you work every now and then, the earned money plus unemployment money is less than the full unemployment money.

AllN

Posted: Sep 18, 2007 - 11:29 PM

Joined: Feb 14, 2007
Posts: 1858
Location: San Diego California

@:-Jani Thanks for the info!!!

Maybe this info could help someone?
Here’s a step-by-step for starting a business that anyone with your knowledge could do and earn $10,000 per month; Or if I knew what you guys knew:
You guys like electronic and programming, right. You just need to learn how to market these services to the highest bidder. How? Here is one way.
Kids like robots, parents like kids to learn subjects that teach a possible vocation.
So we need to come up with the cheapest advertisement scheme that teach the parents they need your new on-line “Learning Method” to trick their kids into learning a vocation while appealing to the children to ask there parents for the cool kits you’re selling.

The service you’re selling is on-line video class and tutor service in any subject you like. The service is really just assuring they can have a running device at the end of their tutoring. You charge way too much to rich kids only (sorry) as it is easier to sell 100 rich parents at a $100.00 a month, to earn $10k per month, as it is to sell and service 1000 kids at $10.00 per month.
This is what most folks miss. Only market your services for the highest price per hour same as the experts in the field. It reduces the areas to advertise in to those that can truly afford to pay you way too much. Actually try and become the highest paid person in your field. But live up to the pay with the service and value you actually provide to the client. Actually take the time for them to learn something.

Here are the basic steps required:
1)Don’t listen to all the nay sayer! Everyone will tell you why it’s a bad idea has too much competition, you can’t do that because! Once you have done it these same people will tell you I knew it was a good idea and I knew you could do it. I will tell you this: If you do the work and the marketing and don’t quit. It’s hard to completely fail!!!
2)Think of a business name
3)File a ‘Fictitious Business Name’ form with your local county recorder (usually) many are on-line and most states required it to be advertised in the local paper for some period of time 2-days to 1 week normally.
4)Take the 'Fictitious Business Name form' to your local bank and open a bank account under that name with $50.00
5)Go to your local city office and pay from $15.00 - $225.00 (average $30.00) for a ‘business license’. Required even for an office in your home!
6)Setup you’re website, exchange links with every electronic and kid site you can find no matter the subject!!!!
7)Go to your local State ‘Sale Tax’ office and get a ‘resale license’. This will allow you to buy wholesale and resale kits, parts, etc. In California it’s the State Board of Equalization. (If you tell them you’re are going to sell thousands that is what the deposit will be based on. So tell them most of the income is non-taxable labor and the resale of kits is very small maybe 1 or 2 hundred per month. This answer should require no deposit in most states.)
8)Send a letter to the product manufactures you would like to sell. This could be robots kits from Lego’s adding AVR’s and or sensors or any electronic kit a kid would like to play with. Explain your companies services and that you are evaluating their product for resale and request an evaluation kit that you would be willing to return. (Those that send them don’t ask for them back)
9)Select the kit(s).
10)Write the code and or build the circuits required to add value to the kit and this is you’re curriculum.
11)Marketing:
a)Press releases “New learning method” with a Web-link in ‘every’ paper in the world! If you speak more than one language even better double your market! Marketing is about the hype, and sorry you’re going to have to spam and learn to like it. (Remember to only announce one kit at a time even if you start with 50 kits you intend to support. First pick the kit you feel will always be the best seller. You should be able to tell this based on which manufacture is selling the most!
b)Many clubs and music schools etc have bulletin boards either on-line or physical post your services world wide here too.
c)Direct mail cost money but is effective. Find the highest priced real estate in every city in the world market there first. Rule of thumb for over priced services are 1000 letters = 1 sale!
1)Two different letters are required, one to the parent one to the child.

Example:
Does you’re child or grandchild’s grades show you they are bored at school and missing their opportunity to a better future! Do they seem to want to only play with computers and toys? If you’re concerned about their future vocation then you really need to keep reading, as there is a solution to get them to want to learn. We at “Creative Learning” (Use your Co name) have discovered so many brilliant kids are bored and not participating in the classroom yet excel when exposed to the same subjects masked as building a project or toy.
We take a different approach to learning. Instead of saying here you need to learn this in order to do cool things in the future. We say here is a cool robot kit and you’re going to need to learn math, electronic, programming, map making, and many other subjects in order to build and play with it. Suddenly your child understands why they need to know so many different subjects and why they need English to write because we correspond by email and we point out spelling and grammar mistakes.
Sorry, but we can only tutor a limited number of children as our capacity is limited by undivided attention so fill out our attached application today or better yet visit our website at: http://www.XYZ.com/apps.asm

Hoping to help your child succeed in life,
Your name here

This is off the top of my head but with a little rewrite this could make many people 10K a month without much work once it's running.

Hope this helps,
John

<edited>
Get the name and address of the parents/ grandparents from the property tax records. Usually the county recorder, again it's on-line and you can buy these lists and many student mailing lists too, thou not sure if students are sorted by zip code.

_________________
Resistance is futile…… You will be compiled!

GregoryC

Posted: Sep 19, 2007 - 05:55 PM

Joined: Apr 27, 2007
Posts: 136

Well the unemployment disease seems to be contagious. This being my last week before taking vacation, I've been told that it's been decided to not proceed on my phase of my project at this time (USB for AP7 based product), and there are no other projects at this time. I'm a consultant, i.e. self employed, so I'm without a customer and thus without work (and more importantly, without income). Well I'll take my vacation camping in southwest Utah and northern Arizona (north rim of the Grand Canyon) for a few weeks, and then return to who knows what? Smile

One bit of advice for consultants: You are not financially prepared for a life as a consultant unless you have saved up enough money to cover a full year of expenses. I've followed my own advice religiously, so happily, my lifestyle will not change any time in the near future, and I have a full year to find a new job.

I'll continue dropping in to AVR Freaks and might even start a hobby project, but of course I'll find one that could become a product and generate a little income. Smile

Does misery love company? Wink

AllN

Posted: Sep 19, 2007 - 06:34 PM

Joined: Feb 14, 2007
Posts: 1858
Location: San Diego California

I forgot perhaps the most important thing:

How to FINANCE your business when you have no money!

Gees, how could I forget to tell you how to live while you're starting your new business. Even the poor can get a government-backed loan from the SBA’s loan guarantee programs SCORE can help you here.

1) You rewrite the business outline above into ‘your’ business plan.

2) Call and visit your local SCORE = Free online and face to face business counseling, mentoring, and training by retired business men and women who have been there and done that! http://www.score.org/findscore/chapter_maps.html

3) They will help you get a SMALL BUSINESS LOAN backed by the government to start most new business.

The Cost and terms:
Interest: 7-9%
Terms: 7-20 years
Amount: $50,000 - $1,000,000
Longest payback for other than real estate loan
It can be a complex process but SCORE will help you struggle through to receive form 50K to 1 Million. It's worth the struggle!!!

You can pay yourself a good wage too out of this 50+K!!

If you need any business advice PM me. I would be happy to help make you rich! Then I can ask you for a loan next year!! Wink

Best of success,
John

<edited>
If you're out of work start this process today as it can take 60 days or more.
Do something today and everyday!!!!!!

_________________
Resistance is futile…… You will be compiled!

johnrk

Posted: Sep 21, 2007 - 11:38 PM

Joined: Jul 24, 2006
Posts: 1300
Location: Missouri

Carl wrote:

Quote:

And if it does, I have a safety net in place.

If I do end up losing the house, I have the 35 foot travel trailor. I'll set it up along side of my daughters home. We've (my wife and I) have already lived in it for more then a year, back when all of the kids still lived at home.

WHAAAAATTT?? Are you kidding? I say we could all come together and cough up the doe for a payment until that dream job comes through. I would be willing to donate!!

We could probably do one month anyway and that would buy four more weeks!!

John

_________________
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SKYPE Name: JonRobrt

microcarl

Posted: Sep 21, 2007 - 11:50 PM

Joined: May 30, 2004
Posts: 8118
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio

johnrk wrote:

Carl wrote:

Quote:

And if it does, I have a safety net in place.

If I do end up losing the house, I have the 35 foot travel trailer. I'll set it up along side of my daughters home. We've (my wife and I) have already lived in it for more then a year, back when all of the kids still lived at home.

I'm humbled!

That someone here would even think about going that far tells me a lot about many of the individuals within the AVRFreaks community.

Thank you for the offer. It's two full weeks now. I've sent at least 150 resumes out via the Internet and, I even knocked on a few doors. Not even one response - via e-mail or telephone.

But, I do have the offer of some lite programming work, when everything is finally in place.

Also, today I talked to someone in England who wants an RS-232 data logger made. The exact specifications are yet to come.

Again, thank you so much, even for just thinking about something like you've suggested.

jayjay1974

Posted: Sep 21, 2007 - 11:58 PM

Joined: Oct 30, 2002
Posts: 5715
Location: The Netherlands

Quote:

Also, today I talked to someone in England who wants a RS-232 data logger made. The exact specifications are yet to come.

Oh oh... I recall such kind of application from a guy who had all kinds of small jobs but no time to do them and wanted to outsource them. I believe he posted a job ad in Jack Ganssle's Embedded Muse mailing list; that's where I got his address from IIRC.

This is RS232 data logger is some kind of test, when you ask for exact specifications he suddenly has no time or something like that. Is been a while ago so can't recall the details. Anyway, it turned out to be something weird and bogus Sad

microcarl

Posted: Sep 22, 2007 - 12:04 AM

Joined: May 30, 2004
Posts: 8118
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio

jayjay1974 wrote:

Quote:

Also, today I talked to someone in England who wants a RS-232 data logger made. The exact specifications are yet to come.

Thanks! I'll keep this in mind if the proposal continues to move forward.

jayjay1974

Posted: Sep 22, 2007 - 12:21 AM

Joined: Oct 30, 2002
Posts: 5715
Location: The Netherlands

I suffer from bad memory Razz

so likely I'm completely wrong Smile

I have this stupid habit to never delete any email I receive, so I think I can look up the email conversation I had with him, when I'm at work.

microcarl

Posted: Sep 22, 2007 - 12:30 AM

Joined: May 30, 2004
Posts: 8118
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio

jayjay1974 wrote:

I suffer from bad memory Razz

so likely I'm completely wrong Smile

I have this stupid habit to never delete any email I receive, so I think I can look up the email conversation I had with him, when I'm at work.

Sure... It would be good to know what/who I'm dealing with and, have the upper hand.

Thanks!

jayjay1974

Posted: Sep 25, 2007 - 04:36 PM

Joined: Oct 30, 2002
Posts: 5715
Location: The Netherlands

I just looked through my emails, I'm wrong Smile

The guy I emailed with is from the USA, not the UK.

Bad memory, bad memory.

Good luck with the datalogger Smile

microcarl

Posted: Oct 26, 2007 - 06:52 PM

Joined: May 30, 2004
Posts: 8118
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio

This past Tuesday I got up and did my usual morning routine. I usually smoke a cigarette, drink a cup of coffee and look at my e-mail for the nightly CareerBuilder.com job postings.

Well, there was a job posting that caught my eye saying "Electronics Technician needed - MUST BE ABLE TO USE AN OSCILLOSCOPE!" Yeah! Right! But that isn't what caught my eye. This job was 10 miles down the road, in Batavia, Ohio.

I loaded up a cover letter and resume and fired it off over the Internet.

I went and got my coffee and smoked a cigarette. Coming back to the computer to do my morning fix of AVRFreaks, I noticed that I had a new e-mail.

Well, it was that company, wanting me to come in for an interview. We set it up for 9:00 am on Friday. So today, I went to that interview.

I get there and a long haired hippie walks in the door with me. It turns out that he was applying for the job too but, he had no appointment for an interview. He was sent away, I when into the interview.

We talked for about an hour and then I got the tour - definitely a good sign. Upon leaving, I was told that there were three more candidates, yet to be interviewed. Okay, I see it coming... The same old story! But I said "Thank you for your time. and left, thinking that this would just be another disappointment.

Two hours later, I'm at home playing on my workbench, and the telephone rings. It's that company! They are offering me the job and I can start on Monday! This is an electronic assembly company. They have some of the most Hi-Tech assembly equipment I've seen, right next to my house! They do "Pick & Place " of the SMD components, make masking for solder paste placement, re-flow, automated testing - My God! I didn't even know this place was there!

This folks, could be the play ground of play grounds for me!

Okay, the money? You want to know about the money!

It'll pay the bills and I can survive?

But!!! Money isn't everything! This could very well be my dream job - I hope!!!

Money aside... I'm going to be "A kid in a candy factory! "

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