I was just let go from my job two days ago. Awesome.

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

Sorry, I was "rightsized". (Who the frak thinks that's anywhere near a good word?)

18 years there, and they just reorganized things (again). It's not even a large company. Less than 100 people.

Two weeks prior to this, they announced end of year bonuses because 2021 was a good year. And we had a "ton" of work coming down the pipeline.

51 and back in the job market. This ought to be fun.

[ProfessorGAC]

1. Bummer!

What industry?
Also, it seems odd to hear "right sizing" in a company of 100. I connect that more with companies of thousands, where bloat is more probable to occur.
Good luck on your search.
Wish I could suggest something?

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

6. eLearning. We did custom training for various clients.

Mostly working in HTML/java web-based training now.

And this phrase is from the CEO (and now President, as the owner/President took a sabbitical) who's used the phrase "right sizing" several times when they had to trim costs. He had worked for some larger companies prior to joining my former employer.

[ProfessorGAC]

9. He Learned Bad Habits

That term is sparsely used in well run good companies, now.
Most executives know how stupid it sounded in the 80s & 90s and quit using it.
Apparently, not everyone.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

38. Can you go into consulting? NT

[Tommymac]

43. Don't think you'll have any problem finding work.

51 is young. IT is a hot field.

I was in my early 60's when I took my current position, and had been out of the work force for a few years for medical reasons. Never had any issues finding work when I wanted it.

Greates thing now is you will probably be able to find a WFH position and not have to relocate or anything.

Good Luck. PM me if you would like the names of headhunters or firms I'v used/worked for in the past. I'm an IT pro, not a programmer/trainer/web designer - those positions are especially hot if one has experience IMHO>

And LinkedIN is definitely your friend.

[Emile]

2. Sorry you lost your job. Hopefully you will

get a new and better job soon.

[Wicked Blue]

3. Wishing you the best of luck

and I hope your next job pays much better

[SheltieLover]

4. Best of luck to you!

Hope you find something better!

[hurple]

5. I was there a few years ago.

Cut right after my birthday in 2018. Looked for work for 6 months. Got a new job offer on the same day I received my final unemployment check. The new job pays $20,000 more than the old job, has far better benefits, and the people are beyond awesome. I have also been working from home since March 2020. The only downside is I will not be vested in the new job's pension until I hit 61 and i planned to retire from the previous place before that..

This new job has shown me just how toxic the old job was.

I hope your job search turns out at least as happy as mine did.

Good Luck!!

[lagomorph777]

7. I became unemployed at the same age.

Yes, it was obviously terrifying.

I went nuts with job applications and job sites.

Ended up with the best and most exciting job of my career, which I am still in (a decade later). It took two months.

[crickets]

8. Yikes. So sorry to hear this.

Hope your job search lands a new position soon, one that's better than the job you're leaving.

Great nick, btw!

[LoisB]

10. Good luck to you. You will find something better, I'm sure.

nt

[Nanuke]

11. I was in this industry for years. Just sent you a private message.

[Jerry2144]

12. What location

Where did this occur? I bet this network of people here can quickly find you something.

[hibbing]

13. That sucks

I'm just trying to hang on a few more years and decide if I want to pay out of pocket for health insurance or continue to be a wage slave until I am eligible for Medicare.

Peace

[SilverDawg]

14. I've lost more than one job over the course

of my career. And EVERY TIME it led to better circumstances.

It's an opportunity.

[barbtries]

15. Good luck!

I hope you find a job you love twice as much as this one.

51 is not so old. I was 63 and could not buy a job - but then a former co-worker came looking for me and I've been working as a semi-retired contractor ever since. I hope you have a happy ending as I did!

[ancianita]

16. Craptastic. I hear you.

Maybe apply to your competitor?

[634-5789]

17. Sorry, but it's a goodtime to find a job. GOOD LUCK!

[MLAA]

18. I think there is something better in your near future!

[Shermann]

19. Is FIRE in the cards?

If so, getting the "package" on your way out the workforce door is the best thing that can happen. I'm around the same age and that will likely be my next chapter. Right now, it's OMY (one more year) syndrome.

On the flip side, young or old, you couldn't ask for a better job market in tech.

https://tech.slashdot.org/story/22/02/17/1550212/tech-companies-face-a-fresh-crisis-hiring

[getagrip_already]

20. I lost my last job at 62....

Got another one within a few months. Better money, better benefits, fun people to work with. I'm 63 now and not looking back. Prior to that job, I was laid off from a company I had been with for 10 years. Prior to that one, I was with the company for 12 years and got laid off. I just can't hold a job.

Just take a deep breath, gather your thoughts, and ask yourself what you want to do next.

51 is the new 30.

[Hortensis]

21. I've done major retrainings for new industries twice, as well as

smaller ones, and they were great opportunities. There are so many exciting things out there. Both changes cost me before I regained good income, never applied for help, but I made them both good changes. Speaking of help, look to grants if needed.

Pell grants are only for undergraduate students, but fwiw the house just passed an expansion last week, and the senate had already passed a version, so that's going to happen. For some reason, the house bill excludes on-line classes. (?!) Maybe that'll be worked out.

Best of luck.

[DFW]

22. Reorganizing a company of less than 100 people?

That sounds like it should have taken about 20 minutes, and after a good year, without letting anyone go. My outfit is now over 500 people. The Reagan recession took us from 125 people down to less than 10. 18% interest rates took all the air out of our lungs. We got together with a rival in the same situation. We never looked back. Now we are 500 people worldwide, still taking on people, age no issue (competence and honesty are), and things couldn't be better.

Look ahead, not back. It not the worst time to be looking, and you might just find yourself in better company than you had before. Even if it takes a few months--this is a beginning as much as an end. Now, it's easy to cheerlead from my position, but my daughter was in sort of the same position when her employer went bust about 5 years ago. It took about 5 months, and she is not in an easy field (fashion) to be in when you live in Manhattan. But her tenacity and patience paid off, and she got a position that paid $15 more than what she had been making. It still doesn't go far in Manhattan, but now she is married, and with her husband's income combined with hers, they get by OK.

Just remember, think may suck now, and it's OK if they do. It's not OK to think think this is the end of the line. No way it is.

[Volaris]

23. Independent Consultant. Charge 30 dollars an hour to answer phone calls and text messages

from your former employer.
See if they're dumb enough to cut checks for the quarterly invoices you send them lol!

I bet they fuckin are

[Random Boomer]

44. Absolutely this!

Those drastic cuts are going to cripple them, as the CEO will eventually figure out.

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

24. OP here: Thank you EVERYONE for all the positive words, suggestions and thoughts!

I did have two people who were not officially employees of our company (but renting and sharing office space and gear with us) who asked for my info 'cause they might have jobs for me.

The office had been pretty empty because covid (and our job lets us work remotely) so it was strange to go in there and clear out my desk. 18 years at the same place caused me to gather a lot of stuff to make my desk more 'mine'.

I left the 10 year anniversary clock that had my name on it and the award I received in 2007 for some above and beyond work I did.

After my former boss and my friend (who helped me get the job 18 years ago) left, the Exodus™ began. And all the fun people I enjoyed working with departed in a slow trickle out the door. So in the end, this was probably the best thing to happen for me right now.

Maybe a kick in the pants is what I need?

[brer cat]

25. I'm sorry you lost your job.

Best of luck finding a better position!

[Gilbert Moore]

26. Keep the Faith

This is a great time to be in the job market. . . I know that sounds trite, but ol' Joe is creating a ton of jobs.

Best of luck !

[Moostache]

27. Wishing you a short and successful search (n/t)

[ArizonaLib]

28. I am 53 and I don't envy you. Set up routines and take care of yourself.

A friend of mine and I recently underwent similar relationship losses. He spend the time keeping busy, feeling a little weird about keeping his mind of stuff. I spent mine thinking through it and really chasing down feelings. I got nothing done. He said he wished he could have done what I did. I told him I wish I would have done what he did.

Here is the rub:

He was taking care of himself and he can spend the rest of whatever thinking about and processing stuff. I didn't take care of myself and now after several years not only am I still processing, etc. but I am learning to take care of myself again. I know how to do it, but getting back in the groove is REALLY REALLY difficult and feels defeating. I am doing better, but I wish I had gone his route.



Create and keep routines that are good for you. Keep good people around you. You probably do these things, and if you do, you can feel good that you are doing good stuff.

Times when and if you feel bad, go visit someone who is just glad to see you and doesn't care about anything else. It gives you a break from the blues. You go back home feeling a 1000 times better.

Good luck and don't let yourself get down.

[hamsterjill]

29. I was let go at ten years older than you.

I worked at one company for almost twenty years and it closed when the owner retired. Got a new job with someone who was a Trumper and she and I didn’t jive. Unless you were a Trump cheerleader, she had no use for you. Took me a while but I did find a job. It’s not anything fabulous but it’ll be okay for a while. I’ll retire in three years.

My best advice is to spend a lot of time on your resume. As you probably know, it’s all about the algorithms these days.

Best of luck - you’re going to be just fine.

[Aussie105]

30. Actually I was fired twice from jobs in my lifetime.

At the age of 16, I worked on the back of a garbage truck manual handling rubbish.
At 17, drove taxis.

Both temporary holiday jobs, so no great loss.

Worked the next job for 40 years. At times I hoped something would trigger me being free from it. From about 50 onwards, I think.
Never worked up the courage to walk away, not until ill health at 63 decided for me.

Never felt freer in my life.

Sometimes things happen for a reason, one door closes, another opens, etc.

51 isn't too young to declare yourself officially retired, if finances allow.

If not, good luck on the job hunting.
You have skills and experience on your side.

[calimary]

31. And don't forget to spread the word.

Maybe the person you told doesn't have anything for you, but they might know somebody who does. Or THAT person, in turn, might know somebody who does.

Can't hurt to put it out there, and the economy looks to be picking up as COVID subsides a little. Around my own area, I'm seeing a LOT more "We're Hiring!" signs in all kinds of businesses and storefronts. And, shoot, the weather's getting better. A local park or nature preserve might be looking for a few new people!

Somebody upthread suggested taking time with your resume. AGREED!!!

That should give you time to think, and consider ALL the talents, capabilities, and experience you bring to the table. You might dovetail with something else other than what you did in the job that just ended. And you already have an established track record of reliability and stability in your favor, too.


One more thing: Please let us know when you land something! Cuz we're gonna worry.

[Maru Kitteh]

32. I'm going to be slightly less tactful & say "Fuck that guy."

Fuck that guy. You deserve better and you will find it. You’ll be appreciated at your next job.

[Joinfortmill]

33. I started a new career at 50. Keep the faith.

[dickthegrouch]

34. I was just "let go" a few days after my 65th b'day

I had specifically declined Medicare because I expected to work another few years.
Now I find that even though the premium was paid a month in advance and probably has another 13 days on it, the healthcare provider has terminated me on the same day as the layoff.
Apparently it is not possible to buy stop gap coverage which starts 'today' and I have to wait until the beginning of March to start any coverage. Mind you, I can wait until Feb 27th to buy it!
Furious with the entire industry (insurance, healthcare) right now.
Good luck to you.

[cstanleytech]

35. My brother had something similar happen to him a few years ago when the grocery

chain he had been with for 18 years as an assistant produce manager fired him and a significant number of their other full timers.
Hopefully though it will turn out ok for you as it did for him as he went from earning a little over 12 an hour as an assistant produce manager at his old company to earning 17 an hour now as a produce clerk at Publix.

[The Jungle 1]

36. Every time I got laid off I ended up in a better place.

I had to look when I was 55 once. I did not realize how in demand my skill set was. I got a job with a major corporation in just weeks. Apparently know one knows how to fix broken mechanical stuff anymore.

[whopis01]

37. I'm sorry I don't have any great advice for you but

I love your avatar. An old Amiga fan?

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

39. Yup!

I owned two. Amiga 500 and a 1200. I still have the 1200.

[Cha]

40. Very Best of Luck to You!

I hope they gave You a Nice Severance Package!

[Generic Brad]

41. That happened to me at 56. I definitely emphasize

The shock. The betrayal. The fear. You will probably experience PTSD of sorts for some time. You definitely have a lot of feelings to process. I know I never felt more alone when it happened to me. You have more courage than I did because I couldn't bear to talk about it publicly here or anywhere else.

It's possible to come out of this better and happier than before. I've changed industries, moved cross country, and am now contributing at a high level on a completely different career path. If you ever need a ray of hope, a sounding board, or someone to just vent to feel free to PM me. There are many DU'er like me who have experienced this and we are here for you if you need it.

[a kennedy]

42. Damn, so sorry to hear this......good luck finding a better one, AND one you'll enjoy.

🤞🏻

[kimbutgar]

45. I lost my longtime job at the same age and it was the best thing that happened to me

I got out of the office and work two jobs that I enjoy. I set my schedule and when I want to work.

Use this time to find a job that you love. You’re young enough to be hired.