Lots of safety jobs in private industry and construction companies right now.
To the OP, hang in there. Start looking for jobs on indeed, linked in, or similar and begin applying for jobs you may qualify for even if it’s not a safety job at first.
I lost my job
- Thread starter mustangcy
- Start date
To the OP, hang in there. Start looking for jobs on indeed, linked in, or similar and begin applying for jobs you may qualify for even if it’s not a safety job at first.
Mortenson Construction out of Minneapolis has tons of safety jobs available on their website in their Wind Energy Group and Solar Energy Groups. They are 100% travel jobs, but you live where you want and they pay very well to the travelers. Something to consider if you don't land something local.
I'd start by contacting anyone you've worked with and had a positive experience. I do believe that one of the great benefits of living in Iowa is that people want to help each other. If they can't hire, they'll know someone that can.
This hasn't happened to me personally. It has to several people very close to me, and most of those were absolutely unexpected. It sucks and it's like a no-warning punch to the gut. You already have survived that, although it might not seem like it for a while. I don't know what your former job was either, so can't point to specific opportunities for you. I wish I could.
If you need to move your family, do it. It happened in our family several times as we kids were growing up. My dad was in school teaching, then administration. I didn't always like the moving, especially the last time when we moved just before my senior year of high school. I thought it was the worst thing that could happen to me. I was wrong. It turned out better than I expected in so many ways.
About that ledge: think about where you are rather than there being nothing in front of you. Take stock of everything, and choose a direction to walk. You can move forward.
Keep an eye on the ISU job board. Never know when something applicable or appropriate will appear. https://isu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/IowaStateJobs
If you need to move your family, do it. It happened in our family several times as we kids were growing up. My dad was in school teaching, then administration. I didn't always like the moving, especially the last time when we moved just before my senior year of high school. I thought it was the worst thing that could happen to me. I was wrong. It turned out better than I expected in so many ways.
About that ledge: think about where you are rather than there being nothing in front of you. Take stock of everything, and choose a direction to walk. You can move forward.
Keep an eye on the ISU job board. Never know when something applicable or appropriate will appear. https://isu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/IowaStateJobs
What are the immediate things you need to think about before taking a mental break?
- Does taking severance make you ineligible for unemployment? Is one better than the other?
- Do health insurance, dental, vision need to change over to your wife? Do you need to get on COBRA? When will your coverage by the company end, July 31st?
- If you have a 401k, those are usually ok to sit for a minute before they start charging fees shoot an email to your benefits person to confirm.
- Do you have any vacation time to cash out or use before you are done?
- Network as much as possible in the couple weeks you have left with current company. Get advice on companies/leads from those you work with. Get a few who will agree to be references. Get a couple to proofread your resume.
- Is your wife able to increase her hours at all?
- Any easy cost-savings at home - cable, etc. that could be put in place to extend your current savings? Easy jobs for kids to start working on their own savings/contribute. Mowing, babysitting (there have GOT to be tons of parents like me who would really like a mother's helper type person right now), etc.
- It's not too late to move to DSM but IDK if you go straight to that. Could start by just having a very large job search area and see what comes through.
#3 is what I was going to say - it's important to view finding a job as your full-time job and not something done on the side.
I was laid off and unemployed for ~6 months before I was married or had a family and it was still the most depressed I've ever been. The job market was really bad in my field at the time and the constant rejection was overwhelming. Make sure to take care of yourself as well as your family.
Not going to lie, I'd be scared shitless if this happened to me. It's easy for us all to say "you're going to be fine", because you likely are. But if it happened to me, i'd be a bit of a mess. I'm actually impressed you've only lost 4 pounds. My first nervous diarrhea would purge that by itself.
However...
Sometimes I do wish it'd happen to me. I have so many thoughts & ideas of what I might like that I'm not acting upon because it feels irresponsible. Maybe this untimely event is the kick I'd need. All good advice in this thread thus far, but also... I'd say dream a little. Create what you want.
However...
Sometimes I do wish it'd happen to me. I have so many thoughts & ideas of what I might like that I'm not acting upon because it feels irresponsible. Maybe this untimely event is the kick I'd need. All good advice in this thread thus far, but also... I'd say dream a little. Create what you want.
I was to scared to leave a dead end job because of the pay and benefits if I wouldn't have been eliminated. Everything works out in the end.
First off, I'm sorry this happened to you. Getting laid off unexpectedly really sucks, and then multiply that to the nth degree with what's been happening the past 3.5 months. (Has it ONLY been 3.5 months?)
Whenever someone posta here about job advice/layoff/etc., I try to point them to this website. She has great advice on how to go about constructing your resume, cover letters, and what to expect while going through the application process. (She's also adjusted some of her advice with the whole COVID thing)
Here's a direct link to her blog post about how to revamp your resume.
https://www.askamanager.org/2018/06/how-to-write-a-resume-that-doesnt-suck.html
Good luck. We'll be here to celebrate with you when you find your new (and hopefully better) job.
Whenever someone posta here about job advice/layoff/etc., I try to point them to this website. She has great advice on how to go about constructing your resume, cover letters, and what to expect while going through the application process. (She's also adjusted some of her advice with the whole COVID thing)
Here's a direct link to her blog post about how to revamp your resume.
https://www.askamanager.org/2018/06/how-to-write-a-resume-that-doesnt-suck.html
Good luck. We'll be here to celebrate with you when you find your new (and hopefully better) job.
Haven't seen it mentioned anywhere, but consider starting a business if that is something you have dreamed of.
Be sure to hit up the seed companies. They have locations sprinkled throughout the state, and they tend to be safety conscious. Here is an opening for a site safety lead in Williamsburg
https://career.bayer.us/en/job/site-safety-coordinator--SF45560
Be sure to hit up the seed companies. They have locations sprinkled throughout the state, and they tend to be safety conscious. Here is an opening for a site safety lead in Williamsburg
https://career.bayer.us/en/job/site-safety-coordinator--SF45560
In Iowa CIty, Procter and Gamble and Oral B are both hiring. Factory jobs, but come with benefits and decent pay. Downside is rotating or second/3rd shift most likely to start. General Mills in Cedar Rapids is also hiring.
www.pgcareers.com
Carefully read information posted on each screen as you follow the steps listed below:
1) Click on “Search Opportunities”
2) Under “Key word to search” enter “MFG00006720” and under “Enter location to search” enter “Iowa City, IA.” Click “search.”
3) Click on “Plant Technician”
4) Read the Job Description. Click on “Apply Online”
5) Click on “New User”
6) Enter information, click on “Register”, follow prompts
Communication with applicants is via e-mail, so please use an active account.
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Sorry to hear of your situation.
what many others have said.
Don't burn bridges.
Update LilnkedIn, resume.
Connect with EVERYone you have worked with or know in your industry
Look at consulting in your field
It will have valleys, and there will be peaks. Stay focused and positive regarding a new job, as finding one is your new full time job.
what many others have said.
Don't burn bridges.
Update LilnkedIn, resume.
Connect with EVERYone you have worked with or know in your industry
Look at consulting in your field
It will have valleys, and there will be peaks. Stay focused and positive regarding a new job, as finding one is your new full time job.
If you have any network connections, definitely lean on them a bit. Also LinkedIn is a good source for looking for jobs. I've hired a couple people from there.
Sorry to hear about your situation. I would polish up the resume and reach out to some recruiters. It helps to have someone looking on your behalf besides you. They are no cost to you since they get paid by the employers. It certainly can't hurt anything. I had good experience with one in Des Moines, but I also feel that there are recruiting companies that work in rural areas since those companies have a harder time getting their name out there/finding employees due to their location.
I am also not sure about how unemployment works with a severance, but if you qualify, i would make sure to get on it ASAP as the extra $600/week for the Cares Act ends at the end of July and that will be a big help. You get this $600/week even if you collect $1 worth of unemployment.
Speaking from experience, you're dealing with two things here:
1-the emotional tidal wave of being let go
2-the fear and sense of responsibility that you have as a provider
Here's the deal, time is the only thing that helps with #1. In fact, I'd argue that you'll never truly process it fully and be "ok" with it...because it's a personal thing. That said, in the end, and I say this will all understanding that it doesn't help you now, you'll be a better employee for the next company because of it.
The second piece is a matter of just finding something to help the current situation (any job that offsets the loss), separating it from what you need to do (which is find another similar position), and moving forward. As has been said previously, many people who are highly succesfull have been through this...it's ok...and you'll make it work. I'm sure you have the ability to work hard and you're employable. Get your **** together and when/if you need to blow off steam, this is a good place to do it.
