I guess I finally have something non-book to post?

[thistlechaser]

After 20 years of working at the same company, I'm being laid off. They're sending my job to India. How annoyingly stereotypical.

By the end of the month, I'll be without a job.

I know finding a new job takes a long time (months and months), but I've only known for a short time and I'm already depressed as hell.

Plus side: I have savings, so I can live for a while without a problem.

Minus side: I've already applied for every technical writer job in the area (20-something open positions). What now? I mean, I know I have to follow up on them as time continues, but on average people in my position submit 10 applications to get a phone interview, need 10 phone interviews to get an in person interview, and need 10 in person interviews to get an offer. That's a hell of a lot more than 20-something applications... I'm in the heart of Silicon Valley, so I'm already in what should be a good area for this.

For a short time I was surprised that stats like that are kept, but I guess what else do out of work people have to do?

I'm willing to relocate to other areas of the country, but that increases the stress so much. Packing up and moving across country, likely quickly, into an area you don't even know?

Blah.

Comments

[hamsterwoman]

Oh no! :((( This really sucks :(

Is the company at least giving you a nice severance package due to long tenure?

I hope the job search goes smoothly! The last time I looked at jobs in the area, as a precaution, it was pretty depressing. Even though we're in the middle of Silicon Valley, it seems like it's so expensive to do business here that large companies seem to want to preferentially hire for their other locations :/

(I took a quick look, and it looks like all of our technical writing jobs are elsewhere -- OR/AZ/NM -- but if there's some way I can be helpful, drop me a PM?)

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

No idea on severance yet. I have maybe a week left here. I guess I'll know once they call me in to a meeting.

I'm completely willing to relocate, but the idea of doing that AND looking for a new job at the same time is so daunting. But how do you do them at separate times?

[xxmadsenxx.livejournal.com]

That really sucks about your job! I'm sorry to hear that. I hope you're able to find a new job that will be a good fit for you sooner rather than later.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Thank you! That is my hope as well.

[manue7a.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry!
But good luck that it'll all work out without too much stress.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the good luck wishes. :)

[jeane nevarez (from livejournal.com)]

My job kinda got outsourced too- well, I work for my husband and his company is now taking bigger clients who don't need what I do- they have their own in-office editors. I couldn't learn the other skills fast enough. . . . I really hope you find a new, good fit pretty soon. I had to make a sudden cross-country move for my first husband's job- he got an offer but it was literally on the opposite side of the country. We rented an apartment unseen, packed a van and drove. Not something I'd want to do again!

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm trying to wrap my head around the idea of renting an apartment unseen... in a state I've never stepped foot in before. Hopefully I can find something local. Blah.

[wow-hazmat.livejournal.com]

Oh, that sucks!! I'm so sorry to hear this.

Wishing you stamina and good luck for your job search. Here's hoping whatever you find turns out to be better than where you were. *hugs*

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I hope for that as well.

[gonzostar.livejournal.com]

UGH! Our area super sucks for that! But dude, if you're going to relocate, make the new company pay for that inconvenience. You're worth it!

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

That would be great if they would do that! I'd go anywhere they'll pay me to move. :)

Thanks!

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

Sorry to hear it!
Hopefully something will turn up for you!

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Thanks! And me, too!

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

oh no, I am so sorry to hear that. So freakin' cliche.

Job hunting is hard. Sounds like you've hopped right in though and started sending out your resume. I guess you could browse jobs that are in areas of the country you might be interested in moving to and send out applications there? Like you said, you're in Silicon Valley so you might be up against a lot of different people with similar skills so throwing your resume out to companies that might need a technical writer but are further away from the hub?

Maybe buff up your LinkedIn page and start looking around there for ways to network? People seem to think they can find jobs on there, I'm not actually sure, but at least you could poke around the places that you have applied to and see if there are any red flags?

Found this page on US News with lots of stats about best places for tech writers to live - https://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/technical-writer/salary

Also checked out the Occupational Outlook Handbook and it has a map of density of tech writers so if you want less competition for your skills? https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes273042.htm#st

Sorry, my librarian brain kicked in, if anything these stats are things to think about if you don't hear back from the jobs you applied to. :(

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the links! They were very interesting to see. They also tell me I should stay put. :P Apparently I'm already in the best city for it, heh.

LinkedIn seems like the best site so far. I'm on there, Indeed, Glass Door, and the older ones (Monster, etc). LinkedIn seems like the best one so far.

[voidmagus.livejournal.com]

Condolences on the job. Wish I could offer some advice but I haven't looked for a job in a decade, and am turning my own impending layoff into a small business (current client wants to keep a contract going). You are probably in the best area for tech writers in the country, though its worth noting moving anywhere else will be a significant decrease to your living (especially housing) expenses. I've had some offers to move to the Bay area in the past and even tripling my salary wouldn't get me close to my current 2000sqft house (mortgage $800/mo).

If you're ok in living in the middle of nowhere, google data centers have tech writer jobs, things like that maybe? Likely still pays well b/c Google, but cost-of-living will be really low though you'll be without major metro conveniences (curse you bay area asian food!)

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Wow, your mortgage is amazing! I pay over $3,000 a month for a studio apartment...

I'm so torn about this area. This is where the most tech jobs are, but I can barely afford to live here. I don't even have a TV/cable, it's too expensive.

I have a couple resumes out in other areas, so maybe I'll get some nibbles elsewhere...

Thanks for the thoughts!

[twissie.livejournal.com]

Wow 20 years..... and on such short notice as well.

I hope you'll be able to find something new to do relatively quickly. Being in limbo is awful. Keep trying, though. Opportunities present themselves when you least expect them to.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

I know, right? I hope so as well. Thanks for the encouragement! :)