Thread regarding ConocoPhillips layoffs

Love the stand up comedy post. While I’m laughing, I’m also deeply concerned. This mentality is pervasive across the country, and, unfortunately, the problem it creates becomes everyone’s problem.

Have you noticed that household income is inversely proportional to number of children in the family? So the people who can afford those Lamborghinis the least have a fleet of them. Multiply this problem x 50 million households. Now wait a generation. Suddenly you have a great number of “underpriveledged” youth who think the the country isn’t treating them fairly. In the long term I see taxes increasing exponentially, and a more socialistic government. It has to go that way because the majority in our country are irresponsible with their finances. I truly fear for our future.

Here is a bit from my favorite stand-up comic that fits the situation really well.

If you listen to anyone b--ch about the economy for long enough, just let them talk, cuz you’ll eventually hear why it’s exactly their fault. And not just Wall Street people, just dumb f---s at a lunch counter in Flint, Michigan. “I’m just a simple man, with a simple wife and four simple children, and I just want an honest day’s work. Y’know, Obama’s exporting all or jobs overseas, now I can’t even find work.” You sad m------f----– Hang on a second! Did you just say you had four children?! Wait, wait, you have four children? In Flint, Michigan?….Do you know how much it costs to raise a kid? The average cost to raise a single child to the age of seventeen is now $227,000. Almost a quarter of a million dollars! You have four of the f---in’ things! In Flint, Michigan!…. Next time you hear some sad sack on 60 Minutes b--ching about how he got f---ed over by the economy, instead of children imagine he said quarter of a million dollar toys, f---in’ boats and… “Yeah when they started laying off people in the late ’80s I made it through the first round of cuts. I said, ‘Baby, I don’t know what’s gonna happen in the future, so let’s get a quarter of a million dollar Lamborghini.’ And then I got the pink slip, got a six-month severance package, so I said, ‘Okay, baby, we’re really on shaky ground now, we’d better get a beach house and a speed boat.’ And now I can’t even find work because of Obamanomics. My wife’s pregnant with a quarter of a million dollar who-knows-what-it’s-gonna-be. I’m a victim.” No, you’re a gambling addict! You made a million dollar wager, and ya lost! You made a million dollar wager, on spec, with no money in the bank to back it up, and now the mob is comin’ to take your thumbs!

30 months and no work is called retirement.

At 12 months try something completely different. At age 50+ chances of employment decrease exponentially. At 24 month of no employment expectations of employment in the desired field is near zero. 100 job applications in 30 months is 3-4 applications per month. Back to the try something different; minimum 3-4 job applications per day, every day. Reach out to recruiters and buy the recruiters lunch to acquire a perspective.

Unless you can retire today expect to reinvent life as you know it. Sell the house. Sell the boat. Sell the second car. Sell the summer home. Expect a starting salary in a distant city of 1/2 to 1/3 of the prior salary.

For reference, I applied for 1500 jobs over the course of 12 month. Ultimately I took the first offer of a full time role and moved. I did not entertain contract roles until after 9 months. I do not like the new home. I do not like the new job. I do not like the people I work with. I do like the paycheck every two weeks, though.

If you’re applying online randomly good luck. Everyone I know who has landed on their feet has gotten the job based on networking. Keep pounding the pavement and working those relationships. Good luck.

I would suggest the modern resume does not contain 30 years of employment history, regardless of who you are. I find most engineering postings are for 5-10 or 10-15 years experience. So advertising more than 15 years, is kind of like putting your own resume into the shredder before it arrives. I’ve heard some experts say showing 6 years is enough for someone with 30 years. Take the dates off your education to show no gap. No need to lie about the past, just no need to advertise the wrong things.

Word of caution, I’m 15 months in and haven’t made anything happen either, so those are just my humble thoughts.

Any insiders with useful advice?

Dude don’t give up, I can totally understand the frustration. I have been there for few years during school some 10 years back and in recent times. I suggest to use your best contacts in that company to find out about the hiring manager. Get your resume in front of hiring manager. Use Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter etc to find best ways to get in front of the key people. I hope this helps and good luck!

I hear you on this - and I hate to say it, but you're not alone. How many times have you been told you're over-qualified? Age discrimination is right out in the open these days.

Has it ever crossed your mind that there are no actual jobs? And that these companies post fake job listings just to create the illusion that all is well?

If not, it should.

When you understand what's REALLY going on, and how the game is played, your frustration level will drop and you won't waste time on things you do now. I suggest you take some of that wasted time and spend it educating yourself on what's actually going on these days, which will require you to put down the TV remote, and use the greatest info source available to humanity in all history, which comes with a mouse.

Yes, you will need to use your brain and learn how to siphon out junk and find real info, but when you do, it will be worth it.

Do you feel better now that you’ve had your rant?

Not sure what you want to convey?

Good luck with your search

Sorry for your difficult situation. I understand.

I fully agree with your post.