More Job Losses!

[gee4]

Every day we seem to be hearing more and more about industry job cuts....banks, car manufacturers, construction companies but to name a few.

How do you feel about this?  Is it something you have experienced or is this all new to you?

I actually drafted a quick summary all the jobs I have had since I left college, both temp and perm, and whilst my salary has increased over the years, I feel I am no further on in my career than I was 10 years ago.

I read the other day something like 1200 people had applied for one job recently which is an enormous amount when you think about the time it takes to sort through application forms and set up interviews.

I have come to the conclusion that a lot of us are stuck in jobs because there are no opportunities to either progress within our current company, or that there are a limited numbers of jobs on offer elsewhere.

This is nothing new to me as I have found it hard enough over the years to find a job that matches my skills as well as one that has challenged me at the same time.  Job cuts are something I expect as the norm as I don’t really know any different.

I just wondered if those on DD felt the same or if you have been lucky enough to have worked in a secure industry sector over the years.

[debbiet]

I work within the UK construction industry for an engineering firm and we too are cutting back.  We are also regularly hearing news on the grape-vine of other companies within the industry making redundancies etc.  We have been told to expect it to affect our area of work by approximately 50% before things start to look better.

It's not a nice position to be in and we are hoping the cuts we have made will be sufficient to see us through (fingers crossed) but you never can tell.

As a company we are trying to remain positive and look to the future by updating our systems and procedures in the hope that we have solid foundations in place when thing begin to get better (whenever that may be)

I agree that, in the current climate, jobs are very thin on the ground and the number of candidates applying for the positions is on the rise which doesn't help.  I also think that prior to the crunch there were a lot of people applied for admin roles to pay the bills because they were able to turn a computer on and didn't know what else to do, however that's a whole other topic of conversation.

[gee4]

Yes it seems when all else fails admin and clerical jobs are those nearly everyone can do.

I too work for an engineering company.  We are currently in a huge recruitment drive and have work for the foreseeable future and beyond, although I guess no one knows what is round the corner.

[misslynn]

The company I work for recently did a voluntary severance option, which helped but didn't get us to the total cuts that were needed.  We were told this week that a round of involuntary severance was next, we'll know in about 3 weeks who is effected.

While the next three weeks will be torture, I think it's better this way than not having any notice and suddenly losing your job where you have to be out of the building an hour later (done by one company this week).  Hopefully in 3 weeks I'll be able to tell y'all that I still have a job.

"I have come to the conclusion that a lot of us are stuck in jobs because there are no opportunities to either progress within our current company, or that there are a limited numbers of jobs on offer elsewhere."
Had to comment on this because it's dangerous to lump everyone together and assume that your own situation is the standard.  The high-level Exec Admins out there didn't start out in those positions, they had to get promoted from somewhere.  For myself, I started with my company as a junior in high school, just a part-time associate.  I've worked over the years and have been given great opportunities for advancement to where I currently am.

[gee4]

Sorry misslynn maybe my last comment was a bit ambiguous.  What I meant was, for those of us who have faced redundancy we have had to take jobs when offered.  So yes in my case I have had to take a job that is not a good match so am stuck here until such times when this might change.  All I meant was at the moment I have no other opportunity to move anywhere else as there are no suitable vacancies.  

Unfortunately I have never been lucky enough to work in a company where there were opportunities for promotion.  I have actually had to move on to a new company each time.  Most PAs do not move if they are in a good job so fewer vacancies become available.  In a lot of companies there is only one PA or secretary and no additional support staff required.

I had no notice when made redundant from my last job and I felt bitter about that and this is the reason why.  From Jan of last year I felt I was being treated differently.  The CEO and my boss would ignore me, bury their heads if I passed by, didn't involve me as much.  When I got told I was losing my job everything fitted into place as regards their attitude towards me.  I believe they knew about letting me go for months yet all I got was one's days notice eg.  told one day and gone the next.  This is not how redundancy should be handled and whilst it is "torture" as you say, some kind of notice is definitely better than no notice at all.