New job -- back to work...

[Panama Red]

I hadn't bother to mention to the PC Mech membership that I've been unemployed since April 13th. I've spent the last 31 years in the same industry and the past 11 in outside sales. I hadn't drawn a check from the Unemployment office since 1975. Selling products and repair services directly to manufacturers in West Michigan has been a continually declining market for the past 5 years or so. With more and more factories moving to China, Mexico and other locations with cheaper labor costs, the attirition rate for factory closings has been staggering here. My last employer hired me to take over a territory that was to be vacated by a senior salesman who was relocating to Knoxville, TN, as soon as he sold his house here. Housing sales have hit the skids here too and six months after I started he was still here wtih his wife living in TN. The day I joined that outfit, the owner changed the negotiated offer and instead fired their most unsuccessful salesman and assigned me to his nearly dead territory. Breathing life into a corpse was beyond my ability and I was the third person to be "laid off". An upside down cash flow wasn't helping my ability to provide timely delivery on products. So, for the past couple months I have been enjoying "semi-retirement". My PC repair business isn't big enough to warrant full time work and gaining employment in the IT/PC hardware field has proven futile too due to a lack of formal training or certificates to prove my competence. Proabably didn't help that prospective employers could do the math and know that a Vietnam vet from the late 60's had to be in his late 50's or early sixties. The good part was the fact that I've been able to catch up on most of my long delayed projects around the house. Even resurrected an old skill from my drag racing days. My son bought an '89 Camaro Z-28 for next to nothing because of a knocking rod. We've pulled the engine, disassembled it and the parts are currently at the machine shop of a long time friend for clean up and some parts replacement before I put it all back together.

Just as I was beginning to enjoy this perfectly timed "work release program" , along comes a phone call last Monday from a distributor/rep organization that I've know of for many years. A couple of former co-workers from many years ago work there and they had heard that I was looking for employment. They sell electric motors, reducers and related power transmission products to oem's in this area that have pretty much been unaffected by the poor Michigan economy. These oem's ship machines all over the US and the world so they are not solely dependent on Michigan based manufacturers. They made me an offer I couldn't refuse but in order to get up to speed on their specific lines, I'm taking an inside sales job for the next 3 months. First time in over 11 years that I'll have a desk of my own (outside of my home) that I'll be sitting at from 8-5.

Why am I sharing all this personal drivel? Well, I doubt seriously if I'll be around these forums during the day any more - at least for a while. I'll still be popping around every evening as time permits but nowhere near the amount of time I've spent here in the past couple years. We have a great staff of moderators so I'm not worried about my back being covered. So, tomorrow begins a new era in my working career. I'm excited about the possibilities and thankful to have found something that looks to have a stable financial foundation and a bright future. I'm excited about going to work again - for the first time in 5 years!

[HAL9000]

Good luck with the new job PR!

[freakitchen]

Sorry to hear about the job problems PR. I don't know much about the US labour market, but it certainly is disappointing that factory closures are the norm on both sides of the pond - they affect a LOT more people than just those employed in them. But anyway, congrats on the new position and hope it goes well for you.

[TwoRails]

Yes, good luck, PR ! I have a strong feeling you'll do more than a good job, you'll knock 'em dead

[FLG]

Good luck PR.

[Cricket]

Yeah, glad to hear about your new job...but I know what you mean about a desk job. I was a field worker for 10 years and then moved to a desk job when an opening came up...had a hard time adjusting to being cooped up all day long but it was easier on my back.

But now after being in this position for the past 10 years I'm looking to get a different position that will put me back in the field for the next 10 years.

Hope your adjustment period goes by quickly.

Cricket

[catacon]

Good luck, PR!

[rspassey]

Good luck PR! Coincidentally, tomorrow is my first day of work at a car audio shop - i had to repeatedly prove I was capable of selling and learning about the products and it has finally paid off.

We'll need to see some pics of the car project

[tigstah]

good luck pr.....you dont have to tell me about sitting at a desk all day. i used to be a tv and satellite tv technician, on the road most of the day. now i'm in the mortgage business and yes there is a slowdown in the housing business.

[David M]

Panama....congrats on you're new job!

[rjfvillarosa]

Well done my old friend, it seems that every chat you and I have had for the last few months has been about job searching. As you know I am starting back with British Telecom this Wednesday on a three month contract as a Frames Engineer, lets hope the contract will lead to something permanent.
Maybe three months from now we should celebrate with a glass of shampoo.

[doubledragon5]

Congrats PR hope it works out ok for you...

[blue60007]

Hey, congrats and good luck on the new job! You'll do fine.

[flanzig1]

Congrats on the new job, PR. Know what it is like to try and find a job in a field that has few openings. Been at my new job for 3 months now and has been fast paced from day one.

[MaxRat]

Good luck on the new job....

And let us know how the Car turns out...I and looking for a Camaro in about that year...

I had a 83' that I raced and did pretty well with it...it went with the 1st wife...I miss the car though...and I still have a heavy duty Iroc out of a 89' that I stuffed with a 4:10 posi unit still waiting for a car to put it in...

[RevCLB]

Congrats PR. Your intelligence, experence & "smarts" will be a major benifit to your new company

[Tin]

Congrats PR, youre doing damn good ya old fart . Ill be up in your neck of the woods for a transmission later this year. We will need to have a beer or 3. Most likely the last week of September.

[Panama Red]

Originally Posted by Tin Congrats PR, youre doing damn good ya old fart . Ill be up in your neck of the woods for a transmission later this year. We will need to have a beer or 3. Most likely the last week of September.

You got a date!

And thanx everyone for the well wishes. 2nd day at lunch and things are going well. Upgraded ram in 3 Dell's yesterday, installed a WAP54G to add wireless to the company network, did some troubleshooting on the owner's iPaq pda as well as my real job stuff! Got handed a broken laptop this am from the boss to see if that one is salvageable and talked to our ISP and got the dsl upgraded to 3M/512 from 1500/384 for the same price. Best of both worlds - pc's and power transmission equipment.

[MaxRat]

you'll be up for a raise in no time...

Hey Tin...What kind of tranny...? I need a built 700r4 for my truck...mines kinda lazy and I was thinking of getting one with a stage 2 kit...I like tires chirping when it shifts...
might try putting a boost valve in mine and billet servo's that just might do it...

I'll be going up in Michigan in August...crawling up the west coast...

[Force Flow]

Way to go PR!

[Panama Red]

Time for an update. Four months later from the original post and I'm about to do a "Willie Nelson" - I'm going "On the road again!" starting Nov 5th. I finally have a sales job with a defined territory and a commission plan that rewards you for doing well. Instead of just making cold calls on the dying Industrial accounts, I'm going to be supporting other distributors as a factory rep for one of the world's best and most well recognized gearmotor product. Plus my territory contains several well establish manufacturers that are doing well and view my company as a quality supplier. Increasing our volume with these accounts should be much easier than beating down barriers at accounts unfamiliar with my company.

The desk job has been enjoyalble and I've learned quite a lot in the past few months. I'm off to another training school next week in the Chicago area. Just received my new Garmin GPS via Fedex today so I've got a new toy to play with too! I bought one that connects to my laptop and uses the Garmin nRoute software.

Looks like I've disproved one old adage - you CAN teach an old dog new tricks! - at least THIS old dog!

[TwoRails]

woof, woof!! Heck, you ain't old, anyway -- Just well seasoned I know you'll be doing one heck of a good job, PR.

It also sounds like you're having fun, too. And that makes a big difference.

The best to you, PR!

[juppy]

I don't know how I missed this thread the first time around.......so, for back in June, congrats on the new job....and for the latest happenings, congrats on moving right along and doing that "Willie Nelson"!

[TimPoet]

Originally Posted by Panama Red I'm excited about going to work again - for the first time in 5 years!

That's a great feeling, isnt it?

[bailey]

thats great PR.

maybe some day I can take a ride to visit you