Has your office/company laid people off? PART 6 (New Poll Options!)

[roopi]

Originally posted by flipstah
For people who switched: Who plans on sticking to their new industry?

They will all run back to the oil money.

[Swank]

Originally posted by flipstah
For people who switched: Who plans on sticking to their new industry?

The money is almost as good and quality of life is much better, I'm a lifer here now

[89coupe]

Originally posted by flipstah
For people who switched: Who plans on sticking to their new industry?

I made the switch from Geophysics to Real Estate, first year was slow but this year I have done over $10million in sales, life is good.

I can't imagine ever wanting to go back. Quality of life is way better.

[austic]

We let go of a contractor, but other than that steady as she goes

[killramos]

Where were you all working in Calgary that your "quality of life" was so bad?

All of the Oil companies I have ever worked for have basically been 7 hour day country clubs ( not saying this is how it is everywhere but...) .

Are you referring to the jobs themselves or living in Calgary?

Field work?

Just curious, or is it just something people say to themselves to justify the change?

[Swank]

Way back when I was at PanCanadian it was a small and laid back company. Then it grew to be Encana and life was exciting. Then it split and Encana started to struggle. 2 Fridays off/month was nice, but the 8.5hr (9.5 with lunch) work days didn't leave you much time to do anything else that day after you factor in commute and dinner. The eventual removal of compensation for on call happened and you'd get called multiple times most nights at all hours, if you didn't respond within an hour there would be hell to pay, this would pretty much ruin your Friday off (and weekend). Always having to do more with less as the price of natural gas never rose to what they always dreamed it would. Consolidating teams had me doing work I wasn't trained for or comfortable with. End users would make almost every call a high priority. There was always someone watching when you arrive and leave. I still liked it there and likely wouldn't have left, but now it's a nightmare, I was very lucky to be a part of the first round of lay offs when there were still jobs out there.

Now with my 7 hour work days, amazing gym/fitness facility, and out of downtown with a 5 minute commute life is great. Heated parking for the price of a bus pass, no more c-train. On call is 'best effort' and I've been called 3 times in 2.5 years. Work atmosphere and pace is much more relaxed, a task people would have expected to be done within hours at Encana can be done the same week here and they are thrilled. While my annual salary is probably ~15-20% less, my hourly rate is a bit higher. The money I save on my commute and gym membership helps too. I'm the only tech doing what I do so I run my own show, I find it more empowering and very rewarding.

[flipstah]

I miss Encana and our bonuses.

[Swank]

^Bonuses were definitely nice. I miss when stock options actually resulted in money. I paid cash for my new Si with them one year

[90_Shelby]

Originally posted by killramos
just something people say to themselves to justify the change

[adam c]

Originally posted by Swank
snip...

Curious which part of IT you work in

[ExtraSlow]

What does it count as if you were laid off, and you haven't had full time work since, but you started a company, and are spending your time marketing that? I guess that's "currently looking for work"

I'd consider this company really successful if I could make 1/4 what I was making prior to the layoff.

Yep, that's my 2016 so far.

[r3ccOs]

Originally posted by ExtraSlow
What does it count as if you were laid off, and you haven't had full time work since, but you started a company, and are spending your time marketing that? I guess that's "currently looking for work"

I'd consider this company really successful if I could make 1/4 what I was making prior to the layoff.

Yep, that's my 2016 so far.

would that have made Rich unemployed?

[ExtraSlow]

I try not to compare myself to Mr Rich. It's too hard on my self esteem.

[Swank]

Originally posted by adam c


Curious which part of IT you work in

Telecom, overlap with networking a bit thanks to voip.

[89coupe]

Originally posted by killramos
Where were you all working in Calgary that your "quality of life" was so bad?

All of the Oil companies I have ever worked for have basically been 7 hour day country clubs ( not saying this is how it is everywhere but...) .

Are you referring to the jobs themselves or living in Calgary?

Field work?

Just curious, or is it just something people say to themselves to justify the change?

For me I was bored out of my skull, 8-5pm stuck in an office. Seismic activity was at an all time low, literally had no work for 5+ years of the 11 years I worked at my last O&G company.

Now being self employed I make my own hours, and work when I feel like working. I golf 2-3 times a week, work-out during the day and take my kids to the movies on week days.

It almost seems surreal, feels like I'm retired, but at the same time making shit loads of money.

It was scary making the transition, so use to getting a steady paycheque, but now that I'm in a groove, I can't imagine going back to that mundaine routine.

No regrets

[dirtsniffer]

Fucking Realtors.

[HiTempguy1]

Originally posted by dirtsniffer
Fucking Realtors.

Its unreal the kind of money they can make. I missed the boat, I should have gotten into it while young.

[bigbadboss101]

Real Estate can be very rewarding but it's not for everyone. You need a certain drive, personality. I have many friends who are successful, and a few who switched back. The be your own boss thing can be a pro or con depending on one's attitude.

[bjstare]

Originally posted by HiTempguy1


Its unreal the kind of money they can make. I missed the boat, I should have gotten into it while young.

How exactly did you miss the boat? Correct me if I'm wrong, but you don't even have a spouse or kids that you're responsible for. If this is the case the only thing stopping you from making a change like that, is you

Furthermore, aren't you still young? I thought you were under 30, or very near. I'm pretty sure 89coupe is at least a couple years older than you are.

People out there switch careers at the age of 50. My dad left a job as an executive at a telco (good money, great job security) to help run and grow another company in a completely different industry when he was 47.

[HiTempguy1]

# of overall real estate transactions is down = less work per realtor, combined with a glut of realtors in general. I don't see now being a good time to get in.

I have no doubt I could support myself financially doing it, I've been staging houses and taking photos since I was 16. Letting the current cushy gov job combined with the fuel sales business run its course and see how my investment of time and money in those two fields pan out. If they are a dud, I'll make a career change in 2 years by either going back to school or into something with minimal retraining that lets me utilize my fantastic charisma and social skills

:Rofl:

I personally believe any business opportunity requires a commitment of 5 years to be able to remotely evaluate its success. Technologist diploma worked so far (year 6), fuel business is looking promising (year 2, 100% year/year sales growth, looking to double if not triple next year).

RE agent may cut into my racing time, COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE