Prepare: Job and Work Survival

No, this is not job survival as in "disaster hits while at the office", but rather some information on working and continuing to be employed while SHTF Lite takes place around us.

I have several times online about people who are out of work and how they have been unable to find work where they live. They have my sympathy; I have been out of regular work since February. I work three jobs on contract basis to support my family.

However, there is an outlet some people are unable or unwilling to take. Move.

Throughout history, the great migrations, both in recorded and ancient history revolve around people having to move due to famine, drought or lack of money/work.

We have become so accustomed to living and working where we are for as long as we please, we have forgotten how our ancestors lived. They often were forced to migrate to new jobs, work, fields and elsewhere to feed their family.

I received an email from a friend in Wisconsin who could not find IT work in his field where he lived. I pointed out that Texas was not suffering as badly as the rest of the country and had he considered looking for a job there and relocated. Absolutely not was the response. Texas was full of backwards hicks who elect George Bush governor. How dare I ask him to consider living there. Besides, he had friends and family in Wisconsin.

Here's the deal. Get over yourself. If you have children dependent upon you, you get off the pot, and get on the road to where the jobs are. Don't move until you have an offer, but for crying out loud, take a look elsewhere for work.

When I was unemployed for a good part of 2002, I looked literally everywhere. New York, Ohio, Oregon, Georgia, etc. I only cared about a decent job which would pay for itself by relocating. I was willing to pay my own expenses for the move as long as the job I was going to be somewhat secure.

If you are going to survive, sometimes you have to "Bug Out" to find a job or work. Think about our neighbors to the south who illegally cross the border and are willing to risk arrest to find work. Will they replace us because they are adapting and we are not? Something to think about.

Good luck,

Prepare: Job and Credit Survival

Some may ask, "Where have you been? Why no posts for the last week or so?". Others probably did not notice; most have thier own problems these days and spending time reading blogs is not on the To-Do list.

First, the unemployment numbers keep going up. It's "officially" over 10 percent nationwide, with many states reporting double digits in the high teens, such as Michigan, California, Oregon and others.

The layoffs are continuing across the country and they will keep up until the balance sheets look good enough to see stocks rise. "See, everything is swell now".

Let's get back to reality. Layoffs will continue. Stop clinging to the idea that your job is "safe and secure". And it's not just private enterprise. Cities and states are running out of money that means that those teachers, cops, firemen and yes bureaucrats are going to start getting let go too.

What's worse is that many jobs are not coming back. Sure we have been losing manufacturing jobs for years, but add to that jobs in finance, insurance, and services are going bye-bye now too. With the current shenanigans going on in DC, don't expect there to be an uptick which creates new jobs and industries any time soon.

Even the Chairman of the Fed says that this will continue until 2011 or longer.

What are these people thinking?

Let's add to that the financial industry. Your credit cards, car loans and mortgages. Some of these companies have their heads on straight. They are working with their customer to find a way for them to keep their home and car anyway possible. I applaud those companies.

The credit card companies are in La-La Land. For customers falling behind on their "minimum payments" they are raising their interest rates. We are talking 18 - 24 percent interest rates. The worse car loan I ever had as a young man was 9.5 percent. Credit card interest at 24 percent? How do they expect anyone to pay that back?

And what's more, the credit card companies are moving quickly to charge off accounts and send them to law firms for collection. Great. What's next? Loan sharks breaking legs?

Have you ever spoken with a credit card company before? If you have a balance, they ask how much can you pay right now. They offer a free "check by phone". All we need is the past due amount of $3214.92, please. Can we set that up today? Sure, let me go sell a kidney and I will get back to you.

Then they have the nerve to ask, "Do you have a friend or relative you can get the money from? Or do you have retirement you can borrow against?". Sure, why don't I rent out my children for hard labor. I will get that money to you right away. The credit card companies will be asking for debtors prisons in the next session of Congress mark my words.

Hey credit card companies! How about you eat the late charges, over limit fees and lower your interest rates to single digits? Didn't think so.

These are the same companies who received huge loans and payouts from TARP courtesy of me and you. Granted, some refused loans and others paid them back, but where was our loan or rescue money?

Speaking of which, I don't want charity - let me keep some of what I earned in the form of tax relief. How about we freeze income taxes and tax withholding for one year. Guess what? Spending like you have never seen before.

Sure, many of us would use that windfall to pay down debt, buy food and save. But there would be spending - we are Americans after all.

But we can't have that. Our money is needed overseas, in the pockets of bankers and special interests groups who have never held a job or earned a dime in their life.

I have said before, I work three jobs. Sometimes I get paid on time other times not. I don't plan on ever having a standard, 9-5, get paid on the 15Th and 30Th, job again. Those days are over. Not by my choice. If someone called today and offered me $100,000 a year with benefits, I would be at their office before the phone hung up. They have us like rats in a maze.

This is life in America. I still am not discouraged. I am still optimistic. I still believe. Why?

Because our oppressors will starve by their own rules and requirements before they can break us. They can't think outside of the box while we lost ours to foreclosure years ago. They need the revenue, interest payments, minimum balances and late payments which are not coming any longer. We got used to less, unreliable, devalued money years ago. We will survive.

Systemic failure is imminent. Get your house in order and get ready.

Next - crop failure, weather patterns and food shortages coming this fall.

Prepare: Job Survival

To me, prepping is the real world and it is what I have been working on for years now. It started when I read Robinson Crusoe or Swiss Family Robinson that the bug got me. Then I moved on to Alas Babylon, Lucifer's Hammer, the original Stand (1976?), Damnation Alley (the book of course), a bunch of John Christopher books (remember those?) and it has been downhill since.

Until I had a family and children, I never took prepping really serious. I figured if it was just me I could live off a backpack and scavenging. But with kids you realize its a different ball game. They call it avoidance - not avoiding a problem but trying to avoid the effects of a problem, financial depression, civil war, nuclear attack, terrorism, etc.

One thing I rarely talk about is what I do for a living. I have some very strong opinions on work and whenever I talk with someone else who "preps" or is into surviving the worse, I find that their view of work and employment is the most glaring contradiction to the whole prepping mentality.

Here you have a person who on one hand has carefully managed his or her finances and lives frugally. He has purchased extra food and supplies and carefully put them away for an emergency. He has thoughtfully made plans for his and his family's personal protection. He has made the best decisions knowing that if the poop hits the fan, he will neither have nor count on the government stepping in and bring help. He is ready and willing to be the first on his block to "tell FEMA and every other alphabet agency to take a hike he does not need their help".

But the second this same person thinks his livelihood, his profession, job or position at work is threatened, he goes into "Big Government Mode".

"The government needs to stop our jobs from going overseas! The government needs to guarantee jobs and security for working people! The government needs to provide money, aid, jobs, unemployment benefits, retraining and other programs because our jobs are going away! We had lots of good jobs here in (Michigan, Rhode Island, Maine, California, etc). The government needs to step in and make sure we get those kinds of jobs back here again!".

Where is the survivor, independent, tough it out, individual now? Forget the word jobs, and replace it with food, safety, security, water, power, heat and other material comforts. Instead of "forcing companies to keep jobs here", how about we "force those who have food to give some of it to those who failed to plan"? Any difference there? Who is the "sheeple" now?

If a person is truly into surviving and prepping, that includes work, career and backup plans for both. There is no job security or "secure jobs". Start thinking about Peak Employment if that helps. That maybe the U.S. economy has already hit Peak Employment and it will only get worse, work wise. What are you going to do now?

I don't want to sound heartless, but part of the survivor mentality and preparedness comes from being prepared for economic downturn and depression. It can happen. Blabbing about a lost job and demanding "someone" do something sounds like the whining of one who did not truly prepare.

I work two jobs and do a bunch of other things part time to make money on the side. Nobody owes me anything. The government, my employers, nothing. I have to make it on my own. I am my own job security. If I don't work 60 or 70 hours a week, we may lose everything.

Again, I don't want to sound mean or heartless. I know what it is like to have a wife, kids, a mortgage, bills and learn your job is going away. I know what it is like to get laid off and have no idea what in the world you are going to do the next day to put food on the table. Believe me, I know all too well.

But the idea around here is to improvise, adapt and overcome. That is survival and preparedness rolled into one. Whining and asking the government to fix your problems only invites a bigger problem into your life.

Have a good weekend,

SHTF: Post SHTF employment, jobs, skills and work

In light of my past post about surviving layoffs and today's economy. One of the SHTF forums I frequent brought up this topic for discussion.

Let me preface with an explaination what I mean by post-SHTF. I am not talking about the current economic or employment scenario we have today. Loading up a yard cart and going door to door in your neighborhood offering to sharpen saw blades might get you a bunch of odd looks and the possibility of a confrontation with the law.

Rather, post-SHTF employment and jobs means work after the economy has collapsed; i.e. no welfare, no SS, no Medicare, no paycheck or job to go to. The government is gone or limping along at the federal level with few if any employees and only a token head of state hiding in a bunker somewhere. The streets are either deserted and home to looters and thieves.

You and yours are living in a rural or suburban enclave and have to do business or trade with others to items you need.

So, that being the case, here are my list of realistic post-shtf jobs and employment.

- medical and dental work.
No, nothing complex, but basic medical treatment and advice. Doctors, nurses and dentists will have plenty to do, but will have to do their work without benefit of most drugs or electricity. However, having a doctor check a child and determine that indeed the appendix is in danger of rupture and surgery is required, will be a must have skill.
In addition, knowledge and skills with natural remedies will be priceless. But these homemade potions and herbs have to work to some degree, so don't plan on figuring out this skill after the SHTF.
Finally, any sort of related health skill will be useful such as massage therapy, accupuncture, chiropracters, midwife, etc. Those folks will have their "hands" full as hospitals and doctor's offices close.
A reminder, there will be no advanced medicine available or will be severly limited. That means high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, depression, etc will either run their natural course or the patient will have to adjust. Quickly.

- personal care
How often do you get a haircut? Once a month or every six weeks? What happens when Supercuts is a distant memory? Who wants to have head lice or scabies? People with hair skills will have their work "cut" out for them. Sure, Sonny can get a crew cut or butch with the home barber kit, but what about Mom or daughter?

- food production and preparation
Most people have brown thumbs and cannot produce a thing to eat from dirt. Those with gardening know how, or better, the ability to produce extra will have work out the wazzoo. That also applies also to those with canning, preservation, butchering and drying skills.
The hunter will have work, but with 300 million mouths in the US, wild animals will be overhunted and domestics will be the new food source. Take it as you will.
Raising chickens, rabbits and goats will be a cash industry post-shtf.

- labor of all types
Like it or not, most of America is soft and weak and used to having others do for them. Family men who cannot change a lightbulb or mow their own lawn. Mothers who cannot clean their home or do the laundry.
These are opportunities, as basic as they are, for the hardy do it yourselfer to offer services and training to these lost souls.
More advanced skills like sewing will be highly in demand. Basic work like taking in laundry will provide work for families.

- Mechanical, electrical, carpentry
If gasoline runs out, fixing the Escalade will not be in demand. However, keeping a generator or rototiller working will be.
Same with installing a basic power generation system using salvaged solar panels or an excersize bike and car batteries.
How about having those shot out windows fixed or the roof leak repaired?
Yes, having real fix it skills, not some shade tree service, will be in demand from skilled professionals. Having the tools, non-powered to do it, will also be mandatory. So stock up on hand saws and drills.

- security
The soldier of fortune, former police officer or even the black belt, former nightclub bouncer will have plenty of work.
Think of all the folks who are afraid of guns right now. Or have never handled one. Or the number of people who do not know how to defend themselves. Or know how to set up a defensive perimeter around a home, town or farm.
These skills and the mindset which accompany them will be priceless as your town goes to war between the haves and havenots, the raider and producer and the looter and survivor. Remember the TV show Jericho? The neighboring town attacked Jericho for farm land and food. Having a man like the Mayor who had combat experience made the difference when the town was under attack.

- scavenger
The ability to find hard to get products will be.. interesting. And potentially profitable.

Tell me. What skill do you see as needed and worthwhile to pursue after the SHTF? Remember, think what others will pay for, not what your dream job will be.

SHTF: Surviving job loss and layoffs

Here's the news last week..

Boeing may cut 10,000 jobs, IBM cut 2800 jobs, Pfizer cut 8000 jobs,

Target stores another 600 jobs, Caterpillar a whopping 20,000 jobs cut

and on and on..



Saturday I met with a friend who works with a big telecom company. He

was laid off a month ago.

Other friends I have spoken with since December; all 6 have changed or

lost jobs. Everyone has taken a pay or promotion cut.


The job cuts are across the board and not limited to any single

industry or dicipline. The hard times, similar to the Great Depression

may be soon upon us.



I have been through three big layoffs in the past ten years. One left

me unemployed for eight long months. I went from a very comfortable six

figure salary managing a team of people in two states to being willing

to work overnights for less than I made my first year out of college.

In the end, I survived every single layoff and job loss thrown my way.

In the end, I learned some hard and expenisive lessons about job loss,

searching for work, adapting to new challenges and managing fear of

unemployment.


If you have been affected by the downturn in the economy and have lost

your job OR see the writing on the wall at your place of work and know

you have to find a new job soon OR you just want to find a better place

to work or line of work, this post may be for you.


Here are some of things I have learned and tell anyone who will listen

when they lose their job.


- Your old job is not coming back. The HR person who released you may

throw you some hope that "when things get better, we may call some

people back" or something similar.


Don't believe it.


Bringing back a laid off employee opens some employers to lawsuits.

Also, former employees cost more than new employees who are willing to

work for less.

Former employees are a pain because they systemically want things they

way they "used to be" before they were laid off.

Forget about your old job it is not coming back. So stop waiting by the

phone for HR or your supervisor to call you in. It is not going to

happen so move on.


- STS - Save that severance!

Use your severance package for maintaining bills and mortgage.

Use it to pay down or make minimum payments on car and credit card bills.

Use it to purchse a new suit, get a haircut or for travel to a job interview.

Do not use a severance package for a vacation in order to "find yourself".

Do not use a severance package for "training, coaching, interview skills, resume services, recruiters, headhunters" or anything else.

Most of those services are free and no paid person knows you as well as you do.

Do not use severance for toys, "wants", indulgences, or gifts. That can wait for when you are employed again.

You cannot live off a servarance package indefinately. It is merely a way to survive until the next paying job.


- Get a job, get back to work, doing anything.

Start working any job as soon as you are laid off or terminated.

Deliver pizzas, mow yards, throw newspapers, work for a friend or relative. Anything to get your mind off your old job.

When we get laid off, we brood and play mind games with ourselves.

We imagine ourselves back in the supervisors office telling him off when he announces our termination.

We imagine how we could have fixed things years before so we were not laid off and that other guy got the pink slip.

We waste time with the past rather than thinking about the urgent future.

A job, no matter how menial, occupies our mind and hands and makes us productive.

While working, we think about what we want to do, where we want to be and how to get there.

This leads to action which leads to finding the next real job.

Not working means sitting at home staring at a TV or computer screen, eating and sleeping. That leads no where.

- Stop spending hours in front of the computer.

Clicking, typing, pointing and browsing is an activity.

Sitting in front of a computer is not interviewing and talking with prospective employers.

Spending hours wading through Monster or other online job search engines is what two million other job seekers are doing right now. You are not alone!

Hooking up with old friends on Facebook ("they might have something for me!" - yeah right) is a waste of time.

Instead, pick up the phone and starting calling companies and the people you may know who work there. Nothing can replace personal contact.

Finally..

- Swallow your pride and start letting everyone you know that you are out of work and searching for a job.

This means friends, family, church, old employers, old coworkers, friends from school, parents of your kid's friends, anyone and everyone.

The best job right now is going to the person who knows someone. Not to the person who submitted an anonymous resume to an HR person (or computer!) at some company.

Your personal network is huge. Put it to work right now.

In closing, you will find a job. It will be different than your last job. You are a survivor because you adapt and change and meet challenges. You will suceed and you will live to see another day. That is why you are here now.

Good luck, pray and persevere.




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