If there are any of these people on this board, I would appreciate if they posted how has life been for them after VZ.
40 replies (most recent on top)
Loving the time off but I miss the people. Feels like a void at times so I'm looking to stay busy. I'm now looking to get back to work but only considering remote jobs for now. Otherwise, life is good. For those who are still looking, don't be discourage. Keep your head up and be persistent - you'll be just fine!
Left end of June 2019 and lease was up at the same time. Put belongings in storage and bought a mini motorhome to visit friends and family before I go back home and live in my motorhome. Tired of being house poor and want to do something creative with my life from here on out with no more stress! I do miss the people, but also visiting quite a few that I never got to meet in person during my aforementioned travels.
So life is good for me...don’t care if I make that same salary or not...it’s finally me time!!!
I can't think of a way of describing my situation without immediately getting called a troll, so I'm just gonna leave it at that I'm doing better in all ways, except the new place's benefits just aren't Verizon-level good. Health coverage is expensive and the 401k is middling, there I've said it Verizon has an awesome benefit package. Starting over at a new place isn't fun has its challenges but I'm getting my bearings and life overall (type of work, workload, hours, lack of evil and corporate stupidity from above, pay...oh God I thought I was overpaid before..., above all being treated like I matter) is so much better to be out of that terrible place.
Of only it didn’t cost non union people over $800 per month for health insurance.
I am glad to hear VSP recipients are doing well.
Because things are not so good here in wireline. I keep coming here hoping to get my union entitled handout but nothing. I check here in between naps in my truck because work is so slow. Its not fair non represented management gets all this free money and I do not. I am so angry!
Doing good....flipping burger at McDonald’s. It could be worse...at least I’m not in wireless scamming people to make a living.
Doing good. Went from engineer to IT director. Life is wonderful.
3/22 VSP, enjoying the time off but will probably start looking for something early next year when the health coverage extension runs out.
Only 1 regret - immediately rolled former GTE pension lump sum into 401k, and missed out on the big dip in the GATT rate. But what's a few thousand bucks compared to what they paid me to take a hike.
Honestly, fantastic. Miss the people. Don’t miss the high stress, meaningless PowerPoints and general lack of progress on anything. I’m retrospect, I am glad for VSP, but am not sure why I waited so long to bail out. Vz was absolutely terrible in terms of career advancement, work/life balance, getting anything done and politics and constant worry of layoffs. I hope things change for those who stayed.
New gig is fantastic. Less stress, one of the few who is making more, and also have a good culture. Again, hope things work out for those still there.
Many are being hired back as contractors for a higher hourly rate.
Took the VSP Dec 2018. Great package. Wake up with a smile every day since. Invested my money right over the 4 decades that I worked. Have received numerous emails from recruiters offering jobs.
I'm staying retired :)
@10IkSy4O-3vdx. Is there a list of companies that we bring in contractors for should someone want to join back into the fray?
Dec VSP, I did some traveling and paid off my debt. Started March at ATT and hated it. Apply for similar job but didnt get and was placed in a lower job. Posted resume on Indeed and a company I applied for before left called me. Currently, living the culture, newly created job so creating the processes, and more money.
Left in June started a new role doing same type work by end of July and making just a little bit more <10%. Same benefits but different environment. Small company good energy.
As others have noted, these posts of ppl making 2X times more (or whatever) their previous Verizon salary crack me up. I've stayed in touch with several VSP'ers (engineering), and they either remain without employment, or making 1/2 of their previous salary at a Verizon SOW vendor. If you're over 50, your F'd three ways to Sunday getting a foot in the door. Some employers only take on-line job apps with mandatory job history fields (i.e. dates), I'm sure, to save the millennial age HR rep from a face to face conversation of "thanks but no thanks". That all being said. I made sure the numbers worked prior to hitting the button, and personally speaking, I'm content with my decision. I paid off the mortgage and no longer stress over inevitable EOY RIFs/being asked to absorb more responsibilities from a person lost from post RIF...but its also not all good times and noddle salad either.
Left in June, will start a new job in September. It got delayed because of vacations. The same salary, similar benefits, choose a company where I expect much less stress, meaningful job. Feeling great!
Won't lie. Miss the big paycheck. Found a job I like but huge pay cut. But it is my choice. Could probably find another corporate BS job but for now I won't do it. Would rather be happy.
Terrible job market unless you are just out of college or have just the it skill needed.
Leave off years on your resume and other sources “trick” may get you an initial conversation but then you are out
Took the June VSP and life is good. I check back in here for the schadenfreude.
December VSP, started a new job in March, quit after 4 months, started another new one this month, so far so good, Job market is hot especially if you have latest IT skill sets.
There is life after Verizon. After my 6 month no compete I am contracting back to Verizon and doing some other consulting as well. Less money - less pressure. Just some fun money.
Left March 22nd with 14 months pay and medical. Turned 65 last month. Happy as a pig in shiite.
Left in June and spent the last two months hanging out with my kid and enjoying being on summer vacation for the first time in decades. Will start looking for work seriously in September.
I smell alot of B.S here..50% more 25% 35% life is wonderful..
I left in June and am starting a job this week at 15% less. However, I find it refreshing not to be constantly worrying about being laid off. Having gone through years of that at VZ, I now realize it was like having a cloud of doom over my head waiting for the hammer to drop every Q3. I can't even liste to that Webex jingle without feeling a sense of dread. Good riddance VZ! I just miss the great people I worked with.
Retired in December (VSP) and living off accumulated savings and spouse's paycheck. Took pension lump sum from Vz and rolled it into a managed IRA. I will start tapping into retirement accounts next year so that I don't have a large federal tax bill. My state doesn't have an income tax.
Activities include riding the ATV trails and watching the wildlife.
It is nice watching both the sunrise and sunset over the mountains.
Left in June. Landed new job and started in Aug. Making 50% more than at Verizon. Travelling gig so bit excited as well..
Miss the Vz colleagues:(
Just an amazing summer for me after the 3/22 rolloff. Took some real vacations without having to keep up with email and conference calls. NY City, Disney, a week at the beach etc.. Heading to the beach again next week before summer ends. Eating better, sleeping better, getting outside and exercising a LOT more and have dropped 15lbs and removed 2" off my waist. Blood pressure down as well! I've spent my extra time volunteering my services at non-profits and the appreciation they express for my efforts is very rewarding. Between my 401K, MCI Pension and my wife's income, the need to find work doesn't exist but I may look at something part time once the time changes next month and the weather becomes less than ideal for being out and about so much. Since I had been passed over by my management more than once after requesting to be included in a standard RIF, the VSP program was the best thing that ever happened for me in my entire career. All the best to my fellow VSP'ers and those still getting it done back at VZ.
December VSP, started a new job in April. I make 25% less, but the culture is 1000x better than Verizon. I'm really happy with how everything worked out. After 22 years of chasing money at VZ, it's was nice to look for fit and culture instead, a breath of fresh air!
Doing great left in Dec found a job in March started in April making 20% more
It’s an adjustment. Interviews s—ed, especially when by a much younger person. Being the person with 20 years at one job was not viewed as a positive. Did get a job $20 less an hour. No regrets. I wish I found these higher paying jobs everyone is talking about
Left in June...and loving it. Have been very casually looking for a job, but in no hurry. Enjoying the time off. Dont miss the company at all...just the people i worked with.
no regret, June VSP, traveling about 2 months, got a job offer 2 weeks ago, making 10% more, no complaints.
I had a job opportunity present itself before I was off VZ payroll (had used my vacation before my official end date). Lateral pay move, great working environment, and absolutely no regret
Well I was off in May (ESP). I started applyting starting in April and was looking at fulltime jobs. Companies are notoriously slow in recruiting. I started getting interview around when I left. Eventually got 4 offers which were very close to what I was making a SMTS. I took one which is around 5% higher.
Workwise its much better. No need to spend time after work except during deployments, People dont expect you to slog and resources are provided. There are not as much red tape but there is also not many skills available in the company related to digital transformation
Easy reply - NO REGRETS
Have a measly $35 an hour job but its easy. VSP paid off al debts including the mortgage and padded the retorement fund. So just coasting for another few years then retire around 50.
Took the package in December, still looking to land somewhere, tougher than I thought it would be.
Since March 22 – Life's been good so far!
It's the internet right? So everyone is doing great, being treated better and making 30-40% more than they ever did at Verizon