From people who were laid off, if they still read this forum? I'm just wondering if you were able to find a new job by now and if you did how it compares to your job at Ford?
Considering the state of our entire industry, my biggest worry is that I'm going to be laid off in one of the coming rounds and I won't be able to find a job after that.
It'd be great to hear from people on how they're doing, especially if it's something positive.
I agree with the comment "Job market is not good if you are over 50". Doesn't seem to matter what technical skills or transferable skills you have. I know of several SRD folks that are having trouble landing.
I agree that fords severance package stunk. I’ll admit that some companies eliminate jobs and offer nothing so I’m thankful for getting something. It’s the “rounding” that gets you. My calculations had me getting a larger severance but they don’t seem to count the milestone until the following year and as a result I received two fewer months.
Let go on May 21st, ended up with a job offer that I accepted just slightly over two months later. It's a slight pay cut but less of one than I expected. It's a very good job, similar to what I was doing. I pretty much had to get my resume and profile and all that updated right away and out into the wild immediately because Ford's cheap severance formula and rounded-down years of service left me no choice. (I have talked to a lot of people, from Ford employees still there to people laid off from GM and all were utterly surprised at how crummy the severance was.) So I had a nice summer break and then right back to it.
I was let go in May and took a couple of weeks off to relax. Updated a resume, applied to jobs over a two week period, had 4 interviews, and accepted a job. I found out that life after Ford is not so bad. I work for a better company that has actual leadership instead of just having managers like at Ford. I still hear from former teammates at Ford and they all sound miserable. I feel sorry for them because they were good people to work with but I am SO glad that I am no longer a part of it. If you are not happy then look around and get out. The only people still hanging on are those that want to maximize their pensions and try to get to retirement but we just saw what Ford did to Everyone that was trying to do the same thing.
Let go on May 21st, and much like several others, decided it was the perfect opportunity to have a nice summer off from the stress and work I was under up to the day of my departure. I turned over my stuff, walked out, and haven't been back.
Fast forward to now, and I'm just starting the process of looking. Have very little doubt that I will find something in the near future. The people let go in the last batch were not sub-tier employees...Ford just didn't like the idea of paying a full pension in a few more years so they cut the people that had given tens of years of loyal service to them. And they pretty much walked us out like dogs.
Well every dog has its day, so to say. I'm happier, laughing more, enjoying my family that I hadn't really seen in years since the hours were so long at Ford. Those of us that still want to work and have higher degrees and years and years of experience will find all find something more meaningful to do. Without the toxic environment and culture we've had to endure under Hackjob's leadership.
He's just a pansy, someone to take the fall btw. The price for him to look like the bad guy is a steep one. But the Ford's are willing to pay it to save face.
I’m in my late 40’s and only applied for one job, which I ended up accepting. I got almost 11 weeks off for the summer because I walked out on May 21st. There was no way I was staying until the 31st for a company that did not value my many years of dedicated service. I took a small pay cut, but ended up with much better benefits and time off. Also, my new organization is not global, so I don’t have to worry about 6am calls with India or 10pm calls with China. I’m also no longer getting on international flights unless I want to go on vacation to a different country. I’m averaging about 44 hours of work per week and all of the people I work with are very nice. It’s sad, but I don’t miss my job at Ford at all. And the people I really cared about, I am able to keep in touch with via Facebook and texting. I’m much happier, so perhaps I should thank them for tossing me out on my a–. 😀
Starting month 4 of being laid off and still nothing. Job market is not good if you are over 50. I have a career coach, a great resume have interviewed well and still nothing yet.
44 and got a new job after taking off two months to enjoy my summer. It was a breath of fresh air. I am making more money(+25%) and working less hours(40). The people I work with are so much better. Not all the back stabbing and buddy buddy stuff. So glad I got picked as I was always too loyal to leave in the past. I had turned down several jobs in the past because I was loyal to the company. I am glad that !d!ot Hackett came up with this plan. Especially now that they are rated for what they really are. JUNK!
I wasn't laid off, but I was so disgusted with the toxic misery around me that I quietly looked for a job and found one and resigned. I have been at my new job for three months and it is SO much better for my health, happiness and wellbeing to not be in the toxic environment of Ford. I got a decent salary increase at my new job (similar duties, connected vehicle design and engineering) and the benefits are better. It took me about a two months of passive looking (updated Linked in profile, constant grooming of that profile with keywords, updated resume) to find this job. I had three job offers at the end of my search and chose this one. I am a seasoned employee (20 years experience, in my mid 40's). There is life after Ford.
I have kept in touch with the Five let in our area, all between ages 54 and 59.
One +10% salary, better benefits, working from home.
One +20% salary, better benefits, working from home.
One +15% salary, better benefits, needed to relocate out of state
One started own consulting firm
One retired
All were our best people and most highly paid. All are better off.
My wife was laid off, not from Ford but from one of their marketing suppliers. She specializes in training for dealers and OEM's for branding, sales, and marketing.
She got notice in June, but in a weird situation is actually still working on wrapping up another program (non-automotive power sport client) for the same company likely until November. She will get some severance (lump sum) in 2020, but if she works for them anymore in 2020 it will be as a free lancer with no benefits.
She has not found a job yet, but seems not to be looking to hard, which is really starting to piss me off. Would rather play designer and thinks some people are going to hire her in a down market to redo their house interiors after she did our own house....not happy at the moment.
What I don't understand is while she is over 50 (53) she is of course a woman and was at executive rank/level in her company, and ran their international operations for a few years...all skills that should translate into another job. It seems as if companies are waiting on hiring, or is she doing something wrong?
I was let go in the last round and because of my age I decided it was time to retire. I’m no longer eager to work 60 hour weeks, especially after the cold realization that it isn’t valued. I couldn’t be happier! I have two friends who were also let go and both found jobs quickly. Jobs that they like more than their ford jobs. I believe the compensation is similar to their ford positions and the work life balance is better. I hesitate to give people’s ages because I don’t want to give away identify but we aren’t youngsters. I don’t think companies are against hiring more seasoned employees as long as they still have passion and energy for their work.
For those that reply - please post your age. Age will be a huge factor in finding something meaningful!