Job Market in Denver - Colo Spgs (Boulder: coupons, 2009)

[formercalifornian]

Here's a snapshot of my area, although you can probably get a lot more detail about Colorado as a whole in Jazz's recession thread:

* Tech spouse still employed and all signs point to there being enough work in the pipeline to keep current employees completely engaged for quite awhile, although salaries have been capped for the year and there is a hiring freeze.

* Several neighbors completing extensive house & yard renovations. A few new SUVs in the carpool lane at school.

* Retailers suffering. Lots of closures. This week it's Wolf Camera.

* Restaurants full, especially those at the low end.

* New construction at a stand-still, but a few commercial renovations on-going.

* Coupons making a serious comeback in the checkout lane.

[80skeys]

For Tech jobs, seems like it's a standstill, although one of our IT people just quit their job to start a new one in Denver.

[Katiana]

I have several 40 something - 50ish neighbors who were laid off from the tech industry in the past few months. One just got a new job in Texas, but it may not be permanent. DH's company is not hiring. The dr's office where I work is a bit slower than usual, we don't know if the patients are losing insurance (most who come still seem to have ins), or can't afford the co-pays anymore, or what. There was an article in today's Boulder Daily Camera that Boulder Community Hospital is tightening its belt, has a hiring freeze on, may have to go to layoffs. FlatIron Crossing Mall seems slower. That's the view from up north.

[Mike78613]

People are saving and being carefull on how they spend. Damage was already done by gouge of hike fuel prices and now that it is lower and an new President is in house consumers are using caution. (Bush ran off like a bandit, huh?)
I am still waiting on my 2009 stimulus check (roll-eyes).

Seriously - There is work and work to be had all over, people just choose not to work because they are greedy (think they should get the same salary before) and if not, get unemployment checks, worse case, they would ruff neck it and live in Tent City (sick!). Don't get me wrong, I am sure some are in that situation for ill or financial reasons, but get off your *** and do something about it (minus the ill), even working @ McDonalds. Heck I saw a sign that Office Max was hiring. Maybe your not getting 70K a year and now you have to make 30K a year. So what, I did a salary cut and I still make it! Of course my spending is less, but my values of life is much happier .

People want change, now you got it. Now you CHANGE!

( Don't worry - not mad at'cha )

[Katiana]

Many low-wage places will not hire engineers and the like b/c they are "overqualified", ie, likely to leave when a better job comes along.

[Mike78613]

Originally Posted by Katiana

Many low-wage places will not hire engineers and the like b/c they are "overqualified", ie, likely to leave when a better job comes along.

True - but degrade yourself "if" needed.
Coming from a past manager, I changed up my resume and said I was a lead . I have the experience and yea, I don't point my finger (like a Chief) and I now consider myself as an Indian, but I got a job.
So engineer huh? Maybe come as assembly worker or whatever that engineer made / design and now work what they designed. Heck at least you can let the hiring manager know you can fix it That engineer may leave, maybe not, if money is a factor then that's what needed to be done, then good for them.

Crap, I was making 90K and now make half that, but quality of life is much happier and less stress. No one ponder on my should because I do my job well, plus get rewarded. Now, do I think the manager who I work for is not very experienced, but I hold my own judgement to myself and smirk and move on. Trust me he looks good having me on his team.

All I can say is I have a job and I got steady income coming in.

There is always a detour as an alternative!

[vegaspilgrim]

Originally Posted by Mike78613

Heck I saw a sign that Office Max was hiring. Maybe your not getting 70K a year and now you have to make 30K a year. So what, I did a salary cut and I still make it! Of course my spending is less, but my values of life is much happier .

Where do you get the idea that people at office Max make $30,000 a year? It's more like $15,000 a year, and that's only in theory (if you actually were employed full time rather than part time with variable hours-- and in which case forget health insurance). And the managers who work at big box retail stores like that make barely more than the associates.

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by Mike78613

True - but degrade yourself "if" needed.
Coming from a past manager, I changed up my resume and said I was a lead . I have the experience and yea, I don't point my finger (like a Chief) and I now consider myself as an Indian, but I got a job.
So engineer huh? Maybe come as assembly worker or whatever that engineer made / design and now work what they designed. Heck at least you can let the hiring manager know you can fix it That engineer may leave, maybe not, if money is a factor then that's what needed to be done, then good for them.

Crap, I was making 90K and now make half that, but quality of life is much happier and less stress. No one ponder on my should because I do my job well, plus get rewarded. Now, do I think the manager who I work for is not very experienced, but I hold my own judgement to myself and smirk and move on. Trust me he looks good having me on his team.

All I can say is I have a job and I got steady income coming in.

There is always a detour as an alternative!

Falsifying a job app can be grounds for dismissal. Are you supposed to conveniently "forget" that you have a BS, MS, PhD or whatever?

Originally Posted by vegaspilgrim

Where do you get the idea that people at office Max make $30,000 a year? It's more like $15,000 a year, and that's only in theory (if you actually were employed full time rather than part time with variable hours-- and in which case forget health insurance). And the managers who work at big box retail stores like that make barely more than the associates.

Too true! My friend's son worked at Best Buy during college. Even in the summer, when he wasn't going to classes, they would only schedule him for 39 hrs a week so he didn't qualify for insurance and other benefits.

[Mike78613]

Just pushing buttons ... but not meaning to start anything. All I am saying jobs are everywhere.... and if you really need one, just do what you have to.

I am not saying to lie on an application or resume, k.
If do have the experience but if you are applying for a supervisor position (and if that’s all there is) and “IF” you are manager skilled, you should know how to do supervisor position and just step down.

So if Office Depot or Best Buy is only 15K (assuming), hey it's a job at least. Do you walk into a store and have $100k stamped on your forehead and letting others know you got it like that? This is the kind of attitude what most of our society wows about.

Just a tip, my cousin before he lost his job @ Circuit City, he was a supervisor and cleared over $55K. I know this because I did his taxes! I can only image what a manager or territorial / regional manager made.

[edesign]

Originally Posted by Mike78613

Just a tip, my cousin before he lost his job @ Circuit City, he was a supervisor and cleared over $55K. I know this because I did his taxes! I can only image what a manager or territorial / regional manager made.

Was that before or after bonuses?