Shit level: cranked up to 11.

[LuFins Dad]

I trust you guys will be fine. The two of you have good heads on your shoulders, and one thing I know for sure is a strong work ethic.

[Aqua Letifer]

Thanks, LD. One thing my parents did a good job on was brainwashing me into a Puritanical outlook on work and employment generally. Which only means I'm constantly worried about it, not that that fear actually translates to a work ethic. But here's hopin' it does.

[Jolly]

Don't see how this could happen. Ax has reassured me repeatedly the economy is all hunky-dory.

Bullshit.

Now that we've gotten that out of the way, I hope things go well for you and the wife finds something very soon!

[Aqua Letifer]

@Jolly said in Shit level: cranked up to 11.:

Don't see how this could happen. Ax has reassured me repeatedly the economy is all hunky-dory.

Yeah okay. I'm always looking out for other stuff—Puritanical fear and all that—so I'll take the conversations I've had with recruiters, freelancers and colleagues over any horseshit the White House says about employment, any day.

Now that we've gotten that out of the way, I hope things go well for you and the wife finds something very soon!

Thanks, Jolly. We'll probably figure things out, but I wish Auden were around to see what we're going to see in the coming decade. Would make for one hell of a sequel to Age of Anxiety.

[cathys]

@Horace said in Shit level: cranked up to 11.:

Sorry to hear about all the stress. I hope you and your family make it through ok.

Aqua +1
Glad you have an emergency stash, here’s to praying that you don’t need to use it.

[Klaus]

Wow, that's really fucked up. Sorry, man !

[Doctor Phibes]

Sorry, Aqua. This sounds like really messed up corporate stuff. Bean counters and people who play politics are the worst. Hopefully you can through it quickly

[Jon]

@LuFins-Dad said in Shit level: cranked up to 11.:

I trust you guys will be fine. The two of you have good heads on your shoulders, and one thing I know for sure is a strong work ethic.

This. Hang in there buddy.

[Renauda]

Aqua, sorry to hear that your family has to endure this third party initiated crap that is beyond your control. It has always struck me that it is the productive employees who suffer the consequences of the dubious decisions of unproductive administrators and disconnected managers.

[taiwan_girl]

@Aqua-Letifer Sending positive thoughts to you that things will work out as you wish.

[89th]

Ever considered remote IT work? May not scratch your writing itch but I know you’re a pretty l337 h4x0r behind the scenes.

[Jolly]

Do you someone who does that?

[89th]

Me? Yes, I do remote IT work.

[Mik]

Me too.

[Aqua Letifer]

Thanks, @Renauda and @taiwan_girl. Day at a time I guess.

@89th said in Shit level: cranked up to 11.:

Ever considered remote IT work? May not scratch your writing itch but I know you’re a pretty l337 h4x0r behind the scenes.

Yeah, I think just about anything's up for grabs right now. I'm going to ride this out for a little bit, see which way the wind's gonna blow. I don't have nearly the level of information necessary to even make a guess, so I guess we'll wait and see. Part of the problem is that this isn't just something happening in my industry. Graphic designers, financial advisors, lawyers, medical professionals and business analysts all share the same uncertainty. "Interesting" times.

My wife's had some interviews this week that quite frankly she kicked ass at—she's far better at such things than I am anyway—so here's hoping something turns up.

[mark]

Sorry to hear this AL. I am still waiting to hear back from the a couple of prospects. Thursday came and went and I heard nothing from the company I interviewed with last week.
Job hunting sucks. It's something I haven't had to do for most of my career.

I hope your wife finds something soon and that you don't have to do the same.

Politics sure does suck when it involves your livelihood

[89th]

@Aqua-Letifer Indeed many professions are, you’re right. Heck I used to build websites from scratch, I mean literally starting with a blank index.html file…now you can drag and drop and build your own site in minutes using sites like squarespace. Or logo design, now you can get one for $5.

[Aqua Letifer]

@89th said in Shit level: cranked up to 11.:

@Aqua-Letifer Indeed many professions are, you’re right. Heck I used to build websites from scratch, I mean literally starting with a blank index.html file…now you can drag and drop and build your own site in minutes using sites like squarespace. Or logo design, now you can get one for $5.

The sad thing is, those logos suck ass. None of them are going to be the next Nike, but those paying for the service don't know and don't believe you when you explain that to them.

Perception is reality when it comes to value. Once businesses start to realize these fancy new tools don't make bullshit smell any sweeter, the ship will start to right itself. But that could take years.

[George K]

Saw your post in Mark's thread. Glad you got a stay.

How's the market for your skillset where you live?

What about your bride?

[Aqua Letifer]

@George-K said in Shit level: cranked up to 11.:

Saw your post in Mark's thread. Glad you got a stay.

How's the market for your skillset where you live?

That is very, very complicated.

1. Location. We're within commuting distance to DC and Baltimore. But, if we both work, we'd need to make enough to cover child care in the summer, and have flexibility for school schedules. A little tricky but not awful.
2. Remote options. Very hard for my wife, easier for me. Hybrid options open things up considerably.
3. Marketability. This is the tricky one. The job market has always seen what I do in terms of its deliverables. That's never been accurate, but that's been the deal. This is a serious problem now with ChatGPT and MidJourney. This technology isn't destroying jobs. Businesses that have no understanding of the creative industries they rely upon are destroying jobs.

I've thought a lot about whether to cut and run and just get a trade certification or some shit. I think, for the time being, that I shouldn't. I'm at the point in my career now that there are very few places to go in terms of advancement. (Not to toot my own horn but I'd be willing to bet almost everyone here has seen something I've been paid to make in the past month.) I'm far from entry-level now, so I think I might as well stick with what I'm doing.

But, like all of my peers, I do have to reposition myself. Bigly. I've already started doing that, but unfortunately it's still going to be rocky until businesses once again learn the hard lessons they forgot from the 90s with the advent of desktop publishing.

I realize these will be silly concerns once Skynet, if it doesn't take us all out entirely, upends the very concept of capitalism, but, these are today's challenges.

What about your bride?

Couple awesome interviews that went nowhere. Still on the hunt.