Question: If you're a federal employee and got RIF'd today...

[Anonymous]

I would start searching in the private sector in the industry that my agency regulates (energy). Before finding something permanent, I’d be looking at adjunct positions in smaller universities and community colleges.

[Anonymous]

Look for a job I’d enjoy for the first 3 months of my severance. Then for the last 8 look for ANY job in my field. Hopefully I’d get something. Then when the dust settles I’d look for something I’ll actually enjoy while employed at the “anything” job.

[Anonymous]

Are we going to find out tomorrow? I”ve heard rumors tomorrow is the day.

[Anonymous]

The market in my sector is really, really bad across all employers (environment related). I'd take the summer off with my family. I've calculated I need $1000/month in addition to my spouse's very low salary to get by, and have a couple ideas for part time jobs to help make up that gap in the fall. I'm also toying with the idea of starting a small business that would never be high earning, but would at least be in my control. I think we'd be ok in the short term, like for a year or two, and we've saved a lot in cash over the past six months just in case. Long term, if my field is truly wrecked, that's a harder question.

[Anonymous]

When my DH thought he was likely to be riffed, I think he was excited at the idea of teaching high school! I was trying to give him a reality check but I think in his mind, he was already doing lesson plans.

[Anonymous]

This would be a lot easier if my kids were either really little or out of college.
Unfortunately they are in high school and we live in NoVa. We have savings and could sustain for a while, but since I’d not likely ever find work at my current pay level, I’m not sure that would be the best move. Thankfully spouse is in an entirely unrelated field and yet to be impacted by any of this. I really with Trump had a better game plan than just burning everything down and letting the chips fall.

So, yeah, probably moving back to the Midwest and working low wage until I die. So far I’m thinking about work as a death doula, home healthcare, or helper for special needs individuals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where exactly would you look for employment, and why? Private sector, non-profit sector, state/local government, retail, blue/white collar, etc.
We're a federal household and this conversation came up today during lunch. DH, high earner/educated, said he'd be perfectly happy working at Trader Joe's.

Different situtation, but a friend was telling me recently that their former coworker was having trouble finding work (in high tech) at age 50. He can't even get a job at a grocery store because they assume he'll bolt. He was laid off a year ago.

So, if the TJ's was a legit comment, he has to make sure they understand he would be happy there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately, this isn't a hypothetical question for us. DH was RIFd and DSRd...we don't know what exactly his annuity will be yet, but we're estimating after taxes and health insurance, around $1500-1900 a month.

He's applied with local government, state jobs, universities, a foreign government, and private sector (and one federal job that's a long shot). That's 57 jobs and 9 interviews and nothing has worked out so far.

He does have an interview today- please send good vibes!

Sending good interview vibes to your DH..!

[Anonymous]

I would rent our basement out to a tenant. And substitute teacher for elementary school. I am only 41 so I would need another plan but that would do for awhile.

I am a lawyer but in a field that doesn’t translate well to private sector.

[Anonymous]

Was there a big RIF yesterday?

[Anonymous]

I’d go to work for one of the many industries I have been regulating.

If that fails I will move to Southern California and work for Disney.