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Donk

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Just to let everyone know, I design homes for a living. Right now is a horrible time to have just graduated college and be in the residential field. The whole industry is in a slump. The company I work with is the areas largest builder of homes. So I am not worried about the company going under. In the last three months I have designed probably 6 or 8 homes. But now BAM no new customers. If this keeps up I will be going back to school in Jan. for another degree, this time in the field of Mechanical design. There is about a 20:1 job avalibility in Mechanical design over Residential. Wish my instructors in college would have told me that the first week of school. So now I have to belt tighten, that means no new cigars for a while. Which really blows.
Thanks to all the bro's for your words of encouragement!! You guys are a great group of guys.
 
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ah ok now I understand

If it's truly what you want to do, then stick with it. Move if you have to. Take some freelance work, or find a secondary gig to keep a roof over your head during the lean times.

It's all just a cycle, and you happened to catch it on the downslope.
 
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Let me start by saying I am not familiar with the entire state of Wisconsin, but I have a pretty good idea the cold weather hits the whole state in the winter.

Having said that, there is a really good chance your slowdown at work is due to winter and not financial problems with the company. A lot (not all of you) of the guys on here live in warm weather climates where construction happens virtually non-stop all year. I don't think the winters in Utah are nearly as harsh as you face in Wisconsin, but work slows to a crawl here during this time of year. I know it's September, but I am finished contracting jobs until late winter. In February I will start "the process" so that by the the time warm weather starts to peek in (April) I can select contractors and jobs can start back up again.

Welcome to seasonal work ;)

That's my $0.02
 

Donk

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Some has to do with time of year, but we build houses all year round too. Hell I'm not privy to the real reasons. I know that I'm not the only one this effects. I am job hunting now and am trying to get into a real job.
 

CWS

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Some has to do with time of year, but we build houses all year round too. Hell I'm not privy to the real reasons. I know that I'm not the only one this effects. I am job hunting now and am trying to get into a real job.
Damn. I didnt know you were in the housing industry. The housing market sucks right now.

Is there something else you could do in parallel similar to housing design? That cant be a skill unique to only one product. People have to be building something in demand right now.

The market will return and when everyone bails you will be in high demand.
 

dpricenator

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I'm Orange County CA and we HAD a huge real estate /mortgae boom over the last 10 years. The effects here have been enormous. Comercial office space vacancies have gone up 10 &#37; due to mortgage companies closing. Thousands of families went from making 6 figures or more to fighting over jobs that pay a third of what they are used to. Restauants are hurting because no one has they $$ to go out. Car dealer ships are hurting as people are keeping the current cars. Or buying cheaper cars. So the big guys, like BMW and Mercedes are hurting bad around here. Our church is behind budget almost 100k. I had to stop giving when I was laid off last Oct and I was giving a decent amount each month. we figure if that is 10-12 families that had to cut back on thier offerings and we are in trouble. We are seeing how the trickle down theory works first hand. K&B homes abandoned a 300 home project the was half finshed due to the lack of buyers. I have friends who bought homes, when they were making 20k a month and now are making 7k. The recent fall in home values has left them owing more than the home is worth. They are not able to refinance their homes and the loans are adjusting. Forclosure is imminant. I went from a six figure salary plus bonus and health insurance, as a team manger at a wholsale lender to an all commision job as aloan officer and didn;t make any money for 6 months. I am still working for commision, but in debt settlement rather than Mortgage. Unfortunatly (for america) there is not a shortage of work for us. The phone rings off the hook. You never know whats going to happen, so sieze the day and make the best of every situation. All my credit cards are delinquent and my cell phone got turned off, and am living without health insurance for the moment. I thank God every day that we did not buy a house. We would have been forclosed on by now for sure. I feel for you bro. Keep your chin up.
 

cvm4

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That about sums up the industry, except for college towns. Alumni always seem to want a 2nd home to stay in when they go to the games. The shit is gonna hit the fan sooner or later.
 

Donk

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Just to update, As of Thurs. I was told by the boss of the company that my services were not going to be needed until further notice. The company has hit a slow SLOW period. I guess I was the most expendable there so now I'm shit out of luck. If that wasn't bad enough my semi-girlfriend decided she is now my ex-girlfriend is moving out of our apartment. So I am unemployed with roughly 2 weeks worth of money to my name and a $700.00 apartment to pay for. I am really in a bad place right now. An am really scared on how I'm going to make it. So prayers needed.
 

blessednxs65

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Donk. Prayers are certainly being lifted up for you. I am certain that you will find something soon. This industry is pretty trying but just like all matters of industry, it's cyclical and it will return.

I am going to take a risk here at the chance of sounding "preachy" (so my oldest says I am at times and cautions me as to how to reach his generation). However, in that I counsel men as part of my ministry, I am offering this to you for your consideration.

It is very difficult for us as men to separate our professions from who we are, however, we are not the sum of our efforts. While this may be hard to accept, look for the good in this. Allow me to ask you a question...

Are you ready for bigger things?

You... enlarged me when I was in distress. Psalm 4:1 AMP
Did you know that the hermit crab looks for a shell that fits him, then lives in it until he outgrows it? At that point he has to scurry along the ocean floor and find a bigger one; it's a process that repeats itself throughout his entire life.

Are you clinging to something that no longer fits you, just because it's easy and familiar? David said, "You&#8230; freed me when I was hemmed in and enlarged me when I was in distress." To develop and grow Spiritually you must be willing to move out of your comfort zone and deal with a little 'distress.' What worked for you yesterday may not work today. Maybe it's a job you've outgrown, a relationship you need to re-examine or a behavior you need to change. Regardless of what it is, never become so 'settled' that you can't let go and move on when you need to. Patience and persistence are admirable, but they won't work in situations you've outgrown. Instead of hanging in and trying harder, at certain points you have to stop and ask yourself, "Is this situation good for me?" If you're not sure, ask God for "an understanding mind [to]&#8230; know the difference between&#8230; right and&#8230; wrong" (1 Kings 3:9 TLB). His Word says, "If you need wisdom&#8230; ask [Him], and He will [gladly] give it to you" (James 1:5 NLT).

When God says it's time to move on, it's because there's another shell out there that will fit you even better. But you can't take occupancy until you vacate the old one. So how about it - are you ready for bigger things?
 
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