After 5 years of working in the US, I was laid off last week. My chances of being able to stay here are slim, and I'm rather upset at the thought of returning to the UK. If you were in my situation, and had a bit of savings, what would you do?
Some additional info:
I'm a DVD author, have 7 years experience, and it's a pretty specialized job so it's been a nice little earner. But there's not much legs left in it - particularly in the UK - so whilst I'd like to capitalize on my experience, I'm feeling it would also be a good time to change tack.
Prior to the layoff (which came out of nowhere) I had been looking into returning to school (in the US) to study counselling.
I do like to travel, I've been all over Europe, North & Central America, so one option I'm considering is taking off for 6 months to Asia (someone suggested teaching English, but I don't have teaching qualifications) and then returning to school the fall. But if I tried to go to a US school, I believe I'd have to be around to do whatever tests are required to join a program. Also, I'd be studying with a view to getting licenced in a country I'm not sure I would be able to work.
Part of me also thinks I've spent so long building up a good resume that I should return to Europe - perhaps try and find work in Paris (I can speak a bit of French and I have some friends there), or at worst try to find work in London (Note: if I could find work, it would have to be in media center like LA, NY, London, Paris. Possibly some locations in Germany or Australia too). And that part of me also is concerned about blowing a bunch of cash that's taken me a long time to acquire on travelling, and the collateral implication of then having to return to the UK with even less funds.
Another part of me is highly concerned about not really having anywhere to go back to in the UK. Most of my friends from when I lived in London have moved away, and whilst I get on with my parents, living with them (they're in Scotland) would drive us all very crazy very fast. Part of moving so far away was about creating space for myself and I have an enormous fear that staying with them would precipitate some terrible regression. Also, I don't have any friends at all there.
And of course there's a part of me that's very sad that I put so much work into moving and building up a life here, and now it looks like all that's going to go up in a puff of smoke. :-(
Maybe I need to read more Camus.
Savings = $40K
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In similar circumstances, I'd go back to near family (not with them, dear god) and try to find a meaningful job that allows for either some leisure time or going back to school.
$40K is nice to have in a city with social service job opportunities and public transportation, especially if you're thinking about reinventing yourself. It's also nice if you want to hit the books hard, learn Blu-ray/HD DVD, and then go back to your employer at double the salary and job security. :)
posted by infinitewindow at 11:11 AM on December 18, 2007