Was 48 and took a month to get re-employed. Stuck to my guns to find a cool job and did. Higher pay too.
One day taking a drive thinking and searching, came upon a notice on a warehouse glass door. Hilo driver needed.
Oh boy. Peered inside to see something. Did not like the brand of forklifts they used. Toyota. Passed on that place.
Few days later on the way to a temp interview, Drove by another warehouse. A new one built late 1990's.
A white paper on the door caught my eye. Turned the car around to check it out.
Said " Hilo driver position filled". Thought... dang someone got my job!.
Entered anyway. Nothing to lose. Monica at the desk told me to sit and wait for interview. A backup hire? Oh boy.
Rich D showed me the pile of unqualified applicants. Asked if i could do inventory and lead. YES. And automotive related.
Was honest and explained not as a full time job but knew the drill and was a full time dept lead prior for 15 years.
Also mentioned was not comfortable if ending someone else's job. I did but the party was ok with that.
Attitude was to be an equal, not aloof nor intimidated. Turned out the right decision. My age helped confidence doing this.
Was sent to get physical and was hired couple hours later.
Still did not know what i would be doing, nor did not know what company did.
But they had new Yale forklifts, building was new, clean, huge, quiet, everyone was friendly and seemed happy. And no PPE req.
Found out company had GM plant across the street as main customer. GM pretty much ran the show.
Was next level up from what i did 1980-1999. From pro to minor leagues back into pro. Perfect.
Worked for Ford, Chrysler, now worked with, not for, GM. Am from a GM family.
The paper on the door saying 'hilo position filled'....was a young girl.
Company was growing and Jamie, hired the same day, was my co-worker. She officially had a couple hours seniority over me.
Later that day, took a hilo test stacking engine racks. Never drove a sit down electric forklift. Did not know how to turn it on.
No matter, a truck is a truck. Passed the test. Coolest management i ever worked for. Got the parts dept lead after 90 day trial.
A dream come true. Stayed 12 years. Would have been more but GM closed the plant for long changeover from engines to transmissions.
Mandatory callback time per union rules ran out, could have transferred to another loc with a pay cut. Passed. End of job.
Building eventually got sold to Keystone Automotive.
When i hired in, we had over 100 workers. When i got laid off, less than 20. Gained high seniority over the years.
Since the company grew quickly and i came on in the early days, i was able to stay safely up the list.
But not high enough to avoid mandatory overtime. Hated it, but now am so glad that happened.
Knowing the auto business, knew it would not last forever. Layoffs were voluntary then, if needed, from bottom up.
Was 60 and looking again. Brother in law said "you are too old to get another good paying job". Proved him wrong.
He worked at my former employer (got me hired there). That company from the 50's finally vanished right around then.
Some of the Ford fasteners we made there are on all Fox cars including mine.
Back then it was direct hire and pensions. Now its pretty much online or word of mouth, connections are big too.
Temp services really came thru while i was looking for the right place. Kept me busy, made new friends, added skills.
They hooked me up to the last employer to date. Took a year to get hired in. Well worth it. Lots lost patience and quit.
Last employer offered bonus for finding people. Was 70 hours, sometimes weird schedules. Now is 40 hours of course.
Worked a bit past full retirement age there. One day 2017 decided had enough. They knew.
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