I’ve been in software development for over 26 years now, and I’ve been unemployed going on 6 months, without a single interview, even though I apply for multiple listings a day. I’ve got enough savings to be ok for quite a while yet, and am bringing in a little bit of income from my woodworking hobby, but I am starting to get worried. I have no idea how those without the same kind of safety net as me are handling this, but it can’t be good.
I feel that. I have plenty to coast for a long time, I could start a vintage electronics repair biz but I fear dealing with people and their fickle unrealistic expectations.
Your hourly rate is fixed, and your time is always paid. You bill for a minimum of 30 minutes for a diagnostic. Paid up front. If they choose to have you continue the repair, the remaining time from the diagnostic (if any) is applied to the part. Time and materials.
If they balk at that, they’re not good customers and they are invited to move on to the “next” repair shop.
The line in the sand is between marginal customers and word of mouth business. When the economy crashes, people will fall over themselves for repair.
Side hussle: You ebay, flea market, yardsale and dumpster dive for stuff to fix and sell it on auction. Finding old MCM sets and restoring them with actualy parts, inside and out cleaning, record players, tape decks. You can buy damaged stuff a LOT cheaper and flip it for profit.
Yeah I feel I’d need to be starving to actually want to deal with people. I’d have to let them in my house, I don’t have a separate workshop. Or deal with shipping. Wrapping things to survive continental shipping, as opposed to personal dropoff, is something I’ve learned is expensive.
I’ve been in software development for over 26 years now, and I’ve been unemployed going on 6 months, without a single interview, even though I apply for multiple listings a day. I’ve got enough savings to be ok for quite a while yet, and am bringing in a little bit of income from my woodworking hobby, but I am starting to get worried. I have no idea how those without the same kind of safety net as me are handling this, but it can’t be good.
“Cloud” Engineer here, same, whenever they flipped the stock market on it’s head the first time. Even the listed jobs likely don’t exist.
I’ve only been in my field for about 14 years now. I’m afraid it isn’t the right time to look, so I’m holding on to my job for the life of me.
I feel that. I have plenty to coast for a long time, I could start a vintage electronics repair biz but I fear dealing with people and their fickle unrealistic expectations.
Dealing with people is the real work.
Set rules, have them sign off on the rules.
Your hourly rate is fixed, and your time is always paid. You bill for a minimum of 30 minutes for a diagnostic. Paid up front. If they choose to have you continue the repair, the remaining time from the diagnostic (if any) is applied to the part. Time and materials.
If they balk at that, they’re not good customers and they are invited to move on to the “next” repair shop.
The line in the sand is between marginal customers and word of mouth business. When the economy crashes, people will fall over themselves for repair.
Side hussle: You ebay, flea market, yardsale and dumpster dive for stuff to fix and sell it on auction. Finding old MCM sets and restoring them with actualy parts, inside and out cleaning, record players, tape decks. You can buy damaged stuff a LOT cheaper and flip it for profit.
Yeah I feel I’d need to be starving to actually want to deal with people. I’d have to let them in my house, I don’t have a separate workshop. Or deal with shipping. Wrapping things to survive continental shipping, as opposed to personal dropoff, is something I’ve learned is expensive.