I was at my next company for two years & was laid off with other people.

The first company asked me to come back as a “consultant”. So three years later, I was still a consultant. Despite working 40 hours a week, I was denied health insurance (I asked) & didn’t get a raise. I was finally offered a full-time position with a lot of travel but at $43,000 per year which is a joke because people in my position are making at least $60,000. I guess they thought they had me in a position where I couldn’t say no. Well I did.

Before they let me go they hired another ex-employee at $65,000 who doesn’t have to travel. They hired another person to work under this person & paid her $55,000 per year.

I don’t know how people can engage in these kinds of activities & live with themselves. I was surrounded by management who were treated very well by the president but thought I didn’t deserve any better than nothing. It’s no fun living with your parents because people see I live with my parents so they don’t want to pay me. If I was treated with repect & paid a normal salary, I would be on my own. It’s an endless cycle.

As for now, I’m trying to start a consulting business. That’s very difficult but I keep trying. The key for most of us is to keep making connections. The people who do well got lucky & met someone who believed in them early in their careers. I guess some of us have to work a little harder until we find people willing to work with us.