Some Vancouverites definitely live in a bubble sheltered away from the recession. Hence the sold out $85/person wine festival last weekend. How are all these people so confidently drinking away their money? I guess in good times, people drink; in bad times, people drink. But despite Vancouverites living in a bubble and personally only knowing 1 person that was laid off in my social circle, the recession has hit some of my friends in other ways. OK, there are 6 this time!
Friend #1: High school teacher in North Vancouver
Who would've thought recessions hit the public education sector. This friend claims that his public school is getting ready to take in the predicted onslaught of students whose families can no longer afford private school! This, combined with the fact that young families can no longer afford housing on the north shore, has meant a gradual decline in students there over the last few years. Fewer students = no need for that many high schools = high school closure = teacher layoff. So his high school is putting on recruitment drives with open houses for the posh kids who will be slummin' it with the public school kids on the north shore. PS - teachers in Surrey are safe, where enrollment is on the up and up!
Friend #2: Nurse in Toronto
Another surprise here! Who would think the recession would hit the health sector? My friend that recently moved from Calgary to Toronto is on the job hunt and claims that it's not as easy as everyone says. Recession-proof is what people like me would think! But she says no, that hospitals may not be laying off staff, but they're cutting back hours and hiring from within. So she doesn't expect to find work for a couple of months!
Friend #3: VP at big financial services firm in Toronto
This friend was the smartest finance major at UBC back in my graduating class. He worked in Vancouver for several years, and then went off to make bigger bucks in Toronto. At the height of the stock market rise. Within months, he was the type A, big swingin' dick flashing his money to anyone who would take it to kiss his feet. Got to be uncomfortable for us regular people. When I saw him recently in Toronto, he was "back to normal", humbled by the recession and the general awareness that he could be fired at any time. And thankfully back to a mindset where he's more appreciative of what he does have.
Friend #4: Former hedge fund guy
This New York City based friend has not been working since end of October. And doesn't expect to work for several more months. When I was in NY with him a few weeks ago, he had food in his fridge for the first time in years, and was talking about downgrading his gym membership.... hmmm, perhaps you should look at your $3500/month rent first?
Friend #5: Husband in wine sales
Like I said about the wine festival, when times are good people drink. When times are tough, people drink. Difference is, now people are drinking cheaper wines. And how perfect for him and his company that focuses on value brands! At least one of us is in a truly recession-proof industry (which not many of us can say!).
Friends #6: Girls who got great shoe bargains at Barney's Warehouse sale
For my friends who are NOT effected by the recession, they can now afford to buy the Christian Laboutin and Manolo Blahnik's that were 75% off at the Barney's warehouse sale. Stock up girls, as this is a once in a lifetime chancge to own a pair of $1000 shoes for $250!
Friend #7: Former Recruiter
One of my friends took a job in 2008 as a recruiter/headhunter. She left a great job in field sales to do this and was loving it. With companies doing more lay-offs than hiring these days, her firm wasn't seeing that much action. She's now out of work and ironically - looking for a job, sitting on the other side of recruiters' desks!
Friend #8: Cop
Last night, I had dinner with a friend who's a cop, and who's husband is a cop. Extremely recession-proof jobs. In fact, when more people are out of work, there's more crime. So much more that in the month of February, she worked double the # of hours she normally would in a month. And of course she gets paid overtime for it (unlike us in the software industry that are expected to work overtime for no more money). So now, she's bought herself a BMW. I guess when times are tough for some, times are good for others!
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