Take this job - or shove it

"Until February of last year, I was a vice president at Goldman Sachs with a salary of $160,000, including bonus and 401(k) contributions.

I had been the team leader of the computer help desk for more than six years when we heard Goldman was moving the desk to India. I was laid off Feb. 28, 2008.

I was 61. I'd been planning to retire at 66.

Instead, I received a ten-month severance package, plus $5,000 and vacation pay. After ten months, I finally found a job.

It pays $36,000. That's less than my bonus at Goldman Sachs. But there was nothing else out there. I'm a representative for Disabled Veterans' Outreach Program, which helps other people like me find employment and job training.

I used to help my just-married daughter and college-age son with things like car payments, but now my wife and I are struggling ourselves. That's a bit of a pill when you've worked for 43 years to make it up the ranks. I've had to drain a big chunk out of both an IRA and my 401(k).

The Goldman checks stopped coming Jan. 1, so I'm not yet sure how we're coping. I don't know we'll face in the months to come.

At my job, we try to tell the job seekers something a little upbeat - like a lot of things will be happening in 2009 with Obama. But I'm crying on the inside, because I don't know when it will change all that much." - as told to Julianne Pepitone

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