-matt

What changes has he made to his lifestyle since losing his job? I just wonder what "almost homeless" means to him. There are a lot of people out there a heck of a lot closer to "almost homeless" than he is. Time for his daughter to pony up and pay her own student loans, for one thing. Maybe she'll have to support her folks - it seems like something alien to North Americans to have family support anymore.

the toy industry is comprised of two huge companies, (hasbro and mattel and their subsidiaries), "new" young, hip companies (like spinmaster -- not that many of this type of company out there actually), a zillion little companies akin to mom-and-pop operations and then the asian low-cost toy makers.

this fellow probably was an exec at one of hasbro's companies (they're in RI) or maybe Fisher-Price (in upstate new york, maybe a 90 minute train ride to NYC). after 36 years in the industry, he can't easily be shifted around. the east coast companies that could pay his salary are few -- and he may have left the hasbro family and would then have few other options other than moving to los angeles. he might have been at tyco, acquired by mattel some time ago but they recently shut down the n.j. offices and almost all the staff was let go.

most execs at toycos are under 50 at this point -- a fellow in his late 50s would most likely be considered old and "un-hip" by the younger management and executives. he was most likely laid off with a good package -- probably 6mos salary and extended medical coverage. let's hope so at least.

and he's probably used up all his contacts, tried every headhunter possible, etc. the toy industry is just as likely to hire someone from some other field when filling open positions -- especially in non-design related fields -- like marketing and sales.

BUT -- he has no online identity -- there is a hastily launched site just up today but no resume -- no resume on monster, etc.

the story sounds interesting, maybe sad, maybe with a positive ending, who knows -- but the back-story is unknown at this point -- what toyco? what type of job (beyond "executive" -- was he an accounting exec? marketing? etc.

i live on the complete opposite end of the continent, but i wish this guy the best, and i hope there are some more compassionate people out there with actual possitions and means in life as opposed to the arseholes who can only say "oh he should have put money away, who didn't see this economic disaster coming from far off ahurr hurr drrr."

not trying to troll, not exactly being realistic either, but tell me this man is incapable of providing some kind of benefit to a company and you must be crazy...
here are the economy blues -_-
they've already begun for many...
i guess consider yourself lucky if you can still sit on the outside and look in... soon it will be you sitting on the streetcorner with smug bastards making comments about your desperation and how you should be considered unemployable.

B) Sure, the guy could apply for a job at McD's or wherever, but chances are that they won't hire him because he's overqualified, or because he's too old, or because they figure he'll move on as soon as he finds something better (which, no doubt, he will).

C) His biggest problem is probably that there's a million guys just like him. A friend of mine recently posted an entry-level data-entry job and got swamped with resumes, a significant number of which were from people with masters degrees and doctorates. Things are tough out there these days.

But, there are jobs out there. Maybe not what he wants, but there are jobs.

She also has 40 years to pay them, probably.

36 years as an executive, and he has to resort to this? Why would a company want someone who can't even manage his own finances?

Time for him to sell his home, buy a smaller place, and get a job at Wal-Mart.

I'm sure if he had unusual medical expenses, he would have mentioned it to get a little more sympathy. Still plenty of jobs around, and standing on the streetcorner for a job only works for women and teenage boys.

But you are right, if he did this knowing that he would get publicity, then perhaps the person that would normally bypass or overlook such a person would take a chance on him. Not to mention that whenever people get attention in the media, it does tend to bring out people from the woodwork wanting to help, people who would not normally want to hire a guy like this.

So maybe he did have a plan after all, I wouldn't be surprised to see an update within the week with a happy ending with just such a scenario. Good for him then.

I'd agree that walking around with a sign is not a good way to get hired... But if the guy really is on the brink of being homeless and he's tried all the usual channels, I can understand him being so desperate he'd try anything. And who knows, maybe the publicity from this story will lead to somebody hiring him! Let's hope.

But would an HR person really want to take a chance on hiring someone who would resort to that dramatic tactic.

Also, since he is OVER 50 - companies are even more reluctant because of health, imminent retirement, and an influx of tech savvy young into the workforce who will work cheaper

Maybe it's just me but standing around a busy street with a sandwich board is one of the least effective ways of getting a job. No offense but people with sandwich boards are the last people I want to deal with, as usually these types have some weird messages about alien infestations or the second coming of the savior. I usually avoid them, not stand there and read what's on the board.