I have been in Payroll/Human Resources for many years and work for a flooring company. They went thru a merger last year and just last month, they transferred payroll processing to the new Corp office in CA....I still have a job there, they love me and dont want to lay me off, I still do some payroll related stuff, but I'm not doing what I have always considered to be MY job...KWIM?

as much as I think my company, which is now a division of the whole Corp, wants to keep me on, I dont think that the Corp is going to keep me all that much longer....

perhaps this is all just lining up just fine...

Yesterday, I passed the Wa State exam and I'm beginning to shop for a broker....I plan on asking my job for permission to have a second job(per Co policy) once I find a broker, and if they say yes, I'll work like normal and still be able to support myself, and just cram it at night and on weekends or on vacation days to get the RE going...

if they lay me off, then I will file unemployment, work some temp jobs and go at the RE full time....

now...if they tell me NO that I cant take on a second job what do I do then?

I hope they dont do that, and I hope they keep me on for a while, not only to give me time to get going, but also for the potential leads I can get from working with so many builders in the construction industry...

Hang onto the job while it lasts. Most new agents only sell 2 or 3 homes the first year. Tell your current employer that you want to learn more about real estate and investing and that you plan to work as an independent contractor part time on the weekends or evenings or whatever. Ask if they have any objections, don’t ask for permission. Although you might have success right out of the gate, it's also possible that you could go many months without making any money, and you might be very glad that your payroll/HR job is still there.

UPDATE! Check this out....

today, my boss calls me into her office and asks me how busy I am nowadays, and did I want to move to the credit dept since that girl left suddenly last night which, no thanks, I dont want to move into a 5 dollar an hour less job that I'd hate anyway...she said she wouldnt expect me to take a pay cut, but I know that I'd NEVER get a raise since they'd be WAY over budget on that position if I took it...

She said we're slowing down, and theres going to be layoffs...I asked if I was in danger, she said she didnt think so, that they havent mentioned anything like that, but that they might start asking and that she wants to be sure she can find a place for me before that happens....

so...I've got a boss thats looking out for me at least....

but...go ahead and lay me off...I wont mind that much really :p

Would you get a severance package? I know some people who would be excited if they did get laid off.

i am sure you are eligible for unemployment if you were to be laid off. that is what i am doing right now....my 'real' job is permanant seasonal and lay off in the winter. so i collect and sell real estate.

Lynn -

You lay off in the winter so you can "collect" AND sell real estate. How long have you been suckling off the government teat?

Democrats!

Yeah, I would have to say getting unemployment and selling real estate at the same time would be a BIG NO NO!!
Even though you are self employed you would still be employed!!
Good luck on that one...

Angie

well, I'm not saying I'd be dishonest, all you have to do is report it...tell them your working and tell them when you get paid....they'll reduce that weeks check based on what you earned...