Bouncing Back from Job Loss

Losing your job is painful and unfortunately the current economic conditions have led to many layoffs and firings in companies large and small. However, we’ve learned though thousands of interviews over the years that job loss is one of the most common catalysts for massive life improvement. Below, we’ve shared stories and perspectives from some very successful members of the community around how they dealt with job loss.

Vanessa Farino

Being unexpectedly laid off last spring in 2023 was one of the most challenging moments in my journey. At the time, I was carefully crafting an exit strategy to transition into my business full-time within the next 1.5 years, all while supporting my mom in purchasing a first home—a milestone that meant everything to us as a first-generation Latina family. It felt like the ground had been pulled out from under me, and the pressure to navigate these major life changes was overwhelming. Read more>>

Adam Powers

I’ve had some very rough experiences with being laid off and fired. Hopefully this is more that a personal sob story to tell, because while these trials have been arduous for me, I’ve mostly come out on the other side. In 2016, I lost my job and apartment within a week of each other, and I found myself homeless and unemployed in NYC. In part, I was let go because my workplace did not share my personal political opinions. But I never gave up and I kept applying, kept networking, knowing that this is where I wanted to make a stand in my life. Read more>>

Mio Sison

I’ve overcome 2 layoffs, and an instance of getting fired in my life. The first of these instances was at one of the leading research labs in the country, stepping in to replace a long-time hire who ended up leaving to pursue a PhD. I had huge shoes to fill. At the time, I was also enrolled full-time to get my Master’s. To say the least, I maxed out my bandwidth as a professional with such demanding time commitments and effort. After 3 short months of late nights at this lab trying to keep up with the former teammate’s speed that the team was used to, coupled with the demands of a full-time Master’s degree program, I was fired. It was unfortunate that this role did not work out; the exposure to top scientific journals, access to the best researchers in the world, and most importantly the easy translation between my Master’s in Bioinformatics and the possible skills gained from this proteomics lab. Read more>>

Tina Newcombe

It was March of 2020 and I was starting a new job. I was a Certified Activity Director in nursing homes, and assisted living facilities for over 25 years. It was my career and I really enjoyed working with the elder population. I could be creative and curious and enjoyed building relationships with my clients. Read more>>

Gia Hellwig

In March of 2020, I was laid off like many others. I had always had the dream of starting my own business and being laid off opened the door for the possibility and opportunity to do so. The great part was I knew I couldn’t fail…financially. So many times when people are starting a new business the risk of financial failure can paralyze people, overwhelm people and make it so they never even attempt their dream. I say I couldn’t fail financially because I was receiving unemployment and had built up my savings over the years. Here’s why this is important. I had a financial safety net taking those thoughts of financial failure and always being focused on the money out of the picture. I was able to be creative, be excited and get all up in my ideas and my new business without the added pressure of where my next paycheck was coming from. My layoff was my perfect storm. Read more>>

Sarthak “rocky” Sahoo

I was recently affected by a mass layoff after working for a year as a UX Consultant, I worked on designing fintech applications for First United Bank and many other firms. The experience left me frustrated and apprehensive about my future—a feeling I am still grappling with. As someone who has always been deeply passionate about UX, both as a fulfilling career and a practical path, I was devastated and uncertain about what lay ahead. My concerns extended beyond my personal future to the prospects of others entering the field and the broader future of work itself. In response, I started learning how to build IOS applications and crafting proof of concept prototypes for ideas i’ve had during my time as a consultant. Treating the job hunt as a 9-5, I experienced burnouts where on my free time, I produced music, DJ, and started learning dance–ways of regenerating my energy back into working on my career. Read more>>

Where do you get your work ethic from?

We’ve all heard the phrase “work hard, play hard,” but where does our work ethic

Tactics & Strategies for Keeping Your Creativity Strong

With the rapid improvements in AI, it’s more important than ever to keep your creativity

From Burnout to Balance: The Role of Self-Care

Burning out is one of the primary risks you face as you work towards your