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.

Gale Weithers

I was severed suddenly on April 01, 2020 after working with a company for 15 years. It had been a very demanding job which involved extensive travel across the Caribbean. As a corporate training facilitator attached to retail (Sales & Marketing) all of my presentations had been in-person so during the first year after I was severed I upskilled and became a Certified Virtual Trainer & Instructional Designer.  Read More>>

Shereá Burnett

Throughout my adulthood, I have had several unexpectedly negative employment experiences. There have been a handful of supervisors who I found to be supportive and knowledgeable, but many of the others have seemed more focused on titles than true leadership. As a young professional, I was fired from two different positions. Neither employer provided reasons for the terminations and – because North Carolina is an employment at-will state – they did not have to. Read More>>

Brittney Murdoch

To be honest, I’m still navigating life after a layoff. In March 2024, I lost my role as VP of Global Product Design at Vampyre Cosmetics due to the company’s legal troubles. To make matters worse, they still owe me over $30,000, and I’m pursuing legal action. Losing my dream job has been a double blow – it’s not just an emotional setback, but also a significant disruption to my life’s stability. Read More>>

Carly Hodges

In November 2023, I was laid off from my job in biotechnology after 21 years at my company. This was a shocking, devastating moment for me, and is still seared into my memory. It is still emotionally painful for me to discuss, as this was a company I felt was my home, a company I thought I would retire from, and called my home. For many of those years, I had enjoyed the culture and pace of an entrepreneurial, privately-held company and the work that came with it.  Read More>>

Lori Medrano

When I was let go from my job in the medical field due to refusing the COVID vaccine, I knew I had to find a new path. It was a challenging and uncertain time, but I leaned on God for guidance and strength. While searching for opportunities, I came across a TikTok video about virtual assistants, and it sparked an idea. With support from my sister, I launched Helping Handler by attending networking events and finding my own clients. Read More>>