Was Your Layoff A Blessing In Disguise?
This interesting clip from Good Morning America was featured on Yahoo! this morning:
Layoff Can Be a Blessing In Disguise — Good Morning America
For the three people profiled in this piece, a layoff inspired a switch to a more satisfying career. Jennifer decided to go to cooking school (and pay her bills as a cashier in a cooking store), Scott #1 took an entry-level job at Starbucks and is now on the management track there and loving it, Scott #2 decided to focus full-time on building his sideline treasure hunting business. (Sidenote: I am now adding Treasure Hunter to my list of fantasy jobs)
When asked to offer advice for others who have been laid off in this job market, all three offered variations on this theme: Don’t give up hope. Get out there and go after a career that you’re passionate about. That’s obviously easier said than done right now, but these three stories show that it is possible. And I have interviewed and coached many others who have similarly turned pink slips into new beginnings. As Jennifer says, if life hands you lemons, go to cooking school and learn how to make really good lemonade. (I’m paraphrasing, but I love the sentiment)
As Good Morning America correspondent Tory Johnson advises in the segment, you may have to take a job that seems less-than-ideal as a stepping stone to the job of your dreams if you have to pay your bills or gain some hands-on experience.
But if you’re between jobs right now, you owe it to yourself to spend some time thinking about where you want to go with your career. Even if it might take a little bit longer in this economy, make sure that you’re moving in a direction that inspires you.
Best of luck to Jennifer and the Scotts in their new careers. It’s nice to see some positive career stories for a change.
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My name is Pamela Skillings and I'm an author and career coach.
Barbara Smith
I can definitely relate to the article “Was your lay-off a blessing in disguise?” I was laid-off a few years ago and shortly thereafter found my dream job working with a modeling agency. I never wanted to be a model however I wanted to work in that environment. I beleived when one door closes another door (even a better one) opens and I am now living my dream.
Tricia
When I was laid off in Sept 2009 I knew my attitude was going to make or break me. Twenty years in the trucking business..poof!..but I was happy as hell! I’d been making collage visual bucket lists for people and business and giving them away just for the pure joy of it. Now I had the time and opportunity to carve out my own niche in the world! The next business day I was networking with Vision Art Designs and made a decision to give back 20% to my community. Then along came opportunity met with preparation and now I’m “Just Ask Trish” Advice for a harmonious life on http://www.thebestofcoupons.com a dream come true also! You just never know where life will take you if you say YES to your passion and gift, take a few risks, and believe in your self!
Shane
I can definitely say that my layoff was a blessing in disguise. In April 2009 I was working for an automotive battery manufacturing plant as an hourly employee with a GED. As a lean manufacturing champion I was responsible for leading problem solving and waste reduction teams. I loved my job and was absolutely heartbroken when I was told they didn’t need me anymore. I had a wife and two small kids to support and in this economy I wasn’t having much luck finding a job that would allow me to do that. I quickly realized I would need more education if I wanted to get another job. So after a job search on monster.com I filled out one of those online college surveys that monster likes to bombard you with. Just three days later I was enrolled at Kaplan University as a business major. Kaplan helped me with every step including applying for financial aid and what degree plan to choose. Fortunately though the degree plan I chose didn’t last; six months into the program I took a programming class just for fun. I quickly realized that I should have been a software developer all along. I switched my major to Information Technology and two years later landed my current position as a consultant/software developer for CGI Group: one of the largest IT consulting firms in the world.
In 2 1/2 years I went from an hourly employee at a battery plant with a GED to a KU graduate with Summa Cum Laude honors. I’m a member of two honor societies: The Golden Key and National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and I’m a software developer for a major consulting firm. On top of all that I’m being featured in The Golden Key’s monthly news letter for my accomplishments over the past two years.
My family and I have never been happier, I’ve never enjoyed my work like I do now, and my financial future has never been more secure. I am exactly where I have always wanted to be: fully in control of my career with the opportunity to go as far as I want.
The day I was hired at CGI that battery plant announced that they were closing the doors permanently. Had they not laid me off I’d be right where I was 3 years ago: unemployed and uneducated. But I would be 3 years older and would have everything I’ve done in those 3 years still in front of me.
So yes, there is no doubt in my mind that my getting laid off was a blessing in disguise. As bad as it hurt and and as scary as it was at the time I wouldn’t change it for the world. And for those that are recently laid off or are getting laid off soon let me just say this: the most important thing I learned from my experience is that you never know what you’re capable of until you are forced to find out. Don’t get discouraged; just decide what you want to do for the rest of your life and go make it happen. There will be days that it feels like you will never get there. Believe me I had many of them. When they come don’t keep it to yourself. Lean on your friends and family for support. Sometimes all you need is to hear that you can do it. Sometimes you just have to force yourself to believe it. The important thing is that when you feel like it’s a waste of time that you don’t give up. Keep working, keep pushing yourself, and eventually it will pay off.