Photo by Canvasoflight
Being laid off doesn’t have to be the end of the world.
I graduated university with a BA in English. No Honors, no Masters, just a bachelor’s degree. I was all prepped to take a teaching position in South Korea, when a local company offered me me a job as a technical writer. Hell, yeah.
I was damn proud of getting a job in my field. After battling the negativity that comes with doing an arts program (“What are you going to do with that, anyway? Teach?”), I now found telling people my profession a treat. Something to be proud about.
I had developed such a rigid routine for myself, I could pinpoint the exact minute something would happen.
About a year later, I began realizing the job was not for me. I’d sit at my desk, open some technical guides or a binder of documentation, and I’d feel sick. They contained meaningless words, dull material and absolutely no creativity. I’d stay awake later in the evenings in an attempt to delay the arrival of morning.
I had developed such a rigid routine for myself, I could pinpoint the exact minute something would happen. My alarm went off at 8 a.m., by 8:04 I was digging through my closet. I’d appear at my desk at 9:06. At 5:11 I’d head to the gym, and I’d be on the treadmill by 5:25.
Then two weeks ago I was called into the boardroom where I was told they were letting me go. They were apologetic, while I sat there being surprised but not really surprised. I had wanted to leave forever, and here they were handing me my freedom. I collected my things while my boss accompanied me to my computer, giving me a moment to save any personal documents. I thought, “Screw this,” and left.
Now What?
Photo by imacootis
I took two days to mourn the loss of my job. I suddenly missed the tiny details of my day, the routine I had abhorred. The thought of my coworkers wiping my desk clean like I had never worked there made me cry. Regardless of how much I hated the job, it was an essential part of my life. I spent more time with my coworkers on a daily basis than I did with my own family and friends.
But the same morning I was laid off, my roommate Matt made me breakfast and we started to talk ideas. For the first time in my life since I started working 9-5 and freelancing in the evenings, I had time to spare.
Ultimately, my company did me a favor. I was terrified of quitting, and I felt guilty for hating my workload with the company who gave me a head start. I had formed strong bonds with my coworkers, and most contacted me with support when I left. I’m attending the lead writer’s wedding tomorrow. If I had quit abruptly, the story might have been different.
I took almost two weeks to enjoy some careless freedom, to wrap my head around everything. I went home for my town’s Come Home Year celebration: barbecues with relatives I hadn’t seen in years, beach parties with friends, hiking and fishing trips with Dad. Reconnecting with people outside the office made me realize I’d be okay.
Photo by author.
People keep telling me to beware the unemployment depression trap, sitting around in my underwear watching daytime soaps. I had a day where I sat around in a Disney princess inflatable pool drinking beer, but hey, some of us deal with things differently. It’s okay to mope, but not for long.
Get Moving
As soon as I knew I was unemployed, I’d let people know. I tweeted about it, and then I wrote a blog post. The support I received from the connections I’ve made over the past year (and from absolute strangers!) was absolutely overwhelming. Friends even started showing up at my door armed with coffee, cake, and hugs. Every single person who contacted me had the same words of comfort: “This is the best thing that could have happened to you. Now do what you want to do.”
I took care of the painful stuff, applying for repayment assistance with my student loans and filing for Employment Insurance. I realized my debt payments would have to be put on hold. Then I started exploring my options: reviewing job banks, career websites and talking to people about freelance work.
Photo by woozie2010
I decided I needed to establish a routine. Having time to sleep in was absolute bliss, but when one evening I set my alarm clock for the first time in over a week, and felt a little pang of surprise, I knew I had to start setting some rules. Staying out late and eating garlic fingers for breakfast is not cool for long, especially when you discover you’ve been wearing your pants inside out all morning.
Corporations offer amazing benefits, great experience and solid income, but there is no such thing as job security.
Figuring out a new life plan is tricky, and the uncertainty can be terrifying. I still don’t necessarily know what I want, but it doesn’t involve sitting at a desk for 8 hours a day. It does involve travel, writing, and being my own boss.
I’m obviously no expert in the unemployment world, but I’m fortunate to have learned a really important lesson so early in the game: corporations offer amazing benefits, great experience and solid income, but there is no such thing as job security.
Keep that in mind when you’re more concerned about the welfare of your company than your own personal happiness.
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What is the future of the workforce? Can we make money while fulfilling our dreams?
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24 Comments... join the discussion!
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This post makes me so incredibly happy – it sounds like you are really embracing this experience! I can’t wait to see what happens now
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such a good piece Candice. really enjoyed reading that.
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I’ve been in a similar position many times over the past few years, first with opening and closing a business and then with having a hard time keeping a new job. I’ve finally accepted the life of a freelancer/self-employment. Poor, scared, and pursuing the dream. That’s what life’s about. Thanks for sharing!
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Great piece, Candice. I know people who will put the office’s needs ahead of their own (foregoing vacation time, working overtime for no extra pay, etc.). I have to remind them that the office will never return the favor. And nobody ever got to the end of their life and thought “Wow I wish I’d spent more time at the office.” That said, I do hope some money-making opportunities come your way soon.
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I’m so glad you wrote this, Candice. The piece has such honesty, wisdom, and hope. I’m very excited for you and this new beginning. Your last two sentences should be taped to everyone’s dashboard in their car and read as they go to work everyday. True job security is committing yourself to your passion and going fearlessly towards it.
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Loved this piece Candice, thanks!
But… where’s the picture of you in the Disney Princess inflatable pool drinking beer?!
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You hit the nail on the head, and I was just saying this this morning to my Couchsurfing host in NYC (who’s going back to school for a second degree and loads more debt). There is no such thing as job security anymore.
I’m so confident you’ll be fine. I’m certain you will end up doing something you love.
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great story Candice…like everything else, unemployment has its and downs…
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Hey there’s nothing wrong with freelancing from home as you sit in pajamas all day watching Arrested Development. things will work out soon enough!
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This is wonderful, Candice. And I definitely second Carlo’s sentiment.
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time to change your “about me” blurb
Not gonna lie, I love the title of this Made some girls at work laugh, even! Really good essay, I likes!
I’m super pumped for you, really – I think this will turn into all kinds of awesome things for you. Double rainbow, all the way!
But, you might need to eat better breakfasts ;P↵ -
You rock.
And now you make the rules for yourself. Which is exactly how it should be – and how you’re going to get exactly the life you want.
Your substantial fan base awaits your next move.
No pressure, of course.
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Great piece, Candice – well-written, insightful, and honest. I related so strongly, having experienced something similar after getting my B.A. in English – I was offered a great job (Editorial Assistant at a national entertainment magazine!! In New York City!!) only to be laid off three short months later… after I’d already signed a year’s lease on an East Village apartment. It felt like the end of the world. You’re so much smarter than I was back then; already you see that the lay off frees you to embrace what you truly want. Congratulations on your new lease on life – great things are on the way.
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I have no idea what garlic fingers are (a link would have been helpful!) but I think this is a great post. Everybody should get a copy with their severance letter or termination of contract.
(As an aside, my depression food of choice would have to be Timbits. Assortment please.)
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Definitely just made me realize I also need to kick myself in the ass and get another job!!!
Glad things have gotten better as the weeks have passed! Excited to see how it develops!
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Thanks for the kind comments, everyone! Christina, “poor, scared and pursuing the dream” generally sums it all up, Lol.
I appreciate the support and will keep you posted on new plans. in the meantime, I still have the pool.
Time for a bio change!
Andy, garlic fingers: http://www.grouprecipes.com/62181/garlic-fingers.html
Had NO idea they were a Maritime thing, GO FIND SOME NOW. And request donair sauce, just do it. But don’t make out with anyone afterward.
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I was reading through this on my feedreader when I saw the picture of you in the pool and went here to Matador because I was all confused and wondering if someone stole your picture that I remembered from your post on your personal site.
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Very insightful!!
Just as I was questioning myself about the pertinence of working at a job that doesn’t let me do what I really want to do write, travel and be stress free.It dawned on me this morning that I have been grumpy for a while because I’m not living life in order to be happy but to pay bills.Not enjoying myself everyday as I wake up to a blank canvas of the day ahead.
Thank you
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Wonderful post! I love the honesty here.
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This is a timely post for many out there. The situation is global, and the more supportive info out there, the better. Anything to help others get through a hurdle like this is worth sharing.
And Candice, I am stoked for you, honestly. Being in a job you hate is never as fulfilling as stepping out and exploring your potential. It’s good to see you didn’t let yourself wallow in the mire of unemployment depression.
Your closing words are undeniably TRUE: “Corporations offer amazing benefits, great experience and solid income, but there is no such thing as job security. Keep that in mind when you’re more concerned about the welfare of your company than your own personal happiness.”
This is me, excitedly waiting to see where life takes you next!
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I fell into the unemployment depression trap, there was no reason to get up in the morning. I finally snapped out of it and got into a routine, even if it was just errands filling my day.
You seem to have great perspective on this and can now see the upside of such a terrible event. You have your freedom to do what you want instead of what you think you should do.
Looking forward to all your new adventures on your blog.
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Candice, your future is so bright its blinding my eyes my dear fried.. great piece as always. keep on hanging on!
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Hey Candice, this was a great piece. I’ve never been laid off from a professional job, though I was fired from a restaurant once for smoking cigarettes in the walk-in cooler. (they later re-hired me).
Sounds like they were doing you a favor by ‘letting you go.’ You’re right: when you work for someone else, job security is a cruel joke. On the other hand, you can still take that teaching gig in South Korea.
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