A Surprisingly Optimistic View on Losing a Dream Job

OUR LIFE

The Ups & Downs of a Dream Job

Over a whirlwind four months Victoria was offered her dream job at the dream agency only to be laid off as part of the largest acquisition in industry history.

We don’t talk about our careers or work on here because this is our safe space where we get to share our hobbies, travels, loves. But we’re making an exception to share some news that shook us up a bit.

The Ups

Over the summer, my amazing sister recommended me for a job at her company after she overheard co-workers discussing the skills required for the job. Needless to say, I was surprised she knew enough about my day-to-day at work to recognize I might be a good fit for the job. And after making it through a few rounds of interviews, the experience untapped a new level of confidence I didn’t realize I possessed. Although the job didn’t work out, I was intrigued. It became clear to me that there were certain aspects of my job that I thoroughly enjoy and others I could do without. Naturally, I began to lean further into those skills — what job exists where I could do that fun stuff all the time?

Shortly thereafter, I began accepting conversations from recruiters. I had received requests from some very cool companies, but found that I was still strictly wading within the realm of the role I already occupied. And if my responsibilities remained the same, I was honestly relatively happy to remain where I was. But it wasn’t until a couple of months into the search that I received a seemingly vague email from an agency that wasn’t on my immediate radar (primarily because it was such a long-shot big name and I’d already counted myself out of the count).

But when the pieces started to fall into place and the full picture of the opportunity came into view, I was excited beyond belief to have a dream role at a legacy agency. From my first day, I was swept into meetings and briefed onto projects with the smartest people. And everyone was genuinely so nice. Amid the chaos of being onboarded onto a new team and account, everyone was eager to collaborate and interested in my input. It was refreshing and the energy was addicting.

The Downs

I don’t think anyone ever anticipates being laid-off upon returning from a holiday. But I suppose if one was more pessimistic, they may have had a sneaking suspicion given the news the acquisition was finalized right before the break.

That said, I was stunned. So much so that I didn’t think there was anything suspicious about the events that unraveled that fated morning. I was so focused on the two-day client working session happening right upon our return from the Thanksgiving holiday break that I operated as if I had blinders on— I was singlehandedly determined to finalize slides and draft a talk-track for the portion of the working session I was leading. It was only two minutes into the meeting that it started to hit and my first thought was: welp, I still have this client meeting to get through… and I’m happy to report the two-day working session was successful.

When you’re part of a layoff that affects 4,000 people, how does one justify sitting around and wallowing? I recognize the immense privilege of my position to be able to sit in disappointment rather than fear of the impact of the loss. I know that no matter what comes next, we’ll land on our feet and hopefully, come out better for it. Whether that’s in lessons learned, experience gained, or a better opportunity secured, there’s some light at the end of the tunnel and worrying about what-ifs won’t help me get there.

The disappointment I felt at this news centered primarily around missing out on an opportunity to continue working with such an amazing group of people. The FOMO hit hard when I thought about the exciting projects on the horizon. I was finally settling in, finding my voice and seeing the many opportunities we could bring to clients when the rug was metaphorically ripped out from under me. As someone who needs to see things through, it was a rather abrupt ending that left me frustrated that I couldn’t deliver on my vision.

The Road Ahead

Before I look ahead, can I take a step back and just take a moment to recognize my own growth? If someone had told me a decade ago that I wouldn’t spiral from the complete upheaval this news could cause, I would’ve laughed in their face (likely, maniacally, so imagine more of a cackle). I have had my life planned out in 5 year intervals from the time I turned 10. I’ve had binders of printed excel sheets, timelines and milestones mapped out like the strategist I turned out to be. But if I learned anything this year, it’s that barriers and detours are par for the course, and if I let those pull me down, I’ll only hold myself back.

With the encouraging words of support and the insane amount of outreach my friends and network have done on my behalf, I am absolutely floored. I’ve found myself saying the words, “How could I be so fortunate to have such a strong support system?” more often than the words, “I can’t believe I’ve been laid-off.” Truly, why me? has been churning in my head over and over, but only ever in the most positive sentiment. I cannot put into words the gratitude I feel for the way everyone has bolstered me over this bump in the road.

And it’s this positive experience that has set me up for a successful rebound, I think. I’m optimistic that I can find another good fit and I trust that the right opportunity will find its way to me. If my family, friends, and acquaintances have so much faith in me and my professional skills, why shouldn’t I have it in myself?

Until our next chapter!

xo, Victoria

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