Unemployed, not undone
One year ago, everything I thought I knew about my career and future was turned upside down. I lost my job.
I never expected to be here: unemployed, uncertain, and staring at a blank future. It's been one of the most challenging years of my life—a year of reflection, struggle, and reinvention.
Unemployment is humbling. It forces you to confront questions we often avoid: 𝘞𝘩𝘰 𝘢𝘮 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬? 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘰 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳? 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘰 𝘐 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘴𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵?
The job market is brutal, and if you’re in it, you know how quickly it can make you question your worth. But here’s the truth I’ve come to hold onto:
Your worth doesn’t come from what you do.
It’s not tied to your title, how many interviews you’ve had, or how long you’ve been searching. You are more than the job you’re looking for.
Facing Rejections, Rewriting My Story
This year hasn’t been easy. I’ve rewritten my story over and over, sent out countless resumes, faced rejections, and questioned whether I even belong in this shifting, uncertain market.
And life didn’t pause. There were physical challenges, personal losses, and moments where it felt like everything might fall apart.
But in those moments, I’ve learned there is power in testing yourself. There’s courage in trying new things, even when the outcome is unknown.
Taking Leaps, Trying Again
After months of soul-searching, I decided to take a leap and explore consulting—not as someone with all the answers, but as someone willing to bet on themselves.
I’ve also been exploring other possibilities: business ideas, new ways of thinking about my expertise, and different paths to make the most of my skills and experience. It’s been a year of trying, failing, adjusting, and trying again.
The truth is, none of it feels certain. My life feels like it’s on the edge. All of this could crash and burn.
Or maybe—just maybe—I’ll fly.
Lessons From a Year of Uncertainty
If you’re navigating unemployment, I want you to know this:
You’re not alone: This market is tough, and it’s not a reflection of your value or potential.
You have something to offer: Even when the system feels stacked against you, your skills, experience, and ideas matter.
Reinvention is a worthy project: Finding a way to offer what you have—even as a side project—is courageous. Who knows where it might lead?
Your worth isn’t tied to a title: This year has taught me to hold this truth close. You are valuable, full stop.
Reinvention Is a Process
I don’t know how this chapter ends, and I certainly don’t know what the next one holds. But I’m learning to trust the process—to see this year not as a setback, but as a season of growth.
Reinvention is messy, uncomfortable, and full of uncertainty. But it’s also full of possibility.
Here’s to finding courage in the chaos—and to the chance we might just fly.