#successstory

I got laid off in November. I genuinely thought as a senior manager I couldn’t find another job that pays a base salary that’s 190k unless I get super lucky at a tech company. But in sooooooo shocked and beyond greatful to God after 7 months of constant applications and rejections I landed a role that far surpassed my expectations both in comp and privilege. Don’t give up hope to those of you still looking. It’s so demoralizing - I know. So glad it all worked out.

I was so scared to leave for a long time. I always thought maybe the problems were me. I've been gone for a year now and I can tell you with confidence it wasn't me. My stress is gone. My weekends are mine again. Leaving was the best decision I've made in a decade.

Then I ended up with a better job, better pay, and a much healthier view of work. You’re going to be okay.

I’m writing this because a few months ago I was the person doom-scrolling this forum at 2:00 a.m., searching for some stranger to tell me my life wasn’t over. So here it is: your life is not over.

When I got laid off, I felt embarrassed, angry, and lost. People kept saying it’s not personal, but it felt personal when the job I’d built part of my identity around was suddenly gone.

For a few days, I completely spiraled. Then I got practical. I figured out my money situation first. Put down everything on paper, including severance, savings, bills, unemployment, everything. Once I knew my actual runway, I stopped panicking as much. Then I started reaching out to people. Former coworkers, old managers, friends, vendors, anyone I trusted. I simply said I’d been impacted by layoffs and was looking for roles in my field.

Amd people showed up for me. A former coworker referred me and an old manager offered to be a reference. Another friend helped clean up my resume. At first I applied everywhere, which was a mistake because it just made me feel rejected faster. So I narrowed it down to roles I actually wanted, roles I was qualified for, and a few backup options.

In interviews, I would say something like how my role was eliminated as part of a broader restructuring, how I’m proud of the work I did at Nike, and I’m looking for a place where I can bring that experience into a role with strong growth and stability.
Eventually, I got an offer that was okay, but I still had interviews moving, so I waited. Two weeks later, I got a better offer: higher pay, better title, and a healthier environment.

The biggest lesson I learned is that I had confused being at a famous company with being in the right job. Nike looked great on my resume, and I’m proud of the work I did there, as bad as the place has become in recent years. But the layoff reminded me that no company, no matter how iconic, is your safety net.

So if you just got laid off: breathe. You’re allowed to be scared. But don’t let the layoff convince you that you’re done. Update your resume. Tell people. Ask for help. Apply carefully. Keep interviewing. And don’t take the first bad offer just because you’re hurt.
I didn’t choose to get laid off. But I did choose what happened next and I ended up better off.

I was laid off in December. There was no non compete agreement to sign. I had 4 interviews with competitors lined up after the holidays and accepted a role with one to start in February. I brought all of my knowledge with me. And I’m making 15% more. Life gets better after this dumpster fire.

Anyone have examples of people doing awesome things after leaving Exxon?

I am really happy today and grateful for being in this place at the right time. I have hit the 1 million dollar net worth because of the stock surge as a Staff Engineer with 5 years of experience.

About to start a new job, with a significant raise, at a tech company, doing work that will actually be seen.

Just know it’s possible to escape, to land on your feet if you get laid off in the new year, and to redefine yourself after several years at Dell. Growing companies who treat people like people really do exist.

I was thinking recently about a few folks who were cut last year and ended up landing on their feet in surprising ways. One started freelancing and now earns more with half the stress, and another moved abroad and rebuilt her whole routine. Knowing examples like that helps me see that losing a job is not the end of the road. Knowing full well I might be next, hearing about real wins keeps me grounded. Any sign that life can turn in a better direction helps right now.

I spent years in BNY, hopping around different departments. I never had some grand master plan — I just kept saying yes to new things, even when they made me uncomfortable. Eventually I landed in a certain role, and that’s where things really kicked off. The pace, the learning, the exposure… it shot my progress forward faster than I ever expected.

And here’s the mad part: that role ended up opening the door to a new job somewhere else — with a salary jump so big that if I told people the number, they’d probably laugh in my face.

I worked with some cracking people and a few brilliant leaders in BNY. Culture? Absolutely rough at times. Still, it taught me a lot. Sometimes the hard environments are the ones that push you out of your comfort zone in the best possible way.

What I’ve learned:
You grow the most when you’re a bit uncomfortable.

Learn everything you can while you’re there.

It is possible to get a massive pay rise in there but only if you make yourself valuable.

Don’t let anyone tell you progress has to be slow or modest.

I’m very happy with the move, grateful for the journey, and honestly still a bit stunned at how much life can change when you quietly keep your head down, get really good, and back yourself.

Former V Teamer here. I severed back in '23. I landed a new job after 3 months as a call center director. The call center I run has doubled in size over the past two years. In my experience, its very eye opening that so many qualified workers are just not good at interviewing. Its so important to answer the interview question with a specific situation, describe the actions you took, cover the outcome, and to be succinct. The job market it ROUGH and even getting an interview is challenging.....so when you do get an interview, you have to knock it outta the park. My advice is to practice, look up Ted Talks or YouTube videos around how to interview. Go to your interview with copies of your resume and cover letter. If attending the interview remotely, have those digitally that you can offer up to the interviewer.

Pro tip-at the end of the interview they typically ask if you have any questions. This is a key opportunity that many people miss on. Ask them what their ideal candidate is, ask them what challenges a new hire will face, ask them how a new hire can set themselves up for success. Make them think of you in that role, show them you are prepared to hit the ground running. I know it seems small, but its small stuff like this that can set you apart from the candidate pool. I remember not getting my first AD job I went after at Verizon. When I got feedback from my director, she said it came down to the formatting of my resume. I was shocked by this feedback, then it hit me...IT WAS THAT CLOSE. Its about standing out in every possible way. Hope this helps someone!

I was cut back in 2015, I've seen posts on LinkedIn and it did triger a bit of PTSD. I am so sorry you have to go through this again but... life after Target has been a breath of fresh air for me. Ended up in a small company where I feel wanted, valued and heard. I did have good time at Target but I feel this change put me in a better position. With this being said, keep your head high and good luck!

Happy to see one of my colleague who was pmts in visa in US, returned to his home as a D. It’s a hope that even you lose something to gain something better.
All the best for job seekers.
O is not your destination. It’s just a stone in your career path.

He began looking as soon as he was notified and managed to secure a new role within weeks. He starts this week. We often hear horror stories about the job market, but I thought it might be encouraging to share a positive example as well.

When I got laid off from L3Harris, I was devastated. I am a hard worker and I did not deserve what happened to me. I did not know how I was going to support my wife and children (and I know that L3Harris could not have cared less about them). Well, I found a new job that with a raise and a promotion, and I now work with people who respect and appreciate me.